Of course it's an accomplishement, kudos

For me it worked to stop from one day to the other when the time was right; I had to wait for a few years for that. It meant avoiding all situations (if possible) that are prone to combine with smoking for at least three months, including not going out with smokers at all. I had bought nicotine gums as backup but didn't use them.

Please put me on your ignore list and then you won't see my posts and so won't have to make your unpleasant replies to anything I post.

This is a quitting smoking thread. If you like smoking so much then why don't you and Pastycat start your own thread extolling it's virtues?

Don't be tiresome Tom1234

It is a thread about quitting, but to quit you need smokers and it is the smokers who will eventually encourage other smokers to quit and become sanctimonious about it.

I guess you must have been a very heavy smoker at sometime in your life

What is tiresome is that when ever anyone mentions smoking - an addictive and unpleasant affliction which causes death and debilitating illness - sometime long after people have given up, pastycat and her cronies need to jump in to defend it or take the piss out of people trying to give up.

Still, if that's how people on here get their kicks....

I find that tiresome - same as I find many of your posts about your cars and their high value a bit vulgar (but hey, it takes all sorts) but now you're on the subject of being tiresome....

I agree. People sharing their experiences and motives for quitting a bad habit, and emphasising it is possible in a non-aggresive, non-overly militantist way are far more effective when it comes to convincing others to give it a try.
None of those who wrote thoughtful, non-judgemental posts on this subject went down that road...
People need a different type of encouragement not hearing over and over again simplifying remarks over a complicated matter such as addiction...telling they're weak and don't try enough because they think it's "sophisticated" and "cool" (projection, much? well, it is not surprising coming from Tom) will never help anyone. Besides, there are a few people who really don't want to quit, I - for one - respect their right to do so.

Pot calling the kettle black as usual....lol
Don't worry, I'll do that. Although I might miss your future post about those numerous lads you convinced to quit smoking......

Btw, to add insult to injury - I smoke only occasionally, perhaps that's why I have a more relaxed attitude re. smoking and especially about other people smoking. You don't have to be a heavy smoker (or a smoker to begin with) to empathise a little.

Make that two.

Actually Tom.

I have cut down from 40 to 10 cigs a day, due to an illness i have got which I don't feel comfortable discussing on the Forum yet.

And, in fact, the illness has nothing to do with smoking. So please keep your rude comments to me and others to yourself.

I do look forward to our yearly banters though!!

Hope you get well soon.

Love and Kisses

Tom1234

I think most militant ex-smokers develop their repugnance as a means of selfprotection as it makes them much less likely to succumb to the craving.

Of course the claim "every smoker who failed to quit is simply weak" can be used by every non-smoker (ex- or otherwise) as grounds to see oneself as strong, better. Some think belittling others gives them the moral higher ground.

You could be correct, however it does pass, or at least it should pass. If you are a "militant" then you are still a smoker on withdrawal.

Please define 'militant ex-smoker.'

I guess we all heard tons of stories about people who re-started, sometimes after decennials, because they smoked just one. Or stories about on/off/on like ZenAgent's. In this light the saying that the craving never really disappears makes a lot of sense (with 6 or so years experience so far I can attest to that).

So wouldn't it make a lot of sense if the aversion didn't disappear, either? It's infinitely easier to say "no" to something you abhorr, especially in the situations that are prone to otherwise weaken your resolve.

I agree that you have to really hate smoking to give up. After being a heavy smoker for 15+ years, I gave up for six years and then moved to Zürich. My lungs hated smoking, but my head loves it and when I first moved here I would sit in restaurants trying to eat as inconsiderate people sitting next to me would light up, in a way I believed I might as well continue to be a smoker, thats what my mind said so I started again, on and off for another four years.

I have been clean the last two years and I am happy about that now. I don't consider myself militant, but I really hate having to breathe in other incosiderate peoples second hand smoke, especially at Tramstops, when its raining because I want to stay dry, but I dont want to breath somebody elses sh1tty smoke or stand in the rain tryin to avoid it. Most of my best friends still smoke, and I can be around them, when they do, because when they smoke its my choice to be around them.

Do you have any magic mushrooms? if you do, I can probably help you quit

I think with an avatar picture like yours, I wouldnt like being on shrooms in the same room as you.

That's not what I said. From what you write you yourself are proof against this quote.

Whatever: Congrats!

You want to quit dont you?

the most effective way is reducing the amount of cigarattes day by day to the level where you will get no withdrawal symptoms. Good Luck

Interesting method.


Are you perhaps planning to sell some material on this topic?