[Vicious_2003]

If there's one thing that pisses me off, it's non-smokers who preach. Unless you have smoked cigarettes and been addicted to nicotine - you don't know what you're talking about. Sorry, but that's how it is. I don't know what it's like to be a crack addict, so why do non-smokers assume they know what smoking is like?

I can understand that. I mean, I myself have never experienced addiction so what right do I have to preach about it. None really. But im not criticizing people for not quitting..Ive seen how hard it is for people and I couldnt imagine how hard it is to stave off a physical addiction to something. And hey...if non smokers didnt fight against it..no one would. And we would continue to allow second hand smoke to destroy kids lungs, and we would find it acceptable to allow thousands of people every year to start smoking and condemn themselves to an existence of yellow teeth, bad breath, and serious lung problems. As a non smoker...I cant just let that happen and not atleast say (Preach) something.

If I enjoyed smoking, then why did I wish I'd never started?

Do you think there was ANYHTHING ANYONE could have said to keep you from starting ?. Because thats the key really...getting people to quit is damn near impossible,we'd be better off trying to keep people from starting. Just how that's done is a mystery

On a final note, if anyone does decide to stop smoking - you are not "quitting". Quitting suggests you are giving up something of value. We all know it costs money, is bad for your health and is anti-social.... So what exactly are you giving up???

Very well put

However, these young people have a mind of their own

How can you have a mind of your own when your mind is telling you you HAVE to have more niccotene. The addiciton takes away your choice in the matter in a way. Unless you have uber will power..your pretty much controller by your addiction (to put it bluntly)

as for that, I can say it isn't too far fetched.. something very similar happened to my stepdad, that's why he hates weed. he got robbed by a couple of his sister's friends, and they beat his ass and put him in the hospital, saying they would be back. so he had a gun next to him whenever he slept, locked, loaded, and off safe. two of his friends got totally stoned off thier asses, and one of them decided to point the gun at the other and pull the trigger, so my stepdad had to sit there and hold his best friend in his arms as he died... not too far fetched, actually...

Ummm did I say far fecthed ?. I meant.....sad....very sad..and entirely possible