the wal-mart thread

[jk the sooner fan]

got me to thinking

i commute downtown everyday via the DART light rail - its a smorgasbord of people watching.....to say the very least

but the one thing i noticed - especially at the West End station where i get off to go to work - is full of..........well, how do i say this delicately

poor people


and i would guess about 90% of them are smokers

i quit smoking in 1996 - but i remember how expensive they were then (on a military salary at least)...how in the hell do folks afford this habit?

just baffles me really

[Howzit]

Everyone has priorities.

[jk the sooner fan]

Everyone has priorities.

very true

[badger]

Walmart might have improved last time I stepped inside one, but for the most part, the stores were dirty and crowded, the aisles were too narrow, and a lot of their products were junk.

If there's ever a case where low prices aren't everything, it's Walmart.

[jk the sooner fan]

ok you realize this is the poor people smoking thread right?

the wal-mart sucks thread belongs to dean

[C&CDean]

Don't get me started on that.

There's a Conoco station fairly close to the ranch. They have a real good breakfast/lunch deal so I go up there every so often to eat. I watch people come in there - driving ratted out POS cars, no teeth, tweaked out to the max, and they'll buy a $5-6 pack of smokes with change I know they stole from their kids' piggy bank.

When I was in the Army down in Panama we could buy a carton for $2.70 (27 cents a pack). When I saw them in Grand Central Station in NYC for $1 a pack from the vending machine I said "if they ever get up to $1 a pack in the real world I'm quitting." When I finally did quit (1987) I think they were around $1.25 or so.

With $4 gas, how the hell can young people (you sure see a lot of young folks smoking these days) or old poor people afford $6 a pack cigs?

You do mass transit? Yuck.

[jk the sooner fan]

You do mass transit? Yuck.

yep - yuck indeed.

but - there is no parking downtown that isnt 5 blocks away at a minimum of 5 bucks a day - and the agency pays for the annual DART pass

so i grit my teeth and do it.....i have time to read going both ways, or listen to my ipod.....the station near my house is less than 2 miles away so its pretty convenient......as far as mass transit goes anyway

[jk the sooner fan]

and i remember the old timers going into the commissary and STOCKING up on smokes - cartons and cartons galore

[olevetonahill]

I just steal my smokes, Its cheaper that way.:D

[jk the sooner fan]

I just steal my smokes, Its cheaper that way.:D

my dad only recently quit smoking - a couple of years ago - after having a second stint put in his heart

but - i remember when he would brag about finding cheap smokes at the reservations

[badger]

ok you realize this is the poor people smoking thread right?

the wal-mart sucks thread belongs to dean

Oh fine :P

If you want to see poor people smoking en masse, go to one of our state's many casinos near the beginning of the month. That 7-7-7 day (July 7, 2007) was especially bad, since people thought it was a lucky sign or something. Casinos were jam packed that day.

I am not much for gambling and I was there for a different reason that day (casinos here have pretty good buffets). It was kind of sad to see people gambling and smoking their few dollars away in such a short amount of time.

[jk the sooner fan]

one of my favorite "scenes" in vegas was the old lady in the jazzy wheelchair - parked in front of a slot machine - with a cigarette hanging out of the corner of her mouth - with a VERY long ash....and her money card bungy corded to her waste - plugged in to the slot machine........she had good muscle tone in her right arm

[olevetonahill]

my dad only recently quit smoking - a couple of years ago - after having a second stint put in his heart

but - i remember when he would brag about finding cheap smokes at the reservations

Smoking is the only thing Ive ever had trouble quiting, It aint so much My body craves em as it is the mental craving.
I have cut way the hell back in the past 2 weeks. Was at 2to3 packs a day and now right at 1/2 a pack.. I keep em in the other room and Have to decide if I Really want one bad enough to get up and get it.

[jk the sooner fan]

i quit cold turkey in 96 - i think it took me a year to get over the urge to light one up - its not an easy habit to kick - i know exactly how you feel

[badger]

i quit cold turkey in 96 - i think it took me a year to get over the urge to light one up - its not an easy habit to kick - i know exactly how you feel

I bet you still have dreams about doing the things you quit. I experience that every Lent when I give up stuff like chocolate, soda, etc.

