Smokers are Mad, Bad, & Sad.

[Maddog]

I have never smoked cigarettes but I do enjoy the very occasional cigar with friends particularly at weddings.

I always thought they were better for you than cigarettes but apparently not :-

      
A:    
   All tobacco products are toxic. The notion that cigars are not as dangerous as cigarettes is a myth deliberately and elaborately promoted by the tobacco industry, as shown by internal memos from the Cigar Association of America.

Cigar smoking causes cancer of the mouth, throat, larynx, esophagus and lungs, and also increases the risk of emphysema and heart disease. These risks increase with the number of cigars smoked and increase even more if cigar smoke is inhaled. Cigars contain higher concentrations of tar and nicotine than cigarettes. Because cigars are less acidic than cigarettes nicotine is more readily absorbed into the bloodstream, raising heart rate and blood pressure, and ultimately leading to addiction.

The smoke released from cigars, like cigarette smoke, is poisonous, containing toxic substances such as carbon monoxide, cyanide, ammonia, benzene and arsenic. In some instances the amounts of these chemicals emitted by cigars greatly exceed the amounts from cigarettes. So both you and those around you are being exposed to serious toxins every time you light up.

Don’t be fooled by glamorous images of cigar smoking promoted in movies and advertisements. There is nothing glamorous or sexy about having part of your tongue amputated because of cancer. Did you know that cigar smoking caused Sigmund Freud to suffer cancer of the soft palate (roof of the mouth) and Babe Ruth to die of throat cancer?

[ifm]

Freud didn't die of cancer 

It genuinely interests me when people throw out statistics and facts relating to many subjects, not just smoking.
As with the above there are many more just as high profile cigar smokers that didn't have mouth or throat cancer, even more that did but didn't smoke at all.
Don't get me wrong i know inhaling what is effectively dust is not going to do you any good at all, it just fascinates me the way facts and figures can be manipulated by all sides of an argument.

[AdamM]

post didnt say freud died of cancer

after 30 operations for mouth cancer he commited assisted suicide. It might be fair to say the cancer was a contributary factor

[boldie]

You smoke, or you don't smoke. There are no in-betweens.

indeed...I smoke (not proud of it but hey also not too upset about it) and even when I only smoked a few every now and again I never kid myself about it...I smoke..I live with it

[AndrewT]

Someone mentioned the other night (might have been Eck, but it could have been anyone really, the Guinness was good), that in night clubs where smoking is banned you notice a strong smell of BO, which was obviously previously masked by the smoke.

Not suggesting that smoking is good, but I think an increase in hygiene levels needs to be encouraged.

I think that probably says more about the type of nightclub, and their clientele, that Eck (or whoever) goes to.

I too cannot wait for July 1st. Being able to wear something to the pub for a couple of hours without having it smell like an ashtray will be great.

[Mango99]

I fell off the wagon last year sometime after managing 4 months (only!) without smoking. I am planning to give up on July 1st too!

[kinboshi]

Someone mentioned the other night (might have been Eck, but it could have been anyone really, the Guinness was good), that in night clubs where smoking is banned you notice a strong smell of BO, which was obviously previously masked by the smoke.

Not suggesting that smoking is good, but I think an increase in hygiene levels needs to be encouraged.

I think that probably says more about the type of nightclub, and their clientele, that Eck (or whoever) goes to.

I too cannot wait for July 1st. Being able to wear something to the pub for a couple of hours without having it smell like an ashtray will be great.

You don't need to tell me about Eck and foul smells.  Isn't that right James?

[Eck]

Someone mentioned the other night (might have been Eck, but it could have been anyone really, the Guinness was good), that in night clubs where smoking is banned you notice a strong smell of BO, which was obviously previously masked by the smoke.

Not suggesting that smoking is good, but I think an increase in hygiene levels needs to be encouraged.

I think that probably says more about the type of nightclub, and their clientele, that Eck (or whoever) goes to.

I too cannot wait for July 1st. Being able to wear something to the pub for a couple of hours without having it smell like an ashtray will be great.

You don't need to tell me about Eck and foul smells.  Isn't that right James?

FFS what have I done to be subject to this abuse!! (ok there was a moment on sunday morning but i'm blaming the guiness as well)

What I did say (before I get hunted by our irish friends) to daniel was that a colleague of mine who comes from Dublin had said that post the smoking ban there was a noticeable smell of stale beer in some pubs that had previously been masked by the stale cigarette smoke.

