On Smoking

To me, it is both dejecting and disappointing to even think—not to mention ‘seeing’—of a little boy smoldering one by one of those cigarettes. 

As far as I know, smoking is an addictive behavior from which the smoker is characterized by compulsive engagement in rewarding behavior, despite negative consequences. Therefore, the smokers are aware of the damaging consequences, yet, they are too engaged in the behavior since it is rewarding—they get the excitement or stimulation when they are smoldering. Also, there may be several side effects when they cease smoking, such as anxiety or other nervous disorders.

They are stuck, then.

Most of the smokers claim that they do want to stop smoking if they could. They are, however, too ‘hooked’ on it. Then, they start rationalizing their behavior by stating that smoking has been a source of imagination, tranquility, and peacefulness for them.

How about the non-smokers? Do they lack of creativity? Are they always restless?

Anyway, I am not going to judge or campaign here. I will let others do that. I am not that good of a person, though.

What interests me is the fact that cigarette is addictive. If it is, then, why do the smokers smoke in the first place? Just to reason to others that they cannot stop for they have already addicted to it, later.

An eternally crazy circular reasoning.

On most occasions, they start smoking when they felt their life is falling apart [I can’t find any other dramatic expressions] due to workloads, broken heart, or other reasons I am unaware of. That time is actually the perfect time for their noble friends—who are smokers—to offer and introduce them to the medicine of-all-social-problems.

On the cases of children or teenager, some of them start smoking not likely because of the social problems that burden them, but, it is their fellows—who have excellent sales and marketing strategy—or merely imitating their role model. Actually, there are many reasons, such as: 1) they want to look tough; 2) they want to either stand out (by trying on several roles, including a cool self-destructive boy who is unique comparing to other usually non-smoker children) or belong (to some social groups which consist of others smoker teenagers) [from Erick Erickson’s stages of personality developments and the issues that underlie them. On adolescents’ development, the underlying issue is Identity v. Role Confusion]; 3) as a form of resistance against their parents; 4) they think it is so cool to smoke while contemplating the constellation, universe, or life; and many other reasons that you may think silly, but very important in their eyes. 

At that time, they are not addicted yet, since it takes some doze of nicotine or other substances from the cigarette to create the addiction [if it is really nicotine, I am thinking of making nicotine candies. I think it would sell]. In fact, the first time they smoke, their body would resist it. All involuntary systems in our body are really smart; they know what is good and bad for us. It is only our cognitive system that we voluntarily control, that is stupid, though.

As the matter of fact, it is unpleasant, when you start smoldering one by one cigarette at the first time. Dizziness and nausea are some of the reactions you would likely to encounter as soon as you are inhaling through those cancer sticks.

It would last for three or four days before you can fool the involuntary systems in your body so they would not resist to the poisons on the cigarette anymore. Still, you have not been captivated by it. You can continue living your days without it, but, sometimes, the idea that cigarette is addictive somehow stimulates you to smoke even though you are not yet addicted to it. Although you do not want to smoke, you keep smoking because it seems to be what you are supposed to be doing. You start falling in love to the idea that you are smoking, instead of the cigarette itself.

In a few months—or years—you may have been hooked by it. It becomes something which is more important than food.

Then, when you run out of cigarette and money, you would curse your old days and old friends that introduce you to cigarette. Anyway, you will have thousands rationalizations on why you should keep smoking, such as: 1) I am 70 now and I have been smoking for 50 years and I am still alive; 2) cigarette is better than those chocolates and candies that secretly kill you; 3) we are already living in a polluted earth so we are all sitting on the same bench to inhale carbon emissions; 4) we are all going to die anyway; 5) I exercise regularly, though; 6) there are millions of smokers in this country, so, I can be either an active or passive smoker, anyway, passive smokers are in more danger… and many other rationalizations.

The thing is that all the rationalizations seem so legitimate and valid, in a way. Therefore, there is no need to counter and debate on that any longer. It is just useless.

There is no point in arguing, though. Smoking is the issue of health rather than morality. As long as the smokers smoke far enough from you, you need not oppose them. If you are into nature so much, you would better consider the pollution from your motorcycles, cars, or companies around you. It is in our cells, that we want to live as long as we can (survive), that is why, sometimes, we are so concern on people’s smoking—or sexual orientation. It is also a logical fallacy to say that there is no animal in this world that smoke; therefore, those who smoke are lower than animal.

Anyway…

Personally, to me, it is great to have nothing on my back. I am currently unhooking as many burdens as I could, all the addictions that I have. Let’s liberate ourselves from all possible addictions such as drug, alcohol, cigarette, porn, or validations (craving likes and positive comments) from everybody and even strangers, and any other types of addictions. 

People choose whether to smoke or not. Yet, it is difficult to make a right choice when you were a small kid who do not understand several perspectives on the things you are about to choose. That is, I think, where adults’ role (not necessarily parents) should play on.

Well, I start losing tract and idea about this topic.

Bye.