Because we want to.

Because the more you people yell at us about it the more we are probably are not going to quit just on general principle. 

I will 'choose' to quit if I want to, I will not be threatened or mandated to quit. Have I quit ? Yes many times but I have a stubborn streak about being "ordered" to do or not do anything.  I actually started smoking because my mother said, "I better not ever catch you smoking".  THAT became a challenge! Up to that point (1964-I was 19) the thought of smoking hadn't even crossed my mind!!  I come from a totally non-smoking family! Although my brother never smoked ciggies, he smoked everything else plus alcohol - he's deceased - I'm still here.  Go figure. I have my own health insurance that I pay for so don't worry yourself that any smoking illness I might get will come out of your pocket - unlike the illegals who we pay for on a daily basis.

When my daughter asked me what I would do if she started smoking I told her - if you are 18, you are an adult, you do what you feel is right for you. I hope you don't start smoking but if you do it is your responsibility.  She doesn't smoke or drink.

You're surprised that people make bad health decisions? I'm surprised more people don't smoke, frankly.

I have the occasional cigar, myself.

I personally think it is ludicrious that special interest groups/state-local government can dictate to private business owners what they will and will not allow in their establishments.  Smacks of big brother to me.

If you will notice it is probably the poor, i.e. homeless who are smoking!!!

The Jehovah's Witnesses harassing buffojournerwafer7 really makes my day!

Oh, the Karma!

Steve, am I wrong in assuming you're receiving your treatment at CBCC, or did I read it in your blog?  If I'm right, next time you're there, take a look at the parking lot.  The ground is covered with cigarette butts.  My mom goes to the pain management center there, and one day while waiting, I was nearly knocked over again and again by patients arriving reeking of cigarette smoke.  On the way out to bring the car around for my mom, I noticed what I considered to be a ridiculously large number of cigarette butts on the ground for the location.  And sure and anything, before I reached my car, a woman lit u p and proceeded to power smoke her way from her car to the door of the pain management center.  It was way too much irony for my delicate system.  My head exploded.  I haven't been the same since.

I am a smoker and agree it is a very unhealthy thing to continue to do, and am trying to quit.  Although I agree that smoking is extremely harmful I have to say that so is being overweight.  More people die each year from complications from being overweight than from smoking.  How come people aren't outraged by the millions of people who glutton themselves to death each year?  If a smoker only smoked in a box where no carcinogens could escape would those who think it should be banned feel the same way?  If so why, they aren't hurting anyone but themselves?  Please don't take what I have said the wrong way, I defiantly think that people should not be able to smoke in doors in public places or around children, but there has to be a limit to all the restrictions.  I will be all for completely banning smoking if we can ban all of the overweight people in this country as well.  Overweight parents affect their children in very negative ways just like smoking parents, how many healthy weight children do you see being raised by someone who is unhealthily fat?  In my experience not that many, that is why the national percentage of people overweight goes up every year.

Agree with you, JSAB.  

.

Dgrealish, the difference is that tobacco use frequently leads to death *WHEN USED AS INTENDED.*  And TheTruthHurts, the top four causes of death in the US are all at least aggravated by smoking, if not caused by it.

I watched my Pop die of congestive heart failure and COPD before he was 73.  You may not wish to live to be 100, but believe me, you wouldn't wish this death on your worst enemy.  And if you're ever on your death bed because of smoking, remember to ask yourself if it was worth it. 

random, we're on the same page, right.

He was my POP, my DADDY.  I went to every doctor's appointment with him.  COPD is Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, commonly known as Emphysema.  I watched him smoke my whole life.  He smoked until he was unable to drive to the store to buy cigarettes.  Yeah, there are heart problems in his family history and everyone of his siblings who have heart problems smoke like chimneys. 

BTW, I've never smoked, nor do I have heart problems, even though there are heart problems in my mother's family as well.  Coincidentally, as with my Pop's family, it's those who smoke who suffer with them.

DG-

I am fully aware that smoking is harmful and am in the process of quiting.  I have never met you so how can MY smoke harm you?  Polluting the air? Yes smoking pollutes the air and I agree that is another good reason to quit.  If this is your reasoning my question to you is what kind of car do you drive?  In my opinion if you drive anything bigger than a 4 cylinder YOU are polluting MY air more than I am polluting yours. 

Smoking is bad for all Californians because we could all end up burning in Hell..........

Smokers fund First 5 which came about through the efforts of one Meat Head who may ride that victory into the Governor's mansion and would then run the state right straight to Hell in a hand basket.

