If you smoke - just stop it

[Doug Hamilton]

I can get with some of that save the fact that the associated health issues impact everyone’s cost of health care, not just those who abuse themselves knowing full well how dumb it is. Healthy people paying for the 50 year chain smokers, alcoholics etc.

So then, we should ban the riding of motorcycles? I don't ride one, but I have known mire guys that have died, crippled or been injured while riding than I have known people that have suffered permanent . injuries or death from smoking.

My dad lost his best friend to a motorcycle accident after they graduated . He almost made me promise not to ride a motorcycle and I didn't. I would not however, tell others that they should not subject me to the noise, air pollution or expense incurred by insurance companies which raises my rates.

 

[LimbNoMo]

So then, we should ban the riding of motorcycles? I don't ride one, but I have known mire guys that have died, crippled or been injured while riding than I have known people that have suffered permanent . injuries or death from smoking.

My dad lost his best friend to a motorcycle accident after they graduated . He almost made me promise not to ride a motorcycle and I didn't. I would not however, tell others that they should not subject me to the noise, air pollution or expense incurred by insurance companies which raises my rates.

I don’t believe in banning motorcycles and I have been crippled on one.

 

[G Skinner]

Miss You Mom and Dad ....... I quit 27 Years ago when I got married Thank You Gayle !

 

[gbflyer]

So then, we should ban the riding of motorcycles? I don't ride one, but I have known mire guys that have died, crippled or been injured while riding than I have known people that have suffered permanent . injuries or death from smoking.

My dad lost his best friend to a motorcycle accident after they graduated . He almost made me promise not to ride a motorcycle and I didn't. I would not however, tell others that they should not subject me to the noise, air pollution or expense incurred by insurance companies which raises my rates.

It’s not hard for me to separate a possible injury from a mode of transportation from a habit that can be easily avoided that is has a guaranteed outcome if you do it enough.

 

[Hank2211]

I gave it up more than 30 years ago, and I still miss it. Doctor say you shave years off your life if you smoke, Well, if they could promise me those years at the front end, I'd be a lot more impressed than a promise of adding them at the back end. I just buried my dad, and the last five years? I'd take up smoking again tomorrow if I knew that's what I and my family would miss.

I had a PH who chain smoked a few years ago - it was a great way to test the wind.

 

[Flbt]

I forgot to put this in my other post.
My family was involved in growing tobacco and in makeing cigars when it was a fl. Industry were are in the old shade leaf growing and rolling area.
My grate grate aunt Estelle lived to 99 she is the longest lived person in the family as far as I know. She was something else
She told me she started smoking at 9.
She was married by 13 and got in the habit of taking a drink and snuff he husband used snuff the nose type not dip.

But I think tobacco back then was safer than tobacco today.
In cigarettes you are not really smoking tobacco it’s more man made or at least what the company I looked in to used

 

[Doug Hamilton]

I don’t believe in banning motorcycles and I have been crippled on one.

I don't believe in banning anything that doesn't hurt anyone else. That was pretty.much.my.point. Smoking, motorcycles, what else? Scuba diving (I do that one)? Sky diving? I'm sure we can think.of other things that some people enjoy, but a few "do-gooders" look down their nose at. God save us from the self righteous.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

I gave it up more than 30 years ago, and I still miss it. Doctor say you shave years off your life if you smoke, Well, if they could promise me those years at the front end, I'd be a lot more impressed than a promise of adding them at the back end. I just buried my dad, and the last five years? I'd take up smoking again tomorrow if I knew that's what I and my family would miss.

I had a PH who chain smoked a few years ago - it was a great way to test the wind.

I guess you think dying of cancer or emphysema is quick and painless? Not only are smokers shaving years (decades) off their potential life span, they are risking significant protracted decreased quality of life at the end of that shortened life span. All the while their loved ones are having their lives impacted as well. Any way you look at it, smoking is bad news.

Condolences on the loss of your father after what I assume was a lengthy illness. I am thankful we now have legally assisted suicide up here. My next door neighbor finally was able to leave last spring. Huntington's Disease. Another family friend checked out early with ALS. My daughters know what route I will take in that event. Makes it easier on them if it is written in stone by me ahead of time.

 

[Ridge Runner]

So is his opinion.

I’m a reformed smoker and I really don’t like it now but I probably wouldn’t start a post on it.

For starting an OP on anti smoking, It is fitting to have an opposite view point. After all there are OPs on cigars and drinking.

I started smoking; was an on again/off again smoker; and finally stopped smoking for several years, while in military service.

I stopped because I was up to 3 + packs of cigarettes a day. I might smoke 1 cumulative pack out of 2 + packs, the rest were being bummed out.

I changed to cigars and pipes. Great for relaxing, and enjoying some free/down time or around a campfire. Not so great out dancing or out on a date.

Then I transferred into an engineer unit. Out of 35(?) platoon members, maybe 2 didn’t use at least one or more forms of tobacco. When the military started the anti smoking campaign I started back to smoking; cigars and pipe. After a 4 week training exercise, it didn't take long, about 2 or 3 months, and I was using oral tobacco. First long leave, then to plug, then to dip/snuff. The latter 2 were easy to conceal during a meeting, classroom instruction as a student or instructor, or in the office.

Finally stopped using all types of tobacco for several years. Then started back dipping on again/off again as a form of relaxation. Then it became a steady habit and hard to quit for over 10(?) years. I am now ~30+/- days tobacco free.

