Smoking

[Enigm@]

Pot's not bad in itself, but

1) costs money Depends on what you get. Pots dirt cheap in my town.
2) distracts from real life; school, work, etc That's why you don't light a joint during school/work.
3) gateway drug to stuff that does harm you No. This is mainly caused by peer pressure, and being pressured by your dealer who just wants to make more money by selling you coke.

Like I said in GC I only smoke a joint like once or twice a month, but I don't support smoking a 5 pounds of Chronic every day.

[123savethewhales]

Pot's not bad in itself, but

1) costs money
2) distracts from real life; school, work, etc
3) gateway drug to stuff that does harm you

Sounds like the internet.

[Enigm@]

Plus pot isn't that bad for you unless like I said before, you smoke 5 pounds of Chronic a day. The only side effects I've felt are being sleepy and having a case of the munchies. i.e., eating everything in the fridge.

[Sage]

3) gateway drug to stuff that does harm you No. This is mainly caused by peer pressure, and being pressured by your dealer who just wants to make more money by selling you coke.

...which means its a gateway drug. People are more inclined to use other drugs once they get over the barrier of doing illegal things in the first place, with "harmless" weed. If you give into peer pressure once, you sure as hell can and probably will do it again sometime along the road. Come back in 20 years and tell me you've not tried coke or heroin or meth at least once, and you can prove your point.

[Enigm@]

3) gateway drug to stuff that does harm you No. This is mainly caused by peer pressure, and being pressured by your dealer who just wants to make more money by selling you coke.

...which means its a gateway drug. People are more inclined to use other drugs once they get over the barrier of doing illegal things in the first place, with "harmless" weed. If you give into peer pressure once, you sure as hell can and probably will do it again sometime along the road. Come back in 20 years and tell me you've not tried coke or heroin or meth at least once, and you can prove your point.

Good thing no one does coke or meth in my town. :P
And I think I'll stick pot. I don't want to do anything that can do actual harm to my body, and I'm not to fond of needles. (Or snorting things) I and don't give in to peer pressure. If it means ruining our friendship, I'm fine with that.

[123savethewhales]

3) gateway drug to stuff that does harm you No. This is mainly caused by peer pressure, and being pressured by your dealer who just wants to make more money by selling you coke.

...which means its a gateway drug. People are more inclined to use other drugs once they get over the barrier of doing illegal things in the first place, with "harmless" weed. If you give into peer pressure once, you sure as hell can and probably will do it again sometime along the road. Come back in 20 years and tell me you've not tried coke or heroin or meth at least once, and you can prove your point.

Lol this argument is so dirty.  But it doesn't help prove your point one bit though.

It's like saying
"I am right because I said so, and you can only disprove me by waiting until nobody cares".

[Resetti's Replicas]

I don't care what smoking does to the people who choose to do it.  In fact I'm glad it gives them shorter lives and I'm glad that society has cast them out like rats.  My real problem with smoking is that it's the most socially inconsiderate thing ever.

Cigarette smoke is one of the most unpleasant smells known to man.  I go to college, and there's people smoking right outside of every building.  I know they're allowed to but it would be nice if I didn't feel like I was walking through the Foggy Banks o' Loch Lomond every time I wanted to go in or out a doorway.  They look like crows on a roost and smell twice as bad.  Plus when they come inside right after smoking they still reek of tobacco.

When there's a smoker in front of me and the wind is blowing their smoke into my face, I'll cough really loudly and exaggeratedly.  If it's cold outside and I can see my breath I'll mimic them.

I like smokers about as much as ACAMS likes the Apollo Theater

[Hydro]

I do not understand smokers. Why would anyone want to poison them self like that? Plus the smell is bad, which is complicated by the wind constantly changing direction here and a lot of people do smoke.

Probably worse than the smell of cigarette smoke is the smell of burning soap, however. I know this because the person my dad and I used to live with made soap and it somehow caught fire.

[yoda9726]

Come back in 20 years and tell me you've not tried coke or heroin or meth at least once, and you can prove your point.

Point proven.  approximately 20 years ago, I first tried smoked a joint.  Since then, I occasionally partake, sometimes more than others.   Heroin, coke, meth or anything generally considered 'harder' have never entered this body.  In fact, my count stands at weed, tobacco, alcohol, and salvia. The only one of those which has become a normal habit is tobacco. 
 
As to the normal 'issues' with tobacco, i'm what i call a 'respectful smoker'.  When I smoke in public, I do my absolute damndest to stay as far away from the non-smokers.  I fail at times, admittedly, but I do try.  I didn't start because I thought it was 'cool' or any of that, it was simple curiousity.  I understood the risks, the downsides, everything involved.  I liked the perceived calming effect.  I continue to this day...well, i'm not gonna blame the addiction.  It's an addiction I could overcome if I didn't enjoy smoking, which I do.  The fault lies in me. 
 
I admit it's a moronic choice, and I don't suggest it to anyone.  But it's a choice I made.  If I could go back, well, honestly I'd probably make the same choice.  I'm allowed some stupidity, dammit.

[Hydro]

I'm allowed some stupidity, dammit.

Not to derail your point, but what I do to be stupid is step in front of moving vehicles :D

[Kujii]

I live in a house where inbetween 2 people, 2 packs of Cigarettes are smoked a day, and about 40-50$ of weed a day. I'm moving to a private sector of town one day, there will be signs saying smokers will be shot.

[Jack Daniels]

I smoked tobacco for a few months in college. I felt damn cool and it is the ULTIMATE rebel statement. At one point in your lives you will rebel against something.  Rebelling against society usually is easily done with a cigarette.  Nothing says: "I don't care.  To hell with you! Do I look like I care if I live to be 100 years old?" like a cool hard drag. You wont really understand the allure of cigarettes until you truly don't care. 

