Do you smoke cigarettes?

yes;

camel

seriously

No, never -- by the time I was old enough to consider starting, I knew enough about it that to have started would have been very dumb.

I guess I had enough will power and self-esteem to resist any peer pressure, though most of my friends as a teen were non-smokers too.

My older brother (same upbringing) was a smoker until a couple of years ago, and he was always more of an athlete than I. Most of his friends smoked too.

Sadly, this habit has not declined as it should have among new generations of teens.

To the smokers: why did you start? (Seriously, I don't mean to be smug or condescending, I just want to know.)

TheProgtologist wrote: Peter wrote: No, never -- by the time I was old enough to consider starting, I knew enough about it that to have started would have been very dumb. I guess I had enough will power and self-esteem to resist any peer pressure, though most of my friends as a teen were non-smokers too. My older brother (same upbringing) was a smoker until a couple of years ago, and he was always more of an athlete than I. Most of his friends smoked too. Sadly, this habit has not declined as it should have among new generations of teens. To the smokers: why did you start? (Seriously, I don't mean to be smug or condescending, I just want to know.)   Honestly Peter,I started for the stupidest reason there is.Because all my friends were doing it.

Thanks Progto! -- As you may know, I teach in a college, and I'm sure that more than half of our young students smoke. Sometimes that saddens me.

The young ladies often say they smoke to "stay thin." I find that sad, too. No one seems to think they'll live past 30.

Part of my role is to advise people re lifestyle issues, so I asked out of both professional and personal curiosity.

Nope.

And i dont plan to start anytime soon.

Peter wrote: No, never -- by the time I was old enough to consider starting, I knew enough about it that to have started would have been very dumb. I guess I had enough will power and self-esteem to resist any peer pressure, though most of my friends as a teen were non-smokers too. My older brother (same upbringing) was a smoker until a couple of years ago, and he was always more of an athlete than I. Most of his friends smoked too. Sadly, this habit has not declined as it should have among new generations of teens. To the smokers: why did you start? (Seriously, I don't mean to be smug or condescending, I just want to know.)

I did it for all of the health benefits that come with breathing in fire.  I heard that second hand smoke kills more people than first hand smoke, so I took the healthier approach. 

Really though, I enjoy it.  It gives me much pleasure and the way I see it, somethings going to kill me sooner or later.  And yes I know that smoking will probably make it sooner rather than later, but in 100 years it won't matter, because I will be just as dead either way.