Smoke?

[PluMGMK]

While I meant something even more meagre. I have a very restricted appetite.

[NyaNyaLily]

Just cut in half then. again

[Xenon]

Can you guys honestly say you do nothing that negatively affects your health or well-being?

[Dart]

I fail to comprehend why some folks smoke just to "relieve stress" and to experience "pleasure." There are more healthy ways to take away stress, and that pleasure is only temporary. The many chemicals that are put into your body are harmful and will affect you in the long-term.

I would take stress over 4,000 different chemicals affecting my lungs anytime.

I take it you've never been in a position that creates high anxiety for several hours a day. As someone who works in the restaurant industry let me tell you, a large amount of us smoke something at some point during our downtime. I rarely carry any cigarettes myself, but I still bum one off my coworkers every once and awhile to relieve some stress during a 5 minute break between 6 busy work hours.

That isn't to say I endorse smoking cigarettes or any other drug but those using them or not likely knows the risks in this day and age anyways.

Here, is the fault of the Chinese.

Don't say such shit please.

Everything is China’s fault

Now that's a relevant joke!

Can you guys honestly say you do nothing that negatively affects your health or well-being?

This.

[Ambidextroid]

I've never smoked and don't plan to, but I have nothing against those who do. Sure it's stupid, but my lifestyle is hardly healthy (considering my awful sleeping habits and poor diet) so I'd be a hypocrite if I was to complain. I also don't plan to drink, at least not for the most part (though this has less to do with health and more to do with how drunk people always get on my nerves, and I wouldn't want to subject other people to a drunk me).
I'd be lying if I said I wasn't curious about the effects of marijuana but it's not something I'd think about trying until I'm at least in my 20s, and if I ever did decide to try some I wouldn't smoke it.
Though seeing how many people's views have changed throughout this thread I suppose all of these points are subject to change.

[Ray502]

I take it you've never been in a position that creates high anxiety for several hours a day. As someone who works in the restaurant industry let me tell you, a large amount of us smoke something at some point during our downtime. I rarely carry any cigarettes myself, but I still bum one off my coworkers every once and awhile to relieve some stress during a 5 minute break between 6 busy work hours.

Hey, whatever works for you, do it. I'm not here to judge you or the others that do smoke something.

I just don't believe in smoking. There are too many risks to the body. That's my belief and I stand by it. Now, that doesn't mean I hate the people that does smoke.

[Ambidextroid]

While I do think smoking is properly bad for you, I also kind of think schools and the media probably make it out to be a little worse than it actually is. I'd probably be more likely dying from recklessly crossing the road (a bad habit of mine) than someone would die from smoking, and I remember being warned about smoking a lot more than road crossing.
Maybe it's got to do with how a lot of kids fall prey to peer pressure so the only way to stop people smoking from a young age is to get it into their heads that it's practically evil, while things like crossing the road should just be obvious. Regretfully I remember when I was young I would just assume any stranger in the streets who smoked must be a chav, and now I see how silly and judgemental that is. Though I do partially blame the constant barrages of PSAs and assemblies I had to face talking about the dangers of smoking and peer pressure.

[Keane]

I don't know what the situation is over in the EU, but I get the impression we're supposed to keep hating weed in the US because it conveniently makes corporations cash to keep it illegal and incarcerate people, and then in turn they go and prop up the politicians who hate drugs. There's literally no logical reason why drugs shouldn't be legalised and regulated and people be educated on them, instead of threatening people with prison (which is a million times more psychologically damaging) which I find an extremely authoritarian manner to deal with the issue.

Clearly you didn't read my first statement well enough. I understand people would smoke just cause they like to for a peaceful pastime, but not to relieve stress or experience temporary pleasure.

Really? If your perspective is that drugs lean towards a negative impact I'd think you'd rather argue the opposite - it's easy to substitute having a good time with something else, but legitimate stress relief or a necessary focus boost has no real contender.

Listening to soothing music, having a good laugh and taking deep breaths are quick ways to relieve stress.

