Do you smoke?

[normiss 622]

over a long enough time line, all of us have a zero survival rate.

[SkydiveStMarys 0]

I smoke. I wish I didn't. I would like to quite. For myself, for my kids, and my SO.

BUT, I have tried and failed. I have had 5 friends pass away from cancer. all 5 did NOT smoke. They all died a sad long death. I feel that I am risking it all, but then again we will all die from something. It is what it is. I could quite tomorrow and get hit by a bus or a car or a train. Will I live a longer life if I quite? Who really knows the answer to that. I really enjoy smoking. I don't smoke in my house or car or around my kids. If I didn't smoke I think I would end up killing myself or someone else because it is a way for me to relax, smoking that is.

I'm torn.

Bobbi

A miracle is not defined by an event. A miracle is defined by gratitude.

[drae 0]

I think the difference is that when someone that smokes gets cancer, they torture themselves with the "if only I had quit, I might have been able to see my grandchildren/children become adults" thoughts. I do not believe that everyone who smokes gets cancer, my mother is testimony to this. At 85 if she does get it, she has lived a full and productive life, so yes, you have to die from something. I just want to do it as an old woman, and I think taking the smoking risk out can only help. I was terrified and very angry with myself for not taking things seriously and having the "it won't happen to me" attitude when I was faced with the possibility of having it.
I never tried to quit until I did.

[therealbonger 0]

Genetics still play a bigger role in cancer and other diseases. Smoking increases our risk, but alone does not guarantee that you will be sick. If you like doing it, enjoy. It is not my place to tell you to start or stop, nor is it the governments.

[eeneR 1]

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Genetics still play a bigger role in cancer and other diseases. Smoking increases our risk, but alone does not guarantee that you will be sick. If you like doing it, enjoy. It is not my place to tell you to start or stop, nor is it the governments.

Ah but you see...I wonder how many people who do not have insurance, smoke, get cancer and then rack up the medical bills, that in turn rack up the price of health care and insurance costs for those of use who don't smoke?

She is not a "Dumb Blonde" - She is a "Light-Haired Detour Off The Information Superhighway."
eeneR
TF#72, FB#4130, Incauto

[Beerlight 0]

I hear ya! My mom (62 y/o in an 80 y/o body), has smoked since she was 20. Everyday, she wheezes, can't do anything that causes her to exert herself, and uses one of those inhaler machines 10 x per day just so she can breathe. Doc is trying to put her on oxygen but she won't do it. She tells me, "But I only have 3 per day". I watched her closely last time I was home, she smoked almost a pack a day

I've asked her thousands of times to quit. She won't. She also watched her aunt die that slow slow painful death from cigs.....shame.

People, just quit.

[Rookie120 0]

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Ah but you see...I wonder how many people who do not have insurance, smoke, get cancer and then rack up the medical bills, that in turn rack up the price of health care and insurance costs for those of use who don't smoke?

Ahhhh, you see..... I wonder how many people who do not have insurance SKYDIVE, biff in and rack up medical bills for the rest of us to pick up.

If you find yourself in a fair fight, your tactics suck!

[eeneR 1]

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Ah but you see...I wonder how many people who do not have insurance, smoke, get cancer and then rack up the medical bills, that in turn rack up the price of health care and insurance costs for those of use who don't smoke?

Ahhhh, you see..... I wonder how many people who do not have insurance SKYDIVE, biff in and rack up medical bills for the rest of us to pick up.

In that realm skydiving and smoking are the same. I disagree with jumping sans insurance But again the number of people being effected by smoking is far worse as far as I can tell then those people jumping. The strain on the medical system is far worse because of smoking then it is from people biffing in from skydiving.

Having said that, participating in any SPORT sans insurance is not all that bright. It is a choice and if you make a mistake and screw up...you should be prepared. I wont ski or anything else while I am with out insurance.

She is not a "Dumb Blonde" - She is a "Light-Haired Detour Off The Information Superhighway."
eeneR
TF#72, FB#4130, Incauto

[ChasingBlueSky 0]

I'm going to back Renee up on this. Just stop, it's not worth it. I've seen family members of my friends pass from it and just weekend I buried my father who passed because of it.

