Smoking - Considerable Suicide?

[Perseus]

All righty y'all, I shall propose a question that I thought of the other day.

Smoking, can it be considered suicide? We all know, suicide is the act of killing yourself. Since cigarettes have uncountable amounts of toxins, etc in them, do you think it could be considered suicide for people that know what's in them? I believe so because the people, who smoke, are aware(most of the time) what's in a cigarette and that you can possibly get lung cancer which can kill you. It isn't the real defintion of suicde, but you're stil killing yourself because smoke is going into your body and is damaging your lungs and tounge, etc.

[Hyper]

I'm sorry but anybody who thinks that is fucking retarded.

We do, eat, drink tons of stuff that are bad for us and could be considered ''suicide'' since they reduce our life span.. And some of these things also have good things in them..

So in short no, the concept to be is absolutely retarded.

[Perseus]

I'm sorry but anybody who thinks that is fucking retarded.

We do, eat, drink tons of stuff that are bad for us and could be considered ''suicide'' since they reduce our life span.. And some of these things also have good things in them..

So in short no, the concept to be is absolutely retarded.

Yeah, well thanks for insulting me.

Foods that we eat are as nearly as bad as cigarettes. I don't see food with rat posion and other chemicals in them. I didn't say it "reduces life span", i said you can get cancer.

[Reality]

When you drink alcohol, it's actually a kind of poison that effects the way your body works, and that's how you get drunk, and why drinking too much alcohol is dangerous, as it corrupts your liver, and other parts of your body.

If you eat too many chocolate bars, beef burgers, pizzas, sweets/candy, or whatever, they contain many chemical additives, fat, sugar and/or salt, and this can cause obesity and diseases such as diabetes if taken in excess.

If you even drink too much water - one of the most important things required for any living thing to live, you can actually damage your kidneys.

It seems a lot of things we live on are considerably suicide. So I wouldn't say just smoking, and plus there's even more dangerous things than smoking. Not saying I condone smoking, but it's not bad enough of a thing to be singled out as considerable suicide. ;)

[MoveAlong]

No I don't think that really. Even though it shortens life span, is bad for your lungs, your throat, voice, etc, it's not really suicide.

That's like saying anything else that is, in the end, bad for yourself, it's suicide. There are plenty examples of that but I'm too tired to think of any.

Smoking may speed up the process, and may pose risks, but what kills you is the cancer/bad lungs etc or whatever.

I just say no.

[Hyper]

Yeah, well thanks for insulting me.

Foods that we eat are as nearly as bad as cigarettes. I don't see food with rat posion and other chemicals in them. I didn't say it "reduces life span", i said you can get cancer.

You can get cancer from foods, working with chemicals and so on and on

Though saying ''get'' is a bit overdramatic

[Death]

I'm sorry but anybody who thinks that is fucking retarded.

We do, eat, drink tons of stuff that are bad for us and could be considered ''suicide'' since they reduce our life span.. And some of these things also have good things in them..

So in short no, the concept to be is absolutely retarded.

A rhetorical question that I would like to leave you with is, 'Is this truly the best way in which to express your point on a debate? Are the vast majority who didn't vote no truly 'fucking retarded'?'.

Myself, I think that although people may want to stop smoking, it is after all, they who choose to smoke the cigarette in the end. It is them who manipulate their body in just the rght way to make them smoke. I'm not sure if it's truly suicide since it can be difficult to not start smoking or to stop smoking in situations (especially the latter) but they should have thought about that before starting - they knew the risks from it. Besides, there are methods to stop including making themselves repulse cigarettes. It ony takes a bit of perseverance and optimism (I understand that optimsim can be stupid in some cases and pessimism is more logical but this is not an example of this) and effort and they could be off cigarettes using their method. It has bend on by others. Still, it is a difficult process and they probraly don't want the health risks so I voted for it being quite possible.

[Antares]

Suicide?
No because you can't be sure you will die from smoking.
I mean millions of people smoke and have lived long lives, but also millions of people have died from smoking related illness early.
I mean, I hate smoking. I think its stuipid.
I will never smoke, and I hoppe none of my close friends do so. But I do not consider it suicide. Just extremely harmful.

I voted quite possible because it depends on if they die from a smoking related illness

[INFERNO]

I'd say it is not suicide because to me, suicide has to be intentional. I don't think many smokers smoke with the intent of killing themselves via smoking. It can certainly lead to death faster but an argument can be made that even McDonald's could lead to you dying sooner. In short, I don't view it as suicide unless someone decides that they wish to kill themselves by smoking. Since I don't view that as being common, I'm voting no.

[Camazotz]

No, smoking is not suicide. Suicide is the intentional action of ending one's life. By smoking, you're not hoping you get lung cancer or suffer from some other disease, smoking only carries the risk of contracting lung cancer.

[Techno Monster]

I voted no.
I have never heard of someone smoking to die, or smoking with the intent of dieing.

[Perseus]

No, what I'm saying is most smokers know they can die and they still choose to keep on doing it. That's sound like suicide to me. Doing something and you know can die.

[byee]

Jake, this is a great question, it shows real thought on your part!

