I was a smoker a year and a half ago. I wasn't smoking too much but I still carried a pocked around and was addicted to it.
When I came to Britain the public made me feel like an idiot because I was smoking. I really felt uncomfortable in many places and smokers were not welcome everywhere.
When I was looking to let a flat smoking was a problem and the landlords were very seriously asking whether or not I was smoking. They were not willing to let a flat to a smoker. One of them told me that if I rent the place and after a while quit the smell will remain there and a non-smoker might not want the place.
When I first came I wanted to rent a room and they told me that I couldnt smoke in the house.
In Turkia smoking is still considered to be a symbol of strenght. It might sound strange but some women feel more independent because they smoke. Normally a women should smoke in public according some traditional lifestyles in Turkia. So some women take the challange and they do.
On the other hand for men it is a mannish thing. Smoking, beer and football matches perfectly for many Turkish men. For the young boys smoking is a symbol of maturness.
I think these things play a role in smoking. In Britain I feel like everyone feels pity for the smokers as they are not so logical and harm their own life. I do as well. So I have quit a year and a half ago.
I also congratulate the British Government for rising the tabacco prices incredibly high to make it so unpopular. As far as I know in Britain the tabacco prices are higher thahn in any other EU country. I think they even dont follow the EU borders regulations to keep it high.
Unfortunately in Turkia we have the TEKEL (the Turkish State Liquor and Tobacco Monopoly) which is a official company owned by the Government and as far as I know they are making a good profit.

dear friends,
i am tryng to stop smoking.. i need moral backup..please wish me good luck and if u remember please pray for me to get out of this shit..cos i think this is the most important thing i need..and the other thing i need is necotinell..(nicotin chew gum-the one with furiuts is good..also it works and 12 chew gum are only 2.35 euros in turkey-) so please pray for me friends..i ll write here my giving up diary..i hope i wouldnt write i losed agein..bye..

Good luck oeince! Thinking of you

thanks nalisia..its really nice to know this..and nice to get feed back soon..thanks..

Dear oeince,

I want to wish you good luck with the part of a poem.

"Tütünü bilir misin?
'Kız saçı' demiş zeybekler
Su içmez her damardan,
Yerini kolay beğenmez,
ÃœşÃ¼r
Naz eder,
Darılır,
İki yaprak arasında kıyılmış,
Bir parçası var kalbimin
İncecik, ak kağıtlara sarılır,
Dar vakit yanar da verir kendini,
dostun susan dudağına..."

Erol, kolay gelsin. Umarım bırakırsın.
When I was in Turkia I tried to explain people that smoking shouldnt be encouraged but everywhere it was. I was working as a teacher in a school and the normal teacher's room was left for the smokers while a much smaller and far room was left for non-smokers. I tried to explain the reason why and how smoking could be discouraged. It is a non-reasonable thing and smokers shouldnt be made feel comfortably and they should feel like they are doing the wrong thing. Obviously you can not achive this by leaving first class places to smokers and second class places to non-smokers.

I would like to hear other poeple's opinions but I feel like in Britain smokers would feel uncomfortable. Some people might even say they would feel almost like a second class person. In many public buildings you have to go to unatractive places and the public really makes you feel that you are doing something wrong and unlogical.
On the other hand I don't know how we could decrease smoking while having so many problematic issues.
Erol, sen çok sigara içiyor musun? You look like you smoke a lot. Even in your picture I think you were smoking.

saol ceyrano..by the way these poems show how we dignify this shit..but unfortunately its in my life for 8 years and all bad relationships must finish..as hoping this shit would remain in my mind just with poems i ll add one more..
Biz ela göz ince bel sütun bacak için sevmedik yavrum,
Gümbür gümbür atan bir yürek diledik kavgada,
Ateşin yanında barut;barutun yanında ateş olasın diye,
Çilingir sofralarında söyleşip,ACI TÃœTÃœN İÇERCESİNE sevdik,
Anlayamadılar...

erdinç thanks for ur help..ur all right in the things u write..as an answer to ur question if i stop smoking i am sure everyone can.. i smoke disastrous...2 packets a day..i ll try my best..and if i can give it up..ill have right to say people to stop smoking but now i dont have..

Thank you for the poem, oience. That's really great. I understood once again that I do love Turkish language (also cigarette.)

by the way i see that google advirisments about smoking just added to our conversation..fu.ken capitalism never lose any opportuniities..for not to give them a chance i ll demand u not to write anymore here..at least as an answer to me please..

Yes, that's what Elisa have noticed before you. It's really interesting!