Originally posted by orkyboy
I have only ever had 1 cigerette. ( Yeah I know kinda dumb, don't ask me it was my friends idea and I didn't want to look a chicken by "chickening out" ) I don't see what people like about it so much. It just made me cough a lot and made my eyes water. Is there any good reason to smoke that I'm just not getting? 😕
Tha manufacturers will make a lot of money once they've got you addicted .......
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Originally posted by FeivelIs that the drug that makes you feel really sick if you drag on a fag?
I agree that quitting is extremely difficult. I was a smoker for about 12 years and i just decided to quit cold turkey. Never had any cravings but ruined 7 years of being smoke free by smoking during my divorce. Another 12 years passed and I tried countless times to quit with no success (but i did last a week). Finally on 4/19 last year i entered a drug resea ...[text shortened]... ose billions of dollars so a drug can be marketed?
Feivel the Smokefree HardcoreFreethinker
If so, my mate at work is on it, on prescription, and its working pretty well so far.
Originally posted by phishermanI am sceptical about Winstons. They claim to be additive free, but there are things about them that make me wonder. For one thing, they burn just as fast as a regular cig, perhaps even a little faster. This leads me to believe one of two things:
That was very interesting and informative. I'm certainly intrigued. What about Winstons. They claim to be the No Bull cig, have you done any research on them? I smoke Marlboro Lights right now, and I can testify that these cigs burn like greased lightning. I can go outside have a smoke and be back at my computer before it boots up in the morning. I also find myself chaining a lot with these cigs.
1) The tobacco is additive free, but the paper and ink content is questionable. I don't think they would be able to claim additive free status if they laced the paper or ink with something, but being that I do not know the federal regs for it, it remains a possibility in my mind.
2) The tobacco used for the cig is of low quality. Probably sheet tobacco and stems and such. I would find this to be quite the plausible case being that they are tied in with Phillip Morris. As far as production goes, ol P.M. might just be using the "bottom of the barrel" tobacco to make its "additive free" cigs. Waste not want not.
I smoke Winstons from time to time when I cannot find my regular brand, but I do not reccommend them as an alternative. The quick burning makes them seem shadowy to me. I am certain that they are better than your regular domestic cig, of that I have no doubt. Nonetheless, I still get sort of an "icky" feeling if I smoke a pack of them. In the end, I highly suspect that poor quality tobacco is to blame but I wonder if there are other factors I cannot discern that 'ol P.M. is sneaking in. Better than typical domestic, but can't hold a candle to Spirits.
Now, concerning "light" cigs. There is usually absolutely NO difference in the tobacco used for a "light" or "ultra light" cig than regular filters. What makes a cig "light" is the filter. Light cigs filters have tiny holes in the filter that permits some air into the cig when you take a drag. This, naturally, reduces the amount of smoke you inhale with each drag, thusly producing "light" smokes. The problem with lights is that a person switching to lights will often take longer drags, inhaled deeper, and I have heard that unknowingly people will start to hold the cig by placing their filters on the top of the filter where the air holes are, subconsiously nullifying the "light" function of the cig, or atleast reducing it mightily. I myself tried it once and found that before I had finished one cig I was able to hold it in such a way that it was hardly discernable from a regular filter.
Of course if you don't do any of the aforementioned tactics with the cig, you tend to fall into (that's right) chain smoking. This is quite the hazard with switching to lights, as it increases the psychological oral fixation while doing little to lessen the nicotine addiction. Worst case scenario is to switch to lights, start to smoke more, THEN start to smoke "heavier" (as in the aforementioned tactics, etc.).
A smart tactic I recommend is trying to only smoke half a cig once or twice a day. Just once or twice, only smoke half that cig and save the other half for later. Try with just one a day. I would recommend your first cig. When you go to have that first cig in the morning, only smoke half of it then put it out. Put the remainder (or "vacha" as I call it) back into your pack for smoking later. Then, sometime later in the day when you go for a smoke but aren't really craving (such as after a meal or some other time when it is ritual, not physical crave) smoke the other half of that cig. That's one less you smoked today. Try to make it a habit to smoke them half at a time. It takes time, but soon you find yourself smoking "halves" more often than "wholes". I go out to smoke about 15 times a day, but I only smoke about 10 cigs. It is only because of this method that I do not smoke a whole pack a day, but rather half that. Smoking the additive free cigs helps, being that they burn so slow you still have time to enjoy the smoke, even with just a half.
I would also like to note something as an afterthought from my previous post. If you end up trying to do the roll your own method but feel discouraged by it, be sure to ask about rolling machines to help you. I have "Escort" as my brand of choice. I nifty little machine you load your tobacco into with pre-rolled papers and filters attached. Takes about five minutes to make a pack of cigs that look just like normal manufactured ones. I am sure there are also lots of other good comanys that make roll machines.
A smart tactic I recommend is trying to only smoke half a cig once or twice a day. Just once or twice, only smoke half that cig and save the other half for later.A good plan, if only because a relit cigarette tastes like crap so you'll only smoke it when you really need to.
Unfortuanatly I have been told, although I have no backup on this & no proof so it could be wrong, that relighting a cigarette is really bad for you as it increases the crap you inhale. Don't ask me why - maybe the filter getting cold and allowing the tar to solidify in it makes in ineffective when you relight, or maybe the carbon & solidified tars left in the unburnt cigarette give of even nastirer stuff when relit.
I don't know, could be right could be wrong.
I smoke Marlboro Lights right now, and I can testify that these cigs burn like greased lightning. I can go outside have a smoke and be back at my computer before it boots up in the morning. I also find myself chaining a lot with these cigsMarlborough lights - probably the most heinous brand out there. I noticed that when I smoked them I would go through a pack faster. In fact, I'd want another minutes after I'd finished one.
