Smoking underground

[Simon Beck]

Yo Andy........i was actually quoting graham not saying that real cavers smoke, my presentation is terrible, no that's not what i mean't.

 

[Simon Beck]

Look! I and i'm sure, every other smokers understands the damage they're doing to themselves, it's not good for you and it certainly dosen't help promote or prolong a high level of fitness. I myself am very fit and there're very few non smokers i know who can keep up with me, but thats mainly because of the sustained consistant exercise and long trips i undertake on a regular basis and have done in a number of different activities over the past 10 years, one day my past will catch up with me, but when the time comes i will take full responsibilty for the irrational decisions i made in my youth(i'll have no choice). I've always been a bit of an adrenaline junkie(i loathe using that term) and i'm not looking forward to getting old and grey but that dosen't mean i'm gonna top myself either. When you participate in dangerous activities on a regular basis you or i find i cease to worry about the things most mortals worry about, like health and the future etc...etc

I could worry about what's gonna happen when i get old, but i don't, because all that's on my mind is surviving all the mad shit i know i'm gonna do between now and then.

 

[andymorgan]

Yo Andy........i was actually quoting graham not saying that real cavers smoke, my presentation is terrible, no that's not what i mean't.

Ok, no problem!

 

[cap n chris]

I wonder how many Olympic athletes use smoking as a training aid?

I don't believe that people who smoke don't do so because "they like it". They do so because they're addicted to it.

The question isn't "Do you like smoking?" - it's "Do you like being a smoker?".

Deep down my belief is that people who smoke wish they didn't but unfortunately their addiction overrides their willpower to quit. Quitting is straightforward once you cease living in denial and realise you're going to die of a smoking related illness. Most likely dying slowly and painfully. Anyone who claims to enjoy the prospect of dying slowly and painfully is welcome to it.

 

[Johnny]

How many people who so vehemently oppose smoking are actually, genuinely afraid that they are going to be harmed by someone else’s smoke?

I do worry about the kind of behaviour that has resulted from this recent wave of anti smoking hysteria.

I find it fascinating that it has become acceptable for people to make instant value judgements about a smoker.

Are we in a situation where a majority, who believe they are right and just, are able and in fact encouraged to denigrate a minority amongst them?

The tyranny of the masses is a worrying thing 

 

[Simon Beck]

I'm sorry Chris but you are wrong in someway, smokers are not idiots, i for one enjoy smoking tobacco, a majority of smokers also enjoy smoking tobacco. I remember when i first started smoking back when i was 15/16 i had one a day maybe two at the most and i thoroughly enjoyed every drag, but then it becomes 5 a day then 10 and then you're hooked a few years down the line you're not just mentally hooked but physically addicted as well this is when a majority of folk realise it's bad and wish to give up but that dosen't mean they don't enjoy it anymore, they've just realised they don't enjoy enough to justify dieing for it. I can't say i've ever been a chain smoker 10 a day is probably the most i did smoke at my peak, but others go on to smoke in the region of 20 or 30. I cease to enjoy smoking when i've smoked a lot in a short period of time i.e chain smoking in a pub, boredom smoking for the sake of it when there's nothing better to do. A majority of smokers want to give up because their habit becomes out of control and it's not possible for them just to.....say for instance have one in the morning after breakfast and one before bed or just after sex, or only on the summit of a mountain etc...etc
I like smoking tobacco......what the hell do you think i'm a bloody idiot....you think i'd do something so damaging to my body if i didn't enjoy it........i've just cut down that's all and would be happy just smoking a few a day which is my intention.

 

[graham]

How many people who so vehemently oppose smoking are actually, genuinely afraid that they are going to be harmed by someone else’s smoke?

I do worry about the kind of behaviour that has resulted from this recent wave of anti smoking hysteria.

I find it fascinating that it has become acceptable for people to make instant value judgements about a smoker.

Are we in a situation where a majority, who believe they are right and just, are able and in fact encouraged to denigrate a minority amongst them?

The tyranny of the masses is a worrying thing 

1 Quite a few, I believe, many people are aware of how their personal health improved after smoking was banned in their place of work.

2 The value judgement is not instant. The judgement of smokers and smoking has been long made. The observation that someone is smoking merely allows that judgement to be applied.

3 Well, yes! lots of minorities whose actions are deleterious to others are denigrated, from drunk drivers to paedophiles.

