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Actually, smoking is proven to increase anxiety. The smokers I know tend to be nervier than the non-smokers

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No, the tension procedure kicks in when you're already addicted and you want the stuff.

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I notice neither one of you are actually regular smokers. Speaking as one, let me say, smoking does relieve anxiety. When I am tense and decide to smoke, it is because of the normal pressures of life, I have never once smoked just for the hell of it. Maybe I'm not hooked enough.

In fact, to speak to anyone who will chastise smoking, a lot of the pressure that smokers feel come from non-smokers constantly badgering them about how repulsive they are. So it's you people's fault. Shame on you.

In all seriousness, though, I never smoked before I was 18 and was against it. But I never once tried to enforce that belief on others becuase it's condescending. There is not one person over the age of 6 that does not know smoking is bad for their health. That doesn't make it right, but it is their cross to bear.

As for people who say 'Don't smoke around me,' all I have studied about the subject say that all the myths about second-hand smoke stem from one EPA two decades ago which has been proven to have been exaggerated. Other than that, no serious evidence has proven second-hand smoke to be a killer. Once you erase that, you're just dealing with people who believe their personal comfort is more important than mine.

Leave the smokers alone, most of them want to leave you alone.