People who are down on life, also tend to smoke. The chemicals in cigarettes are know to relax you, not stimulate.  This is why people who are stressed usually desire a smoke.

I quit because I went Mtn bike riding and couldn't breathe for the life of me.  I realized that the rebellion was not worth the side effects of making me incapable of riding a bike. I've been told I am lucky for quitting so soon, because I wasn't on them enough to get addicted.

Booze... on the other hand...

[Sage]

There's counterexamples to every argument regarding drugs, just so druggies can have an excuse to smoke more.

The fact still stands that underage smoking, drinking, and other drugs ruin lives. One of my closest friends from elementary is now failing nearly every class at the easiest high school in my region, because he turned to drugs and doesn't give a sh** about anything else. Even if weed doesn't lead to hardcore drugs for everyone, more often than not it does.

It's such an inconceivably stupid idea to smoke anything I just don't understand.

[Hydro]

It's such an inconceivably stupid idea to smoke anything I just don't understand.

Except salmon. Smoked fish is one of the best main dishes I've ever had.

[yoda9726]

Hey, don't take me wrong.  I'm not extolling the virtues of it.  Recreational drugs of all kinds cause more problems than they solve, and the only problem they really solve is "I'm bored".  The 'weed leads to harder drugs' thing always bugs me.  I do agree that i'm an exception, however.   I think the real problem is the type of person who is willing to try marijuana is more likely to be the type of person who would try harder drugs.  Again, the fault lies in the person, not the drug.  The drug becomes a scapegoat, an excuse.  "I did this because I was on drugs", "I tried heroin because i tried marijuana".  No, You did all this because you did it, pure and simple.  "my judgement was impaired because of the drugs".  No, your judgement was impaired when you said yes instead of no.  Very few, If any, are forced to start.  It's all their choice.  I'm hearing 'peer pressure' out there. That's just another scapegoat.  Peer pressure is difficult, no doubt.  But in the end, it's each of our choices to overcome it or not. 
 
I'm not exempt here, people.  I'm ashamed to admit i've used "I snapped at you because I really need a cigarette" more times than I care to count.  It's a lie each time.  I snapped because I snapped, the nicotine is my excuse.  And i'm not going to make an excuse for why I smoke.  I smoke because I like it.  I won't even blame the addiction.  If I hadn't known it was addictive when I started, I COULD.  But I knew.  The choice was mine to make, and frankly, I made the wrong one.
 
To me, this is the real problem.  We blame the drug and not the person.  It becomes an 'out' for personal responsibility, and I don't think this society needs another "The devil made me do it".   

[Enigm@]

Hey, don't take me wrong.  I'm not extolling the virtues of it.  Recreational drugs of all kinds cause more problems than they solve, and the only problem they really solve is "I'm bored".  The 'weed leads to harder drugs' thing always bugs me.  I do agree that i'm an exception, however.   I think the real problem is the type of person who is willing to try marijuana is more likely to be the type of person who would try harder drugs.  Again, the fault lies in the person, not the drug.  The drug becomes a scapegoat, an excuse.  "I did this because I was on drugs", "I tried heroin because i tried marijuana".  No, You did all this because you did it, pure and simple.  "my judgement was impaired because of the drugs".  No, your judgement was impaired when you said yes instead of no.  Very few, If any, are forced to start.  It's all their choice.  I'm hearing 'peer pressure' out there. That's just another scapegoat.  Peer pressure is difficult, no doubt.  But in the end, it's each of our choices to overcome it or not. 
 
I'm not exempt here, people.  I'm ashamed to admit i've used "I snapped at you because I really need a cigarette" more times than I care to count.  It's a lie each time.  I snapped because I snapped, the nicotine is my excuse.  And i'm not going to make an excuse for why I smoke.  I smoke because I like it.  I won't even blame the addiction.  If I hadn't known it was addictive when I started, I COULD.  But I knew.  The choice was mine to make, and frankly, I made the wrong one.
 
To me, this is the real problem.  We blame the drug and not the person.  It becomes an 'out' for personal responsibility, and I don't think this society needs another "The devil made me do it".

This.
I don't smoke pot because I thought it was cool or it was something that would make me popular with people I couldn't give a flying phuck about.
I did because I wanted to. And it was my decision to do it.

[cephalopod]

I could rant forever about smoking, but instead I will provide the following informative statement.

Ew.

[123savethewhales]

There's counterexamples to every argument regarding drugs, just so druggies can have an excuse to smoke more.

The fact still stands that underage smoking, drinking, and other drugs ruin lives. One of my closest friends from elementary is now failing nearly every class at the easiest high school in my region, because he turned to drugs and doesn't give a sh** about anything else. Even if weed doesn't lead to hardcore drugs for everyone, more often than not it does.

It's such an inconceivably stupid idea to smoke anything I just don't understand.

Sounds more like your friend just stop caring about school.  How often does he actually show up to class, do homework, and study for exam?  I know plenty of kids who fail HS the same way without doing drugs.  This problem is much bigger than drugs here in the US.

In the US, high school dropouts can take the GED and go strait to college.  So while getting competitive grades in High School is still worth something, to barely passing high school is inherently a waste of time.  This easy alternative significantly discourage borderline students from trying to pass.  And what do they do?  They cut school, join gangs, and doing drugs because their life lacks a purpose.  Failing high school should come with real consequences if the government want high school to be taken seriously.  I suggest increasing the difficulties of the GED test so people who don't know anything will actually fail.

[kill343gs]

Yoda hit the nail on the head. Well spoken.

[Serge]

I smoked a couple of times, I can understand why people do it. I'm not gonna repeat what yoda said as it would be pointless.