0
0
In most places where I’ve been, people start smoking because they think it’s cool. They lean on walls, walk with a strut, dance, flick, and puff smoke. Once they start, they get hooked and continue “being cool.” I’ve seen many exciting kinds of smokers in my day. I’ve even bummed a smoke after a few stiff drinks—the sunglasses-wearing Virginia Slim damsel who blows her smoke ever so sexy. The nonchalant redneck sweet-talks his neighbor’s wife. At the same time, a lit cigarette dangles off his lips. The multi-tasking freelance roofer who smokes without using his hands. That talkative salesman who smokes indoors.
I’ve seen smokers gesticulate outside by the garbage disposal. A lit cigarette between his finger, he never seems to flick that long ashes as it burns down to his finger. The pant-sagging homie with the extra cigarette behind his ear, the skateboard pinch smoker. That stressed-out soccer mom lights one up while complaining about life as the smoke pours out her nose. The toothless bystander with that last cigarette in his chest pocket, the one with the unlit cigarette in his mouth who’s patting himself down because he doesn’t remember where he left his lighter, the badass in a cloud of smoke… you get my point.
I’ve seen a few smokers in my day but none of these smokers in Canada. Canadian smokers seem very much “to the point” about their nicotine. They pull out a well-conserved pack of cigarettes, slide out a cigarette, and smoke it properly. It’s almost as if they were taught to—no crunched-up bags, no lit cigarette burning off the lip, no poses. I’ve noticed that guys in Canada only smoke Canadian brands of cigarettes, also—no fancy brands, maybe a cigar but nothing too stylish. One might walk away with your lighter, but you won’t find them blowing smoke rings in the air. I think it says a lot about the culture.
The ever-appropriate Canadian seems to be content with just smoking his or her cigarette calmly or quietly and moving on with their daily life activity.”
The ever-appropriate Canadian seems content with smoking their cigarette calmly or quietly and moving on with their daily activities. For instance, I noticed in the States that the “white boy” frowned on other smokers who didn’t smoke the Marlboro brand. As a smoker, if you want to hang with the other “cool” smokers, go with Marlboro, Carmel, Lucky Strike Virginia Slim, Newport, or Kool. Do I even need to say smoking is bad for you? That it causes lung cancer, or it’s the most disgusting habit?! Everyone already knows these facts. In this article, I’m commenting on the Ontarian smoker’s behavior while smoking.
These guys must ignore the horrifying but mandated photos on their boxes of cigarettes—disgusting images of cancer tumors, decaying teeth, and sick babies. There are depictions of smokers’ woes on each box. If you’re in England, imagine buying a pack of 555 and finding a photo of a decomposing patient with lung cancer who has had her trachea drilled open. Or a not-so-well pregnant woman if you’re lucky. Canadian smokers are the most resilient I’ve seen since the look of that kind of photo never discourage them from buying a pack. But yes, Canadian smokers are the most resilient I’ve ever seen.
I’ve known passive smokers who only smoke when they drink too much. Some succumb to peer pressure when friends are out for a puff. In Canada, the authorities have prohibited smoking in public buildings. In some cases, 20 ft from the entrance of the building. You better believe it when I tell you this does not stop smokers from smoking outside in minus 30 degrees weather. As I’ve said, these are not your average Benson & Hedges or DUNHILL smokers. They don’t smoke because they think it makes them look hip. These guys are smoking out of addiction. It is like there is an uninhibited passion. Very Interesting. *
