• Mnemnosyne@sh.itjust.works
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    4 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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      4 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