Neverends.

[russwhl]

"MY INSPIRATION has always been Jeanne Calment, a Frenchwoman who smoked and drank every day and died a few years ago at the age of 122. When asked the secret of her longevity, she replied: 'I laugh a lot.' Well you would, wouldn't you."
Victoria Coren


"I loved smoking. I remember every single ciggarrette. I even gave them names, steven was magnificent."

AA Gill

[turny]

Someone mentioned the other night (might have been Eck, but it could have been anyone really, the Guinness was good), that in night clubs where smoking is banned you notice a strong smell of BO, which was obviously previously masked by the smoke.

Not suggesting that smoking is good, but I think an increase in hygiene levels needs to be encouraged.

I think that probably says more about the type of nightclub, and their clientele, that Eck (or whoever) goes to.

I too cannot wait for July 1st. Being able to wear something to the pub for a couple of hours without having it smell like an ashtray will be great.

well yeah it is scotland ffs they all stink up there !

[Pelham Boy]

You smoke, or you don't smoke. There are no in-betweens.

 

I smoked 20 a day until six months ago.

The best pubs where i live had already banned smoking.When one evening i decided i would go for a pint in a pub where smoking was still allowed to watch the football.When i got there they had decorated the place and banned smoking!

I decided enough was enough and went to see a hypnotist,it cost me £65 and i haven't had or wanted to have one since.

I think its VERY difficult to give up on will power alone.

[barhell]

After lots of previous failed attempts i was amazed how easy i found it to quit this time, 4 months in and all is good, i still work with smokers and socialise with them and it doesn't bother me.
As for Tikay, it was from reading his original thread on quitting that helped me on my way to being a nonsmoker, so all i will say is thankyou and hope you choose the right path for you.

[action man]

That's been my view since I quit, October 8th last year.

I feel pity & contempt for those slaves to addiction who have to rush outside & get their "fix", it's weak & so are those that can't quit. In Scotland, Ireland & Wales, they can only smoke outside "public places", where they are given an "Air Lounge" (a room with no roof!), & England will soon follow suit.

The best part about quitting is not being a slave to nicotine, not feeling owned by ciggies, it's lovely.

So it's hard to understand how I've fallen off the wagon.

A pal bought me some Henri Winterman Half Coronas, always my fave cigars, for Christmas, & for some reason, I took them to Monte Carlo with me in March or April, & smoked one. It was lovely, I had 2 days holiday, sat in the sun, chilling with friends, & I enjoyed my cigar.

I smoked 1 or 2 more, & then I started little cigars now & then, particularly savouring a cigar when on a long drive, very relaxing.

In Dublin, a young lady whom I'm very fond of offered me a ciggie, & I smoked it. It was horrible, but that's not the point. I had 4 or 5 cigars over the weekend, too.

I'm not sure where I go from here with cigars. I don't think I'll go down the ciggies road again, but I'm enjoying the occasional cigar.

The health side (my health) does not trouble me, it's a little too late for that, & I'm a bit too old to worry really.

But being a nicotine slave DOES bother me a lot, also it's so socially unpopular these days.

I also hate the thought that I've failed, & I don't much care for failing in anything I attempt.

I guess with age comes stupidity. It's just mad, bad, & sad.

pity and contempt are very strong words tony imo, you have been in our shoes and have been in the same position many of us are in now, in trying to quit, i think it is vey different for one person to quit and another to quit, different genes have different effects on the mind and effect the endevour to quit. For you to feel contempt and pity for all smokers is really out of character i feel for someone who i have played with and respect as a person and pioneer of poker.

[Wrighty]

I have a friend who is a .  He said that he did a gig in Cardiff following the Welsh smoking ban in April.

He said that after a few hours of the dance floor being packed the overiding smell in the club was ! Sweat ! where it would have been smoke. 

Never mind glow sticks....  Pine Fresh Trees are the future.

All the best

Wrighty.
PS: Cant believe my first post on this poker forum is about sweat!

[ifm]

post didnt say freud died of cancer

after 30 operations for mouth cancer he commited assisted suicide. It might be fair to say the cancer was a contributary factor

Never said it did, Freud is actually quite famous for getting his pal to help him on his way..........