4 The tyranny of the masses is merely a perjorative way of saying "democracy".

 

[Johnny]

, smokers are not idiots, i for one enjoy smoking tobacco, a majority of smokers also enjoy smoking tobacco.

Well said!

(but I did think that the 'mere mortals' in one of your previous posts was a bit much was a bit much)

 

[Simon Beck]

Non smokers will never understand what is so appealling about smoking, how can you know if you've never tried. I do agree that non smokers shouldn't have to be forced to breath the smoke of others and banning smoking in public places i thinks a good thing, for one it'll certainly help me attain my goal of cutting down, but no one as the right to stop me smoking or as the right to belittle me with their facts and figures like i'm some child......Like i've said before i'm a reasonable guy and the moment a non smoker approaches me and politely shares is displeasure at having to share my cigarette i would instantly exstinguise it, but if someone is rude from the onset then they better hope they're harder than me because i wouldn't hesitate to take physical action for a second.

 

[graham]

Non smokers will never understand what is so appealling about smoking, how can you know if you've never tried. I do agree that non smokers shouldn't have to be forced to breath the smoke of others and banning smoking in public places i thinks a good thing, for one it'll certainly help me attain my goal of cutting down, but no one as the right to stop me smoking or as the right to belittle me with their facts and figures like i'm some child......Like i've said before i'm a reasonable guy and the moment a non smoker approaches me and politely shares is displeasure at having to share my cigarette i would instantly exstinguise it, but if someone is rude from the onset then they better hope they're harder than me because i wouldn't hesitate to take physical action for a second.

I did smoke for a few years (a long time ago) and gave it up so that argument doesn't apply to me. As I said above, it is your right to kill yourself in any way that you choose, but it remains my right not to have to share your particular route to hell with you. If we can agree on that then there is nothing left to argue about.

 

[Simon Beck]

I agree with that 100% and would have agreed with that from the beginning.

 

[Peter Burgess]

Aaaahhhhhhhh!!!!!!  :hug:

 

[graham]

By purest chance I have just read this on a news site:

Bladder cancer link to passive smoking

Thursday November 9, 08:35 AM

Children exposed to second-hand smoke have a higher risk of developing bladder cancer in later life, according to a new study.

Children and adolescents may be even more susceptible to the harmful effects of tobacco smoke than adults, researchers found.

The study, published in the International Journal of Cancer, involved examining data from 429,906 people, of whom 633 developed bladder cancer.

It found that exposure to second-hand smoke during childhood led to a 38 per cent increase in the risk of developing the disease in later life when compared to non-exposure.

The study, part-funded by Cancer Research UK, also reveals that, for every five years later in life people started smoking, their risk of developing bladder cancer is cut by 19 per cent.

Therefore, the younger a person is when they take up smoking, the greater their risk of the disease, it suggested.

Bladder cancer is the fourth most common cancer affecting men and the tenth most common affecting women in the UK, according to Cancer Research UK.

More than 10,000 new cases are diagnosed each year and more than 4,800 people die from the disease.

Source

 

[racingsnake]

I think the point of this thread has wandered on and off the point. Mr Becks
Last comment is probably fair of some of the more reasonable smokers that they would extinguish cigarettes if requested. Surely the point I made earlier is the crux. Let smokers smoke without prejudice but it must not be in public where they remove the non smokers right not to breath in smoke.
Simon your aggressive attitude is a shame I read your trip report on outsleets beck and thought you sounded a really nice guy.

 

[Simon Beck]

Hey Johnny i actually said 'most mortals' not mere mortals. Implying other mortals like myself.

 

[Simon Beck]

Hey racing snake
I can assure you i am a nice guy.
It's just i'm no good at this cyberspace bollocks, it's hard to express yourself in words sometimes.....but yes your right there was some aggression, it was the whole removing and shooting thing that got me pretty p....oed.
I could say just the same about some other folk who've contributed to this thread.

I'm 100% sure if you spent a day caving with me you'd forget alll about this.

 

[Simon Beck]

Has usual Mr Beck ends up looking like the bad guy........My life story!

 

[Stu]

Can we have a fag break yet??

 

[racingsnake]

Stu

Smokers and non smoker alike I agree lets give this a rest now and agree to one thing  we all love caving

 

[Johnny]

Hey Johnny i actually said 'most mortals' not mere mortals. Implying other mortals like myself.

Sorry mate wrong end of stick on my part.

I'm off for a fag