Smokers - aaarghhh

[Kooky]

Absolutely. In my last serious UK job it was drinking, you had to be in the clique. I played the game right from being a temp and negotiated a permanent job and a pay rise with the MD over sambucas

(and before Lichty comments, I've never slept with ANY of my bosses, despite a couple of them - including that one, that night - asking )

[Burbage]

If you played golf they wouldn't need to sleep with you.

[daffodil]

Eh?

[Spike]

There's something to be said for that - many jobs ago, one of my staff and my boss, both smokers, me not one, colluded and my staff wound up in my role and I was pushed into a role I didn't want. Relationships, plans and gossip flourishe in smoke meetings.

I used to have a boss that liked to continue meetings outside while they smoked, so there was me the only non-smoker in our group standing around outside with them while they smoked They used to joke that they'd make a smoker out of me......'not bloody likely' I believe the saying goes

I'm not sure I'd want to significantly shorten my life expectancy for the sake of a promotion.

[azzam]

"Here for a good time, not a long time."

[Spike]

"Here for a good time, not a long time."

Then you need to hope for a short, good time. When smokers live into old age death can be a long, lingering and painful affair. I've known two smokers who just made into their 80s and their last ten years were spent in a wheezing, constantly painful state of disablement.

[canuck]

I've known two smokers who made into old age with no wheezing or disablement, in fact 1 of them lived to be 102, the other was done in by dodgy genetics and a faulty heart valve.. not related to smoking..

I have also known avid fitness buffs who bought it at a young age.

so while smoking is not the best idea in the world (after all you are sucking on a small bonfire, which is madness really), but hey if that is what you want to do, it puts lots of money into the govs hands and helps pay for sporting and cultural events, and all in all now being a non smoker, it saves me a wad of cash.. Not to mention as Baloo says most of the smokers I know are darn polite about their habit,, if they want to continue who am I to condemn them?

Of course in Thailand where smokes are probably not heavily taxed this whole argument is pbbly moot.

[Burbage]

My gran smoked 60 a day until she was about 75, and died at the age of 92.

there are two extremes; live fast and die young or live carefully and die old. The former is more fun, so the wise try to strike a balance. After all you could try the second option and get run over by a bus when you're 45. Bad health isn't the only thing that'll kill you.

[T2K]

At a party recently, I realized that I barely even know anyone that smokes. Close friends that smoke, zero. Thus, at bars and parties, the few I do know have to skulk off outside, lose their seat, miss out on the pool / darts, etc. They look enslaved, not like they are doing something they enjoy. I feel sorry for their weakness.

[Spike]

At a party recently, I realized that I barely even know anyone that smokes. Close friends that smoke, zero. Thus, at bars and parties, the few I do know have to skulk off outside, lose their seat, miss out on the pool / darts, etc. They look enslaved, not like they are doing something they enjoy. I feel sorry for their weakness.

My experience is the same and I don't condemn, just feel sorry for anyone who is addicted to something that has a high chance of ruining their health and therefore lives at some point. If someone wants to pay money to ingest toxic gases then it's not my problem, unless they do it near me. My few friends who do smoke wouldn't dream of lighting up in my home and if their craving becomes unbearable, they step outside. The only time it's a problem with smoker friends is when they get into my car and the stink from them is really intense and unpleasant in that confined space.

[Fresh Mint]

You have been smoke free for: 23 weeks, 4 days, 14 hours, 46 minutes, 31 seconds
Cigarettes not smoked = 4,637
Money saved = $2,689.46

[Tas]

off to set up a spreadsheet formula based on FM, post

[Fresh Mint]

No need to re-invent the wheel...


http://quitmeter.com

[azzam]

I've just re-quit. Thanks, will enjoy playing with the calculator.
Had a nice chat with my PT the other day about how smoking is often a crutch for stress. She, the fitness freak, understood completely and suggested I completely forget about not smoking and concentrate on ways to feel good instead. Not smoking would then follow.
She was absolutely right, instead of beating myself up for smoking, I concentrated on keeping myself "up" and stopped almost immediately. The pyschology of it is a powerful thing. ( Everyone smokes for different reasons, of course )

Ona side note, self- righteousness is a very unattractive trait, don't you think?

[Fresh Mint]

Ona side note, self- righteousness is a very unattractive trait, don't you think?

I'm rather pleased with my effort to quit ...

[Pinklepurr]

I think you are doing a great job there FM...nearly half a year gone already, well done!

[slinky]

You should be proud of your effort, FM, well done! I'm totally amazed at the amount of money saved part - $2689.46! That's a good chunk of change!!

[Lichtgestalt]

You have been smoke free for: 1266 weeks, 1 day, 23 hours, 2 minutes, 12 seconds
Cigarettes not smoked = 0
Money saved = $0

[Lichtgestalt]

(and before Lichty comments, I've never slept with ANY of my bosses, despite a couple of them - including that one, that night - asking )

me? comments?

[sundaymorningstaple]

Hey FM, nice job. And a nice little site as well.

Some here will remember when I quit my 37 year habit back in Dec of '04.....

That now translates into

You have been smoke free for: 226 weeks, 1 day, 2 hours, 43 minutes, 17 seconds
Cigarettes not smoked = 31,662
Money saved = $15,039.45

Which is a tidy chunk of change I must say. Even using the old rate of $9.50/pack

[Fresh Mint]

Amazing, SMS. That really is a chunk of change!

[azzam]

Ona side note, self- righteousness is a very unattractive trait, don't you think?

I'm rather pleased with my effort to quit ...

Not you, silly. Probably me, if anyone.

[Burbage]

Cigarettes not smoked 24,119

Money saved $12,059.50

[Bender]

At work, never underestimate the power of the Nicotine Network.

I remember some years ago, when smoking in offices was first outlawed, there was a story that Japanese tourists were under the impression that the CBD areas of Australian cities were all red light districts, due to all the people standing around and smoking outside buildings.

[Lichtgestalt]

At work, never underestimate the power of the Nicotine Network.

I remember some years ago, when smoking in offices was first outlawed, there was a story that Japanese tourists were under the impression that the CBD areas of Australian cities were all red light districts, due to all the people standing around and smoking outside buildings.

It is a meat market....