Aren't these all basically alternatives for a peaceful pastime, not stress relief? There's not many scenarios I can think of where I'd want a smoke for that purpose but pick a deep breath over it. When I feel down in the gutter I always find doing things like eating comfort food or playing video games to be pretty superficial distractions because they don't really help take my mind off anything. Smoking or drinking forces you to tone down, hence why they've become such universally common things for people to take part in.

I wasn't referencing to weed.

a

And that's a different story.

Oh yeah, I'm not saying weed is a perfect drug without negatives, but it's not that much different from alcohol which I'm pretty sure you could get the same results listed in that article for. When used correctly marijuanus can actually have health benefits, boost performance, help people cope, etc, something I think needs way more coverage and people need to be educated on, rather than uphold this "touch weed once and your skeleton disintegrates" horror story. It's like saying if you eat big macs all the time, eventually it's gonna catch up to you - yeah no fucking shit, sherlock?

Bang someone.

You really make me cringe sometimes.

I actually lol'd out loud at this juan.

[Adsolution]

Listening to soothing music, having a good laugh and taking deep breaths are quick ways to relieve stress. There's more, but since you're limiting to this one scenario, the others wouldn't be as highly effective. But that's three different ways, and they work anytime.

I don't think you quite understand how good smoking is at clearing your mind, because most of those things are laughably futile in comparison.

Keane put it better than I was going to.

I just don't believe in smoking. There are too many risks to the body. That's my belief and I stand by it. Now, that doesn't mean I hate the people that does smoke.

I reckon you might "believe" in smoking a little bit more if you were beginning to buckle under the weight of your job/life, which is the issue with saying you don't believe in it right off the bat. The fact of the matter is that there aren't really any alternatives to smoking that produce the same instant calming effect that smoking does, and if you'd rather become depressed, go borderline insane and fail to function correctly when you need to, then be my guest.

I know that's not why everyone smokes, but saying that you don't "believe" in it is rather dishonest given that this is a very real scenario a lot of people have to face, and for all you know, you might as well at some point.

[Ray502]

Aren't these all basically alternatives for a peaceful pastime, not stress relief? There's not many scenarios I can think of where I'd want a smoke for that purpose but pick a deep breath over it. When I feel down in the gutter I always find doing things like eating comfort food or playing video games to be pretty superficial distractions because they don't really help take my mind off anything. Smoking or drinking forces you to tone down, hence why they've become such universally common things for people to take part in.

When listening to soft music, say classical music, it's like the world around you slows down, making the experience relaxing. When a person laughs, the brain's feel-good neurotransmitters produce and blood flow increases. Makes the tension decrease. And for deep breaths, can't really think of a good reason, but probably similar to listening to soothing music.

Oh yeah, I'm not saying weed is a perfect drug without negatives, but it's not that much different alcohol which I'm pretty sure you could get the same results listed in that article for. When used correctly marijuanus can actually have health benefits, boost performance, help people cope, etc, something I think needs way more coverage and people need to be educated on, rather than uphold this "touch weed once and your skeleton disintegrates" horror story. It's like saying if you eat big macs all the time, eventually it's gonna catch up to you - yeah no fucking shit, sherlock?

Well yeah, that's why it was legalized for medical reasons. But you know, some people use it incorrectly to the abuse level.

I know that's not why everyone smokes, but saying that you don't "believe" in it is rather dishonest given that this is a very real scenario a lot of people have to face, and for all you know, you might as well at some point.

Well, looking at the early part of this topic and how some opinions have changed (including yours), maybe I will understand more as I grow up.

[Adsolution]

lol i fell for the weed is bad shtick apparently

really? i literally don't remember thinking that at any point in time, but i guess we do change a lot hue

i'm actually surprised my opinion on the stress thing hasn't changed at all since that point. you'd think it would at least a little bit

[incognito]

Bang someone.

You really make me cringe sometimes.

I know what they all say,

Virgin life hasn't chose me, I chose it

.

Can you name some of these alternative methods of stress relief you can whip out during a five-minute work break that are as universally effective?

Food? Like a sandwich?

Wouldn't work for me. I couldn't eat a sandwich in five minutes even if I was relaxed, never mind stressed!