[jk the sooner fan]

no i dont miss smoking at all - even though i fire up a cigar now and then but thats not the same thing

some members of my family still smoke and i dont care for it

[OhU1]

Casinos, smoking, obesity, ubiquitous cell phone ownership, LCD TVs - all behaviors and products enjoyed by the vast majority of "poor people". I'm not buying that "times are tough". We are spoiled and entitled. "Give me convenience and luxury or give me death" might as well be the mantra of the masses.

[jk the sooner fan]

you can finance a tv, etc..but not smokes!

[NormanPride]

Good on you for having the willpower to quit, jk. I've heard it's one of the hardest things one can do.

Anyone know anything about the vapor cigarettes? I have neighbors who smoke, and it would be nice if they used those while we were around. I don't mind, but if we have kids I don't want them around the smoke.

[GKeeper316]

Casinos, smoking, obesity, ubiquitous cell phone ownership, LCD TVs - all behaviors and products enjoyed by the vast majority of "poor people". I'm not buying that "times are tough". We are spoiled and entitled. "Give me convenience and luxury or give me death" might as well be the mantra of the masses.

and lets not forget that the health issues associated with eating too much probably costs taxpayers as much as those from smoking.

[soonerhubs]

Casinos, smoking, obesity, ubiquitous cell phone ownership, LCD TVs - all behaviors and products enjoyed by the vast majority of "poor people". I'm not buying that "times are tough". We are spoiled and entitled. "Give me convenience and luxury or give me death" might as well be the mantra of the masses.

Hit the nail on the head.

[NormanPride]

As I said in the wal mart thread, we need to stop referring to them as the poor. How are they poor? In the ill-defined sense that they have less fake money than others? They have all the nice things, though, and don't do any work.

[thecynic]

ran into this in the news business quite frequently. One in particular comes to mind. We went to the house to donate fans because the person couldn't afford AC. There were two cartons of cigarettes on the table, and their baby was filthy crawling around on the floor, naked with only a dirty diaper. Maybe you can't help being poor, but you don't have to be dirty and your baby (including diapers) should come before cigarettes.

[OhU1]

ran into this in the news business quite frequently. One in particular comes to mind. We went to the house to donate fans because the person couldn't afford AC. There were two cartons of cigarettes on the table, and their baby was filthy crawling around on the floor, naked with only a dirty diaper. Maybe you can't help being poor, but you don't have to be dirty and your baby (including diapers) should come before cigarettes.

You know what "poor" people never have? Insurance. They have a $100 a month cell phone, smokes, money for junk food. They don't want to pay for car, renters, or other forms of insurance. When the inevitable storm or fire sweeps through good hearted people and/or the government will cover them.

I remember when the May 3, 1999 tornado came though and wiped out a worker's apartment. Pleas for help were circulated. I found out LaRhonda did not have renters insurance. I was paying USAA on my own renters policy at the time. I refused to give a dime.

[jk the sooner fan]

Good on you for having the willpower to quit, jk. I've heard it's one of the hardest things one can do.

Anyone know anything about the vapor cigarettes? I have neighbors who smoke, and it would be nice if they used those while we were around. I don't mind, but if we have kids I don't want them around the smoke.

I decided i wanted to break the cycle in my family - and teach my kids that smoking wasnt "normal behavior" - it worked

i also learned that the "hand to mouth" habit was just as hard to break as the nicotine itself

its a muscle memory habit that is a BITCH to break

[SanJoaquinSooner]

When I moved to California many years ago, it was a clearly different culture with respect to smoking. In many circles, smokers ranked barely above child molestors and necrophiliacs.

There are some exceptions - such as the gold country foothills - where you can find bars where anti-smoking laws are not enforced.

It was a bottom up process. The disdain for smoking came before the laws restricting smoking.

[thecynic]

You know what "poor" people never have? Insurance. They have a $100 a month cell phone, smokes, money for junk food. They don't want to pay for car, renters, or other forms of insurance. When the inevitable storm or fire sweeps through good hearted people and/or the government will cover them.

