Thread: Addiction, willpower, etc

Absolutely every Westerner friend I've ever had in LOS has been a smoker.

Is this just coincidence?
Does it mean that I subconciously like smokers? (although I'm not one)
Or does it mean that most Westerners in LOS smoke?

If the third option is true, I venture to make a hypothesis that the same mentality or lack of willpower that leads people to smoke also leads them to live in Thailand. ie "I know its not a great thing to do for my future, but I enjoy it so I'm damn well gonna carry on doing it" or "Once discovering this, I can never stop; I need this to be happy"

Or does it mean that most Westerners in LOS smoke?

In my experience, you are right.
Your theory might be valid.
I have an entirely addictive personality and no willpower whatsoever.

BTW, Do you smoke Smeg.

Not sure about that one , I mean a hell of a lot of people smoke and don't ever even go abroad once in their whole life.

I used to smoke but gave up about 10 years ago -but I'm also getting the fuck out of Thailand soon as this Tefl shite sucks.

Originally Posted by CMN

BTW, Do you smoke Smeg.

Originally Posted by Smeg

Does it mean that I subconciously like smokers? (although I'm not one)

No, I don't smoke. Its a very weird habit, in my opinion. I've tried it many a time, but never saw the appeal and never felt any kind of addiction.

Originally Posted by ChiangMai noon

BTW, Do you smoke Smeg.

Yeah, we already have a pole smoker thread. Right CMN ?

Smeg - would most of these "freinds" be people you met in a pub or drinking establishment?

IME - you are far more likely to befreind a smoker in one of those places than elsewhere. And, although a smoker myself, I find that I'm very much in the minority whenever I go out for an evening.

^ agreed - if i'm with mates in the pub - yeah smokers - outside that minority for sure!

I've tried it many a time, but never saw the appeal and never felt any kind of addiction.

IMHO smoking ain't addiction. Its something you get used to (habitual). I do smoke a pack in a day when I have got nothing to do. Just to kill time i pop out and have a fag. But when I'm busy trust me I don't smoke at all, don't even feel the need for it.

Originally Posted by William

Smeg - would most of these "freinds" be people you met in a pub or drinking establishment?

Partly, but by non means all.

I don't follow this point. Are you saying that smokers prefer pubs over non-smokers?

Originally Posted by colourful-era

Not sure about that one , I mean a hell of a lot of people smoke and don't ever even go abroad once in their whole life.

I'm not saying that smokers go abroad, I'm saying that there may be a similarity in the motives of smokers and expats here.

Originally Posted by Smeg

Originally Posted by William

Smeg - would most of these "freinds" be people you met in a pub or drinking establishment?

Partly, but by non means all.

I don't follow this point. Are you saying that smokers prefer pubs over non-smokers?

As a general rule, if a person knows a pub is going to be smokey, and they don't smoke and don't like smoke, they're far less likely to go to the pub - prefering a restaraunt or wine bar where there are likely to be less smokers or more open spaces.

Likewise, as a general rule, if you make friends with someone who likes to work out regularly at the gym, they're far less likely to be a smoker.

To me, that's a logical thought process.

Originally Posted by Smeg

Originally Posted by colourful-era

Not sure about that one , I mean a hell of a lot of people smoke and don't ever even go abroad once in their whole life.

I'm not saying that smokers go abroad, I'm saying that there may be a similarity in the motives of smokers and expats here.

If I'm not incorrect, namely "that living in Thailand is an addicition".

However, you could be right. Smoking is a life-style choice. Living in Thailand is also a life-style choice.

Also, being a smoker in Thailand costs about one zillionith less than it does in the West. Hell, if I lived in the UK, at GBP 5.50 per pack, I wouldn't smoke. I'd likely not drink either. Nor would I go to the movies. Probably wouldn't go out to eat in a restaraunt. All of the above would be outside my budget.

Similar things could be said about anywhere in the West. At times, I think people who have lived in the West for a prolonged period of time simply forgot how to have "fun". But, perhaps they just have a different idea of fun, largely implanted by their Govts who tell them what they can and cannot enjoy doing - even in their own homes - these days.

Originally Posted by Macha

I've tried it many a time, but never saw the appeal and never felt any kind of addiction.

IMHO smoking ain't addiction. Its something you get used to (habitual). I do smoke a pack in a day when I have got nothing to do. Just to kill time i pop out and have a fag. But when I'm busy trust me I don't smoke at all, don't even feel the need for it.

I've never followed that line of logic. You are addicted to doing it in your spare time, aren't you?

