this is not the truth ,if someone quit that doesn’t mean that the other person in the same group will quit .....these all are pethatic studies having no witness

Lets hope that this study comes out to be true. For smoking is really bad and if someone takes a good inspiration from his friends and near ones, I guess nothing can be better than that. But I really doubt this whole theory. Addicts can never seem to let go of their habits!

I agree with Vishal that this research is nothing but a numerical blunder. I myself was a heavy smoker, but when I quit smoking 4 years ago, it was solely because my brain ordered me to do so.

I still remember an incident when I was on a launch with my girlfriend on my way to the Elephanta Caves, and she asked me to throw that cigarette. My reaction could shock you but I bluntly said,

”Shut your mouth or I’ll throw you in the waters!”

So you can see no one could ever influence a smoker to quit smoking. He quits when he wants to quit.

Based on my experience, the only thing worked for me was to cut the nicotine intake gradually and try to maintain and increase the gap between each cigarettes. Once the nicotine gets totally flushed out of your body, just maintain a safe distance from cigarettes.

And I’m glad, now I can sit with many of my smoker friends without having the slightest urge to take a puff.

@ Aneez

Your response didn’t shock me at all since my boyfriend says the same time again when I nag him with the thing. I have stopped telling him and my dad about it but I really feel worried. I guess there isn’t much that I can do but nag them once in a while.

@ Mayuri

Sadly, this is the only thing one can do. But I advice you to continue with those pinches, maybe the ’cumulative effect’ of those naggings can create some positive response. :)

Maybe it would lead to our break up. Sometimes I feel that addiction is very ugly. I mean I remember I cried the whole day when my dad refused to give up smoking. I was a kid back then. He didn’t say anything but he never left his smoking habit. I understood that day that no matter what, he will never quit smoking. And I guess the same goes with my guy.

it somehow sounds unlikely that one member in a group can influence others to give up smoking. I always thought quitting smoking was tougher than that. anyways, i can’t help hoping it’s true.

With addiction, it’s never a ’desire’ thing. It is a weakness, a state of helplessness that cannot be overcome by persuasions alone. I have had the good sense to stay away from nicotine and have also tried knocking some sense into some of my smoker friends. And I guess ridicule is always proportional to the amount of effort you put in to present the ’health’ angle. Like Aneez said, a smoker is never influenced. He quits only when he feels he has had enough.

Agree with you Alpheus, a person quits smoking when he feels he has had enough. No one can influence his or her friends to quit smoking. I was the first one out of my schoolmates to start smoking and the first one to quit it. They use to nag me for smoking when I started and a few of them even left my company, but now they all smoke and I don’t, but that no way influences them. Nonetheless, one should try quitting it for if she succeeds, it is a huge relief. A nice and relaxed breathing cycle that keeps you positive all the time is only a privilege with the non-smokers.

I can’t well remember whose expressions these are,” Quitting smoking is the easiest thing to do, I have already left it a dozen of times.” To me, these lines reveal, its not that easy whatsoever the inspirations to do so may be. I won’t say that the analysis is baseless, but one thing is for sure: Inspirations/ motivations differ from person to person.

Well looks like this is a different dimension of the domino effect, maybe conscious aversion is required to give up but close relatives and friends giving it up can be an unconscious motivator.

Well said, Somya. I would most unwillingly like to differ on your viewpoint. I believe if your conscience allows you the freedom of assessing the pros and cons of smoking, only then can you think of quitting it. May be if each one around you quits, and you don’t feel like calling it a day its baseless. Sorry to offend you but the point I wish to make is one should be strong and determined from within rather seeking an outer inspiration.