The Official Harley Spencer Discussion Thread! (AMA)

[Harley Spencer]

Re: The Official Harley Spencer Thread!

Well I have gum disease, I'm a smoker and drink quite a bit of coffee, so I don't want to taste like an ashtray when I'm kissing. Gum isn't for everyone, but I certainly like it.

 

[Harley Spencer]

Re: The Official Harley Spencer Thread!

Huh, I've had both of those gums and that has so not been my experience.

See, now I'm wondering if we get different versions of those products thanks to some kind of differing regulations and whatnot. Like how in the States if you get a Mike's Hard Lemonade it has a crappy malt liquor base (like most mixed drinks and coolers do), while in Canada it's made with actual vodka (in fact, the tag line for the product here is, "Mike's Hard Lemonade: An Excellent Source of Vodka").

Mmmm, I dunno. I don't think so. I feel like changing up the ingredients of a particular product would be more of a pain in the ass for the company than what it's worth, if it would even be considered worth anything.
I'm thinking the flavor in the situation with me sleeping all night has more to do with the fact that I wasn't chewing it all night, so I wasn't consuming all the flavor, that's why it was still fresh 8 hours later. As for any other time when I'm actually chewing the gum, it definitely at least lasts longer than mints, and I don't expect the flavor of gum to last like 5 hours or anything, just so long as it's more than like.... 10 minutes, you know?

 

[HappyHapyJoyJoy]

Re: The Official Harley Spencer Thread!

Well I have gum disease, I'm a smoker and drink quite a bit of coffee, so I don't want to taste like an ashtray when I'm kissing. Gum isn't for everyone, but I certainly like it.

I love it when someone tastes like an ashtray. It's great, like secondhand smoke.

God I miss smoking. I don't even crave it anymore, I just miss is...

Mmmm, I dunno. I don't think so. I feel like changing up the ingredients of a particular product would be more of a pain in the ass for the company than what it's worth, if it would even be considered worth anything.

It's actually pretty common thanks to varying regulations and tax laws. I've actually had a few friends in the States have me mail them the Canadian versions of candy bars they can get there (like, say, Twix) because the formula used here is different, resulting in a different taste which they prefer.

I'm thinking the flavor in the situation with me sleeping all night has more to do with the fact that I wasn't chewing it all night, so I wasn't consuming all the flavor, that's why it was still fresh 8 hours later. As for any other time when I'm actually chewing the gum, it definitely at least lasts longer than mints, and I don't expect the flavor of gum to last like 5 hours or anything, just so long as it's more than like.... 10 minutes, you know?

I'm lucky if the flavor in gum lasts five minutes, much less ten...

 

[larss]

Re: The Official Harley Spencer Thread!

Well I have gum disease, I'm a smoker and drink quite a bit of coffee, so I don't want to taste like an ashtray when I'm kissing. Gum isn't for everyone, but I certainly like it.

As an ex-smoker, I cannot recommend more highly Allen Carr's Easyway to Stop Smoking. Here is a link to the text of the book - http://media.wix.com/ugd/74fa87_2010cc5496521431188f905b7234a829.pdf
Read it. It is not a list of the horrors of smoking or anything like that. Read it and follow the instructions (which include - continue to smoke while you are reading the book).
If if doesn't work for you, then the worst that can be said is that you lost a couple of hours reading.

 

[Harley Spencer]

Re: The Official Harley Spencer Thread!

As an ex-smoker, I cannot recommend more highly Allen Carr's Easyway to Stop Smoking. Here is a link to the text of the book - http://media.wix.com/ugd/74fa87_2010cc5496521431188f905b7234a829.pdf
Read it. It is not a list of the horrors of smoking or anything like that. Read it and follow the instructions (which include - continue to smoke while you are reading the book).
If if doesn't work for you, then the worst that can be said is that you lost a couple of hours reading.