I thinking of something more like this:


Not this:

[Hunchman801]

I fail to comprehend why some folks smoke just to "relieve stress" and to experience "pleasure." There are more healthy ways to take away stress, and that pleasure is only temporary.

Like the others mentioned, I think you underestimate the convenience and effectiveness of a cigarette.

I don't smoke much, probably two a day on average at the moment (being careful with my gastritis), but I do certainly look forward to my cigarette and glass of whisky when I get home from a long day at work.

[NyaNyaLily]

I know what they all say,

Virgin life hasn't chose me, I chose it

.

"Like a virgin" is literally playing on the radio right now.

Can you name some of these alternative methods of stress relief you can whip out during a five-minute work break that are as universally effective?

Food? Like a sandwich?

Wouldn't work for me. I couldn't eat a sandwich in five minutes even if I was relaxed, never mind stressed!

I thinking of something more like this:


Not this:

[Ambidextroid]

but I do certainly look forward to my cigarette and glass of whisky when I get home from a long day at work.

Why's it always a cigarette and a glass of whisky? Why not a cigarette and a glass of orange juice, or a cigarette and a nice hot chocolate?
Do the two just go well together?

[Pirez]

According to Blue Mountain State, the best way to relieve stress and fatigue is to stick a popsicle up your ass. Why doesn't Hunch try that instead or ruining his wallet?

[Hunchman801]

Why's it always a cigarette and a glass of whisky? Why not a cigarette and a glass of orange juice, or a cigarette and a nice hot chocolate?
Do the two just go well together?

Well I like whisky a lot more than orange juice or hot chocolate, and its strong flavor isn't killed by that of the cigarette (drinking wine when smoking is pointless, for example). Plus, a small dose of alcohol helps you relax.

According to Blue Mountain State, the best way to relieve stress and fatigue is to stick a popsicle up your ass. Why doesn't Hunch try that instead or ruining his wallet?

I don't think I'd find it very enjoyable.

[Xenon]

I used to drink Malibu last summer in the evenings. It too was an effective remedy for stress. Nowadays my fix is caffeine, specifically procured through barista coffee. Fortunately there are no health drawbacks, but on the other hand I probably spend more on this indulgence than your average smoker.

[PluMGMK]

For those who still fail to see smokers' POV, I'll just leave this here: (Gets really good after 2:00!)

As for why I don't think I'd ever do it myself: I know quite a few smokers IRL, and any time I've expressed any interest in it, they've all been unequivocal in telling me not to go down that road. Ever. Even the ones who are younger than I am. I always do bear that in mind.

Also, Xenon, your remark about caffeine reminds me of something funny I heard on the radio. There's an ad raising awareness about the apparent link between alcohol and breast cancer. There's a woman who comes back from the doctor's, relieved that she hasn't got breast cancer. Her friend says she'll need a drink after that, but she says no, the doctor said it increases the risk. She remarks "So it's tea for me today!" I can't help but wonder what they'll say when they find a link between tea and breast cancer. I'm sure they will eventually!

[Rayfist]

Weirdly enough I've never smoked- not that I'm against it or anything, I was in full support of legalizing it in my state. I can undoubtedly admit I've encountered a lot of anxiety in various situations. Though I never used marijuana to cope with such a situation (even with the availability of it, I could just ask my brother if I wanted.) I'm aware that marijuana technically isn't bad for you, but I find myself just not having any reason to try it. If I find myself stressed out I usually just opt for the usual (eating, playing games, sex, etc.) My only real issue with marijuana from what I've witnessed from friends of mine, it seems to create some type of laziness, I notice a big lack in motivation for homework or projects and more time focused on 'relaxing' whenever they take a hit. I will probably try out marijuana in a better time in my life, but I'm just sort of lacking a reason to really try it, other than simply trying to understand it. It's strange and weird reasoning but I feel like one of the biggest reasons I haven't done marijuana up to this point is due to the fact that I've maintained this healthy image for this long and I for some reason feel this weird urge to uphold that. Taking that into consideration, that makes all the more less sense when I have a poor sleeping schedule and I don't quite eat healthy either.