Do you smoke?

[Torsten]

So are you a smoker? I mean, have you tried or do you still smoke cigarettes, cigars, pot, shisha/hookah, pipes or any other stuff?

TOEIC short conversations: Two employees discuss a memo concerning new dress code

[PainRose]

Hello dear friend,

For me, I am not a smoker. I never tried any sort of these bad things that people smoke, but my boyfriend is a smoker. He smokes a lot. He started smoking two years ago. Now he is trying to quit smoking. He will start by the beginning of the next month. I am afraid he will face many difficulties. I am motivating him, & praying for him.

What do you say about it all?!

Your friend,
Madeline

[BelajarEnglish]

I am not a smoker. However, there is one question always lingering in mind, What makes people start this habit ? Without doubt, the campaign on harmful impact of smoking has spread to every parts of the country. But, some individual still want to indulge into that habit . What do you think ? What are the reasons that lure them to smoke?

[Torsten]

Hi Hery,

Long time no see :-). I think most smokers develop the habit when they are teenagers for one or several of the following reasons:

- You want a feeling of community.
When you smoke you have something that you share with others and so you belong to a group of people rather than being on your own.

- You want to be cool.
Your parents told that smoking is dangerous for your health and that only losers smoke. That's exactly why started smoking -- you wanted to show your parents that you are independent and capable of making your own decisions.

- You want to find out how much will power you possess.
At school you saw that movie where teenagers got hooked on smoking and couldn't give up. They were too weak to beat their own addiction. Now, you definitely are not as weak as those lousy losers so you'll prove to yourself and all your friends that yes, you can easily control the habit. You'll show them that you can quit any time. It's a piece of cake.

Let me know what you think.
Regards,
Torsten

TOEIC short conversations: An employee compliments his co-worker on her new briefcase

[Rosetteadwan]

Hello or marhaba ( in arabic language )
I am not a smoker and I have never tried to smoke , and I hate the cigarette smell it makes me cough alot.
and actually I hate to see people smoking it is really a bad habit .
Thank you for this nice subject .

I hope someone correct for me if I have spelling mistakes.

[Butterfly]

I'm a former smoker now. I think there is no point doing something that is slowly but surely destroying your health unless u have a reason - for exapmple, if you are depressed or just fond of some fashion trends..

[Ralf]

Hi Butterfly,

You've got a point here. Smoking is a trademark of the depressed and the fashionable; the latter group usually start smoking due to reasons of teenage angst, group pressure or a milder form of teenage angst - the fear of losing a sense of belonging - induced by group pressure.
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[Butterfly]

yes, and in addition to what you said, some people believe smoking helps them lose weight but that is sort of an illusion. but i guess losing weight is also a fashion trend..

[Foah]