Why do you smoke?

[smokey joe]

I agree with James that fundamentally it is to imbibe nicotine through inhaling, or not, the smoke from tobacco. As you know it was adopted by the Spanish from the indigenous peeps of Cuba by one of Columbus's chums. In our time it has been gentrified and fetishised, the pleasure is partly in the ritual of the habit. Those tribal peeps were on to a good thing like their south American cousins who cope with altitude sickness by chewing coca leaves, or the native Americans who transcended the physical world to commune with the spirits by taking Peyote. In Victorian England it was common place for gentlemen to partake in the smoking of opiates, so much so that it led to illiagalisation to avoid the entire Empire backsliding into a trance in an opium den. Now I'm rambling...

[smokey joe]

Anything is addictive to a weak mind...... Simply put, I am not addicted and never will be addicted to any substance.... I absolutely refuse to be.

P.S. I don't live in denial of anything.

you're addicted to oxygen

[cigarmo]

you're addicted to oxygen

I am not addicted to anything apart from
pizza
chocolate
cake
nicotine
junk food
puddings
actually the list goes on and on now wheres that crack pipe

[ValeTudoGuy]

Is that not an admission that in a way you are addicted but choose to be strong minded and control your addiction

Not one bit..... Unless an addiction is the act of choosing to do something I want to do as and when it suits me.

[ValeTudoGuy]

ad?dic?tion [uh-dik-shuhn]
noun
the state of being enslaved to a habit or practice or to something that is psychologically or physically habit-forming, as narcotics, to such an extent that its cessation causes severe trauma.

[tommy]

Yup. I agree Marc. I can (and have) gone on deployments and not touched a cigar for 7/8 months. I'm not addicted to nicotine nor any other chemicals in cigars - it's the ritual that I'm addicted to if anything...long may it continue!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

That's the word, ritual and although I can honestly say that I do sometimes smoke more regularly than I'd like there's the something crap or not to my taste that helps me to remember that I would rather smoke one specially selected cigar a week than twenty ok ones. I actually had this today with the cigar of the month smoke which although ok wasn't to my liking and helped me to let go of some pretty decent smokes when need arose. I knew that I had some spectacular smokes left which was really all I need.

[Fluffypup]

For me, it's knowing that I am going to put time aside - a good hour while I have to be attentive to the cigar. Can't do anything too much whilst you're enjoying it so it's guaranteed downtime unlike cigarettes which are a short burst and then back to whatever you were doing. It ensures you take time to wind down if you have a hectic life. Then there's the taste, the aroma - not to mention the collecting. No better feeling for me after a few days away from home to get back, get the case emptied and the post sorted and then relax with an hours smoke. Bliss

[Edamski]

I enjoy the peace and quiet and usually the sun that accompanies my time outside with a cigar, I enjoy the flavours that come with a good stick and the adventure of trying new ones. In more recent months I've enjoyed the conversation to be had with like minded individuals on these forums. The nicotine is my least favourite aspect of it as the slightest buzz makes me nauseous and more often than not a strong one has out me off them for many many months.

When I first started I did wonder if I was addicted but I stopped easily and happily no trauma and it's been that way since.

[EdBlackadder]

Like everything, its a learned response. I enjoy the association of the taste, the buzz of nicotine, the relaxation of sitting in the garden having a bit of me time.

[MattKernow]

For me its purely a relaxation thing. I enjoy sitting peacefully (or with a few friends) and enjoying the company, enjoying the drink and every few minutes going back to the cigar and asking "would you buy another?" or "a bit too full for me, may go for something milder". It maybe because I'm still fairly new but just having a good cigar and the time to smoke it makes me happy enough