I remember when the May 3, 1999 tornado came though and wiped out a worker's apartment. Pleas for help were circulated. I found out LaRhonda did not have renters insurance. I was paying USAA on my own renters policy at the time. I refused to give a dime.

I'm amazed at how less "poor" I would feel if I didn't have insurance for every possible thing you can insure.

[jumperstop]

You know what "poor" people never have? Insurance. They have a $100 a month cell phone, smokes, money for junk food. They don't want to pay for car, renters, or other forms of insurance. When the inevitable storm or fire sweeps through good hearted people and/or the government will cover them.

I remember when the May 3, 1999 tornado came though and wiped out a worker's apartment. Pleas for help were circulated. I found out LaRhonda did not have renters insurance. I was paying USAA on my own renters policy at the time. I refused to give a dime.

You don't know those people's life story. To refuse them help because you assumed they didn't have renters insurance is not very nice. I mean I'm not much on donating so I don't have much room to talk, but I don't have much to donate.

I do agree with you that it's a bit ridiculous that people would rather make sure they have their smokes, drugs, 40 inch tvs with xbox and live than having a reliable car or making sure that they have insurance or maybe savings. I don't know where I'm going with this but hopefully you get the point....

[achiro]

Making people test negative for drugs, including nicotine, before being given any handouts would be some "interesting" legislation.

[cantwait48]

my dad used to chew the levi garrett loose leaf tobacco stuff, the other day I just happened to notice a store had that crap priced at $13.00 per pouch.:eek:

[soonercruiser]

I'm amazed at how less "poor" I would feel if I didn't have insurance for every possible thing you can insure.

The more you "have", the more troubles you have...:O

[GDC]

That's what I like about the dollar store, I don't have to dress up like I do when I go to the wal marts.

[soonercruiser]

OK, I get it!
So, you guys hate Walmart customers and people who smoke (cigarettes)?
:pop:

[GDC]

my dad used to chew the levi garrett loose leaf tobacco stuff, the other day I just happened to notice a store had that crap priced at $13.00 per pouch.:eek:

Copenhagen is like that too.

[jk the sooner fan]

hate smokers? who said that?

[soonercruiser]

Yah! Aren't we at least happy that they are paying "some" federal taxes?
:D

[Sooner_Tuf]

All you can do is try to make better decisions in your own life.

I reality the reason most of these people are the situations they are in because they make bad decisions. It is not very realistic to think they will bust out and start making good ones.

If you think about it there are only so many hours in the day. If you don't have money then you don't need time consuming hobbies unless those hobbies net you positive income. If they were you would have money.

Money is not hard to come by in the US. Now trying to keep it is another story but you have to make it first before you need to worry about the other stuff.

If you spend four hours a day watching TV, another three or four playing video games, surf the web for several hours a day that doesn't leave much time for work or mowing the lawn or whatever.

That is how people end up broke with dirty houses and what not. It seems to me that smoking is just another activity to put off doing things they know they need to do but just can't seem to get started.

There are exceptions but for the most part people that don't have anything exist because they haven't put out the effort required to have things.

My dad and grandad taught over and over to never play another man's game. To make my own decisions about what is best for me. Insurance is one of those things. My agent would tell you I am under insured in many areas. I do inure things I absolutely need and would be a real hardship on me if I were to lose them. I don't insure things that won't hurt me if something happens to them or things they don't really pay out for anyway. It's so easy to get caught up in buying insurance for everything you own.

Smoking is one of those things that is just a personal call to me. It is obviously not intelligent but if enjoy it and you can afford it it is your business. It doesn't look to me that most of the cigarettes I see being consumed are actually being enjoyed. I'm not sure why people light up they way they do. Maybe it is like a pacifier or just out of habit. I seldom to see someone sit down and just enjoy a cigarette.

So many little decisions we make in life have major effect down the road. It's hard to think that way when we want something but if your desire is to be successful you need to think in those terms.