Here are some of the things they don't tell you, and how it will impact your family:

1) It is a very violent, painful death. Your body works against you and the Dr's often have their hands tied due to your body no longer working to help you out. Like my Dad: To keep his BP up they had to give him fluids, but his veins couldn't retain the fluids and it went into his body and lungs. Trying to keep his heart going meant he would drown in his own fluids. Imagine trying to breath with over a quart of cancerous fluid in your lungs as your heart can barely push blood thru your body. Meanwhile you lose enough weight to look like you have been starved for years. They can't give you pain pills without killing you because it will lower your respirations, so you are stuck living with the pain until you finally pass. Your breaths become short and quick, each one more painful than the last. The pain and lack of oxygen causes your entire body to shake in pain until the vey end. But before that your eyes glaze over and you lose your site, you don't have the strength to lift your arms. If you had a clear head at that point you wouldn't be able to talk and let them know how bad it was or how sorry you were because you don't have enough air to speak. You are stuck inside your body as a prison living with the pain and unable to say goodbye. The site of this helped three people I know quit in cold turkey.

2) The cost. Imagine buying a new reserve canopy every one hour for weeks. That is roughly the the cost of one medication that was on my Father's IV....and that doesn't count the units of blood, saline, etc. Then add in the cost of the line that needs to be put into your body so you can readily get an IV or chemo - it would be the cost of a full new rig. Then there is the cost of the room, specialists, chemo sessions, etc....all adding up to the cost of a private university four year education in the matter of a few weeks.

3) There is a good chance you will not get any warning signs. There will be no pain before hand or anything unusual. Next thing you know you will be told that you have Stage 4 and are terminal. You won't have time for that final skydive, that final vacation, have time to write your memories down, get your estate in order, pass on that final bit of advice and most likely not have enough good days left to contact everyone you want to say goodbye to. It can happen as quick as a total malfunction and leaves you with almost as few options as one. This isn't fiction, this is reality and it does happen. It will happen. I saw it happen. There are no handle checks here. Wake the fuck up.

Too many smokers, like my Dad (he smoked from age 12 to 67), are flippiant about their addiction. But is that myopic attitude really worth everything that you will put your family thru.

Just don't fucking smoke, for fucks sake. But let me guess: that won't happen to you, right? Yea, my Dad used to say the same thing. While you are at it, why don't you just go toggle hook it low on a overloaded canopy you never jumped before in the middle of heavy traffic....I'm sure you will be the exception to the rule, right?

_________________________________________
you can burn the land and boil the sea, but you can't take the sky from me....
I WILL fly again.....

[ladyskydiver 0]

I'm with you. I watched my dad die of lung, liver and brain cancer from smoking. I watched my grandma die of brain cancer from smoking. My grandpa's cancer - they haven't said if it was smoking related or not.

I got my mom to quit smoking as my dad lie in the hospital bed and she was informed that he wouldn't make it out of the hospital alive. She quit and has been smoke free for 5 years. I'm very proud of her.

Smokers breath is icky. They taste icky when kissed (any place). They smell icky. Their skin shows the fact that they smoke. Their teeth are yellowed from smoking, and the health issues that arise from smoking are bad.

So...for those that are thinking of quitting, do it. My brother is quitting as well - and he's using some kind of pills to help.

I never smoked and never will. Eeewww!!! If these posts are hitting individuals hard, stop and take a look at what you're doing to yourself. I can tell you that watching a person die of cancer - the health and the mental issues they have - and not being able to do a damn thing to save/help your loved one hurts for all parties involved.

Life is short! Break the rules! Forgive quickly! Kiss slowly! Love truly, Laugh uncontrollably. And never regret anything that made you smile.

[loli-75 0]

Whoa!! Hold on a second. Did you just call your mom and aunt "fucking idiots"?

I'll admit - I'm seriously sleep deprived so I'm hoping I misunderstood that. I did get the fact that you were trying to insult millions of people who you know nothing about. I'm sorry for your situation - but calling family members who are dying or who have died of cancer "fucking idiots" just seems a little harsh.