I actually already have that book Just haven't read it yet. I've done some serious cleaning and organizing and putting things in different places around my room over the last month, and I think it got mixed in with a pile of other books somewhere when my boyfriend was in the middle of going through piles of stuff. So I've no idea where he put it, but I definitely need to find it. I was planning on reading it around June 3rd and the following days because I'm getting 2 wisdom teeth taken out that day, so I figured since I'm not allowed to smoke for 2-3 days after getting my teeth extracted, I may as well use that as leverage for quitting smoking. It's the perfect opportunity.

 

[lurkingdirk]

Re: The Official Harley Spencer Thread!

I'm a social smoker, and yeah, I totally understand the desire to keep the breath fresh. Keep in mind I wasn't saying all gum-chewers were gross, just the ones with the open mouths, chewing like cows. Somehow I can't imagine you doing that...

 

[larss]

Re: The Official Harley Spencer Thread!

I advise you to read it BEFORE you have to stop. It is written so that you smoke your last one once you finish the book, so try and plan to finish on the day you are having your Wisdom teeth whipped out.

 

[288gto]

Re: The Official Harley Spencer Thread!

honestly i think if you already smoke, don't leave smoking, but reduce it, there are people who have more problems after quiting it, i mean your lungs are now addicted to it.

 

[larss]

Re: The Official Harley Spencer Thread!

honestly i think if you already smoke, don't leave smoking, but reduce it, there are people who have more problems after quiting it, i mean your lungs are now addicted to it.

This is probably the most ridiculous statement that I have ever read on these boards, and that includes some of the stuff that Sam has spouted on the political threads.
If you stop smoking, the chances of ANY lung disease and heart disease is dramatically reduced. Your lungs are not addicted to being filled with carcinogenic and poisonous particles. The only addiction in smoking is in your own head, put there by years of being told just how addictive smoking is.
There is NO downside to stopping smoking. Not a single one.

 

[288gto]

Re: The Official Harley Spencer Thread!

This is probably the most ridiculous statement that I have ever read on these boards, and that includes some of the stuff that Sam has spouted on the political threads.
If you stop smoking, the chances of ANY lung disease and heart disease is dramatically reduced. Your lungs are not addicted to being filled with carcinogenic and poisonous particles. The only addiction in smoking is in your own head, put there by years of being told just how addictive smoking is.
There is NO downside to stopping smoking. Not a single one.

i am a non-smoker, but heard this from many smokers who tried giving up, even some doctors told me this, i know it's strange but it's what i think.

 

[Roald]

Just quit cold turkey, if you really want to quit thats te only real way.

I was a smoker for 17 years straight, once we found out my gf got pregnant (planned yes) I quit cold turkey and havent smoked since. Thats 2+ years ago now. I never wanted to be the dad walking behind the stroller smoking. So far no issues at all.

- - - Updated - - -

i am a non-smoker, but heard this from many smokers who tried giving up, even some doctors told me this, i know it's strange but it's what i think.

Lol BS, good excuse though to start smoking again lmao

 

[ApolloBalboa]

Just quit cold turkey, if you really want to quit thats te only real way.

I was a smoker for 17 years straight, once we found out my gf got pregnant (planned yes) I quit cold turkey and havent smoked since. Thats 2+ years ago now. I never wanted to be the dad walking behind the stroller smoking. So far no issues at all.

I never even knew you wanted to be a dad behind a stroller at all, I thought you were determined to remain single while impregnating as many women as you could with your demon seed.

I smoked occasionally for about a year when I was 17, but I never really got a taste for it. Needless to say, my aunt getting emphysema and having 75% of her lungs removed from 40+ years of smoking has killed any notion of me putting a cigarette in my mouth again, even socially.

 

[larss]

Re: The Official Harley Spencer Thread!

i am a non-smoker, but heard this from many smokers who tried giving up, even some doctors told me this, i know it's strange but it's what i think.

It is utter crap. You may feel some withdrawal from nicotine, which can have some physical effect (as with any drug withdrawal), but it really is very minor if you have the right mind set - which is what Allen Carr's book helps with.

 

[Harley Spencer]

Nope I don't chew with my mouth open. My boyfriend does though, it drives me nuts lol.

