Formerly a very occasional smoker, I wish to weigh in on a debate in which nuance is too-often lost. I want to make a very simple observation derived from various experiences all over the world in which I shared a smoke with someone or observed them settle into this habitual activity.
Almost without fail, these individuals are a far-cry from the ill-fated, uneducated and inconsiderate statistics that the self-appointed conscientious majority likes to portray them as. Rather, compared as a group to the general population, they are some of the most down-to-earth people I’ve ever met.
There may be bias here, but of the following I am certain. Smoking a cigarette is one of the few genuine instances of memento mori left for us to ponder in the normal course of everyday life, whether alone or in the company of others. And for what it is, that can’t be a bad thing.