Jay, It's all cool man!

Mike

 

Smoking is somewhat of a choice but more of a powerful addiction. Most smokers want to quit or have tried to quit several times. But it is difficult to overcome. The fact that Pops did not quit does not indicate he loves you less than his smokes. If anything, he probably hoped that his love for you would provide him with the inspiration and strength to quit. And he probably feels damn guilty about not being able to hold up his part of the bargain.

I hate it that so many people express how much they hate smokers, especially in this country. If you're anything but Amish and you've expressed that sentiment, then you are a hypocrite. If you eat processed foods high in fat then you are committing slow suicide. If you drive a car (even LEV), then you can be sure that you are polluting the air and causing some poor asthmatic to suffer further. If you've ever painted your house, or flushed harmful chemicals, or had a drink with a higher alcohol content than wine, or worn Nikes, or fired up the coals for a bbq, or whatever, then you have, in some way, messed up yourself, someone else, or the environment.

I can dig the posts about not smoking around non-smokers. That makes sense. But the singling out of smokers and portraying them as the dregs of society is jacked up. Smokers love, have families, pay taxes, save lives, and are good citizens too. No need to hate. Pity maybe. Set them straight if their habits are annoying you, definitely. But more than that, understand that most don't want to be a slave to nicotine. They rue the day they first tried smoking. With a little understanding, maybe you can make it a little easier for them when they do try to quit that next time around.

 

" I am not an animal"

 

I hope I haven't given the wrong impression of my father as a parent. I don't think that he loves smoking more than me simply because he didn't keep up his end of the bargain. My father has done an excellent job raising my and my 2 siblings, and I respect him for that. However, I do believe that while quitting smoking might be the hardest thing to do, it all comes down to your mindset...deep down inside, do you really want to quit? If you don't want to, then you won't be able to, and that's what my father is like.

I agree that it becomes an addiction, but I also believe strongly in accepting the consequences of your actions. Before anyone ever takes that first smoke, they should know what they are getting themselves into. If they don't, then again, it was a poor choice made without sufficient knowledge, IMO. I hope no one takes my words too personally, because it's only my opinion, and I don't expect it to change anyone else's here.

Mike, I'm glad everything's cool between us, I didn't want to start anything.

 

LOL TIGER IS DISSIN HIS money honey now!!

 

I'm sorry I posted the damn picture, already! it was meant as a joke. Hell, I smoke myself on occasion (usually when I'm drinking).

 

I took it as a joke, and found it quite amusing. No harm done here!