Unfortunately, addiction doesn't play by the rules of common sense and logic. Addicts don't think - "Well this is bad for me and could kill me so I'm just not going to do it." I wish it were that easy.

Oh, and no - I don't smoke.

[DFWAJG 4]

Imagine what we are putting our loved ones through when they hear in the news about so many skydiver dying and ending up paralysed.... Is not the same torture as smoking?


90% of lung cancers are caused by smoking. only 10% of paralysis is caused by sports injuries. You are more likely to become paralyzed due to household injuries (falling off a ladder, etc) than you are skydiving. but with smoking, you are at a very high risk for harming yourself.

It's too bad smoking doesnt kill people sooner. there would probably be a lot fewer people trying it.

[eeneR 1]

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Whoa!! Hold on a second. Did you just call your mom and aunt "fucking idiots"?

I did to an extent, but when my mother was on her death bed she admitted she was one for having not quit oh so many years ago...though all the times as I begged her as a kid all the way up till she was diagnosed

If you have never seen what this stuff does to you first hand, and i don't mean my third cousins grandma died 6 states over. I mean having to be there taking care of someone who is dying, day in and day out for the last bit of their life. Watching them loose half of their body weight, not being coherent, having to have tubes shoved into everywhere possible to remotely survive. My mothers cancer spread from her lungs to her spine and left her in an incredible amount of pain. The pain that this puts on the family is freaking incredible.

My mother was 51 years old when she died, my aunt is early 60's right now.

They both could very well be alive if they had made the choice to quit, or for that matter never started. This is something that is mostly preventable by choice. Sure there are a few people who get cancer from other things, but your odds of it COPD, emphysema or a myriad of other heart conditions are so high.

I had to have a chat with my father, who still smokes. He has made a promise to quit as I am not ready to go through round 3 anytime soon. I also know that he doesn't want to end up like my mother (his wife of 32 years) and now his older sister. He has already been diagnosed with both COPD and emphysema which is bad enough.

She is not a "Dumb Blonde" - She is a "Light-Haired Detour Off The Information Superhighway."
eeneR
TF#72, FB#4130, Incauto

[sundevil777 93]

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I really enjoy smoking...it is a way for me to relax, smoking that is.

Of course you enjoy it, smoking takes away the withdrawal symptoms. You need it to relax because the withdrawal symptoms from nicotine happen so quickly. People that have never smoked, and even those that have quit are able to relax without a cig.

People are sick and tired of being told that ordinary and decent people are fed up in this country with being sick and tired. I’m certainly not, and I’m sick and tired of being told that I am

[slotperfect 7]

I smoked pretty heavily for about three years of my young life - a pack and a half a day and two packs a day on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. I got tired of the mess - ashed everywhere, everything smelled like the ashtray (clothes, car, pillow, etc.). One day I decided to quit and I put them down. That was 21 years ago. For several years I would smoke one cigaretter a year just to remind myself why I quit . . . now I haven't done that in about 10 years.

I can only think of a few habits that do damage to your body every time you engage in them - smoking is one of them.

Arrive Safely

John

[hungarianchick 0]

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Smokers breath is icky. They taste icky when kissed (any place). They smell icky. Their skin shows the fact that they smoke. Their teeth are yellowed from smoking, and the health issues that arise from smoking are bad

I also find the act of smoking very unattractive. There is nothing more more disappointing than a great looking man/woman lighting up one of those stink-sticks. I would never have gone out with the man I'm about to marry if he was a smoker.

"I love cooking with wine. Sometimes I even put it in the food."

[rehmwa 2]

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She tells me, "But I only have 3 per day". I watched her closely last time I was home, she smoked almost a pack a day

Smokers never lie. You must be mistaken.

Just like when EVERY single smokers tells you that "they" don't throw their butts on the ground and out the car window, etc.