Unless you are planning to win the lottery or inherit a bunch of money from someone you don't know yet. Then it is of course fine to spend every dime you get your hands on because you will be covered by a huge, never gonna happen, windfall ;)

[Mjcpr]

I quit smoking about 5 1/2 years ago cold turkey and I found it was surprisingly easy. I'm not sure why, a lot of willpower I guess.

[OULenexaman]

now I want a smoke....

[BudSooner]

I don't drive my truck all the much, and i'm not totally addicted to cigs anymore so when I don't have it I don't smoke.
Partly due to keep from burning down my customers houses, i've been using Skoal lightly..it's not bad in moderation and keeps me from lighting up.

[IB4OU2]

I smoke after sex...

[JohnnyMack]

I quit smoking about 5 1/2 years ago cold turkey and I found it was surprisingly easy. I'm not sure why, a lot of willpower I guess.

Now if we could wean you off smoking the pole.

[jumperstop]

I don't drive my truck all the much, and i'm not totally addicted to cigs anymore so when I don't have it I don't smoke.
Partly due to keep from burning down my customers houses, i've been using Skoal lightly..it's not AS bad in moderation and keeps me from lighting up.

FIFY

I wouldn't say it's not bad, any amount of tobaco is bad for you.

[GDC]

FIFY

I wouldn't say it's not bad, any amount of tobaco is bad for you.

All things in moderation...

[jumperstop]

All things in moderation...

Hell I'm not in a position to be preaching to anyone. Just saying...;)

[GDC]

Hell I'm not in a position to be preaching to anyone. Just saying...;)


Me neither:D

[NormanPride]

Drugs are bad, mm'kay?

[Fish&Game]

10$ a carton here out on the economy.....but I am going on 72hrs without a smoke now....

I remember last year I was up in New York, and they were around 10$ a pack...a couple years ago up in Canada they were around 12$ a pack.

[olevetonahill]

What are they on Base now? Hell If i remember right they were like a buck a carton er somethin when i was in.

[Fish&Game]

They are about 39$ a carton at the small PX here.

[olevetonahill]

They are about 39$ a carton at the small PX here.

Dayum, that aint much cheaper than in the stores here.

[BudSooner]

FIFY

I wouldn't say it's not bad, any amount of tobaco is bad for you.That's what I meant to say, the heat is causing me to brain fart far too much this week.

[goingoneight]

I put them down almost three years ago. I'm only now 27... so I qualify as the "young guy" who astonishingly could afford it at the time. Here's the thing... I don't know many "young" chainsmokers. Most of the people I know go through a pack or two a week and they all consider that heavy. When I was a kid, it was nothing to see my elders kill two packs a day. I guess when I started up to be Billy Badass, I realized awful fast that I had to either pace myself or not do it at all. I paced myself for ten years, then decided I didn't like smelling and/or tasting smoke all the time.

That said, my boss is a chainsmoker. Like... out-of-breath after he gets up and walks outside his office to the smoke hole-chainsmoker. He puts away anywhere from a pack and a half to two and a half a day... or so he says (I'd bet on three). I'm low man on the totem pole (AKA, the new guy at work) and I live a better lifestyle than my boss does. That's how much it appears his smoking affects his lifestyle. I have a 3 year old car, he has a 1992 POS Cavalier. I have a house, he lives in the worst part of the 918 in a crappy apartment. The list goes on. Now, he also drinks like a fish... so that costs him, too. That's not as cheap as it once was, either.

[GDC]

My grandfather used some form of tobacco his entire life, mostly a pipe in his later years, and he made it to 100 years and 24 days.

[booomer]

got me to thinking

i commute downtown everyday via the DART light rail - its a smorgasbord of people watching.....to say the very least

but the one thing i noticed - especially at the West End station where i get off to go to work - is full of..........well, how do i say this delicately

poor people


and i would guess about 90% of them are smokers

i quit smoking in 1996 - but i remember how expensive they were then (on a military salary at least)...how in the hell do folks afford this habit?

just baffles me really


Sadly many of them are only poor when it comes to paying rent and doctor bills.......there's always plenty of money for beer and cigs.