Why do kids still take up smoking???

[LynneSin]

I really don't understand why any kid in their right mind today would take up smoking.

I know that many of you have been longtime smokers and might have picked up the habits back when smoking wasn't such a bad thing to do. I also try to be MOST of the time curtious to my friends who smoke provided that the same is shown back to me (it's a 2-way street out there).

But I see kids today who are smoking and I wonder why in god's name would they start this habit? I mean, the health problems are preached at school, shown on TV and discussed in groups and yet I still see young kids hanging out smoking. Worse is when I see young kids sitting outside where they work taking a smoke break and it just breaks my heart (seriously it does) that young people are still taking up smoking even though the odds are in favor that they will be affected by that smoke down the line.

Someone explain this to me? Is it rebellion from parents and authorities? Peer Pressure? It just doesn't make sense.

[nini]

1. because being cool is still more important than being sensible

teenagers never think they'll die from anything - God forbid cancer 30 years away.

[HEyHEY]

2. They enjoy that smoooooth flavour!

[sniffa]

3. naturaL seLection

[tridim]

4. I started because everyone told me not to do it

Same as with sex and pot. "Just say no" accomplishes exactly the opposite result.. Always has, always will.

[LynneSin]

5. do you still enjoy smoking?

:shrug:

And edit note: Sex won't kill you as long as you're smart about it and pot isn't dangerous at all. So I have no problem with folks doing that stuff

[truthspeaker]

9. nitpick: "pot isn't dangerous at all"

As a responsible marijuana user, honesty compels me to correct the misconception that pot is harmless. Pot can be harmful, just as alcohol can. It's the amount of harm that's at issue. And tobacco cigarettes are a lot more harmful than pot.
</soapbox>

[tridim]

10. I always enjoyed it, but I quit about a year ago

because it was bad for my physical health.

[LynneSin]

11. glad to hear you quit

I wasn't trying to be too critical - just seeing if you still enjoyed it to this day.

:loveya:

[mac56]

6. Kids think they're invincible.

That's both the reason why they'll draft 18-year-olds - and - why they won't let them buy beer!

[truthspeaker]

7. adolescent brain is not yet wired to make good judgement

I think it's a combination of lack of experience and a still developing brain that makes it hard for teenagers to match future consequences with present actions.

Might as well ask why teenagers still have sex without birth control.

[wickerwoman]

8. Cause it's still illegal.

Anything forbidden that grown-ups do, at a certain age, they are pretty much hard-wired to try it.

I never saw the appeal, but then I lived with my Dad blowing smoke in my face from babyhood. I'd be interested to know if children of smokers or non-smokers started earlier. I never drank for the same reason.

[catmandu57]

12. Because we tell them not to

and they still see adults who smoke.

[Mara Steele]

13. Many girls & young women do it so they can diet easier

Nicotine high + no food= the ultimate diet plan

Sad, but true...

[olddem43]

14. The main reason is very clever and subtle advertising.

All smokers are essentially victims of the tobacco companies' long time effort to sell the idea that smoking is really cool. Otherwise, no rational person would start a habit that would ruin their health, make their breath stink, stain their teeth and skin, damage their clothing and furniture, piss off their co-workers and acquaintances, raise their insurance premiums, cost them tons of cash, make their mouth taste like crap and have no positive effect other than to enrich the tobacco companies themselves. The biggest problem with cigarettes is that they don't work fast enough.

[Magrittes Pipe]

15. So that they won't have to grow up to be nonsmokers.

[smiley_glad_hands]

16. Rebelling against authority.

Smoking is starting to become taboo.

[JohnKleeb]

17. stress

Thats whats gotten me to the point where I just want to start. However I can proudly say I havent started nor will I.

[LynneSin]

19. Smoking will not ease stress

seriously

Smoking 'seems' to ease stress because once you are hooked on nicotine, your body will feel stressed out when it starts to run low on nicotine. Thus smoking will cure your 'stress' because you'll put more nicotine back into your system.

That's why smokers say smoking 'calms their nerves' because when they go without smoking (and smoking aids) they go into withdrawel.

Rumor has it there are other things you can smoke that will alleive stress but not rot your lungs & brains out

:shrug:

[niceperson]

18. because their parents still smoke

children of smokers learn to view it as normal and they take it up too.

[sundog]

20. Because some kids are just meant to be bad...

We can't help it --

There are 2 types of kids: the good kids & the bad kids... if you're bad it's in your blood...

I smoked when I was friggin 14. I've quit. Those kids can quit later if they want....