Smoking is... good?

[wilecoyote]

Smokers' Obstacles

You are so spot on Lucy!
What you said about your mom fulfilling her 'mission' is so relevant. When i discuss spiritual ideas and principles etc with my girlfriend, she dismisses me to the point of blunt rejection. But later on, she might soften up to the ideas. But the fact of the matter is that the damage done when someone opens up to another person in utter confidence and trust, only to be 'shot down' or flat out rejected, is long-lasting. That pain lingers and numbs a person internally. So your dad might have been opening up to your mom with regards to his 'psychic' gift, only to be 'shot down' by her.........(one never knows how deeply rooted the webbing of a relationship may be)...
So while he negates the obvious and true (his psychic abilities), so as to gain the approval and love of his wife, that void is then filled by a religion or psuedo path of spirituality in the form of the Jehovah's Witness,........in an attempt to fill that void..
The significant question is, Why are we attracted to people who are sometimes potentially the most harmful to us (with regards to intamacy, relationships and the like)?

In my honest Opinion (IMHO), i think that when the 'system' realizes that an individual is becoming a potential 'threat' with regards to intelligence and going against the status quo, they introduce the 'love' and 'relationship' programme into the picture, with someone who is potentially toxic to our spiritual growth. It might be another 'program' initiated to disrupt us, but our weaknesses, or soft spots (with regards to our energy field/or aura; or corresponding to the various chakras) are exploited and worked upon, so as to nullify our potency.

For example, Laura and Ark both smoked (please correct me if i'm wrong), but then Ark quit. Then Laura, out of respect, quit as well. Only to find out later that the infusion of nicotine into our blood system and brain via smoking is beneficial, and can aid some people with the metabolism. Laura started smoking again. Ark eventually understood.

What if Ark never smoked at all, and wasn't into the entire Cassiopaea experiment? He would have thought Laura was just trying to justify her cravings, and closed the book shut, or even threaten to leave her if she doesn't stop (just a possible scenario). Then Laura would have started to feel guilty. And the cycle goes on.
Thankfully, Laura is in no such situation, so all is good.

But there are many individuals in the exact or similar situations (I'm included), who find difficulty in justifying their need to smoke and the obvious logic behind the benefits of nicotine consumption.

But, toes will be stepped on regardless. One can't please everybody. Especially in search of the truth, and following one's intuition.

That's it from me 4 now.....
Ciao

 

[manitoban]

Smokers' Obstacles

I just started this topic so that we like-minded people on this great forum could share our daily experiences, challenges etc with the simple act of lighting up some tobacco, whether outdoors, or in the privacy of our own homes etc.

My response to complaints about my smoking, especially if the complainer is not being inconvenienced or (god forbid) being exposed to second hand smoke is:

"Intolerance pollutes the atmosphere a lot more than cigarette smoke."

 

[aurora]

Smokers' Obstacles

My father was a chain smoker, 3 packs a day and I tried my first cigarette out of curiosity when I was nine. I took to regular smoking when in the university, tried quitting 3 times (was off 2 yrs first time, 1,5 yrs second time and only 3 months the last time) but it didn't work. Now I smoke about 2 packs a day. I never felt guilty about smoking. But the only benefit I had when I quit was that I didn't get out of breath so easily, could go to sleep earlier. I am looking for pure tobacco but I can't find it (actually it's illegal) unless it is imported by the state monopoly. But the tobacco has to be purely organic that is with no chemical pesticides or chemical fertilizers.

By the way my father did not die of lung cancer or any other cancer. He died of heart attack. In Turkiye cigarette smoking is banned in intercity buses and on planes but you can still smoke in trains, hotels, restraurants etc. sometimes in the non-restricted areas. A lot of people smoke in Turkiye. My ex's grandmother used to smoke when she was over 80 and she told me that she had started very early on in her teens.

