I smoked from when I was 16 until I was 23. At the time I quit, I was smoking 2 packs of B&H Menthols a day. One day, I just quit. I have no idea why, although looking back, I seem to remember there being a substantial jump in prices around the time I gave it up.

I quit cold turkey. I definitely have an “addictive personality,” and I’ve struggled to overcome lots of other habits. I don’t have a lot of sympathy for people who claim to be unable to quit. I don’t know the scientific or medical stuff behind it, but the bottom line is that virtually everyone I know who has quit successfully has simply quit, and virtually everyone I know who has quit because of outside pressure, or who has tried the patch, nicotine gum, Welbutrin, or some other approach has eventually gone back to smoking.

It bothers me to be around people who smoke. Originally, it was because I suffered from some respiratory troubles after I quit, and being around smokers made it worse. Now, it’s more of an annoyance, although having kids has been a factor. We’ve had a few problems with extended family because of smoking; I’m unable to sleep in a room that has been occupied by a smoker, so there are some relatives we simply don’t stay with – and they occasionally get offended. My attitude is: Too bad. Quit. I did.

I will, on very rare occasions, enjoy a cigar or a pipe. The last time was 6 years ago, though, and I don’t have much desire to do so. I don’t believe smoking is particularly sinful, but I find it very mildly offensive. For the record, there are other things that bother me more, like the (lack of regular) bathing habits of people from certain parts of the world. If someone wants to smoke in my presence, and they have the courtesy to ask, I usually don’t object unless the kids are around.

Someone mentioned the P/C attitude toward smoking. I think that’s a P/C holdover from the general view held by American fundamentalist Christians. And, as witness my post on the M word, I have a lot of problems with people who want to reduce sin to a short list of things to avoid doing.