Originally Posted by William

Also, being a smoker in Thailand costs about one zillionith less than it does in the West. Hell, if I lived in the UK, at GBP 5.50 per pack, I wouldn't smoke. I'd likely not drink either. Nor would I go to the movies. Probably wouldn;t go out to eat in a restaraunt. All of the above would be outside my budget.

so the high taxes to pay for the eventual HNS cancer treatment would work on you

Drinking is cheaper in the West, in my experience, both at bars and at home, salary for salary.

Cinema is three times the price, and salary there is at least double, so not enough of a difference to affect my liking of cinema.

Restaurants, like for like, cost the same, salary for salary. The chain restaurants here are comparable with buying frozen ready-meals back home, for quality, taste, and price.

Originally Posted by William

At times, I think people who have lived in the Westfor a prolonged period of time simply forgot how to have "fun"

I think a lot of people in Thailand have this view, that somehow living in Thailand is more fun. I don't agree. I have far more fun back there, but here, things are more interesting.

I've never followed that line of logic. You are addicted to doing it in your spare time, aren't you?

Actually no. I don't crave for ciggies even in my free time (maybe I smoke to kill time). When I have spare time, doing nothing important, something crosses my mind and I start thinking how about a quick fag.

Originally Posted by Macha

When I have spare time, doing nothing important, something crosses my mind and I start thinking how about a quick fag.

But addiction could be defined as a "compulsive habit", could it not?

My definition's somewhat different. IMO "habit" as synonymous with "inclination, tendency, routine", while "addiction" brings up "fixation, chemical dependency, obsession".

To me, an addiction is something that one does for a prolonged period which they may not wish to do but which they lack full control over.

Originally Posted by Macha

My definition's somewhat different. IMO "habit" as synonymous with "inclination, tendency, routine", while "addiction" brings up "fixation, chemical dependency, obsession".

Yes, you are right Macha, those are the definitions, I saw the same quotes

Although for most smokers, the assumption is that their habit and their addiction are synonymous, this is not quite true. In fact, my thesaurus defines "habit" as synonymous with "inclination, tendency, routine", while "addiction" brings up "fixation, chemical dependency, obsession". I see that as a dramatic difference of definitions, don’t you?
I see it as far more than a slight variance in semantic interpretation. To me, there is a huge discrepancy between an inclination or tendency, and a fixation or obsession. Defining these differences is the root tool of the process described in my book, "How to Quit Smoking Without Willpower or Struggle". Knowing how much of your smoking is habit and how much is addiction is the huge step toward dismantling and removing both from your life.
I separate them this way. The addiction is to the nicotine. The rest is the habit.

What is not said is that addiciton to nicotine is not justt physical, it is a strong mental addiciton which makes it "habit forming". Even after 20 years I still quite fancy a smoke when someone near me lights up. Not habit that!!

Originally Posted by DrAndy

Even after 20 years I still quite fancy a smoke when someone near me lights up. Not habit that!!

It is a pleasurable activity and you probably associate the smell of tobacco with all kinds of fun and memories.

Originally Posted by DrAndy

as for the price, well, medical care is much cheaper in Thailand

Smeg, you keep quoting "salary for salary" as if that is a mantra; maybe your salary in Bournemouth was higher than that here. My daily rates are the same wherever work, so I can compare things directly.

Cinema in London is over $18 a seat, $3 here? etc etc

Restaurants can be ridiculously cheap, or moderate, say $20 for four people for prawns and fish etc and well-stuffed. A similar quality meal would cost at least $200 in London.

So, even if you are on a Thai locals salary, you can live a good life here.
The restaurants are pretty full with Thais, I notice. As are the bars.

I don't follow a lot of the above, hence my thoughts below

1) Many medicines cost the same or more in Thailand, and they can make up a substantial part of any medical bill.

2) Salaries are on average much higher in the UK

3) I don't know any good quality bars here that charge $1.50 (58 Baht) for a drink.

4) The average cinema in London does not charge $18 (10 pounds) per seat.

5) I have never seen a comparable quality restaurant in Thailand that is one tenth the cost of the UK (even if they specialise in fish and prawns, ie local products)

6) The average local's salary here is one tenth that of the UK, but next to nothing is one tenth of the cost, hence I don't see how the locals can be out enjoying the services any more than the locals in the UK.

What is not said is that addiciton to nicotine is not justt physical, it is a strong mental addiciton which makes it "habit forming". Even after 20 years I still quite fancy a smoke when someone near me lights up. Not habit that!!

How can I explain me case then? I have no craving for ciggies. IMO I only smoke to kill time.

I don't remember it as a pleasure, more a timewaster

any associations are usually with advertising, like coyboys or fresh mountain streams

the reality is, you stink after being in a closed space with a smoker



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