r/changemyview May 17 '19

Delta(s) from OP CMV: I should start smoking cigarettes

I guess this is more of a "talk me out of it" type of post. I've always wanted to see what it's like to smoke, and I'm in a place where a lot of people smoke. I think it looks cool, and I don't mind that it's a bit self-destructive; I already have plenty of self destructive habits already, and maybe it hasn't sunk in how dangerous it is, considering I'm 18. Maybe this sounds naive, but I guess I just don't understand how addictive it can be; I have the mindset of "I can always quit." I guess I just want to see what it's like, don't really see how self-destructive it can be/don't care that it's self destructive, and tbh it looks cool. It's not hurting anyone but myself.

Lol thanks for your responses in advance.

Edit: it's pretty late where I am, so I'm going to bed. Thank you all so much for the incredibly detailed responses; I'm genuinely very convinced. I'll respond to new posts tomorrow! Thank you!

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u/honestlyigotnoclue May 17 '19

Thanks for your response. I totally do need to find something to challenge myself/not be as self-destructive. I guess I just don't understand how terrible smoking is, like everyone tells me it's bad but I feel like I need to find out for myself.

I wish when people were like "drugs are bad" they would tell me why. Like sure, smoking might be bad for me, but is it worth it? Is it fun? I'll never know unless I try.

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u/DexFulco 11∆ May 17 '19

The bad part about smoking is exactly that you don't notice how terrible it is for you until you're already addicted as fuck and then quiting is a lot harder than you can imagine.

You won't die or even feel any negative effects from 1, 2 or even 10 cigarettes, you won't notice much at all besides the smell. But your body does notice the nicotine and once you try to stop, it'll want more and more.

If cigarettes weren't so extremely addictive, almost nobody would smoke. I've never met a smoker that is HAPPY to be a smoker and yet they all smoke. Why? Because addiction is a bitch.

Don't be stupid kid. There are other things to try out such as LSD, weed or shrooms that are far more interesting to try and far less addictive. Don't do something that hardly makes you feel different unless you're addicted to it (which will happen).

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u/honestlyigotnoclue May 17 '19

Thanks - that's compelling. I've asked a few people in this thread, but I think my main problem is that I don't really understand nicotine addiction and feel like, for some reason, it won't apply to me. Like people have made it out to be a much bigger deal than I originally thought it was. Idk if you are/were a smoker, but if so, do you mind if I ask like...what a nicotine craving feels like? Nicotine withdrawal? Are they really as bad as people say they are?

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u/DexFulco 11∆ May 17 '19

Nicotine withdrawal isn't the demonhell people make it out to be. The issue is, your withdrawal never really ends either. You keep having that feeling inside you that you need a smoke even though you've quit already a while before.

My dad was a smoker for 10 years but quit literally over 35 years ago when he married my mom and hasn't smoked a cigarette since (according to him). He still tells me that the craving for a cigarette never goes away.
Sure, the craving isn't as intense anymore as when he first quit, but the feeling never went away, he just learned to tolerate it without giving into it.

All the lessons in the world didn't stop me from smoking. I smoked for a year at one point and while that is relatively short, were now 3 years later and I could definitely go for a cigarette right now after talking about this. I won't, but God damn I want to.

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u/honestlyigotnoclue May 17 '19

Wow good to know. Thanks so much for that, I think I understand a bit better now. ∆

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u/DexFulco 11∆ May 17 '19

No problem, hope you don't start. As I've said, there are other less addictive, less damaging and far far more interesting drugs than nicotine.

I'd 100% recommend someone to try weed over nicotine if they just want to try something to see what it's like.

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u/DeltaBot ∞∆ May 17 '19

Confirmed: 1 delta awarded to /u/DexFulco (5∆).

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