Does anyone else smoke cigarettes?

[Winged Scapula]

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Oh, does that mean we could create throwaway accounts to ask questions more anonymously, including controversial ones? I was under the impression that was forbidden, but I guess most posters I've seen who mention multiple accounts have been trolls.

It's not something that should be abused.

If there were a legitimate reason that the staff felt that you could have a second account it would be allowed but people shouldn't be going around creating new accounts just because they want to ask a "controversial" question. The second account is to be only used for that situation and one of the other closed when the need has been met. Users who register a second account without discussing it with staff will generally find out account closed.

However the majority of people with multiple accounts do so because they're trolling.

 

[CherryRedDracul]

OK, so we found your soapbox, but...who on earth are you responding to? You're arguing with a group of people who...haven't said any of the things you're freaking out over.

By his second paragraph, his response seems to be a direct counter to AnatomyGrey12's post on the 2nd page, FYI.

 

[AnatomyGrey12]

Can we exercise some rationality?

Smoking does not equate to death and cancer, but it does up your risk. Many smoke their entire lives without major health effects, while some smokers die at 55 of a cause directly related to their smoking. How much you smoke, your genetic predisposition to certain cancers, along with when you quit, is actually a much bigger deal than people seem to think.

And people need to get a grip on the whole second hand smoke thing. Parents smoking in the home & car with small children? Yeah, that's second hand smoke, and it's a problem. Someone smelling and possibly partially being exposed to a small cloud of cig smoke (gasp!) on their one night out per year? Grow up.

When overall mortality of both male and female smokers is 3x higher than those of similar people who never smoked then I consider that equating to death.

Second hand smoke causes an estimated 41,000 deaths among adults each year. To put that in context people are freaking out on social media because 33,000 people die a year from firearm related incidents.


I will stand by my opinion that smoking equates to death and cancer. The data backs this opinion.

 

[cd14+]

I do coke in moderation. I'm probably good.

Seriously though OP stop smoking. They make you smell bad and everything around you smells like cigarette smoke That alone for me would be reason enough.

Coke is so 80s.

The OP comment made me break out in hives because it read like a clinical vignette. I got so anxious that I broke out my glass burnt pipe, but my razor blade wasnt cutting the cheap stuff I got from my dealer so I popped a few benzos

What would life be without Xanax? Am I right?!?!

Anybody who smokes cigs today should be sent to Antifa

 

[mehc012]

Coke is so 80s.

The OP comment made me break out in hives because it read like a clinical vignette. I got so anxious that I broke out my glass burnt pipe, but my razor blade wasnt cutting the cheap stuff I got from my dealer so I popped a few benzos

What would life be without Xanax? Am I right?!?!

Anybody who smokes cigs today should be sent to Antifa

You're definitely high on something...

 

[Crayola227]

Pretty much everything I said is a direct response to one or more previous comment(s), plus I added personal anecdotes. I just didn't feel like quoting 10+ people. It boils down to this:

1. Smoking is bad. But it isn't an all or none, binary thing.
2. People have a misguided perception of what "second hand smoke" actually is.
3. It is not hard for a mild smoker to hide the smell.
4. If someone enjoys smoking from time to time, they should be allowed to do so, as long as it is never seen/smelled in or near a hospital setting.
5. Many people, even those in highly esteemed positions, enjoy an occasional cigarette which is neither detrimental to their health nor unprofessional.
6. Many in this thread are hypocritical.

It's unfair that people can't smoke for professional reasons, but regardless, it's important that people quit for personal (health) reasons.

Eh, I was with you for the most part, but sorry, it is unprofessional. Why is that unfair?

Is it unfair that walking to my mailbox in my bra and panties is unprofessional? It's not seen/smelled in or near a hospital setting. It's not detrimental to my health.

Appearing professional has nothing to do with fairness. Grow the **** up. Being a doctor isn't about being like everyone else.

I'm sorry that there are professional standards, and that they don't jive with your addiction and mindset.

 

[Crayola227]

Professionalism is mostly about how you come across to others.

Doctors who smoke, hair stylists with lice, dentists with rotting teeth, car mechanics with no cars that run, none of this inspires confidence in what is your occupation.

