advice for smokers

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I'm a smoker and the best advice I ever received was inside a book of matches: "Keep in a dry place and away from children". Words to lead a life by. Nice one.

People who say that smoking absolutely will kill you clearly haven't done their research. There's no doubt that smoking is bad for your health but the government, media and anti-smoking groups have manipulated statistics to paint a far worse picture than is realistic, and whenever I've discussed the issue of smoking with exactly the sort of cocky twit that is represented above the flashy, insubstantial rhetoric they regurgitate from the Man soon turns to dust when they run out of tabloid headlines and fear-mongering messages on the backs of cigarette cartons.

Smoking isn't as bad as it's made out to be. The chance of getting lung cancer undoubtedly increases massively for smokers than non-smokers, (apparently it is about 0.01% for non-smokers) but that risk in the first place (excepting those with strong family histories etc.) is so infinitesmally small that this massive increase isn't enough to justify describing the risk of getting lung cancer even for a life smoker as anything but highly improbable. As the passage from Forest shows below, the risk of lung cancer for smokers of varying lengths of time ranges from 0.2-1.6/10. I call those pretty excellent odds for something which, as I briefly elaborate on below, brings many rarely told benefits, and frankly if, against the odds, I contract lung cancer decades from now, as a contributing taxpayer I will probably benefit from advances made in treatment and possibly even cure via the NHS. Point: having considered everything, it is perfectly reasonable to conclude that the benefits outweigh the risks; personally, I'm far more concerned about the potential health implications of red meat, alcohol and mobile phones.



Smoking has many beneficial qualities which are never talked about. It decreases stress and anxiety, enhances memory, enhances concentration and has even been shown to decrease the likelihood of developing illnesses like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's and reducing the likelihood of developing problems such as with knee joints in old age. I am social agoraphobic, for 8 months I didn't leave my house in the worst period, but I started smoking and have found that it is a kind of 'solid courage' between my fingers, and have found that others with similar anxiety problems have agreed - my GP even advised me to continue smoking while I deal with this, and they get angry if you don't eat 5 a day or exercise for obscene amounts of time per week.

Here is a link to the website of Forest, a sensible pro-choice-style-pro-smoking organisation, which elaborates on much of what I have said. If you have looked for yourself at independent research which isn't being funded by anti-smoking or pro-smoking organisations, and have come to the reasoned conclusion that you think smoking is bad, then by all means say so without coming across as an unbearably self-righteous twit who can't tolerate alternative lifestyles. Please don't, however, simply regurgitate all the tabloid headlines and parental warnings you've been fed over the years and with this wafer-thin knowledge and understanding lambast smokers in violent tones for choosing their own path.

whatever next ? it's fine to swim with crocodiles ? salmonella is your friend ? don't listen to those killjoys who stop you snorting crystal meth ?

Are you going to respond with some semblance of evidence-supported argument or are you content spouting rhetorical nothings? If you're going to bother responding make it worthwhile.

have you seen someone with emphysema gasping for breath ?

have you seen someone with both feet amputated ?

have you seen gangrenous toes ?

these are all direct consequences of the charming habit which you are encouraging us to indulge in. **** you.

i am sorry for suggesting that smoking is bad for you. i do not know what i was thinking.

Lets be honest not smoking is healthier then smoking

People who say that smoking absolutely will kill you clearly haven't done their research. There's no doubt that smoking is bad for your health but the government, media and anti-smoking groups have manipulated statistics to paint a far worse picture than is realistic, and whenever I've discussed the issue of smoking with exactly the sort of cocky twit that is represented above the flashy, insubstantial rhetoric they regurgitate from the Man soon turns to dust when they run out of tabloid headlines and fear-mongering messages on the backs of cigarette cartons.

Smoking isn't as bad as it's made out to be. The chance of getting lung cancer undoubtedly increases massively for smokers than non-smokers, (apparently it is about 0.01% for non-smokers) but that risk in the first place (excepting those with strong family histories etc.) is so infinitesmally small that this massive increase isn't enough to justify describing the risk of getting lung cancer even for a life smoker as anything but highly improbable. As the passage from Forest shows below, the risk of lung cancer for smokers of varying lengths of time ranges from 0.2-1.6/10. I call those pretty excellent odds for something which, as I briefly elaborate on below, brings many rarely told benefits, and frankly if, against the odds, I contract lung cancer decades from now, as a contributing taxpayer I will probably benefit from advances made in treatment and possibly even cure via the NHS. Point: having considered everything, it is perfectly reasonable to conclude that the benefits outweigh the risks; personally, I'm far more concerned about the potential health implications of red meat, alcohol and mobile phones.



Smoking has many beneficial qualities which are never talked about. It decreases stress and anxiety, enhances memory, enhances concentration and has even been shown to decrease the likelihood of developing illnesses like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's and reducing the likelihood of developing problems such as with knee joints in old age. I am social agoraphobic, for 8 months I didn't leave my house in the worst period, but I started smoking and have found that it is a kind of 'solid courage' between my fingers, and have found that others with similar anxiety problems have agreed - my GP even advised me to continue smoking while I deal with this, and they get angry if you don't eat 5 a day or exercise for obscene amounts of time per week.

Here is a link to the website of Forest, a sensible pro-choice-style-pro-smoking organisation, which elaborates on much of what I have said. If you have looked for yourself at independent research which isn't being funded by anti-smoking or pro-smoking organisations, and have come to the reasoned conclusion that you think smoking is bad, then by all means say so without coming across as an unbearably self-righteous twit who can't tolerate alternative lifestyles. Please don't, however, simply regurgitate all the tabloid headlines and parental warnings you've been fed over the years and with this wafer-thin knowledge and understanding lambast smokers in violent tones for choosing their own path.

You sure this isn't due to the body being given more nicotine due to an addiction to it?

If it was up to me there'd be a blanket ban on smoking. It's the second hand smoke that's the problem. Alcohol may be harmful but if I get smashed and breathe on you it doesn't have any negative effects. People can do what they want (including ruining their lives) but if it affects anyone else it's wrong. It's also a disgusting habit, it stinks and smokers generally just look stupid.