Theories on Smoking

[Valka D'Ur]

I didn't ask your sympathy or expect it. I don't desire it in this situation, so you can keep it.

It wasn't offered.

I do want people to know what one person has experienced should they, and I hope they do, quit. I would like people who don't smoke to understand at least a little bit about why people do.

I honestly am glad that you quit, and that you're regaining some of your health. I wish my dad had done that a lot sooner, and that it didn't take dementia for him to stop.

 

[Farm Boy]

It definitely gets better and better with the passing years, but I fear the memory of it never entirely leaves you. It's 17 years since I finally stopped smoking (after more than 20 years of trying to), yet I still dream about it from time to time.

Nowadays, if I learn that someone smokes, I have to stop myself from asking "Oh, do people still do that then?" It really is a mad thing to do. And always was.

Fenks! It comes and goes here. I miss them more when I'm doing field work or when winter rolls in. I always liked stepping out in a tee shirt when it was below zero for the couple minutes of shivering it would take to get through one(Celcius. Stepping out below 0 Farenheit was also exhillarating, but usually less welcome). It has gotten better.

Find a replacement, if your main social outlet is tandem suicide that's sad. Doing heroin or being in a war zone with people is also intensely bonding.

Also, I don't know what year you quit but its well documented that society in general has become less social/more isolated in the past decades. So don't be so quick to blame clean living.

I didn't say it was my main social outlet, it simply is a form of social bonding. It's one that fits into a work/life schedule easily, cuts across more universal social lines, and suffers from a complete lack of pretention. Aside from the social aspect, take it or leave it as you may, it's also an antidepressant. I'm not blaming clean living, but you cannot remove a powerful stimulant from the background noise of a biochemical meatbag and change nothing. Stuff changes and substitutes are substitutes, not replacements.

It wasn't offered.

No you! Neener neener neener!

 

[Andree Thorp]

One theory that I read about smoking tells that "The current study examined associations between race and psychosocial/environmental factors with current smoking status" which clearly stated that social and environmental factors are related to smoking cessation.

 

[Valka D'Ur]

No you! Neener neener neener!

Well, I guess there's really nothing more to say, other than you explained why you felt smoking was so important to you, and I explained what kind of effect on-campus smoking had on me.

But I'm really glad that you chose to focus on that instead of acknowledging that I'm in favor of you being healthier as a result of your decision to quit. Way to go.

 

[Farm Boy]

The eye roll is more what I was going for tthan the spock eyebrow, but it'll do. So long as it's Spock-like.

 

[Valka D'Ur]

The eye roll is more what I was going for tthan the spock eyebrow, but it'll do. So long as it's Spock-like.

Suit yourself. I use the other one to indicate annoyance. For a real Spockian smiley, look me up on TrekBBS where they actually have a Vulcan smiley.

 

[metalhead]

I didn't say it was my main social outlet, it simply is a form of social bonding. It's one that fits into a work/life schedule easily, cuts across more universal social lines, and suffers from a complete lack of pretention. Aside from the social aspect, take it or leave it as you may, it's also an antidepressant. I'm not blaming clean living, but you cannot remove a powerful stimulant from the background noise of a biochemical meatbag and change nothing. Stuff changes and substitutes are substitutes, not replacements.

Smoking rates have actually been on a slow decline since the 1970s, but back then you didn't necessarily need to huddle outside to catch a smoke. It probably wasn't until the late 80s-ish that smoking became more of a social thing to do. It's impossible not to converse with fellow smokers huddled outside slowly killing themselves in the middle of a Chicago winter.

Nevertheless, it would fit a decades-long trend of declining social interaction that smoking rates are declining. At my law school especially it was a great activity to get to know a wider circle of people than I would have otherwise. I would never advocate anyone start smoking, of course, but the social aspect should not be underestimated as to why people don't want to quit.

 

[civvver]

Right, just like drinking. I could quit drinking alone while watching tv and stuff, or having a drink after a long day at work, but I don't think I could quit drinking when we go to neighborhood bbqs and parties and everyone is having a beer.

