Intentionally Ingesting Poison

[DemonArchangel]

I wrote this earlier, enjoy please.

Now, those who know me well enough, know that I try to avoid consuming substances that affect my mind and the way I think. That means no alcohol, no tobacco, no non-prescription drugs, and no God. Of course, not all my friends and associates think that way. That's ok, I 'm not going to judge you by what you all choose to put into your bodies.

But I am going to be a douchebag and at least express my profound displeasure for said practices. Consider this to be a public service announcement. I'm not going to name any names, but you know who you are.

And now for my pet peeve:

*****
Pet Peeve #1: Tobacco

I've always maintained that tobacco was the Indians getting back at the White Man for the white man giving smallpox infected blankets to the Indians. It was one hell of a revenge too; the Native Americans' immune systems eventually adapted and they stopped dying from smallpox.

Tobacco continues to decimate us.

I don't even understand WHY people smoke tobacco. Not only is anybody that smokes inhaling carbon monoxide, they're inhaling that wonderful, wonderful nicotine. Not only is nicotine highly addictive, it's a neurotoxin. People used to use nicotine as insecticide, and yet every day, millions of smokers draw it into their lungs.

Just brilliant. And most of the buzz from nicotine is because it burns out the monoamine oxidase (MAO) in their brain. Pretty soon, your average smoker's dependent on tobacco just to be able to feel pleasure, because monoamine oxidase is responsible for the regulation of dopamine.

Dopamine controls pleasure and activates the reward center in the brain. tobacco usage gives people a false sense of happiness, because dopamine levels in the brain are increased after the MAOs are consumed.

Smokers must lead empty, unfulfilling lives, if destroying their lungs and cardiovascular system makes them feel happy. Frequently, smokers go after people that cut themselves. Hypocrisy. It's one thing to be one, but to maintain a self righteous attitude? That's straight up idiocy right there.

Self harm is self harm, no matter what form it comes in.

The fun doesn't end there.

On average, 599 chemicals are added to the average cigarette. You can take a look at a partial list here:

http://quitsmoking.about.com/cs/nico...ngredients.htm

A few of my personal favorites include:
*Smoke Flavor (frequently nitrosamines and other known carcinogens are used)
*Butyric Acid (what gives rancid butter its lovely aroma)
*Various aldehyde compounds (which frequently form formaldehyde, aka embalming fluid, when burned)

There are also some unannounced chemicals as well, such as heavy metals like lead, and radioactive heavy metals like polonium-210.

Many of those chemicals are poisonous in and of themselves, and form quite a few different, interesting compounds when combusted. I've already mentioned formaldahyde. Other carcinogenic chemicals including acetone, DDT and benzene are formed from the chemicals Phillip Morris sees fit to administer to smokers.

And to think, I get to breathe this nice cocktail in every day whether I like it or not. In front of every dorm building, in front of every academic building, there's always a cluster of people puffing away.

I've been wanting to say something all year, and guess what? Today, I finally snapped.

Sure, I might take too many risks with Parkour to have a right to moral superiority, but you can't take away my right to be pissed off.

[scotchedpommes]

My, how you do hate Freedom. I couldn't agree more with your sentiment, and am certainly glad of the ban here now. [Although haven't seen any confrontations with 'cutters' myself, and am somwhat surprised to see you practice Parkour, of all things. But by all means do so, yes. Just practice it well.]

[Kanamori]

False sense of happiness? That's all happiness. No happiness is any more false than another.

Frankly, I'm not going to worry too much about using it once in while; longevity runs in my family, even the few smokers that we've had live into their mid 80's, the others generally there or into mid and late 90's. Yes, there is in fact a big difference between what it will do to you when you ocassionally use it and what it will do to you if you smoke a pack a day.

[CrossLOPER]

...

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Get off your steed.

[DemonArchangel]

...

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Get off your steed.

And drag me down to your level?

I don't think so.

[Ice]

I don't smoke cigs, I find them disgusting. I do smoke cigars and the hookah though. I enjoy both of them.

[English assassin]

Now, those who know me well enough, know that I try to avoid consuming substances that affect my mind and the way I think. That means no alcohol, no tobacco, no non-prescription drugs, and no God.

Y'all thinking too small here. Are you going to steer clear of Seneca, Darwin, and Buffy the vampire slayer too?

