Smoking

A recent blog got me thinking. I have never smoked cigarettes, and never will. I know plenty of smokers, and I don't have any problem with them, it's their choice, and doesn't affect the person they are. But why do people smoke? I can't think of any good reason. Lets weigh up the pros and cons of smoking....

Cons:-
Expensive
Antisocial
Bad breath
Bad teeth
Discoloured skin
Pollution of air for others
Addictive
Health risks (too many to list)
Risk of premature death

Pros:-
................?

That's where you can help me. What are the pros exactly? I don't mean why you continue to smoke, it's addictive so of course if you're a smoker it will calm you, because it takes away your desire for a smoke. But what are the pros you considered before you took up the habit?

I'm not being judgemental here, I genuinely want to understand why people would take up such a harmful habit.

Incidentally, I know what you're thinking. What's that photo of me on the beach looking like someone out of The "A" Team with a fat cigar? You have a point!!! Cigars are a different matter though. I have smoked maybe 5 or 6 cigars in my life, the smoke is not inhaled, and it's a way of celebrating. On this occasion I was seeing my brother in Australia for the first time in 7 years, and we were celebrating the birth of three children between us