Let's Ban Smoking!

shannons dad

Admittedly it isn't the same for everyone, but I think it applies to a fair majority of former smokers. My own story? I did manage to quit once and lasted a year without puffing away. All that changed when a good friend and I were taken down by some asshole driving without due care and attention. My friend who had a wife and two young children lost his life due to that accident and hard times were aplenty afterwards. Friends and relatives said my return to smoking was probably because of the shock of the whole fiasco. I can't say smoking made me feel any better about the crash. I did the same as you though. I quit cold turkey. I'd tried the patches and gum before many times and they just drag the process out. When I'm working again and life isn't quite so stressful, I'll be making yet another attempt. I'd like to be around to watch my daughter grow up. I wouldn't be much of a Dad if I was six foot under because of a heart attack, a huge threat among diabetics which is greatly increased when said diabetic is smoking.

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Bill.

God invented beer to prevent the Irish taking over the world!

Eat right, exercise, DIE ANYWAY!!!

I hate my new job, it sucks like a thirsty leech.

EoinC

Good on ya, Bill.

Peka

One thing that I found really helped was to do a lot of exercise when you stop smoking. The last thing I feel like doing after eg. a 25km ride, is having a smoke.

shannons dad

That would have been a good idea except that even while I'm on the bike I sometimes smoke!!!

__________________
Bill.

God invented beer to prevent the Irish taking over the world!

Eat right, exercise, DIE ANYWAY!!!

I hate my new job, it sucks like a thirsty leech.

refinnej

actually, i am a smoker myself! however i understand that it can be very annoying to those who dont smoke! realistically, i admit it must be annoying. its a disgusting habbit and im trying to stop, but it seems impossible.. almost everyone i know smokes! some friends i have dont. but they're out-numbered!

Peka

You obviously don't ride hard enough

shannons dad

You're more right than you know! My racing days have long since passed. Although, I plan to get back into training when I've kicked this nasty habit. I'm currently restoring a vintage (1987-88) Peugeot Optima ready for that day. Looking forward to bringing new life to the beast!!!

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Bill.

God invented beer to prevent the Irish taking over the world!

Eat right, exercise, DIE ANYWAY!!!

I hate my new job, it sucks like a thirsty leech.

Carrera

The situation is that I'm presently feeling ill (like a cold) and suspect I've half-poisoned myself with air-freshener. That's because this guy is still bombarding the area I work in with smoke. And as I said before, such is the addiction of smoking in the firm I work for, my complaint isn't understood. The boss of the company is a chronic smoker and now has breathing problems. His secretary also smokes. Virtually all the staff smoke.
Each time that guy arrives, I wind up leaving the room and cease work. When he goes I open up all the windows and doors and pump massive doses of air freshener around.
His situation is ever more serious. The hospital has definitely found some kind of internal growth they now need to scan. Whether it's cancer or not I don't know. However, it amazes me the guy has ignored my advice to go private and speed up the medical attention as well as my advice to quit smoking. He's still on 100 a day. Seems like his addiction to smoking has become more important to him than his job or his life in general. That seems to put smoking on the same kind of addiction level as heroin.
Ultimately I blame the companies for creating a market out of peoples' ill-health, the Government for not banning smoking at work and the selfish percentage of smokers who won't smoke outside and insist on others sharing their habit.
But the poster from Brazil who predicted this guy would inevitably kill himself could be right. I think he's in denial that all of this is catching up with him. Myself, I'm thinking of finding another job for a company that doesn't allow smoking and these now form a majority.

rainrider

"That seems to put smoking on the same
kind of addiction level as heroin."


It has been said that it's harder to give up than heroin,if you look at famous ex-junkies some still smoke tobacco but have managed to kick heroin.I think the goverments ,usa/uk,should liscence smoking , if you smoke now you get a card with your photo letting you buy smokes, as soon as every smoker has one don't issue any more, ie cutting drastically the number of new smokers hoodwinked into the smoking curse,of course there will be a black market etc but it surely can't be as bad as letting anyone buy them.

shannons dad

I've just had a look on the tinternet and it would seem you're out of luck. The only thing your employer is required to do, is to provide a smoke-free rest room. And even then, it isn't a legal requirement, it's on the grounds of health and safety. The best you can do is get another job with a non-smoking firm and there are plenty around. Although a smoker myself, I can sympathize with your situation. But it would seem you're in a no-win war with your employer.

__________________
Bill.

God invented beer to prevent the Irish taking over the world!

Eat right, exercise, DIE ANYWAY!!!

I hate my new job, it sucks like a thirsty leech.

rainrider

If anyone manages to come up with a workable 'cure' for this addiction they will be a trillionare overnight,tobacco is NOT the problem smoking and inhaling it IS.


"Eat right, exercise, DIE ANYWAY!!! " Yeah but not half as soon....

Carrera

I already looked myself. The only legal angle you could use, perhaps, would be if the smoking is affecting your health negatively due to allergy or whatever.
But, all in all, I'm already looking at other job possibilities. I've come to realise the only way I can blend in at my present work is to simply give up being fit, smoke and work myself into an early grave and become fat and huff and puff my way up 5 stairs.
I'd rather continue my addiction to dopamine than go down that path.

Carrera

I don't want to sound cruel, either, but I think my gripes over this issue will very soon be proven correct. This guy who's smoking 100 a day has already had a serious heart scare. Now he has this possible tumour. A year ago I warned him he was killing himself but he chose smoking over a future with his family and kids.
He's not going to get away with this kind of self-abuse forever. I'll bet the doctors have already warned him and he ignored them too. His employers don't care so long as he works all the hours they want him to do but where will they be if he remains unfit to work? Where will those wonderful tobacco companies be in the hour of need?
This is a nice enough guy I've known for over 2 years and tobacco has been the ruin of him. He's killing himself slowly and other unfortunates who share his surroundings.

shannons dad

There may be a reason for his hundred a day habit. Often, when I'm stressed (quite alot lately, one bill after another and no money to pay them!!!) I tend to smoke alot more, sometimes more than twice the norm. Which is a stupid excuse as it's been proven that smoking tobacco actually increases anxiety. Although of no benefit to you personally, his home life may not be quite so rosy, and if he's under pressure from the boss, that won't help matters either. I don't know his age, but a hundred a day will easily kill him within a year or two. Maybe his not-so-concerned employers haven't thought about that. Wouldn't surprise me. One other thing though. Depending on how long you've been subjected to smoke inhallation, you might want to get yourself checked at the docs. Passive smoking is a reality, despite the endless debates.

__________________
Bill.

God invented beer to prevent the Irish taking over the world!

Eat right, exercise, DIE ANYWAY!!!

I hate my new job, it sucks like a thirsty leech.