I think smoking takes a real amount of denial to start, to simply dismiss all the scientific evidence out there that when used as intended and directed, cigarettes can (will?) kill their users, as well as all those other health problems. However, because it's addictive (another scientific fact), once hooked, the user cannot easily quit. So, I don't think that continued smoking qualifies as 'suicide' (as in 'intended death'). It does speak to *other* psychological issues, such as the inability to anticipate consequences, however.

[INFERNO]

No, what I'm saying is most smokers know they can die and they still choose to keep on doing it. That's sound like suicide to me. Doing something and you know can die.

Smokers know that they can die, however, I don't view it as a common way to death, that is, it's not done specifically to kill themselves in most cases. It can lead to death and much of the evidence for this is published, so if anything, I would say it can show either some denial, not caring, etc... .


I think smoking takes a real amount of denial to start, to simply dismiss all the scientific evidence out there that when used as intended and directed, cigarettes can (will?) kill their users, as well as all those other health problems. However, because it's addictive (another scientific fact), once hooked, the user cannot easily quit. So, I don't think that continued smoking qualifies as 'suicide' (as in 'intended death'). It does speak to *other* psychological issues, such as the inability to anticipate consequences, however.

I wouldn't say that someone cannot anticipate consequence simply because they smoke. Many smokers who I've talked to (who were/are friends) are very well aware of its dangers, so I don't think that all smokers deny the evidence against it nor that they cannot anticipate consequences.

However, we can have a more psychologically-oriented debate (or another subject) in another place and/or time if you wish.

[Death]

Right, I wish to make a point here but please do not insult me INFERNO for believing this - I am not actually referring as much to your last post but your one before that. Basically, smokers know what they are getting into. They know that they are damaging their health. And yet they still do it, they still choose to smoke. If they wanted to stop, they can using various methods. Difficult, but with the right mind-set and help, it can be done. Thus, they are choosing to harm themselves and death becuase of it is very close to suicide.

[Sapphire]

Ok, suicide is the act of bringing about ones own death. It has nothing to do with intent.

No, smoking isn't comparable to suicide IMO.
Smoking too much can cause many health problems but the direct effect isn't death.
It is actually a form of self harm because you are deliberately causing harm to your own body. Smoking relieves stress and calms the individual down. It's much the same effect as punching a wall.

[INFERNO]

Right, I wish to make a point here but please do not insult me INFERNO for believing this - I am not actually referring as much to your last post but your one before that. Basically, smokers know what they are getting into. They know that they are damaging their health. And yet they still do it, they still choose to smoke. If they wanted to stop, they can using various methods. Difficult, but with the right mind-set and help, it can be done. Thus, they are choosing to harm themselves and death becuase of it is very close to suicide.

I agree, they can quit with considerable effort and help. I also agree that they are aware of the dangers to their health yet still persist with it anyways.

Death due to smoking is not suicide because the intent is not to kill themselves. The intent is to get relaxation or whatever other feeling from the cigarettes but not so much of smoking with the sole purpose of it killing themselves. It is not remotely close to suicide.

[Perseus]

The thing is, it can be considered accidental suicide. Which is still suicide.

[peaceloverugby]

People drive cars, people die in car crashes every day, should that be considered suicide?

I smoke, and I started smoking when I was 11, even though I knew it can cause lung cancer, emphysema, bronchitis, and countless other diseases. But I didn't start smoking, nor have I heard of anyone who did, with the goal of death. It seems a tad over the top to claim that smoking is equal to suicide.

[ShatteredWings]

No.

Its not suicide

Suicide is when someone has the intent of killing themselves. I'd look up a dictionary definition, but my search isn't working right.

Smokers aren't trying to kill themselves

[Death]

When you smoke, you know that you are endangering yourself, so it is effective suicide. Say you drunk a tube of deadly acid knowing how fatal it is simply because of a dare. Is this sucide? Would you say that it isn't suicide due to the lack of intent of suicide despite the fact that the drinker knows how deadly it is and the effects it can have, namely death?

[Sapphire]

Several other forms of behaviour can also be seen as types of self-injury. For example:

Misusing drugs.
Drinking too much alcohol.
Smoking too much.

From: http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/Self-injury/Pages/Introduction.aspx

There is nothing deliberate about contracting cancer and dying because of a smoking addiction is hardly an accidental way to die.

[ShatteredWings]

When you smoke, you know that you are endangering yourself, so it is effective suicide. Say you drunk a tube of deadly acid knowing how fatal it is simply because of a dare. Is this sucide? Would you say that it isn't suicide due to the lack of intent of suicide despite the fact that the drinker knows how deadly it is and the effects it can have, namely death?

I would call this darwinism.

[INFERNO]

When you smoke, you know that you are endangering yourself, so it is effective suicide. Say you drunk a tube of deadly acid knowing how fatal it is simply because of a dare. Is this sucide? Would you say that it isn't suicide due to the lack of intent of suicide despite the fact that the drinker knows how deadly it is and the effects it can have, namely death?

No it is not effectively suicide because the sole intention to kill yourself via smoking is not there. Drinking the tube of acid would be suicide IF you also did it because you wanted to kill yourself. If you didn't want to kill yourself, then it's probably called stupidity.