And because of that, I think smokers should stop right now.

Tom:  "Witter, technically, the law only says you can't allow smoking in areas where employees must go.  Owner-operated establishments are exempt." So even if a bar or restaurant is owner operated people can smoke?  Wrong. We can't.  If a potential employee knows the establishment is a smoking allowed establishment then they take the job or don't!  Each establishment should be able to decide for themselves whether they want smoking or non-smoking - it has not been their choice at all the "law" was put upon them.

Griffon: It doesn't bother me in the least that people smoke, except of course for the part where they force ME to subsidize THEIR medical bills. They're being led by the brain by advertising / a concept of cool.  YOU are not subsidizing my medical bills. I don't hear you complaining about the medical bills we all pay for the gang people who are causing harm to others. Do you really think they have health insurance?  Do you really think you are not footing the bills for them and the ones they harm/kill?  I can almost bet my social security check that most if not all people did not take up smoking because of advertising. That's bunk. Do you think all alcoholics started drinking because of ads? Well then let's stop all those ads also. Let's stop ALL ads - period.  409 bathroom cleaner is very harmful to your lungsif you breath it in while cleaning - let's do away with that too.

OK, truth and Adam and anyone else who wants to split these hairs,  I know that my car pollutes your air, and I know the fast food industry pollutes and cows pollute and our body's expel gas that pollute and marshes create gas that pollute and so on and so on.  I concede this argument.  So there you are.  I apologize to any smokers I may have offended.  Perhaps if smokers conceded the fact that there are people who are highly sensitive and others who are allergic to smoke and have difficulty breathing................................ah, but that would be impeding their rights.

dg:  ever since I started smoking I have always asked people around me if my smoke will bother them.  I do not smoke in non-smokers cars or homes. I don't smoke in my car if I have a non-smoker in my car or kids in my car. I do not throw my smokes out the car window. I do MY best to not upset those around me who would be bothered. If I'm at a large gathering I will walk out to the curb, if need be to smoke.

However, as opposed to alcohol and/or drugs, I can drive my car and not kill someone!!! Unless I'm also on my cell, sipping a soda, eating a burger and otherwise engaged :-)))

adam:       &n bsp; AMEN!!!!!!!

I was raised to accept people for who and what they are - warts and all. I guess I expect nothing less from others.

It appears a few people have taken offense by what has been said about the health risks of smoking for both smokers and non smokers.  I guess the question is, does your right to smoke usurp my right and the right of others with similar conditions to breath freely?  Fifty years ago, parents had no idea they were poisoning the air their children were breathing, so when I look at a picture from 1956 with a mother holding her baby while smoking a cigarette, I don't see it the same way I see a mother today holding a baby while smoking.   I'm not debating your right to smoke, or whether or not you should smoke. 

My first post was about the irony of the number of cigarette butts at CBCC.  Then when I posted about my Pop's death due to cigarette smoking, someone questioned whether or not I knew this caused his death!  And it went on from there.  Now, if you're feeling picked on, I apologize, but let me again point out, your rights are no greater than mine. 

dg: you do not have to apologize for having a different opinion!  EVERYBODY has rights. It's whether we are cognizant of what bothers others and whether we are willing, as people, to do our best to stay out of the way!  I'm sorry your pop had to cross over that way - yes I have seen some friends  succumb in that mannor. Unfortunately - or fortunately - I am of the mind that no one gets off this planet alive and something, sometime, somwhere is going to get you.  Only God has all that info.  Until that point in time, I will enjoy MY life as I see fit and will do my best to not bother others with my habits.  As mentioned in previous blog - I ALWAYS ask if I'm in a group setting.  If even one person says 'yes it will bother me', I will go elsewhere to have my smoke or do without.  We are not all dumbos!!   :-)

Peace sweetie :-)

The only reason I mentioned my Pop was in the context that you would not wish that death on your worst enemy.  Someone mentioned a few days ago that there are some who do not read, but jump to conclusions as to what is being said.  That, I'm afraid is what has happened today.  The post is scanned for a few key words, and the response written without regard to what was originally said.  Unfortunately, I have an obsessive need to explain myself, which leads to further misunderstanding and further explanation.........it could go on for days.

Roy, one last word on this, and I'm done.  My Pop's COPD was caused from nearly 60 years of smoking.  His three younger brothers' (one who died just a few months after him) COPD was caused from many many years of smoking.   The brother who died after him actually caught his beard on fire trying to smoke while on oxygen.  Each of their physicians have agreed.  Why can't you?