 

[Beau]

Smokers' Obstacles

My response to complaints about my smoking, especially if the complainer is not being inconvenienced or (god forbid) being exposed to second hand smoke is:

"Intolerance pollutes the atmosphere a lot more than cigarette smoke."

But aren't you being intolerant of their intolerance? ;)

Ahhhhh! Where does it all end...

 

[Mike]

Smokers' Obstacles

I would like to know how do the fellow smokers on the forum deal with smoker's guilt.

I've found that reading and learning about the topic (ie reading 'In defense of Smoking', and other material) has been the one of the best ways to cope with the guilty feeling and those trying to bring on the guilty feeling. When someone asks why do you smoke. I say because I like to. They usually follow up with don't you know it is bad for you. Most people if you start talking about reading material or questioning the gov't line will either make some kind of comment about that not being possible and/or will drop the topic because they are not interested in understanding or doing any research on their own. One person even made a joke recently after I started give information following the above exchange, "Yeah if you are interested in facts and learning," and dropped the topic.
Smoking seems to be an easy topic people use to either dominate another person or exert their influence (ie make another feel guilty or angry). When I don't let another person do this to me and who I see often, they will eventually not bring up the topic or if they do I will tell them that we already had this conversation - do they have anything new to add or look at the things I brought up. If not, leave me alone. This doesn't stop them from going after another smoker right next to me, but that person usually isn't interested in learning about the topic either.

 

[Tigersoap]

Smokers' Obstacles

My response to complaints about my smoking, especially if the complainer is not being inconvenienced or (god forbid) being exposed to second hand smoke is:

"Intolerance pollutes the atmosphere a lot more than cigarette smoke."

But aren't you being intolerant of their intolerance? ;)

Ahhhhh! Where does it all end...

Oh so true.

I just want to remark that from my personal experience, if you ask politely smokers not to smoke (for example in a restaurant, next to you , when you just started your plate or when someone is allergic to cigarette smoke) they act like their freedom of choice is attacked (which I understand).

Sure anyone can smoke , but where is the freedom of choice of the non-smoker who wishes not to second-hand smoke when a smoker smokes next to him (get it ?) ? go away ? or ask the other person to stop ?

That always make me wonder, where does our personal freedom begins and where does it end when confronted in such a situation ?
How do you untie that smoky knot ?

I think it's applicable to a number of other situations as well.

 

[Al Today]

Smokers' Obstacles

With all the do's & don'ts forced upon us...
Gubement knows they have to protect us from ourselves.
And of course, there are those who DO know all.
We are bombarded with controlling emotions and their triggers.

Guilt is programmed.
With knowledge seeking, contemplation, and "time", comes more understand.
One will hopefully become more at ease, while removing pre-programmed emotions.

There is major risk in living everyday.
Like my gramma told me, even "Too much of a good thing can be bad for you".
Most of us all will die when we are supposed to die.
I may not agree with someone, and someone may not agree with me.
I will not force my views upon them.
I leave them alone.
Likewise, leave me the hell alone.
Freewill and all that, yes?
I have manners, am conscious of their so called rights as a "non-smoking" individual.
I know of and use simple, old school, country gentleman manners
Sad thing is within a bushel of apples, is at least one bad apple.
That one bad apple can screw it all up for the bushel.
To all people standing on their lofty soapbox...
I say, BITE ME.
This is how I remove the guilt.

 

[manitoban]

Smokers' Obstacles

Sure anyone can smoke , but where is the freedom of choice of the non-smoker who wishes not to second-hand smoke when a smoker smokes next to him (get it ?) ? go away ? or ask the other person to stop ?

I agree with this totally, I was thinking more about situations where,

the complainer is not being inconvenienced or (god forbid) being exposed to second hand smoke

and the unsolicited advice/criticism is coming at me for no reason that I can see. Even when you aren't even smoking, but are just known to be a smoker.
Maybe my response to these types of situations is unfair? Is it possible its just a kind of defense thing that I'm just using to justify my smoking? Probably I need to think about this.