Like Larss says, it's mostly in your mind. Some of it is physical, but most certainly not your lungs, other than the harm smoking does to them. The withdrawal that you get is mostly with your mood, having mood swings, being grumpy, not knowing what to do with yourself without smoking, etc. Smoking is a habit, much like biting your nails, grinding your teeth, or drinking coffee, just on a more addictive level. Of course coffee can be addicting, though for me it's also out of habit. I've developed all these times that I'm used to smoking, like after eating, before and after watching a movie and even once during the movie if I can, after completing a task, after taking a shower, while sitting at the computer, before bed, after I wake up, when I make a phone call, when I'm bored, etc.

Gradually cutting down isn't going to work with me, I already tried it. Last year I was a pack a day smoker and decided that I wanted to quit on New Year's Day, so New Year's Eve would be my last day. I started cutting down in August from 20 cigarettes a day, slowly making my way down to like 6 a day. It was pretty easy, I came up with this idea to only smoke half a cigarette instead of a full one, so I still stepped out for a smoke almost as often while still cutting down on the amount I smoked. But after I cut down that much, I had a really hard time cutting down even further and ended up going right back to a pack a day.

No one method works for everyone. Some people can handle cold turkey, some can't. Some can cut down, some can't. Some can rely on patches or other nicotine alternatives, some can't. I've also tried electronic cigs, but they didn't work out too well either, because although they have nicotine in them and it's still the act of smoking, it wasn't the same taste and since they don't burn and stay the same length, I have a hard time grasping how long I want to smoke it, feeling like I want to keep smoking it, thus getting a craving for a real cigarette.

If I can dig around and find this darn book, I'll definitely try to sit down and read it before going into surgery.

 

[passenger57]

Nope I don't chew with my mouth open. My boyfriend does though, it drives me nuts lol.

Like Larss says, it's mostly in your mind. Some of it is physical, but most certainly not your lungs, other than the harm smoking does to them. The withdrawal that you get is mostly with your mood, having mood swings, being grumpy, not knowing what to do with yourself without smoking, etc. Smoking is a habit, much like biting your nails, grinding your teeth, or drinking coffee, just on a more addictive level. Of course coffee can be addicting, though for me it's also out of habit. I've developed all these times that I'm used to smoking, like after eating, before and after watching a movie and even once during the movie if I can, after completing a task, after taking a shower, while sitting at the computer, before bed, after I wake up, when I make a phone call, when I'm bored, etc.

Gradually cutting down isn't going to work with me, I already tried it. Last year I was a pack a day smoker and decided that I wanted to quit on New Year's Day, so New Year's Eve would be my last day. I started cutting down in August from 20 cigarettes a day, slowly making my way down to like 6 a day. It was pretty easy, I came up with this idea to only smoke half a cigarette instead of a full one, so I still stepped out for a smoke almost as often while still cutting down on the amount I smoked. But after I cut down that much, I had a really hard time cutting down even further and ended up going right back to a pack a day.

No one method works for everyone. Some people can handle cold turkey, some can't. Some can cut down, some can't. Some can rely on patches or other nicotine alternatives, some can't. I've also tried electronic cigs, but they didn't work out too well either, because although they have nicotine in them and it's still the act of smoking, it wasn't the same taste and since they don't burn and stay the same length, I have a hard time grasping how long I want to smoke it, feeling like I want to keep smoking it, thus getting a craving for a real cigarette.

If I can dig around and find this darn book, I'll definitely try to sit down and read it before going into surgery.

Hope you can quit. Took me a couple times but finally i did. The worst was when i would go to a bar after i had quit drinking. Now that sucked the big one ! I can only drink so much diet pop and coffee but i still wanted to meet up with friends so.............anyway, after a while i couldn't do it anymore.

Some of the pics i've seen of what the lungs look like later in life, on top of people that have tubes in their throats should be a wake-up call. Yea, it's hard to quit, no doubt. But if you can't smoke for a couple days, fight the urge.

