Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Do you know a smoker that isn't a self absorbed jerk?

In all seriousness:

My division officer in E division was a cigar smoker. He was a tough old salt, and when on watch crossing the Atlantic he would be the EOW and I used to like to see him coming. He had moxy, panache and confidence. When he was around in 60 foot sees smoking that stinking cigar, it kinda made me feel like the plant was going to stay on line simply out of fear of this tough nut. Showing bluster and confidence during tense times he inspired condidence in everyone around him.

God bless that cigar puffing mustang EOW and the horse he rode in on and anybody that looked like him...

LOL

But alas... those were the old days when the smoking lamp was lit in all authorized spaces...

It was the boiler techs that chewed and spit in an old coke can and then left it to tip over and get on stuff that kinda grossed me out... but then again they was boiler techs, not members of a modern civilized race you understand...

I've been a smoker for somewhere around 45 years, I'd have to say 20 years ago I knew more smokers that were jerks then non-smokers, probably because I knew more smokers. lately I know more non-smokers that are jerks, probably because I know more non-smokers now. The one constant though is by far and away the biggest group of jerks percentage wise has always been ex-smokers, and that's not just concerning smoking.
I've always considered myself a polite smoker, never smoked in stores or banks (yes there was a time when it was excepted practice) don't smoke in the house or the car, do smoke in my truck however. Have tried to quit many times and have had some degree of success once in awhile, but have never been able to hang with it. Have been thinking about it again lately at least until these smoking threads came up. Seems to me if you quit you are almost obligated to become a liberal and try to force your views and values on everyone else. No thanks I would rather smoke.
Could it be that these people are so pissed off over not having one (talking to some of the nicer ones I have been told that they still always want one, even after 30 or more years) that they can't cope with it and are in a constant bad mood. No thanks, I would rather smoke.

Which reminds me of an old familiar jingle...

Revelle Revelle
Heave out and trice up
The Smoking Lamp is lit in all authorized spaces
NOW REVELLE

Sweepers sweepers man your brooms
clean sweep down fore and aft
Sweep down all decks ladders and passageways
NOW SWEEPERS

Set the sea and anchor detail
Make all preparations for getting underway

Underway
Shift ships colors.

(I think I remember all that correct)

1) IMO there are 3 main types of people in the world. Givers, takers and sharers... All the smokers I can think of are firmly in the taker group.
2)Smokers are impulsive, often taking the path to short term gratification, with disregard to the long term cost to themselves or others
3) Smokers are MUCH more likely to have a dependency on alcohol or other drugs.---------------------------------------

I'm not sure why some on these boards wish to group people.
I hate cigarettes, I hate to see people I care about smoking them, but can't say I see a change in some of my friends who have quit. I know a lot of great people who smoke.

Labeling sombody who smokes as being selfish is kind of like the last argument I had on these boards labeling anybody who is on unemployment. People start smoking for different reasons, people end up on unemployment for different reasons..


Now I will agree with you reguarding smokers who feel it is their right to smoke near me and feel it is up to me to deal with their smoke, or leave. The few that don't give a damn where their smoke is going, ya, I would agree they would be sellfish.

Another thing I have never figured out reguarding smoking?
In a scociety that has focused on anti-litter, how did the cigarette butt ever get a pass? The beach is not a giant ashtray.
I know a lot of people who would never think of throwing a wrapper on the ground, who think nothing of dropping the butt where they suck the life out of it.

i know quite a few smokers who would give yah the shirt of their back if they thought you needed it more than they did. i dont smoke tobacco but i really dont have a problem with those that do. im not worried about second hand smoke as i am FAR FAR more likely to die driving to work. i really think the original post was more than a lil bit idiotic. to have those "insights" you either dont get out much or have your head firmly lodged up your rear.

I'm agree. There's probably some correlation between smokers and self-control, but once addicted to a drug, it's hard to kick. As far as attitudes go, I know so many people both good and bad, that I can't see any connection to smoking. This reminds me of another subject though, so watch for Keystone Beer in the title line.

Bushrat



J*O*K*E

Like I said: "I guess this is MUCH more of a touchy subject than I EVER thought possible."

