Objectionable Survey Question

[oldbuddy]

They asked me how I would improve a survey I took this morning, so I left this comment.

Rephrase the question asking if I smoked over 100 cigarettes in my life, when the last one was in 1964 and I object to being reminded how stupid I was back then.     

[linderlizzie]

You were not stupid oldbuddy. Just misguided. We've all been there. 100 cigarettes will not be the death of you.

After all, how could Fusion Cash function properly without its oldbuddy?

[oldbuddy]

You were not stupid oldbuddy. Just misguided. We've all been there. 100 cigarettes will not be the death of you.

After all, how could Fusion Cash function properly without its oldbuddy?

All I can say to that is, I was born into family with two siblings and both of them are long gone thanks to the effects of smoking. One from Lung Cancer at age 58 and the other from COPD at age 62.

[pstovall]

Oldbuddy, so sorry to hear about your siblings.  People just didn't know, back in the day, how harmful smoking could be.  My uncle was a tobacco farmer and I can remember the smell of those tobacco leaves hanging in his barn.  It was a very inviting activity, trendy and made one feel part of the crowd. Yes, I've had those questions about the 100 cigarettes several times, and it's always a nudge to how much I wish I hadn't participated.

[bhdz]

I understand your point. Some questions are not always worded in the best way. Asking to rephrase a question is perfectly legitimate feedback. I too have given feedback in the past regarding how questions are worded.

[kjstrukel]

Sorry for your losses, oldbuddy.  I think smoking took a toll on a lot of families before we knew how harmful it could be.  I, personally, never got into the habit.  I probably smoked less than a pack of cigarettes as a youngster in my teens/twenties, so I can truthfully answer that question "no" and not think much about it.   Your post made me realize that the question could bring up bad memories for others.  Thanks for the reminder to always think of how others may feel about things.

[pstovall]

Just this morning, I was having an objection session over the fact that over and over again I get asked a question with no relevant answer choice.  For instance, the one that asks your destination for an international flight during the last 90 days.  It gives several choices, but give NO choice that says, in essence, I haven't been ANYWHERE in the last 90 days. As a matter of fact, I haven't even been to the grocery store in my own town in the last 90 days, much less an International flight.

[metsrock69]

I was too a smoker at one point in my life. I gave it up long ago and it was easy to quit back then. I just had the willpower to quit cold turkey and never looked back

[sfreeman8]

I started smoking at age 13 because it was "the thing to do." My mom smoked from age 16 to age 79. She had COPD and still smoked. She just liked it. She never smoked over a pack a day. I tried to get her to quit but she was so addicted. Doc had told me that she should smoke if she wanted because she was in the "twilight of her years."  Finally, at age 79, I told her she had to quit because I wanted to quit. It worked but she died a few months later very unhappy. I tried quitting 6 times through my life through cold turkey, using the patch, pills, and desperately hypnotism. Hypnotism worked for 5 hours. Ha! After mom died, I forgot about trying to quit. I was up to 3 packs a day and hated it but just didn't have the willpower to quit. It runs in the family because my aunt Mary was a chain smoker, but her doc said her lungs were clear as a bell which he couldn't believe. She died in her sleep.

I even rolled my own because they were getting so expensive. Finally in 2012, wound up in the hospital for 3 weeks. That did it! Because I couldn't smell any smoke and I couldn't get out of bed, I was trapped!!! Cold turkey but it never had the cravings in the hospital. After 3 weeks, I was discharged and never picked up another cigarette. I still have the  papers and tobacco I bought a week before I was hospitalized and the ashtrays all over the house. They are used to hold soap, paper clips, magnifying glass, and they are pretty. Cut glass from the 50s I think. They are a reminder.

[Nancy5]

I started smoking when I was 16.  Everyone in our gang (not the kind of gang now), smoked and of course I had to also.  Remember it was the ‘thing to do’ back then.  I continued smoking until 19 years ago when I ended in the hospital with COPD.  I was on 4 leaders of oxygen when discharged and 3 types of meds.  I was told this would be forever.  I went to respiratory therapy twice a week and did my breathing exercises, and gradually slowed down my oxygen levels until I took myself off.  I was constantly checking my levels and they were always in the mid 90’s.  My pulmonary doctor couldn’t believe I did that and have remained off all oxygen for 17 years.  I have stressed to my kids over and over never smoke and thankfully they listened.

[linderlizzie]

I started smoking at age 13 because it was "the thing to do." My mom smoked from age 16 to age 79. She had COPD and still smoked. She just liked it. She never smoked over a pack a day. I tried to get her to quit but she was so addicted. Doc had told me that she should smoke if she wanted because she was in the "twilight of her years."  Finally, at age 79, I told her she had to quit because I wanted to quit. It worked but she died a few months later very unhappy. I tried quitting 6 times through my life through cold turkey, using the patch, pills, and desperately hypnotism. Hypnotism worked for 5 hours. Ha! After mom died, I forgot about trying to quit. I was up to 3 packs a day and hated it but just didn't have the willpower to quit. It runs in the family because my aunt Mary was a chain smoker, but her doc said her lungs were clear as a bell which he couldn't believe. She died in her sleep.

I even rolled my own because they were getting so expensive. Finally in 2012, wound up in the hospital for 3 weeks. That did it! Because I couldn't smell any smoke and I couldn't get out of bed, I was trapped!!! Cold turkey but it never had the cravings in the hospital. After 3 weeks, I was discharged and never picked up another cigarette. I still have the  papers and tobacco I bought a week before I was hospitalized and the ashtrays all over the house. They are used to hold soap, paper clips, magnifying glass, and they are pretty. Cut glass from the 50s I think. They are a reminder.

Hey! I'm really happy for you to be free from that particular form of bondage sfreeman8.  I hope you feel so much better now that you won't even consider going back. Good girl!

 

[linderlizzie]

I started smoking when I was 16.  Everyone in our gang (not the kind of gang now), smoked and of course I had to also.  Remember it was the ‘thing to do’ back then.  I continued smoking until 19 years ago when I ended in the hospital with COPD.  I was on 4 leaders of oxygen when discharged and 3 types of meds.  I was told this would be forever.  I went to respiratory therapy twice a week and did my breathing exercises, and gradually slowed down my oxygen levels until I took myself off.  I was constantly checking my levels and they were always in the mid 90’s.  My pulmonary doctor couldn’t believe I did that and have remained off all oxygen for 17 years.  I have stressed to my kids over and over never smoke and thankfully they listened.

You helped yourself and your kids too, Nancy5. You should be so proud!

[linderlizzie]

Just to be clear, I smoked some cigarettes to try and look cool when I was around 16 or so. But since I kept dropping them, my plan was not a success. So I quit since I can't look cool no matter what I do. 

[teresa3200]

I was a heavy smoker, I averaged 2 1/2 packs a day. In 2009 my best friend went to Germany to have her Leukemia treated. We talked on the phone a few times and she said she didn't think she was going to come back. Her and her husband were not getting along so she wanted to stay there.
My husband and I both wanted to quit smoking so I used that as an excuse, if she didn't want to come back we were going to go over there and convince her. Things didn't work out that way though. Her body rejected the treatment and she didn't make it.

[Jaspe]

I am sorry to hear of everyone's losses due to smoking and otherwise.  It is not easy dealing with loss no matter the cause.

Personally I have never smoked and never wanted to try, but I have seen the power of addiction for smoking (and other substances) working on others near and dear to me and it is painful to endure for everyone.

I wish the best and congratulations to those who have stopped and those who are trying to stop.  If others decide to keep smoking, I hope you stay healthy.