It's funny though, i never noticed the smell of nicotine until i quit........now it's more noticeable than ever and damn does it stink. Find the strength, you'll feel better, won't hack,cough, i used to get head rushes coughing so damn much. You'll be glad you QUIT ! Again, good luck Harley !

 

[Harley Spencer]

Oh I know, smoking smells so awful! My parents have almost always smoked, as well as a lot of my other family members, so even when I was a non-smoker, when I went to school the other kids could smell it on me. When I would visit my grandmother for a weekend and go back home, the smell of cigarettes was instantly overwhelming.

Not only does it stink and cause a world of health problems, but my guy has allergies, so the amount of dust getting in the apartment from outside, my cat, and my smoking really does some serious damage to his breathing, so that's another incentive for me. I'll feel great about quitting for myself, my health, money, and for my boyfriend's health. Lots of win

 

[larss]

Hope you can quit. Took me a couple times but finally i did. The worst was when i would go to a bar after i had quit drinking. Now that sucked the big one ! I can only drink so much diet pop and coffee but i still wanted to meet up with friends so.............anyway, after a while i couldn't do it anymore.

Some of the pics i've seen of what the lungs look like later in life, on top of people that have tubes in their throats should be a wake-up call. Yea, it's hard to quit, no doubt. But if you can't smoke for a couple days, fight the urge.

It's funny though, i never noticed the smell of nicotine until i quit........now it's more noticeable than ever and damn does it stink. Find the strength, you'll feel better, won't hack,cough, i used to get head rushes coughing so damn much. You'll be glad you QUIT ! Again, good luck Harley !

The funny thing is that if showing people what happens to their lungs worked to stop people smoking or even to prevent them starting, then no one would be smoking now.
People start smoking and continue to do so in the belief that they will be able to quit whenever they like. In fact they can, but society has always told us how hard it is. Smoking is full of contradictions!

 

[Harley Spencer]

The funny thing is that if showing people what happens to their lungs worked to stop people smoking or even to prevent them starting, then no one would be smoking now.
People start smoking and continue to do so in the belief that they will be able to quit whenever they like. In fact they can, but society has always told us how hard it is. Smoking is full of contradictions!

Yep this is true. I hate when people talk to me about how bad smoking is for your health, talking about gum disease, tooth decay, strokes, lung cancer, etc. As if I don't already know that and as if it's going to make me realize, "Oh shit, I could die from this? I better stop now!" I learned about all those risks at a very young age, I've seen the photos, I know what it does, it's not news to me. If the knowledge that it causes health problems were enough to prevent me from smoking, I never would have started in the first place, but obviously that didn't work, did it? It's all about will power, the reasons people smoke are much more psychological than physical.

 

[cooldude486]

Good luck quitting, Harley. I quit cold turkey many years ago and have not looked back

 

[HappyHapyJoyJoy]

Re: The Official Harley Spencer Thread!

I'm a social smoker...

You know dirk, if you can't even devote yourself to smoking then You Might have commitment issues...

honestly i think if you already smoke, don't leave smoking, but reduce it, there are people who have more problems after quiting it, i mean your lungs are now addicted to it.

Huh? I'm a smoker. One who's quit. Smoked a pack a day for a dozen years, been quit about five now I guess. You know how they say you'll feel better? Bullshit. You certainly don't feel worse though. (At least that was the case with me).

You sure your friends weren't, like, smoking heroin?

Yep this is true. I hate when people talk to me about how bad smoking is for your health, talking about gum disease, tooth decay, strokes, lung cancer, etc. As if I don't already know that and as if it's going to make me realize, "Oh shit, I could die from this? I better stop now!" I learned about all those risks at a very young age, I've seen the photos, I know what it does, it's not news to me. If the knowledge that it causes health problems were enough to prevent me from smoking, I never would have started in the first place, but obviously that didn't work, did it? It's all about will power, the reasons people smoke are much more psychological than physical.

Yup. Everyone knows what smoking does to the human body. It's not exactly a secret anyone is keeping close to their chest, so lecturing people is just kinda stupid. It's just condescending to lecture people about it.