...
Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants

[normiss 622]

agreed here!
I have always made it an instant disqualifier if she smokes...ok, I made a few exceptions, but I could never get past their smoking or the smell or the taste....so it became an issue and I ended leaving.

blech! ptui!

[chykynlyps 0]

is pot ok? because i love pot

Bear Down Chicago Bears!
"The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants" Thomas Jefferson

[wmw999 2,122]

My father quit when he was 65. He'd smoked since he was in his 20's. That was 20+ years ago, and now, at 89, he can still walk, run (well, a little), he exercises twice a day, and has only just recently started on his first permanent medication (the very cheapest one for type 2 diabetes). He lives mostly independently, and has a girlfriend who thinks he's hot.

I'd say that's a pretty good likely payback for quitting smoking and exercising.

My mother died of cancer at 65 (breast cancer, but smoking contributes to that), and it wasn't pretty. Not as ugly, but not pretty. And she was luckier than most people who die of breast cancer.

Yeah, I know. It's hard, and you know the risks, and it's worth it. But the payback for not smoking beats the payback for smoking for most people. Never mind the cost.

Wendy W.

There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown)

[pre7117 0]

Yesterday when this thread came out I was really pissed off and did not agree with anything anyone had to say. I Did not like the way it was put out and the way smokers where shit on. I still hate the fact when people force opinions on me no matter what what it is about. I hate when I get told not to do something and I wish that people whould just fuck off and go get fucked in the ass, maybe they will lay off of people. Before you guys get all huffy on me I wanted to say that I have been smoking for 22 years about 1 pack a day. I have 2 kids 10 and 11 years old been married for 13 years and have my own business. I have been very fortunate to have everything I need and to have a family who care about me. Since eeneR posted this I have been thinking about it and how pissed off I was and ask myself why? Most likely because they are right & I was wrong. I decided to quit smoking as of today so I can see my kids grow up and be able to retire healthy and live my days with my wife at my side. I will try my best and I hope I can do it. I would like to thank eeneR and appoligize at the same time. Maybe we all need a kick in the nuts to wake us up.

1 down 10,000,000 to go

HELLFISH 429
POPS 11113

[skybytch 259]

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Unfortunately, once people are addicted, smoking provides a multitude of pleasures. To quit smoking would mean giving up those pleasures.

Yeah. I simply love the pleasures of having bad breath, stinky hair and clothes, a big ol' ugly monkey on my back... and the constant "you should quit" coming at me from all sides.

Does anybody really think smokers ENJOY being addicted? Do you think that smokers don't KNOW each and every one of the health risks? Do you really think that each of us wouldn't love to go back to the day we smoked our first cigarette and "just say no" instead of lighting up and having our first coughing fit?

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I hate cigarettes.

Me too. More than anybody who's never smoked can ever imagine.

Don't smoke is a great message but it's better aimed at the young, before the monkey has a chance to get a grip on them. Telling it to the long-term addicted is like telling someone they are fat and need to lose weight - non-productive and kinda sadistic.

[flygirl1 0]

I decided to quit smoking as of today so I can see my kids grow up and be able to retire healthy and live my days with my wife at my side.

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Congrats!!!!

My dad quit smoking several years ago after watching a really close friend die from lung cancer caused by smoking. He had been smoking for close to 30 years and qiti cold turkey. It was the best gift he ever gave us
I don't know you but, I am behind you all the way.

Fly like a girl

[billvon 2,400]

>However those number that you are quoting are GREATLY exaggerated.

The CDC directly attributes 19% of the deaths each year in the US to smoking. Note that that is spread over ALL smokers who started at various times, including those who quit later.

Looking from the perspective of someone who starts smoking at age 18 and never quits, the odds of him dying from a smoking-related cause is 32%. (Obviously significantly higher.)

[BGill 0]

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I decided to quit smoking as of today so I can see my kids grow up and be able to retire healthy and live my days with my wife at my side. I will try my best and I hope I can do it. I would like to thank eeneR and appoligize at the same time. Maybe we all need a kick in the nuts to wake us up.

1 down 10,000,000 to go

Wow. Congratulations! I think you made a very smart move, for you and your loved ones.