Why do people smoke if they know it's dangerous?

[CoolCatMar1]

[Red_Arrow]

Often they have friends who smoke so they start it. Smoking is addictive and very hard to kick the habit! Those that claim that smoking is not really dangerous are liars or fools.

"According to the American Cancer Society, lung cancer — and lung cancer caused by asbestos — is the number one killer, with 131,880 estimated deaths in 2022 alone, making it three times deadlier than breast cancer."

[Red_Arrow]

Thank you for MHO. :-)

[dolemite58]

cuz it feels really good and lots of things are dangerous so might as well enjoy ur life 🤷‍♂️ 😂 i had a great grandma that smoked and drank her whole life and she lived til her 90’s then there’s people that don’t smoke at all that still get lung cancer.

[strateguy632]

one comedian said, "if i lose 20 years it is off the end who wants to live age 70baches anyway" but just a joke. quality of life and complications get affected

[strateguy632]

*aches =baches

[Agape93]

Because I won't live long enough for it to matter. I don't smoke a lot, but I do sometimes.

[Paris13]

Bad Habit Hard to Kick. xxoo

[Paris13]

Thanks to Gag. xxoo

[Miristheiss]

Because they wanted to look cool when they were 14 or something and rebel a bit and they started doing it because the cool kids were doing it. They got themselves addicted to it and now they cannot stop.

Peer pressure and being a sheep and following the crowd. That is why everyone has a tattoo now or a piercing. Anything I deem "meaningful" needs to have a tattoo etched for life on my body. Someone I know died? Let's go etch their initials or name on my body for life. Favorite phrase or inspirational saying? Let's engrave it into my skin when I'm 18. I'll be glad it is there when I am 30 and 40.

Peer pressure. Following the crowd around like sheep.

[rigmarole]

It's a stimulant. It keep you awake and alert for long hours. It's an appetite suppressant. It helps kill stress (anxiolytic). So for example if you have to work long hours late at night and deal with a bunch of demanding people like say a waiter does it becomes a staple habit.

[JackCarter]

I used to back in my late teenage

It was mostly influenced by movies and stuff portraying it as something that makes you look "Cool" and "Badass" and it did succeed in making me quite addicted

But I noticed I was getting easily gassed out than usual during morning runs and I thankfully succeeded in quitting

[andreasderjuengere]

I smoke.

Let's have a look at other ''dangerous'' things in life:

- traffic

- chemicals in food

- obesity

- natural disasters

- credit cards, loans and bankers

- politicians

- marriage

- private gunmen playing Wild West

- trigger happy police men

- risky sports adventures

- sleeping with a married woman

... shall I continue? :)

[msc545]

Unfortunately, the existence of other dangers things does not mitigate the risk and smoking one bit. Even worse for most people The risk is essentially hidden until it becomes a critical issue in your life.

[andreasderjuengere]

@msc545 - you are basically right. But what about my personal FREEDOM to make own decisions?

[msc545]

Given that you are free to harm yourself in other ways, you are free to do it by smoking too. As long as you don't harm others by say - secondhand smoke.

If there are people who love and care for you enough that they would grieve over your premature death, you might want to consider their feelings about your smoking as well.

[andreasderjuengere]

I won't smoke if it disturbs non smokers around me.

[msc545]

That is nice of you. Do you think that it will disturb your family or other people that love you when you die prematurely?

[andreasderjuengere]

@msc545 - I think that there will be some kind of regret; yes. Anyhow - I just turned 60 and it's obvious and predictable that I will not live for ever. The closer we get to 'dead line' (heh heh) the more familiar becomes the thought for us. There's nothing scary about it when I (we, here) think about it. As an interesting fact, most but 4 of my ancestors did not see their 50th birthday - so I'm kind of overdue... / The ones I will leave behind one day will need to get by on their own after me - this way or that way - and sooner or later. I take death fore granted; they do the same.
But until this happens we are resolute to make each day together a good one.

[msc545]

Good thoughts!

[andreasderjuengere]

@msc545 ... Thanks. I try to live... ''consciously'' :)

[msc545]

👍!!!

[Blueeyes81]

Same reason people are over weight or do drugs or underweight or consume massive amounts of sugar. They live I'm the now. They now there will be consequences down the line but are just living for today.

[RedInnocent68]

To look cool and fit in. Had a hot girl came up to me in a bar and asked, ‘you smoke, don’t you?’ That night, I did 😉 Even kept a fancy lighter on me whenever I went out for a few years after that, just in case 😂

[BoopBoopBeep]

Drinking and poor dietary habits are dangerous as well. People do a lot of stuff they know is dangerous.

[Somoneelse]

Bad influenceses, friends who do smoke, addiction, testing the waters, to get rid of stress, to get rid of emotions, A lot of reasons I'm afraid.

[AmeerX]

Obviously that's why it's called an addiction.

Fornication is harmful but people do that too. Drinking excessive is also harmful but people do that too. It's just the way it's done in the eorld

[abc3643]

Because nicotine is addictive so once one starts, it quickly becomes hard to quit.

[jamesgoldman]

Because it's enjoyable... I mean I'm only indulging in the occasional cigar so I suppose it's different
My doctor and insurance company accept me as a non-smoker

[FunkyMonkee]

Lack of brains. More money than brains. What are they now, $20.00 a pack?

[renodnol32]

In countries where its expensive, it actually helps in keeping people away from it. In some countries its so cheap that its surprising if someone doesn't pick up the habit.

[FunkyMonkee]

@renodnol32 Why? What would be the point? WOOHOO!! Cigarettes are only 25c a pack!! I'm gonna start smoking now because it's so cheap! I can't wait to get cancer!! I'm gonna start smoking 5 packs a day just because it'd only cost me $1.25! Life just ISN'T short enough for me!! I really don't care that I'm throwing away $1.25 a day on this shit that's gonna kill me! as long as it doesn't cost $20.00 a pack, I'm all in!!

[Sparkie460]

People do a lot of things that are bad for them. They start doing it because of peer pressure and keep doing it because they get addicted to it

[msc545]

Smoking is addictive and it helps to calm people down and it's very difficult to stop doing something that makes you feel better, even if it's only in the short term.

[exitseven]

They see people in the movies do it and think it looks cool.

[Dargil]

We get addicted while we think we will live forever.

[eagle1951]

well when I use to smoke was because the Army basically made you if you did not smkoe they made you pick up the area while everyone who did smoke got a break

[Nifrayu]

Some people have very poor decision making skills.

[Twalli]

It's a way to belong and a form of stress relief. I have a former friend who smokes a few times a year when he's really stressed out.

[Minahh]

I feel like for some when they're dealing with a psychologically challenging situation it makes it suck less for a while

[sheikalana]

They're addicted to it.

[Alex-Snow]

Good question... peer pressure most likely

[Unit1]

That's the power of addiction.

[jahaims]

Peer pressure/curiosity that turns into addiction

[TallAnon]

Addiction and initially just copying others.

[Cubus]

It's trendy. The same with drugs

[LunarEclipse433]

Just a habit and addiction

[Kingofkings1992]

Because it feels good.

[Christoff92]

Calmness