Suicide by definition is to intentionally kill yourself. Smokers generally don't smoke in order to kill themselves by smoking.

[Reality]

I would call this darwinism.
... What has what Death said to do with Darwinism?

[Zephyr]

I don't consider it suicide because when you smoke, the intent is not to kill yourself, but to relax yourself since smoking makes you lightheaded, which in turn calms you down. And it isn't the tobacco that kills you, but the chemical carcinogens in it such as cyanide, carbon monoxide, tar and formaldehyde.

[YourFriend]

Quite possible.

[AllThatIsLeft]

Meh. I would compare it to riding a motorcycle.
It COULD kill you. It is very possible, does that make you suicidal?
I don't think so.
But there maybe be some people that do it to bring their own death.
We get all types of weirdos nowadays.

[Rutherford The Brave]

Isn't accidentle suicide, just a regular death? I mean you drink to much and you get sick and it kills you. The person wanted to get drunk not kill themselves. I myself am a smoker, I've tried to quit. Its not commiting suicide. Because they aren't like "Oh Let me light up over and over again so I can die." There is no so thing as accidentle suicide you either you cant have both. If you think that then your stupid because there is death,murder and suicide. No accidently oh I smoked to much might as well just go with it.

[iamafterhours]

"Suicide is the intentional taking of one's own life"

I'm not sure anybody intends to kill themselves by smoking. If a person wanted to end it all, I'm sure there are much quicker methods (I'm not endorsing this in any way!)

No.

[INFERNO]

Isn't accidentle suicide, just a regular death? I mean you drink to much and you get sick and it kills you. The person wanted to get drunk not kill themselves. I myself am a smoker, I've tried to quit. Its not commiting suicide. Because they aren't like "Oh Let me light up over and over again so I can die." There is no so thing as accidentle suicide you either you cant have both. If you think that then your stupid because there is death,murder and suicide. No accidently oh I smoked to much might as well just go with it.

Suicide is when you purposely do something to kill yourself.

The bold part makes absolutely no sense to me. You introduced your idea, gave a definition of it then you said there is no such thing as it. So I can then only presume that you've called yourself stupid (underlined part) :lol:.

[Rutherford The Brave]

Suicide is when you purposely do something to kill yourself.

The bold part makes absolutely no sense to me. You introduced your idea, gave a definition of it then you said there is no such thing as it. So I can then only presume that you've called yourself stupid (underlined part) :lol:.

Well sort of lol, but in a sense the term accidentle death is not real regular death is so lets not call it accidentle but rather just death.

[INFERNO]

Well sort of lol, but in a sense the term accidentle death is not real regular death is so lets not call it accidentle but rather just death.

What is "real regular death"?

[ShatteredWings]

^death that wasnt intended by the person dead
... What has what Death said to do with Darwinism?

survival of the fittest. The people who would be dumb enough to drink acid on a dare probably aren't the best people to have in our genetic pool -- no im nto promoting eugenics.

[Sapphire]

survival of the fittest. The people who would be dumb enough to drink acid on a dare probably aren't the best people to have in our genetic pool -- no im nto promoting eugenics.
Survival of the fittest is to do with organisms who are better suited to the environment being more successful in passing on their genes.
As such, survival of the fittest doesn't apply here because there isn't a "smoking" gene.

[Death]

No it is not effectively suicide because the sole intention to kill yourself via smoking is not there. Drinking the tube of acid would be suicide IF you also did it because you wanted to kill yourself. If you didn't want to kill yourself, then it's probably called stupidity.

Suicide by definition is to intentionally kill yourself. Smokers generally don't smoke in order to kill themselves by smoking.

I would probraly agree there since they are not doing it simply to kill themselves alhtough people do use the term 'suicide' quite a bit when it comes to things that could be dangerous like a soldier could say to another soldier, "You're going to infiltrate the enemy camp all by yourself? You're not going to bring anyone? That's suicide!" despite the fact that the soldier probraly does not intend to die consequently. So, do you disagree with these people who use the term 'suicide' to describe situations like these?

[Atonement]

A. Smoking is not a form of suicide nor attempted suicide. This is because it is used for its relaxing tendencies and not for deliberate act of trying to end one's life.

B. Taking part in something while know it can harm you is risky and foolish. One characteristic of suicide risk IS risky behavior.

C. Due to the fact that suicide is defined as 'the act of killing one's self intentionally", smoking, in a majority of cases, is not suicide. If someone said "I am going to smoke and it will hopefully kill me soon." Then not only would they be suicide, but I would doubt they're serious or that they wouldn't try another method.

[ShatteredWings]

Survival of the fittest is to do with organisms who are better suited to the environment being more successful in passing on their genes.
As such, survival of the fittest doesn't apply here because there isn't a "smoking" gene.

That wasn't a reference to smoking, it was a slightly off-topic comment about doing things 'because everyone else does it' and intelegence

[Sapphire]

That wasn't a reference to smoking, it was a slightly off-topic comment about doing things 'because everyone else does it' and intelegence
There isn't a lone gene that determines intelligence though and conformity is a social issue, not a genetic issue. So it still isn't applicable.