2ndWind
Your title for this thread is surprising, upon reflection. I guess I thought it was a joke until I got in here and saw as one very aptly put it, a sh1tstorm. Have fun dodging the turds, buddy! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

My bunk on our first westpak was right under the damn 1-mc, I think that's what it was called, the freaking loudspeaker. The bosin's whistle still gives me chills.
TTTTTTTTTWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWEEEEEEEETTTTTTTTT
flight quarters, flight quarters
all designated personell man your flight quarters station to recieve
the smoking lamp is out on all weather decks
wear no hats topside
throw no articles over the side
all unnecceary personell stand clear aft frame 92 on the flight deck
flight quarters

I think your generalizations are WAY off. I've met far more people who are non-smokers who are complete asses than smokers.

I quit 2 years ago, and will NEVER go back to it if I can help it, but NOTHING gets my back up like someone bashing on a smoker. It has become politically correct to bash smokers, and every little imp that walks that doesn't smoke, usually takes every opportunity around smokers to give thier fake little cough, hand waving in front of the face gesture, are doing nothing more than acting on an impulse to demonstrate being "superior" to someone else. The fact that they don't smoke is their little "victory" over some poor sap that does.

That behavior not too long ago would have gotten your ass kicked but good.

"It stinks" and " I can't tolerate the smell". BS. Half the people walking around with quarts of perfume and aftershave on are far more offensive than that, but you don't see anyone with the coughing and hand waving crap there, do you?

I'm somewhat ashamed to say I did not quit for health reasons. I quit because it was getting too expensive (2 1/2 packs a day, $4.50 a pack, you do the math), and the insults I watched both myself and other smokers receive daily for standing OUTSIDE and smoking at the back of the building were eventually, sooner than later, going to get the better of me and someone was going to wind up with an ass kicking. I watched far too many pu$$ies walking UPWIND of smokers go through those theatrics to know that sooner or later my temper was going to get the best of me. I don't take well to intentional and unprovoked insults.

I surely feel no superiority over anyone. If I could pick up a smoke a day and not go back to full blown addiction, I'd do it in a heartbeat. But, I know I can't, so I won't.

I still firmly believe in smoker's rights however (what's left of them), and will vote for smoker's rights every time an issue comes up at the polling place.

Like I always say, fat ass slob Rob Reiner was so concerned about the "drain on our healthcare system" because of smokers, yet I don't see his fat slovenly ass lobying for a tax on Big Macs and Whoppers. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" />

When I was growing up, doctors, preachers, priests, etc. and most men and a lot of women smoked. No, they were not self absorbed jerks. The best people I ever knew happened to be smokers. The worst people I have ever known were beer drinkers. That is a stupid, idiotic statement to make about people. I could start with Dwight Eisenhower, John Wayne, and continue on indefinitely with wonderful people who happened to have smoked.
Just because I happen to know some rapists, molesters, murderers who happened to be beer drinkers, am I going to say that beer drinkers are self absorbed jerks, especially the ones who throw their beer cans in my yard? Of course not.
Smoking used to be very, very accepted. Just look at some old movies, Hollywood or real war footage or historical footage. People smoked like chimneys. In fact, doctors used to smoke regularly in operating rooms. People used to smoke regularly in hospitals.
A lot of folks smoked because of all the real self absorbed jerks out there they had to put up with through the years. You are way off base on this.
Look around you. Americans are fat as hell and it is the next great health calamity in this country. In fact, the obesity rate is now off the charts and causes more problems in this country than smoking. It is the majority. Are they all self absorbed jerks? If you are the typical American, then most of your friends are fat. Those are now the statistics. Go up to them and call them self absorbed jerks.
Hitler did not smoke nor did the overwhelming majority of low lifes I have had to deal with through the years. It's a facetious argument.

Slasher, oh no, you said 'Hitler', you therefore lose this argument by default.
All NAZI accusations will result in ridicule, thank you. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

In short I wouldn't put all smokers in the same class. I do see how one might come to that conclusion, because if you despise smoking you notice every smoker within a hundred miles. I can't stand smoke. I will do whatever it takes to get away from it. If I'm eating and someones smoke is going in my face while I'm trying to eat, I can get midevil quick. With that said, some are very considerate of others. Hats off to them. My mother and father both smoke, but not around me. They respect the fact that it bothers me. I appreciate that.

