That’s right, I said it. Smoking can be manly, especially in certain situations. I’m not a smoker and I don’t endorse it, but seriously, when someone pulls it off in the right way – smoking is freaking cool.

Today, smoking is seen as self-destructive, irresponsible, offensive and anything else you can spew to emit a negative image of a person. It’s seen as a testament of who you are. Many folks will actually judge you as a bad person with low cultural evolution (at least here in the US) if you’re caught puffing on a cancer-stick.

But when we witness that bad boy or girl light one up on the big screen with a killer song rolling in the background, it makes us feel a certain way. You’re lying if you say that doesn’t fire you up – at least a little.

Let’s look at some of the underlying reasons why we feel this way.  And stop jamming out your hate mail long enough to hear me out.

REASONS TO SMOKE (FROM A SMOKING MAN’S PERSPECTIVE)

Quitting is hard – Yup, it’s hard to quit and no one likes a quitter. I like the idea of people giving up smoking because of health reasons or whatever else motivates, but there is risk with even trying.  Failure is tough to swallow (almost as much as the smoke itself).  So many rationalize away the concept of even trying to quit smoking and who am I to judge?!?!

Smoking makes you feel calm and satisfied – Yup again.  Diehards will testify what smoking does for them. It calms and soothes even the greatest of discomforts.  Make it the whacky-tobacky kind and even better (from what my cousin says).  The amount of satisfaction smokers feel when sucking em down is like a warm blanket to them.  Other folks use differing vices to scratch that itch – food, exercise, hobbies, spending money, etc.

Smokers enjoy holding cigarettes – Having a prop in your hand while working your game is like when a “healthy” person carries a bottle of water, or eating a dog at the ballpark or when a politician is lying – it may repulse some, but it feels right.

Calm stress; cure boredom; feel happy – Smoking does calm the nerves. No argument from me. I don’t smoke, but from time to time I will partake and it does all of the above.  There is no shame in getting some help to calm the nerves when things are crazy – fellas have a lot on our tiny minds and we need a release.

Drinking coffee, wine or beer – Anyone who throws down a few will tell you the experience is MUCH better with a smoke. Enough of the cigarette hating commercials that say they don’t go together – those commercials lie and any smoker will tell you so.  Throw in gambling and/or the hard stuff and it’s almost illegal in most states NOT to smoke.

Fit in with other smokers – Since most of us don’t drink alone, it’s often the case men don’t smoke alone either. Especially the case for cigar smokers – which I am. Smoking a cigar is almost the secret to life for most men.  Get together the gents and go drag on cigars and drink scotch – LOVE IT.

Looks VERY cool – What would James Dean have looked like without a cigarette? How about Sinatra or Gary Cooper? I shiver in pain to think of it.  Can you imagine these idols with a bottle of water or a granola bar in their hands?  Yeah, me too..I just threw up in my mouth over the thought.  However, don’t be afraid to admit when you can’t pull off the cool factor. No shame in not living up to the legends.

Women are attracted to the bad boy – No sense denying this. Manliness is admitting something is true when, even if you hope it isn’t.  I feel the hate comments coming, and some have already bailed on the post, but I’m right and you know it. Women want a guy that knows himself and is his own man. No better way to convey this fact than to flip the bird to the modern anti-smoking movement and spark one up exhibiting complete control over everyone else in the room.

Smokes are a conversation helper – Smoking clearly gives you additional time to formulate your ideas and communication. When a man’s mind fails intermittently (more often than you think), instead of getting bent about it or “umm”ing through your mindless moments, take a slow drag, exhaling that lovely pale blue smoke before commanding the conversation again.

CIGARETTES vs. CIGARS

Both support the cool factor, but each conveys a slightly different message. The cigarette smoker is definitely anti-establishment and completely willing to say, “f*ck the man”.  They don’t care what other people think, nor should they. They rail against the gestapo-like anti-smoking tactics infiltrating every part of our society.

The cigar smoker is more elegant and sophisticated.  Especially the guys that can afford a nice Cuban or Dominican. They can afford to say “piss off! to almost anyone and truly mean it.  They’re not as rebellious as the cigarette folks, but still willing to rail against the smoke haters when necessary.

In reality, smoking isn’t as cool as people tell us it is.  But let’s observe one of Hollywood‘s most attractive heroes: The guy who may as well already be dead and doesn’t give a rip about the consequences of his actions. He’s able to glide with perfect precision and freedom for the remainder of his time on this planet.

This guy is compelling. The character smokes more often than not, or at least has some sort of lethal habit — drinking and drugs are common. The one underlying theme is the coolness towards self-destruction as a powerful glimpse into the human emotion.

Smoking sends the message we are not afraid of our own mortality. This is a strong and powerful attraction for people in an almost any age group. It is the forbidden fruit and whether we want to admit it or not, is attractive and can be manly.

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The Manly Side Of Smoking