The other stigma, is that smoking is highly highly addictive and destructive to society. In some places in the world, injecting heroin is legal. Some people have slammed heroin and not become addicted. Should doctors that can recreationally inject heroin legally, be seen as less professional? Should they refrain from doing so, because of how it might be perceived by the many more numbers of people that are or might be irreversibly harmed by injecting heroin? If they don't, does that inspire more or less confidence in them? From physicians? From heroin addicts? Whose confidence matters most in this case?

This starts to get into, how should we approach the problem of smoking cigarettes? Or injecting heroin?

The reality is that you, as a physician, are arguing for the the right of the few, for nothing much besides it is their right, is pleasurable, and doesn't harm an extremely small minority, over some of the most extreme suffering of millions of humans that we are to ever see in our capacity as healers.

And we're not talking a court room. Of course you have a right to whatever you have a right to in this country. You can argue the above. We're not talking your rights. We are talking about how you are perceived in your capacity as a physician. You don't have a "right" to that.

Most doctors I know go out of their way not to be seen drinking soda in front of their patients. Hypocrisy and rights be damned.

You try to do what's right for your patients. You chose to be seen as their role model.

 

[Crayola227]

My addiction and mindset? I don't know if you read my post, but I don't smoke. I only have one once every few months. I would have no problem with never smoking another cigarette again.

And to reply to your example of a mailbox jaunt in your bra and panties, its not unfair that that's unprofessional. But if you wanted to walk around your house in your bra and panties, what's unprofessional about that?

I think you missed my point. To put it very plainly - if no one ever sees you smoking or smells it, how is that any more unprofessional than having a glass of bourbon from the comfort of your home on a Friday night?

Sounded like an addiction since it seemed like such a big deal, was causing you distress, and was causing you problems at work.

Mindset, certainly.

Didn't you initially ask about how it's seen as unprofessional by other healthcare professionals when they find out?

Some behaviors are only considered unprofessional in certain circles and audiences.

Some behaviors are still unprofessional when they are not observed.

What if I cut myself with razor blades from time to time, but no one ever knew?

 

[mehc012]

My addiction and mindset? I don't know if you read my post, but I don't smoke. I only have one once every few months. I would have no problem with never smoking another cigarette again.

And to reply to your example of a mailbox jaunt in your bra and panties, its not unfair that that's unprofessional. But if you wanted to walk around your house in your bra and panties, what's unprofessional about that?

I think you missed my point. To put it very plainly - if no one ever sees you smoking or smells it, how is that any more unprofessional than having a glass of bourbon from the comfort of your home on a Friday night?

It's not. And frankly, despite you saying that 'many people in this thread' are hypocrites for saying so, I don't recall a ton of people trying to say that undetectable smoking should be considered unprofessional. ]\

However, I would also like to point out that many smokers think it's not noticeable, and tend to underestimate how sensitive others can be to the smell.

 

[mehc012]

Sounded like an addiction since it seemed like such a big deal, was causing you distress, and was causing you problems at work.

Mindset, certainly.

Didn't you initially ask about how it's seen as unprofessional by other healthcare professionals when they find out?

Some behaviors are only considered unprofessional in certain circles and audiences.

Some behaviors are still unprofessional when they are not observed.

What if I cut myself with razor blades from time to time, but no one ever knew?

Not unprofessional, if nobody knows. Still a problem, but it's a personal problem so long as you keep it to your personal life.

 

[sloop]

Despite what we may be taught in class, I personally do not believe that smoking cigarettes in moderation is bad for you (just like doing anything without excess usually isn't).

This view is probably why you've been ostracized, not the fact that you smoke.

I do not smoke cigarettes and never have but I have several pipes and also occasionally enjoy a cigar. These days I probably smoke less than once every 4 months. Despite this infrequency I would freely admit that puffing on carcinogenic smoke is a risk. It's not good for me. That doesn't mean I don't enjoy it or accept the calculated risk.

 

[sloop]

Professionalism is mostly about how you come across to others.

Doctors who smoke, hair stylists with lice, dentists with rotting teeth, car mechanics with no cars that run, none of this inspires confidence in what is your occupation.

