April 18th, 2008
Why do people pick up smoking during NS?
I do not understand why people pick up smoking upon entering into army.
I hear people tell me, "Oh its a way to kill time", or "Smoking can bring people together".
Personally I feel that it is quite sad that people use cigarettes to kill time, and gather together in army.
Obviously why I said it is "sad" is because smoking kills. Smoking harms not only the smoker, but the people around him. Smoking pollutes the environment and contributes significantly to global warming with millions of cigarettes being lighted up every minute.
If you are one of those who pick up smoking upon entering army, then please, quit it, and find meaningful things to do when you are in army.
There is absolutely no need for us to use cigarettes to kill time. In fact, cigarettes will literally kill your time on earth.
I guess people pick up smoking during NS partly because of peer pressure.
If half of your friends in your platoon smokes, you are more likely to "follow the crowd" and not have your own thinking and stand. After all, if all your friends go for a smoke break, won't you feel left out?
How many of us can actually stand up alone against smoking and tell our smokers friends, "I can be your friend but I will not smoke with you."? I know I will.
So if you pick up smoking in army, know that your reason is not really to kill time. The root reason why you smoke is due to peer pressure, and influence by your peers.
Isn't it always better and smarter to have your own thinking and beliefs, rather than be influenced to do something as harmful as smoking?
Be smart, use your own brain, weigh the benefits and consequences and do not be influenced to smoke in NS.