On investigation I found the following rumour (unsubstantiated), that Marloborough had been taken to court after someone discovered they were adding a chemical they knew to be addictive to their 'Lights'. This chemical gave a similar craving to nicotine but had a vastly shorter effect time. This meant that although this chemical would not get you hooked long term (as nicotine does) because the craving only lasts for a few minutes, the craving hits you only minutes after you have finished your cigarette. Because it is a similar sensation to a nicotine craving the smoker is triggered to light up again, reducing the time between cigarettes. As far as I know they still do this.
This, plus all the other negatives with 'Light' cigarettes, made me switch to full strength again - that way at least I was getting a full hit for my money.
Quitting is easy - just the same as sawing you own arm off with a rusty penknife is easy, if you have the right motivation. One thing I'venoticed is that all the people here who have quit did so cold turkey, no 'cutting down' and no nicotine replacement pills. I personally believe both these routes are folly as they prolong the process of getting the chemical out of your brain.
I've quit sucessfully twice now (I know, that doesn't make sense) and the second time is over 12 months now. Anyone who wants to quit and wants some tips/moral support can start a game with me - Jscar was instumental in helping me through the tough 2 weeks at the start, and I just wish I could return the favour.
Originally posted by belgianfreakJust to clarify. The pill I used was NOT a nicotine replacement or nicotine antagonist but a nicotine AGONIST. I can't see how that can possibly not be sucessful provided you want to stay off cigaretted after you stop the drug. But no need to worry as the agonist will NEVER hit the market 🙁
One thing I'venoticed is that all the people here who have quit did so cold turkey, no 'cutting down' and no nicotine replacement pills. I personally believe both these routes are folly as they prolong the process of getting the chemical out of your brain.
Feivel the smokefree for 19 monthes
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Originally posted by flexmoregovernments say all kinds of things especially if lobby groups bribe/coerce them into it.
:'(
when the government puts taxes on tobacco, they do it to stop the smoking they say. but then they only have more incentive to keep it going because they make money. it is then basically just a legal bribe paid by the companies to th ...[text shortened]... done?
I think all 4 of my grandparents died from smoking
:'(
in canada, someone made the astute obervation that smoking has serious financial ramifications on the private sector (sicker employees, increased health care costs etc) and there has been a fairly strong effort to discourage smoking through some rather blatant propaganda by health canada (ie the government). it's good stuff though.
it is criminal (certain companies have been successfully sued) what the cigarette companies do to deceive it's addicted public - but in my opinion, it is up to the individual to 'choose his poison' - you want to smoke, that's your business. however, what is completely intolerable is allowing secondhand smoke to infiltrate the lungs of others. it has unfortunately taken several decades of hard work by organizations such as the NSRA (non-smokers rights association), to get tough on smokers so that innocent by-breathers such as coworkers, service personal, children etc do not reap the ruinous results of secondhand cigarette smoke which some studies show is even more heinous.
what to do? fight it like the plague! inform! complain! protest! boycott! whatever! unfortunately, when there is money at stake, these things can move rather slowly. don't believe for a moment the silly argument that 'you can't stop people doing what they want to', because it's total nonsense - just look at all the regulatiions in place in any country that do stop people doing many things they want to because their actions hurt others.
if you are confronted with the useless 'rights' argument remember the rights of the breather always must perforce outweigh the rights of the smoker. there is plenty of air space to pollute - there is no excuse to invade yours!
having sounded as harsh as i have above, i should also tell you the otherside though it is from my own personal experience, and isn't universal. i was one of the early members of the NSRA and did a lot of the stuff talked about above. i also always tried, and many times succesfully, to get my friends to stop smoking. in all the years, i have to say though that i found almost every smoker i dealt with to not only agree with my rationale for quitting (they didn't all quit of course), but they were also both understanding and very considerate when i asked them not to smoke in my vicinity. i never lost family members, like you did, but i did lose some good friends and in horrible fashion.
so if you are going to fight this thing at any level - go for it! it is a worthy cause - worthy of your time and the lives of others.
in friendship,
prad
I'm a smoker, of the marlboro lights that have been getting such bad press here. This has kind of opened my eyes a little. I guess that the level to which a smoker will deceive themselves about their habit is extraordinary. I do find myself smoking tab after tab of marlboro lights, in some vain effort to get my fix. Why do I smoke marlboro lights? Because I like the taste. Hmmmm, it's all starting to come together. Conspiracy nuts, vote now!
But I am sensitive to non smokers, particularly around food. There is a social etiquette to smoking, and that is definitely in violation of that.
On the other points raised, the economy and such, I think it is a kind of dead end, the vast sums of money that tabs raise through taxes is offset by the astronomical cost of cancer treatments, and sick days and suchlike. When you live in a country that has a National Health service, you understand where the taxes are going, but you also understand how they are being spent. Hmmm, one for better informed minds than mine, I think.
I suppose you have to ask, where is the cream going? And it is to Mr. Philip Morris and his ilk, they are the only people that do well out of smoking. Incidentally, did you know that the boardroom at the headquarters is no-smoking? A delicious piece of irony, I think.
Life is a crap shoot at best. The only good way to quit is cold turkey. I smoked from age 16 to 23. Quit cold turkey till age 30. Smoked till age 40. Quit. That was 16 years ago now. You smoke... you die. You don't smoke... you die. So?
Question you ask yourself is "how do I want to die?"... From ugly little pucker-pukes in your lungs? from a heart that is ruined from being "force marched" across the desert of life?
Or gently wrapped in a nice warm blanket... with your great grand-kids at your side showing great warmth and comfort in your final moments?
Life is a craps shoot. I don't care how I go. As long as I can make it to the potty on my own power on that last wonderful day.