I am currently tobacco because I want to be tobacco free......I'm also cheap!....doing the math I figure at $1100.00+/- spent per year on tobacco; that money would be better spent on: firearms, ammo, reloading supplies, and hunting trips.

 

[Doug Hamilton]

It’s not hard for me to separate a possible injury from a mode of transportation from a habit that can be easily avoided that is has a guaranteed outcome if you do it enough.

Avoiding riding a motorcycle is no more difficult than not smoking. There are also many people who smoked and lived to be 100. George Burns was one. I don't smoke or ride motorcycles, but if I did I wouldn't want some self appointed keeper of the public health telling me they knew better than I what I should do.

 

[mdwest]

Next they’ll want to take away plastic straws and sixty four ounce sodas at the gas stations…





Wait….




I’m not a fan of the nanny state in any capacity…

I’m good with RFK Jr type agendas that ensure healthy options are available, that manufacturers are being honest with consumers, etc…

But I draw the line after “advice”…

If I want to ride dirt bikes until I’m 80, drink a bottle of scotch a night until I’m 90, and smoke cigarettes until I’m 100… if the good Lord lets me live that long, who is anyone else to tell me “no”?

As long as I’m not infringing on your rights in the process, and blaming McDonald’s because I’m fat and jack Daniel’s because I’m a drunk… it’s sorta my business, and not anyone else’s IMO…

 

[Ontario Hunter]

For starting an OP on anti smoking, It is fitting to have an opposite view point. After all there are OPs on cigars and drinking.

I started smoking; was an on again/off again smoker; and finally stopped smoking for several years, while in military service.

I stopped because I was up to 3 + packs of cigarettes a day. I might smoke 1 cumulative pack out of 2 + packs, the rest were being bummed out.

I changed to cigars and pipes. Great for relaxing, and enjoying some free/down time or around a campfire. Not so great out dancing or out on a date.

Then I transferred into an engineer unit. Out of 35(?) platoon members, maybe 2 didn’t use at least one or more forms of tobacco. When the military started the anti smoking campaign I started back to smoking; cigars and pipe. After a 4 week training exercise, it didn't take long, about 2 or 3 months, and I was using oral tobacco. First long leave, then to plug, then to dip/snuff. The latter 2 were easy to conceal during a meeting, classroom instruction as a student or instructor, or in the office.

Finally stopped using all types of tobacco for several years. Then started back dipping on again/off again as a form of relaxation. Then it became a steady habit and hard to quit for over 10(?) years. I am now ~30+/- days tobacco free.

I am currently tobacco because I want to be tobacco free......I'm also cheap!....doing the math I figure at $1100.00+/- spent per year on tobacco; that money would be better spent on: firearms, ammo, reloading supplies, and hunting trips.

Good for you. More guns will be nice. More time to play with them will be the bonus. Hang in there.

 

[Ridge Runner]

I forgot to put this in my other post.
My family was involved in growing tobacco and in makeing cigars when it was a fl. Industry were are in the old shade leaf growing and rolling area.
My grate grate aunt Estelle lived to 99 she is the longest lived person in the family as far as I know. She was something else
She told me she started smoking at 9.
She was married by 13 and got in the habit of taking a drink and snuff he husband used snuff the nose type not dip.

But I think tobacco back then was safer than tobacco today.
In cigarettes you are not really smoking tobacco it’s more man made or at least what the company I looked in to used

There are more harmful chemicals from growing, and especially in the factory production phase of tobacco products in the last 40 + years than the previous millennia.

That is why the big tobacco companies fought and bought off politicians and other government and FDA officials to keep tobacco from being regulated by the FDA.

George Burns had a similar response when he was asked what he thought helped him live to be 100. He included having, IIRC, at least 2 cigars a day.

 

[Jay Kelley]

I smoked from 13 till 35 then stopped because I got tired of spending the money 3 packs a day.
Went to dipping went 3-4 years got sick with a bad flu could not dip for about 7 days
As some as I got better I went to dip. And just said no.
But every time I hear some one nagging people to stop it takes everything in me not to just light up out of spite.
Honestly giving up the cigs did not bother me.
But I still miss cop wintergreen and Skol peach

I smoked for a few years after joining the Navy, but I dipped from 14-40. Quit 22 years ago and still want a pinch of Skoal from time to time.

 

[flatwater bill]

As a non smoker I can easily and immediately tell if someone on a hunt is a smoker. It doesn't really bother me. But to hunt around a "tobacco chewer"....now that is different. As they spit into a cup, drool into their beard, or paint your boots and pants with effluvia, they remain smiling and oblivious. And, ya, most of us spend the last five years of our lives chasing one health problem or another. Smoking helps determine whether those 5 years start at 60 or 80..........FWB

 

[Ridge Runner]

Back before the start of the industrial revolution and all the pollution that is being caused by large companies and larger corporations. I could possibly agree with smoking decreasing people's lifespan.

Since the start of the industrial revolution we breathe in more airborne toxins and ingest more toxins from our food and water supply than from all the current tobacco products.

Believe it, or Not, everyone of us is going to die. None of us (with exceptions: military personnel, law enforcement, firefighters,) don’t really know when, where, or how, we are going to die, it's just going to happen.

So why should anyone deprive themselves of personal happiness like: eating red meat, (responsibly) drinking alcoholic beverages, using tobacco products, (responsibly) riding a motorcycle, etc, etc, etc.

 

[DWB]

I just want to mention that it was completely unnecessary to bring red meat into this conversation

#carnivorediet!

 

[Krink783]

I stopped smoking a long time and i never get back to it ...