I think you’re overestimating the ability of adults to assert the consequences of their actions. I smoked into adulthood, and I honestly thought that “pros” of smoking outweigh the cons, and “I fucking enjoy the process” was one of the pros.
I couldn’t be more wrong, of course, but unfortunately, I didn’t stop because my intellect told me so, I was given the initial push by the circumstances making the habit less convenient.
But even if you failed to assert the consequences of your actions, you’d surely run across someone close that told ya “why do you smoke? STOP! I like you being around longer!” or so? Wouldn’t that at least trigger some “hmm?”
Besides, my opinion surely is based on anecdotal knowledge of the past 3 decades and many talks with smokers. My “field-study” surely saw a correlation between general intellect and the usual self-lies about why “i love it sooo much”. Obviously not everybody able to lie to themselves to such an extent, is also dumb as a doornail.
Most of my friends were also smoking, most of the colleagues I regularly talked to I’ve met on smoking breaks, my dad gifted me our family heirloom cigarette case when I turned 18. You might underestimate how normal was smoking back then. Until we moved out of our small-ish village when I was around 7, I didn’t know or seen any non-smoking adult.
I think you’re overestimating the ability of adults to assert the consequences of their actions. I smoked into adulthood, and I honestly thought that “pros” of smoking outweigh the cons, and “I fucking enjoy the process” was one of the pros.
I couldn’t be more wrong, of course, but unfortunately, I didn’t stop because my intellect told me so, I was given the initial push by the circumstances making the habit less convenient.
But even if you failed to assert the consequences of your actions, you’d surely run across someone close that told ya “why do you smoke? STOP! I like you being around longer!” or so? Wouldn’t that at least trigger some “hmm?”
Besides, my opinion surely is based on anecdotal knowledge of the past 3 decades and many talks with smokers. My “field-study” surely saw a correlation between general intellect and the usual self-lies about why “i love it sooo much”. Obviously not everybody able to lie to themselves to such an extent, is also dumb as a doornail.
Most of my friends were also smoking, most of the colleagues I regularly talked to I’ve met on smoking breaks, my dad gifted me our family heirloom cigarette case when I turned 18. You might underestimate how normal was smoking back then. Until we moved out of our small-ish village when I was around 7, I didn’t know or seen any non-smoking adult.