Addiction and tobacco - putting your life at risk

The Coffee Shop
1

No, I’m not talking about the well-documented risk of illness and disease from tobacco smoke. I’m talking about the physical risk people will put themselves into so that they can smoke. Now, I understand the risk of addiction, as I have a family propensity toward addictive behavior (such as triathlon).

But in a span of 12 hours I saw some completely strange stuff, risky stuff.

First, I think there is a no-smoking policy at our elementary schools. Even on the grounds. So, this woman walked off the property of the school, onto a busy road, so that she could smoke. People were driving by her within inches at 45-50 mph and she seemed oblivious.

Second, during rush hour, on a crowded 65 mph stretch of road, a guy on a motorcycle is riding one handed so that he can smoke while riding. I can understand having pride in riding skills, but in major traffic on a motorcycle you have got to be kidding to smoke.

Sadly, I’m pretty sure both of these people have already reproduced and therefore passed along their genetics.

Sorry for the rant.

2

People were driving by her within inches at 45-50 mph and she seemed oblivious.

You realize this is a tri forum, and lots of us ride bikes exactly like that on a routine basis, right?

:wink:

I never understand how guys riding motorcycles keep the cigarette lit.

3

Unless you have been addicted to cigs, you can’t understand what a smoker will do to get that fix. I use to do some crazy ass stuff in order to smoke. It was brutal.

4

You are so right. Shortly after my father took his last breath in his long and painful battle against lung cancer, my brother went outside and lit up a cigarette. Today, after two years of treatment for ling cancer, my brother in law found out that he less than six months to live. His son has smoked through out his father’s diagnosis and treatment. The insanity of it all is beyond my comprehension.