Once the drug* is in your mind then its part of you, and the way you think IS you plus the drug. I say to the world, here is my mind, come and affect it, if you can (no, not you, Navaros )


*legal drugs, dudes, like beer, good books and parkour

[caravel]

And to think, I get to breathe this nice cocktail in every day whether I like it or not. In front of every dorm building, in front of every academic building, there's always a cluster of people puffing away.

I know what you mean, I don't really mind them killing themselves so long as they're not also killing me (and making my clothes and hair smell in the process).

[CrossLOPER]

And drag me down to your level?

I don't think so.

No, seriously. There's an archway up ahead. You don't want to crack your head open now, do you?

[Banquo's Ghost]

No, seriously. There's an archway up ahead. You don't want to crack your head open now, do you?

Perhaps you could address the thread topic instead of trying to provoke other members?

Thank you.

[CrossLOPER]

Perhaps you could address the thread topic instead of trying to provoke other members?

There's not much to address. What other people choose to do with themselves is no one else's business, so long as it does not pose an immediate threat to others.

Personally, I would have been inclined to agree with DemonArchangel's stance had he/she/it (really, no idea) not tried to present it in such sophomoric demeanor.

[Mikeus Caesar]

I know what you mean, I don't really mind them killing themselves so long as they're not also killing me (and making my clothes and hair smell in the process).

Despite all the stuff you hear about second-hand smoke being terrible for you, there is no definitive proof that it kills or actually does any harm to you. And i'm not just spewing out tobacco industry propaganda here, i'm spewing out BBC certified propaganda which i heard sometime last year.

Smoking the actual things, now that is harmful. But do i care? Nope. Yay cigars.

[Mooks]

My older brother smokes. He hates it extremely. He wished he never started, and he hates himself when he feels the urge to go smoke. Me, im real good with addictions, better then most. But for the average person, the urge to smoke is too much and they must have a smoke.

[Scurvy]

Despite all the stuff you hear about second-hand smoke being terrible for you, there is no definitive proof that it kills or actually does any harm to you. And i'm not just spewing out tobacco industry propaganda here, i'm spewing out BBC certified propaganda which i heard sometime last year.
.

Its not just the possible health riskis, its also inconsiderate to others who dislike the smell, or feel that it is bad for their health.. i don't mind smoking in private areas, but smoking in public areas isn't all that nice...

[Kanamori]

It's pretty easy to time my inhaling and exhaling to avoid getting smoke in peoples' faces.

[doc_bean]

I hope all you people complaining about having to inhale smoke from others are equally disgusted with all the crap cars are still allowed to vent in the air, especially the non-Europeans.

I went to Cuba and was delayed in Paris when coming back, I swear the Paris air felt like mountain air after having breath the Cuban air, filled with the smoke coming form those lovely old timers. There are barely any cars in Cuba so I shuddetr to think of the effect when a few million cars, unconcerned with their exhaust fumes drive through a city every day.

About cigarettes: I don't really care what people do to themselves, I find chain smokers a bit sad, but that might be because I don't have an addictive personality (except perhaps when it comes to food, but I think that's more of a bad habit, as I can easily skip a meal with out feeling sad and depressed) and can't really relate to them.

I do like going to a bar and not having my clothes smell like ashes the next day though.

[ShadeHonestus]

RE: The scene in the movie Big Trouble where there is a dispute about smoking a cigar in the restaurant.

[CrossLOPER]

RE: The scene in the movie Big Trouble where there is a dispute about smoking a cigar in the restaurant.

Yes, that was an awesome scene.

[rory_20_uk]

It's pretty easy to time my inhaling and exhaling to avoid getting smoke in peoples' faces.

And the air then magically disappears? Sorry, unless you're in a very windy place the smoke does get everywhere. I'd rather be around IV drug users than smokers.

Proving that second hand smoke definitely kills is tough. But considering the chemicals used I think you'd be hard pushed to find someone who thinks that they have a positive health effect.

[Tuuvi]

It's pretty easy to time my inhaling and exhaling to avoid getting smoke in peoples' faces.

The sad thing is most people don't...I was at the local skatepark with some friends once and this kid decided he was so badass it gave him the right to blow smoke right into my face...lucky for him I didn't react violently to the situation, if I did he wouldn't have had anything to smoke with after I was done with him.