slycat | I now know why people smoke...

For years I've wondered why so many people love to smoke. I just assumed it was purely due to a nicotene addiction but today my eyes were opened...

I caught the train back with an ex-work collegue (Rich) who incidentally smokes. I usually don't travel with him cos I hate the smell of smoke and the lack of fresh air and the rest of the garbage that goes with that. However, as Rich was giving me a lift home, I braved the smoking carriage for a bit of company. Now admittedly, Rich is an outgoing bloke but what happens in the smoking carriage is very different to the non-smoking. In non-smoking, everyone keeps themselves to themselves, no-one talks to anyone other than whoever is on the end of their mobile phones, etc - you get the idea. However, in the smoking carriage it's just so much more social! Everyone seems to know each other and if they don't they get a conversation going and have a natter about general bollocks. So it dawned on me that rather than being an anti-social act, it seems to be a very sociable thing to do (With other smokers of course).

This theory can be applied in the workplace too as people will have "fag-breaks" every so often and use it as an excuse to get out of the office and have a bit of a natter. I, as a non-smoker don't have the oppertunity to go outside for a natter, only what's in the office and I get told off for that because I'm not doing my work! Bleh.

No, this does not mean that I will be taking up smoking but it is a bit of an eye-opener - I never knew that I could have a chat about bollocks on a commuter journey and make the time pass in no time at all! This is probably why the smoking carriage is also the buffet car as sociable people are more likely to buy drinks and alcoholic beverages, etc...