Why do you smoke (Montreal question)?

Question

Why do you and so many other people smoke here in Montreal? Do you think it looks cool?? It doesn't, it's fking dirty! And why do you throw your butt on the ground? Is it the same in the rest of Canada or is it a French thing???

Answer 1

In Montreal, most of the baby boomers grew up with the tobacco companies here and it was just a part of life. Smoking was quite common in all parts of Canada and the US in the 60's and 70's. Just look at any movies made during that time and you would find a cigarette in the hands of the leading man and often in the hands of the leading lady as well.

Since that time, progress has been made to educate many people of the dangers of smoking, but not everyone has the willpower to give it up. As a result, there are still plenty of older people hooked on nicotine and unable or unwilling to give it up.

Many Quebecers also refused to give up their daily puffs because it is part of the francophone culture here. Some may feel that smoking is a right they have that cannot be taken away.

By the way, if you have ever been to France, you will often see companies where the employees are having their coffee and cigarette right in air-quality sensitive areas such as a computer room, something that would be unlikely to happen here in North America

I have found that many younger generations are now continuing to pick up the habit. They know its bad, but believe that they can quit any time they want to, and it's somthing they can do to get back at their parents, or to fit in with others at their school.

I don't like the fact that smokers throw their butts on the ground, especially when they do so in a moving car, or if an ashtray was provided nearby. However, I would say that since the paper and filter are biodegradable, it is not high on my list of things people should be fined for.

Is the rest of Canada as big into smoking as Quebec? Quebec, New Brunswick, and PEI seem to have the highest rates of smoking. That is, if you do not include the northern territories, where smoking is twice as common as in Quebec. On a good note, the number of people who pick up smoking has been on the decline.

Answer 2

Out of appreciation for the big clock at Imperial Tobacco. I grew up on the West Island, and didn't always wear a watch, so when I was on the 211 heading into town, I knew if I was on time or not by the big Imperial Tobacco clock. Also my present husband once lived in an apartment in St-Henri with a view of the clock from the kitchen, so they didn't need a clock in the kitchen.

Now I live in Zurich where all the clocks are on churches or at train stations.

Answer 3

Every one has right of don ts and  do  and if you do it its a matter of choice if you smoke or don't smoke . Its up to parents to teach their kids not to smoke and even then if they chose to smoke they will and there isn't anything you can about it . It sounds like you have think for French Canadian smoking or perhaps you may want educate yourself a little more and travel England , France , Belgium , Greece and Italy ,  they smoke even more and Indonesia as well .

Answer 4

I totally agree!

Smoking is a disgusting habit.

I'm so glad that I never got hooked on it!

Ewww...

P.S. Don't you just wanna slap those women who smoke while they are pregnant? How selfish of them not to think about their unborn baby first!

Answer 5

That's funny because in 2007 Montreal was ranked as the 10th cleanest city in the world. You would think that if MOST of the people smoked there that it would be worse wouldn't it?