What is the lure of tobacco products?

[SlightlyCrazy]

I totally just don't eat it
Most of my friends either smoke or dip or something
it makes no sense to me

[Orion1015]

Believe it or not, many people that use tobacco realize it's harmful, and would stop, if it was that easy.

The problem is that it's chemically addictive. Once you start, either by choice, peer pressure, experimentation, etc, you begin to develop a dependancy that's very hard to break.

It's the same way people become alcoholics, drug addicts, or coffee fiends. Anyone who can't function without their morning coffee is going through the same chemical dependency. The only difference is that coffee isn't as bad for you.

Tobacco is a stupid habit, but it's hard to quit.

[SlightlyCrazy]

I know all that
But if you never start you don't Have to worry about quitting

[Orion1015]

Oh, absolutely, but people do all sorts of stupid things, for stupid reasons. It doesn't mean it's justified, but nobody makes the right choices their entire life. Peer pressure can be a strong influence for some people.

Some people start smoking, some stay with abusive boyfriends, some punch cops, etc. It's a stupid choice.

[SlightlyCrazy]

Yea but still it seems hard to start smoking anyway
I don't know
The first person to smoke must have been a real dumbass
He/she coughed their lungs up yet kept going

[Orion1015]

Well, unfortunately, tobacco has been around for thousands of years. Nearly as long as agriculture, in general.

The problem back then, though, was that you only lived to 30-40 years old, so you died before the tobacco had time to do any lasting damage.

[SlightlyCrazy]

Yea I know I know
But they still most have noticed unpleasnet symptoms

[Orion1015]

True, but at that point, our knowledge of medical science was... terrible, to say the least.

"Oh, you've started coughing up brown crap? Well, then you must have a reversed colon! Here, drink this mercury, while I shove a hot poker up your ass, to get everything flowing again".

It's a wonder humanity has made it this far, lol

[SlightlyCrazy]

Well as a history major I can say that you are too right about shitty medical knowledge
Still though

[Orion1015]

Oh, I completely agree with your point.

Humans just don't always have their own best interests in mind, unfortunately.

[SlightlyCrazy]

As it seems

[somedaylove]

nor to me. the air is already polluted, i don't see the sense of polluting your lungs, and killing yourself and your neighbors with the worst smelling crap ever: the cigarette.

[Geminiwolf21]

Neither does it to me. My mom smokes & my sister used to, but I don't get it. They say they started cause it looked cool & then couldn't stop, but... What? Why is it "cool"? Doesn't make any sense. You're not alone in your confusion.

[SlightlyCrazy]

It's a habit routed in antiquity
We stop doing thjngs from the past but not that stupid habit

[Geminiwolf21]

Exactly. 🙄 But I guess it's calming to some people. Some take drugs, some smoke, some do other things when they're in a bad place (mentally). Although it's no excuse for damaging your lungs like that.

[SlightlyCrazy]

I know but there's so many other positive use full rewarding ways to relax

[Geminiwolf21]

That's what I don't get. I guess come people enjoy to destroying themselves.

[bubbletrouble]

Casual social thing when I was in college. So was pot.

[wankiam]

same as any other drug including cafiene or alcohol

[Anonymous]

I started chewing when I was a FF. It didn't look good to be smoking at a fire. Much like beer it's an acquired taste.

[Kate2001]

I have no idea.
My grandfather smokes cigars sometimes. After he smokes them I won't go near him.
And my uncle does too.
Personally I hate it

[chintita]

nicotine

[bcromartie]

It feels good.

[SlightlyCrazy]

There's a million other things that feel good that don't kill you

[bcromartie]

And there are a million more that do. It's just one slow death over another.

[SlightlyCrazy]

That's a silly reason to risk your health

[bcromartie]

Humans are silly things. There's no reason to be on this website when we could be doing something more productive or learning something more meaningful and actually changing the world, even if incrementally, for the better.

But nope! We're arguing about tobackee.

[SlightlyCrazy]

Dude that's such a weak half ass argument

[bcromartie]

So is, "it makes no sense to me. why do it?"

It runs an underlying implication of personal disapproval as valid grounds, which is fine, but definitely not strong. It just so happens you can talk about all of the major health effects but pure tobacco has far less and actually nicotine, the product which causes the cravings, has health benefits.

Etc.

Boring shit.

More knowledge of chemistry.

No one cares B.

:(