• Mnemnosyne@sh.itjust.works
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    3 months ago

    Consider this question: how is it that anyone under the age of 40 today has ever smoked?

    By the time they were born, the bad effects of smoking were well understood. By the time they were teenagers, not smoking should have been as obvious as not jumping in front of a train. People already addicted find it difficult to quit, but it in no way explains anyone starting.

    The question is different and yet very similar, because the things you mention wind up in a similar way. Somehow people start in that route even though it should be obvious not to. And these things you mention are much easier to fall into than smoking because parents, family, etc are all pushing it on people. Smokers generally aren’t pushing their kids, nieces and nephews, grandchildren, etc to smoke, and somehow smoking still proliferates to some degree, just consider how much more difficult to avoid it is for those whose families are actively encouraging them to fall into these methods of belief and hate.

    • UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world
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      3 months ago

      Somehow people start in that route even though it should be obvious not to.

      Nicotine provides a short term mental stimulus that’s great for people who feel exhausted or have trouble staying focused.

      That’s why lots of people start smoking in school and lots of professionals continue smoking well past the point at which the health effects are obvious.

      I know a pulmonologist who smoked until he was in his thirties. Literally “how do you expect me to do my job without this?” was his response when I pressed him on it. Lawyers still smoke like chimneys and for the same reasons

      • Mr_Dr_Oink@lemmy.world
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        3 months ago

        Would i wrong to venture the guess that you didnt like quitting vaping because you were suffering from nicotine withdrawal? I swapped to vaping after years of smoking and eventually quit vaping. It was not enjoyable to quit but i feel a million times better not being beholden to the habit. My lungs feel better, my brain feels better, my stress levels are lower.

        What benefits does nicotine bring other than satifyi g your craving for nicotine.

          • Mr_Dr_Oink@lemmy.world
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            3 months ago

            You mentioned it turns out you have ADHD (turns out so do i) and that you began medication for that and it reads that this medication began at around the same time as you started on nicotine again.

            I am inclined to ask the question. Do you think perhaps you are associating the effects of the ADHD treatment to nicotine use?

            There certainly are some documented benefits to nicotine use. And much of what you say is verifiable. However, many of the benefits you describe can be associated with the treatment of ADHD aswell.

            I accept i dont know your personal situation. I only read your comment and noticed the timing seemed to be a bit close.

            On the subject of vaping, i personally experienced some sticky phlegm and trouble coughing this up as well as issues with lung capacity and the dependance on the nicotine made me extremely irritable and unable to concentrate until i vaped.

            Also it takes longer than a few months to break a nicotine addiction. I still uphold the idea that there may have been some withdrawal going on there.

            However i am happy to conceed the point if you genuinely disagree. As i said i have no idea about your personal situation.

      • Charzard4261@programming.dev
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        3 months ago

        The guy wasn’t talking about vaping though, but smoking. The one we know for sure gives you a ton of issues and health problems.

        Whilst I agree it’s not a great analogy for right wing beliefs, I’d say it works as a good analogy for incel behaviour. I knew a guy who had fallen into that trap but managed to find his way out. When I asked him about it, he said it helped him cope, that it was easier to believe that it wasn’t his fault things were so shitty.

        I really respect how he was able to realise that the things he and the people around him were saying was bullshit, and it made me realise that a lot of these people are being taken advantage of by “influencers” spewing this harmful rhetoric.