 

[Beau]

Smokers' Obstacles

That always make me wonder, where does our personal freedom begins and where does it end when confronted in such a situation ?
How do you untie that smoky knot ?

I think it's applicable to a number of other situations as well.

While I detest the smell of the domestic brands here in the US and generally have a negative physiological response to smoke, I do not feel as though a smoker is inconvienencing me when smoking around me. To me, this has more to do with self-importance than anything. If someone is only looking at themselves, only 'internally considering', then having an attitude about someone smoking seems justified. But if one doesn't take themselves too seriously they may just see the situation as a petty tyrant, as Don Juan would say. Anytime you are annoyed by something it's good to stop and observe and 'sit in the fire' rather than reacting to the feeling.

or so i think

 

[Beau]

Smokers' Obstacles

the unsolicited advice/criticism is coming at me for no reason that I can see

By posting on this forum you are soliciting a response from other people. You can't expect everyone to agree. This is fairly obvious, so I'm kind of confused as to why you would write the above.

 

[manitoban]

Smokers' Obstacles

the unsolicited advice/criticism is coming at me for no reason that I can see

By posting on this forum you are soliciting a response from other people. You can't expect everyone to agree. This is fairly obvious, so I'm kind of confused as to why you would write the above.

Ooops, sorry, I wasn't refering to the forum, I welcome the comments, what I meant was when somebody comes up to me when I'm smoking somewhere, (not right next to them ) and THEY start lecturing me about smoking. Or when someone who knows I smoke just starts telling me how bad I am because I smoke.

 

[Beau]

Smokers' Obstacles

Ooops, sorry, I wasn't refering to the forum, I welcome the comments, what I meant was when somebody comes up to me when I'm smoking somewhere, (not right next to them ) and THEY start lecturing me about smoking. Or when someone who knows I smoke just starts telling me how bad I am because I smoke.

My bad. Yes, that type of reaction by people is unnecessary, and part of the programming imho. It's turned into quite a close-minded subject.

 

[sinimat]

Smokers' Obstacles

Ooops, sorry, I wasn't refering to the forum, I welcome the comments, what I meant was when somebody comes up to me when I'm smoking somewhere, (not right next to them ) and THEY start lecturing me about smoking. Or when someone who knows I smoke just starts telling me how bad I am because I smoke.

Yeah, I get that too alot. Also, I can sense when people give me a bad look or something, like I'm doing something bad. It's especially crazy when they are on their cell phone and driving at the same time. It's just the programming that people receive that makes them think this way.

 

[Tigersoap]

Smokers' Obstacles

While I detest the smell of the domestic brands here in the US and generally have a negative physiological response to smoke, I do not feel as though a smoker is inconvienencing me when smoking around me. To me, this has more to do with self-importance than anything. If someone is only looking at themselves, only 'internally considering', then having an attitude about someone smoking seems justified. But if one doesn't take themselves too seriously they may just see the situation as a petty tyrant, as Don Juan would say. Anytime you are annoyed by something it's good to stop and observe and 'sit in the fire' rather than reacting to the feeling.

Good point.
True that sometimes I just feel triggered by a smoking person who does not seem to care about the others around him(self).
It bothers me even more so than the actual smoke.

It's just make me realize how everyone (including me) is sometimes so self-absorbed in an illusion of freedom that we forget that we live in society, with other people who might have a different perception of life.

Thanks.

 

[Ryan]

Smokers' Obstacles

Something I like to do is to always throw my butts in the trash, rather than just throwing them in the gutter, or garden. Also, I don't smoke around people who are eating and make efforts not to allow my second-hand smoke to drift downwind into people's faces. There's already so much negative propaganda about smoking that I refuse to feed that dynamic by being inconsiderate.

I must admit though, that I take some satisfaction in the idea that smoking is something that is in direct opposition to what "they" want.... ;)