How many of you are smoker? Do you think it really harmful on our skill (but many Master player are heavy smoker...)?
It depends on which bit of research is to be believed. Some of the research shows that you have an increased likelihood to suffer from smoking related illness due to the exposure of second hand smoke. You may choose to live in denial - that's your choice.saxusa said:Also, there has never been a documented case of anyone dying from second hand smoke. If your paranoid, then buy a gas mask.
Reality check: You and I are the same. I too started around 16, I too played sax since grade school, I too ran cross country and I specialized in the 880 (1/2 mile) in track, I was a regular 1st or 2nd placer in that event. The difference is I'm now 35. It really didn't start to bother me until my late 20s. Now it bothers me a lot more. Not lung capacity, per se, but it's not like I don't feel my lungs are coated with tar. I'm developing a mild smoker's cough. Some mornings I wake up feeling like my lungs are on fire, especially if I smoked Marlboros. And when I got GERD (stomach acid coming up the esophogas) I freaked out that it was something worse. It felt like it. Now, I'm "only" 35. You'll be thinking about this too in ten years. I also quit for a year or two around age 19 or 20, then took it back up. I am still kicking myself for that, it's a terrible burden of an addiction and it's a lot more expensive than it was 20 years ago (when I was buying packs for 75 cents).I've been playing for 10 years and smoking for 5 (I started smoking at age 16, about a pack a day since). I never once had a problem. I ran cross country and the 2-mile in track, and even got kicked out of these sports for smoking, but I never once had a problem with lung capacity.
Yea sure - :roll:saxusa said:Also, there has never been a documented case of anyone dying from second hand smoke. If your paranoid, then buy a gas mask.
Thomas said:I've played the horns over 50 years now and have smoked 40 of those years. I have no smoking related issues with blowing the horns. I believe that smoking should be mandatory and introduced at an early age the philosophy being that something's gonna kill you sooner or later so you may as well enjoy yourself. Personal observation proves to me that the propaganda generated by the anti-smoking folks is not true. Far more people smoke than do not. Tobacco is a huge generator of revenue for most governments and it would be unpatriotic to quit and the thought that my contributions to society,through taxes on tobacco, is a truely unselfish sacrifice gladly made for the betterment of my fellow man. Smoke often and heavily!
That makes two inflammatory :!: statements Thomas has made, Hurling. He seems to be trying to justify his drug addiction; I don't think sensible people would take him seriously.Thomas said:and what would be so important that you'd be contributing in those 5-10 years you think you lost, that you can't do now?
Smoke 'em if ya got 'em-get some if you don't!
You may be right Hurling, but he has the same right to add his tuppence (two cents?!) worth as the rest of us .... even if it is a load of fetid dingo's kidneys.Hurling Frootmig said:If you ask me he sounds like a bitter old man from Mass.