The other stigma, is that smoking is highly highly addictive and destructive to society. In some places in the world, injecting heroin is legal. Some people have slammed heroin and not become addicted. Should doctors that can recreationally inject heroin legally, be seen as less professional? Should they refrain from doing so, because of how it might be perceived by the many more numbers of people that are or might be irreversibly harmed by injecting heroin? If they don't, does that inspire more or less confidence in them? From physicians? From heroin addicts? Whose confidence matters most in this case?

This starts to get into, how should we approach the problem of smoking cigarettes? Or injecting heroin?

The reality is that you, as a physician, are arguing for the the right of the few, for nothing much besides it is their right, is pleasurable, and doesn't harm an extremely small minority, over some of the most extreme suffering of millions of humans that we are to ever see in our capacity as healers.

And we're not talking a court room. Of course you have a right to whatever you have a right to in this country. You can argue the above. We're not talking your rights. We are talking about how you are perceived in your capacity as a physician. You don't have a "right" to that.

Most doctors I know go out of their way not to be seen drinking soda in front of their patients. Hypocrisy and rights be damned.

You try to do what's right for your patients. You chose to be seen as their role model.

I disagree with it being unprofessional if certain parameters are met. In my opinion these include but are not limited to:

1. You never smell like smoke at work
2. You still discourage smoking in your professional life/role as a doctor
3. You don't smoke/take smoke breaks while at work
4. You don't volunteer to patients the information that you are a smoker

I do think a lot of these requirements would infrequently met by the cigarette smokers I know, but I know many occasional pipe or cigar smokers who could do this. Not saying pipe or cigar smoking is healthy, but it just seems that more people are capable of doing it without it creeping into the rest of their lives.

 

[deleted689233]

Not unprofessional, if nobody knows. Still a problem, but it's a personal problem so long as you keep it to your personal life.

I completely agree.

 

[Crayola227]

I disagree with it being unprofessional if certain parameters are met. In my opinion these include but are not limited to:

1. You never smell like smoke at work
2. You still discourage smoking in your professional life/role as a doctor
3. You don't smoke/take smoke breaks while at work
4. You don't volunteer to patients the information that you are a smoker

I do think a lot of these requirements would infrequently met by the cigarette smokers I know, but I know many occasional pipe or cigar smokers who could do this. Not saying pipe or cigar smoking is healthy, but it just seems that more people are capable of doing it without it creeping into the rest of their lives.

Sounds ****ed up, but this might pass muster, but I'll just say it's because of culture. That has a lot to do with what is "professional" for doctors.

Pipes and cigars are also just not regarded the same way.

I have some cool firsthand stories from South America about cultural context.

 

[Planes2Doc]

 

[sloop]

I have some cool firsthand stories from South America about cultural context.

Do they involve ayahuasca?

 

[Crayola227]

I realize the issue here.

I am more arguing the right of people in a professional sphere (including any possible future patients) to view the activity as unprofessional.

As far as being terminated for a cigarette, oddly enough, I never endorsed that. I understand the issues for health insurance for employee groups, and other possible employer liability issues and risk management, but besides "getting" that, I'm totally against it. It's fascist. Er, slippery slope bad.

 

[ThoracicGuy]

Eh, I was with you for the most part, but sorry, it is unprofessional. Why is that unfair?

Is it unfair that walking to my mailbox in my bra and panties is unprofessional? It's not seen/smelled in or near a hospital setting. It's not detrimental to my health.

Appearing professional has nothing to do with fairness. Grow the **** up. Being a doctor isn't about being like everyone else.

I'm sorry that there are professional standards, and that they don't jive with your addiction and mindset.

 

[Stagg737]

It's not. And frankly, despite you saying that 'many people in this thread' are hypocrites for saying so, I don't recall a ton of people trying to say that undetectable smoking should be considered unprofessional. ]\

However, I would also like to point out that many smokers think it's not noticeable, and tend to underestimate how sensitive others can be to the smell.

This is so much more true that most smokers, even casual smokers, realize. I've caught several friends of mine with cigarette smell on them and they were shocked that anyone noticed because they were so careful about it. On my end I've had people ask me if I smoke because they smelled it in my car (my parents smoked in the garage) even years after I moved away. The smell permeates through things far more than people realize, and I think a lot of people here are either minimizing it or in denial about that aspect.