So now its whiny to not like cigarettes? I think its common courtesy for someone to not smoke in front of a non-smoker.
Yes it would be courteous not to light up in front of a non smoker, but not all smokers do that. Many will go stand out of the way or in a designated smoking area and smoke there. Often, they are approached by non-smokers, not the other way around.
Don't pollute my air with disgusting smells! .
/pedant ON
It's not *your* air. It doesn't belong to anyone. It's just there. But yes, walking up to you and filling the air around you with smelly gases or smoke is definitely impolite.
/pedant OFF
I know people claim they go and have a smoke to calm down, but its probably the time out you give yourself to actually go and have the smoke which calms you down, rather than the cigarette itself.
I think that the effects of smoking, which include a calming function and increased alertness along with a raised heartrate, are pretty much proven. I think.... Anyway, many people who smoke tried one once or twice, and liked the effects it had, or the taste, or whatever, so they carried on. They smoke because they like the effects. They don't invent the effects as an excuse to smoke.
Points on the more general topic:
Smokers who start in this day and age are stupid? Only if their goal is a long healthy life, and even then, smoking wouldn't be their most dangerous adversary. Hell, last time I saw, it wasn't even guaranteed to shorten your life. It just increased risk.
If your goal instead is to enjoy your life, get the most experience out of it, and enjoy all the pleasures available to you, and you find smoking to be particularly pleasurable (believe it or not, some people do), then NOT smoking would be stupid.
In short, I tend to think that the general smoking taboo is driven more by people who can't stand the smell than by the actual and undeniable general health risks. If it really was such a major threat to society as a whole as it tends to be made out, it would be banned outright. The government would still get their tobacco taxes from those companies who love reminding you how bad it is for you and how hard it is to quit just before they sell you a month's worth of nicotine patches or nicotine gum with the disclaimer "requires willpower" on the side. In fact, if smoking was banned outright these devices would probably lead to apparently healthier ways to get a regular nicotine fix, and replace cigarettes rather than just attempt to wean people off them. Until one day a scientist somewhere points out that the glue holding the patch to your arm causes skin cancer.
There's also a popular argument, which I have seen in action in this thread, that smokers must consider the effect that their untimely death may have on those who love them, be more considerate, and give up smoking. Dunno about the rest of you, but if my partner smoked, whether they started before or after we met, and I convinced them to stop by pointing out that I didn't want them to die too soon and wanted all the time with them I could get, well, as romantic as that is, in that argument, I'm being the selfish one, not my partner, because I'm looking after my own interests and not hers. If she wants to smoke, she can. It's her body, not mine.
To the person who was considering starting... it's not banned yet. If you want to do it, do it. You're probably going to anyway. Just be warned that it's not a good move health wise, it's expensive, it can be addictive (I had little trouble stopping so I guess not everyone gets addicted), it might make your lungs feel smaller, once you smoke regularly it will never again taste or feel as good as the first ones, your clothes will stink, you'll burn a hole in your best tie, your mouth will taste terrible in the morning, you'll probably cough a lot, and may start coughing up blood. You'll develop "habit" smoke breaks which can be distracting, food won't taste as good, you might get grumpy in aeroplanes. Sooner or later you might start smoking while driving, and driving a car isn't half as much fun if you're nursing a cigarette. Also, you're almost guaranteed to drop a lit one in your crotch sooner or later, and probably at 70mph. That's exciting, but not fun. On the plus side, smokers have had a perfect excuse to take extra work breaks ever since they got kicked out of their offices by non smokers. Nothing wrong with that if they were making the office stink. On balance though, I wouldn't recommend starting. I don't think it's worth the trouble, the risk, and the cost. Smoking impacted my life, but not in a good way. But it's your choice...
EDIT: Oh, I almost forgot. Smoking will give you yellow teeth, yellow fingers and make your skin age faster. It also can make your voice deeper, though sometimes that's a good thing...
At least that would make sense why it's so cheap.