I dip snuff. I try not to spit on people. I think some smokers should maybe try not to force their habit on others by making them inhale their smoke. Its a courtesey issue. Some are very courteous and there are those who are not.

As for health, tobacco will kill you for sure!!! I am currently killing myself with snuff. My intention is to quit soon, due to the fact that I have recently become a father. I want to set an example and live longer.

I'm an ex-smoker and a self-righteous, pompous ass to boot...but I do my best to hide it by not trying to make myself look somehow superior to those who haven't given up the vice.



-RR-

Been an ex-smoker now going on ten years,I don't miss them.Where I work the work force is split about 50/50,smokers/non smokers.You can't smoke inside the plant,only at a designated area outside.I find I take my breaks outside with the smokers,I seem to like them better.The only thing a few of them do that pi$$es me off,is they flick their butts to the ground instead of using the ashtray provided <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" />.

okiebowhunter,

In my little tirade <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />, I failed to mention that there certainly is a flip side as you mentioned.

All smokers know smoking is offensive to most non-smokers. I likewise have no use for a smoker who is not conscience of those around him and blows smoke all over the place. I would not smoke in someone's car who was a non-smoker, or if there were non-smokers in the car. I didn't smoke in MY CAR if non-smokers were in the car. I was always of the mind that if I couldn't smoke without it going in somebody's face, then I moved until there was such a place.

But, I do realize there are smokers who seem incapable of having an awareness of their surroundings. But, that is not just smokers, there are people in every walk of life that are incapable of simple acknowledgement and awarness of the needs or even just safety of those around them. One day on a Southern Kalifornistan freeway is all you need to convince youself of that!

Ironically, it was those efforts to stay away from people that it may bother, by moving, or locating myself down wind, that I noticed that it usually doesn't matter, and those who are hell bent on needing to ridicule smokers will make a show of it anyway. That is what burns my butt.

DaveR

Actually, many years ago people who were seriously bothered by smoke rarely, if ever, spoke up so smokers did not know. Half of people smoked and it was not cool to object apparently and offend that many people.
I think in the 80's people started to complain more and more because of the publicity of the possible harm of second hand smoke until now some are plain vicious. If they have trouble breathing or the smell makes them nauseous, more power to them politely asking someone to stop. Now, smokers know it is best and considerate to smoke in smoking only areas or go outside. The person who complained the loudest around me was an immoral arsehole, truly, so consideration was not given. I might say to him that there are hundreds of worse things or how did the Indians manage all that smoke in the teepees or all the smoke from coal fired homes was surely worse.
It's weird that smoking is on the increase in other parts of the world. America is slowly quitting but getting fat in the process.

I never thought I'd say this....but sometimes I really miss going to sea.

Smokers? They come in all types like the rest of us.

How friggin' old are you?? Go back to your gangsta rap ... punk!

Don't eat in the smoking section ... problem solved.

Great topic here guys. I am the son of chain smoking parents who both died as a result of their bad habits. My dad drank himself into his grave, and my mom spent 3 solid years rotting from cancer as a result of smoking all her adult life. For those of you who have never closely followed one's journey down the grisly path cancer takes you, let me enlighten you. How about watching all your hair fall out, right before your very eyes. My mother had beautiful, long brown hair, and seeing to fall off in clumps was not a very fun experience. How about living on an oxygen system for the last few months, fighting for every breath, until it was just time to give up? How about knowing full well that you're on the way to meet your maker, and not being able to do a thing about it? How about seeing your grandson for the very first time, on his way home from the hospital as a newborn? That was the last time my mother opened her eyes-she held on to see the baby, and never woke up again, dying in my arms on a cold, dreary day. While I abhor smoking, I don't hate smokers. Do I agree with their choice? No. Do I class them in the same way the poster of this forum did? No. Everyone makes their own choices. Nowhere does it say you have to be compulsive, impulsive, or any other kind of "pulsive" if your a smoker. I just don't lump people together like that. I do believe that smoking is addictive. I've had two very good friends, both of which were heavy smokers quit cold turkey. For both of them it was the hardest thing they ever did, and both tell me the cravings are still there, and that they just can't be around cigarette smoke because they're afraid of relapse. It is definitely an addiction, regardless of what others think.

That says it all.