I can't let you get away with that analogy.
Driving, flying and sex all have tangible benefits, but can you really argue the same for cigarettes?
I would say that not only is driving dangerous to us, but to the environment too, same as flying. The only benefit is the A to B, and with a smoker the benefit is A to my lips, to inhale and exhale something that may or may not kill me in the long run cos I could die some other way.
Has it benefited me in any way? not really, but I do a lot of things that don't benefit me. Aside from a feel good factor, for instance charity. The benefit to me is that i feel good, that is all. I get the same benefit when I smoke. It makes me feel good. Its not just about the nicotine. There is a calming effect to the inhale and exhale motions, much like meditation and breathing exercises. (which is why I'm interested in the electric version as a means to an end).
When it comes to sex, the only benefit is an orgasm, or procreation if that is what you desire. If you were in a committed relationship for instance, you can not guarantee that your partner won't cheat on you, unprotected and bring back a nasty surprise. Let's say she is using birth control, you guys don't always ride the rubber way. Why? there is a risk, so wouldn't it be safer to your health to always use a condom, and when it came time to make a baby, to both get retested and then take the rubber off, or opt for artificial insemination as a cleaner, safer method with no std risk?
Would you go to all of that trouble to make sure you run no risk? the only benefit is more sensation, but you can still have sex and have pleasure with a rubber. The only benefit is the level of feel good, which again i get when I smoke.
Don't get me wrong, I understand where you are coming from. I wouldn't be on a quit thread talking about methods of quitting if I didn't agree somewhat, but you I'm just showing that for me, in my mind, I always felt justified as a smoker.
So it was just a desire to rebel? I have to say I'm a little shocked that your sister encouraged you to smoke - how old was she back then? I have an older brother who smokes, and he'd have kicked my ass if he ever caught me with a cigarette.
My dad was a smoker, and he was a hypocrite. Not a hypocrite that his kids couldn't smoke, but he always said WOMEN couldn't smoke.
That was the rebellion (I didn't live at home though), the doing everything my dad said a man could do no matter how stupid, just because I refused to be told being a female meant I couldn't.
Also, my sis was 16, I was 14. I wouldn't smack my younger siblings for smoking. My attitude is its their choice, I wouldn't dominate another just because I felt I had the right to make their choices for them.
Topic: The Stop Smoking Thread