When I visited Japan they had little smoking rooms everywhere, in the plant I was at, at mcdonald's, like every restaurant it seemed. They were glass/plastic enclosures with fans to suck all the smoke out. So no one else breathed it, the smokers had a little room to hang out in and there was no ambiguity about where it was polite to smoke.

 

[Borachio]

And while we're on the subject, has the air quality in aeroplanes got worse since the smoking ban, like they say?

Anyone noticed this?

(Because, you see, when smoking was allowed they used to have to replace all the air every few minutes. And now they don't.)

 

[Hygro]

I've been thinking about this @Narz , and I think you're on to something. That or your idea has wormed into my head and I can't shake it.

 

[REDY]

Nevertheless, it would fit a decades-long trend of declining social interaction that smoking rates are declining. At my law school especially it was a great activity to get to know a wider circle of people than I would have otherwise. I would never advocate anyone start smoking, of course, but the social aspect should not be underestimated as to why people don't want to quit.

I remember how our philosophy professor told us once something like "where are the real conversations today, just for sake of conversation? I am afraid that only place nowdays is among smokers outside".

 

[Akka]

I lose track of time all the time, now. I could tell you exactly when it was when I was smoking. A cigarette every hour, approximately, put a chemical rhythm in the day. A beat, as it were. My focus is much worse. I'm much hungrier. I gained forty pounds(~18kg or 2.8 stones). Only manged to lose about 15 of them off max, thus far. Those are an anchor too. I hate work alot more. Every hour before I got a quick win. Quick win, go get something done, quick win, go get something done. And Boots is right, the quick wins involved checking in with co-smokers. We got a lot of crap done during those breaks. Networking across functional departments at a university, learning institutional breadth, building relationships that worked and were fun. Those atrophied and died when I quit. Then the campus smoking ban rolled in and the rest of them atrophied as well. I have no idea what it would be, but I would put money on real productivity and job satisfaction having been lost with the extinguishing of the smoking nooks. I go outside less, I leave the house less, I don't chat up people at the store where I would pick up my daily ration. Socially speaking? Quitting smoking hurt my brain significantly.

Replace the hourly smoke with a bihourly coffee (or tea or whatever). Works even better, because now you can include the non-smokers in it.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

During our smoking breaks the non smokers are also asked to join. I started doing this because I found that if you get the team out of the office and into a more social environment they'll share what issues they encounter and think about solutions as a team. Otherwise you'll have ITers buried in their computers getting stuck where a team can make real progress. Plus simply not thinking about a problem for a short time, and then re-engaging can reset the train of thought and you come up with a wider range of solutions.

Now it's an unwritten rule to take a short 5 minute break each 90 minutes on set times.

 

[Akka]

During our smoking breaks the non smokers are also asked to join.

So they can enjoy second-hand smoking ?

 

[metalhead]

Replace the hourly smoke with a bihourly coffee (or tea or whatever). Works even better, because now you can include the non-smokers in it.

It's sooooo not the same thing. People will hate the interruption. The smokers need the interruption; indeed their entire lives are structured to incorporate habitual interruptions. It's why smoke breaks are so effective for socializing and collaboration - the people engaging in them are mentally checked-in for them, and have probably spent the last several minutes looking forward to them. There is quite literally nowhere else the smoker would rather be at that time.

Force a non-smoker to gather with his or her co-workers for 5 minutes every hour, you're just going to make them annoyed and resentful.

 

[Akka]

You must not have the "coffee break" culture to say that.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

So they can enjoy second-hand smoking ?

Smoking breaks are outside.

And the people I work with aren't going out of their way to be offended and have something to whine about.

 

[metalhead]

Anti-smoking SJWs are the worst.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

Especially if they quit smoking.

 

[Hrothbern]

Smoking groups are the best intelligence networks there are in a big company,
the more being the outcasts, the stronger the crossbordering bonding and trust.