I wonder if passive is really less bad than active. Then again i do have severe breathing problems and allergies but those too are under control after spring is over (right now i feel alot better)

Thanks Pictus and sinaptix, and Risen and lyra (though your posts are gone), your humor and input are why I have edited my post.

I am sorry for having sounded like such a nudge. My apologizes all the way around.

From Outback Steakhouse...

and for desert they you can have some of their "Chocolate Thunder From Down Under"

Well, not that I'm making excuses for myself, but I don't actually smoke all that much. Most days 2 or 3 a day, some days none at all, and rarely I'll smoke more than just 2 or 3 a day.

There was very little "passion," no "Nth degree," and no coming up with "all kinds" of rationalizations in my post. It's actually two short and simple sentences.

Lemni, the passion is your own. While I feel for the position you're in with your father, I do believe you're projecting your issues with your father onto me. Please, at least, take this under consideration, okay?

Lemniscate, you've made it impossible not to take it personally. You should've stopped after the first sentence, and not further followed with the remainder that makes it impossible not to take it personally.

While I do think you believe that you have my best interests at heart, and whether or not you're an empath, you do not know me know me well and complete enough to discern to what extent I actually do value myself...or how well I know who I am, or just how aware I am (a reference to your post to me on the Poll/abduction thread).

Please know that I am not looking to have any hard feelings between the two of us.

Limukala is correct, I was referring to orthodox research comparing the chemicals of nicotine, heroin, cocaine, and others. What the researchers stated was the heinous action of nicotine and how it veritably
"demonically" (their words) took over the human psyche and physiology. Where the ones addicted to the other chemicals "had a chance", the ones addicted to nicotine had less of one because of how it interreacted within their system.

I was compelled to study up on this because my dad almost died from smoking . . . twice.

I will discuss this no further, since I feel it makes you uncomfortable, and I don't want to do that. I will state that one of the hardest things to deal with in life is trying to help one who doesn't want to be helped. It's the most difficult thing about being an empath. Please don't take this personally. I value you. I just want you to realize that same value within yourself.

I really didn't mean for the thread to get sidetracked by my "true confession", I just realized my personal hypocrisy, and wanted to set the record straight.

It's true, confession is good for the soul, but it does nothing for the issue of gasing meat...or at least not until the meat/grocer industry (at least some grocers) try some on for size--

Meat/grocer industry>>> "I confess to taking advantage of the consumer and putting their health at risk, for profit."

For what it's worth, I thought I'd clarify this. I'm more concerned about myself speaking out of school, than the other issue. That may sound bass ackwards, but it's true.

And, I've seen both smokers and heroin addicts in withdrawal (I was a Methadone Clinic Addictions Counselor for a half-year)...the heroin/narcotics addict definitely seems to me to have the harder row to hoe. I'm not challenging you, I'm just sharing my up close and personal observations.

My dad smokes as well. I've tried to talk sense into him, but as I've researched "nicotine is harder to kick than heroin".

It's so sad to watch a human being killing themselves. He coughs horrendously and incessantly. It's gotta come from within, though . . .

I'll tell ya'll...I don't care if the CO levels in these packages are within or even far below acceptable standards. I don't care if there aren't bioaccumulation issues. I don't want it coursing through any part of my body.

and

I was cooking dinner after writing my post, and thinking (uh-oh). I thought about this part I had written, and then thought again. You should have seen me trying to kick myself in the arse . Because I couldn't kick myself in the arse I thoroughly gave myself what for. It wasn't pretty .

I raised such rant, and the truth be known--I smoke Marlboro Lights. Big DOH!

Maybe this is an unnecessary "true confession", but I couldn't let it go without owning up to my climbing up on a soap box...like a hypocrite.

OUCH!

Ohhhh weeeeell... live and learn.