Players should be allowed to smoke in game. Show your support!

[Rosenstrauch]

On the one hand, I think that'd be pretty cool for an emote. I could definitely see my character smoking to try and cope with some of the crap we have to go through at times. Besides, smoking is already poison for your body, so you don't have to worry about someone spiking your tobacco. Hopefully.

On the other hand, I can't decide whether I'd prefer to smoke a cigar or a pipe. I'd say "why not both?", but two emotes seems a bit much.

[Rannie]

On the other hand, I can't decide whether I'd prefer to smoke a cigar or a pipe. I'd say "why not both?", but two emotes seems a bit much.

What if they did it for gender men get cigars women get those pipes like Yotsuyu was using.

[Edax]

What if they did it for gender men get cigars women get those pipes like Yotsuyu was using.

I think that might just provoke another internet argument.

[Rannie]

I think that might just provoke another internet argument.

True lol we do got enough of that going on right now due to certain people who shall not be named

[Granyala]

On the one hand, I think that'd be pretty cool for an emote. I could definitely see my character smoking to try and cope with some of the crap we have to go through at times.

a) how is smoking "cool" in any way? I just pity the people willingly or unwillingly accepting dependencies and addictions.
b) how the hell does smoking (or drinking for that matter) help you cope with anything? How does putting another layer of problems and health issues on top of all the crap you experienced provide solace or refuge?

b) is not just about this situation, it irks me in nearly every movie too.
Whenever the main character has some emotional trouble, what does he do first? get some alcoholic beverage.
It's so idiotic.

Asthmatic WoL says, "TIME OUT! Excuse me Bad Guys, I am running out of air. Gotta get pumped." Then proceeds to whip out a Magitek Inhaler and down those sweet corticosteroids.

I can see it now: a totally dumbfounded raidboss, grabbing a copy of the "Law of inclusion" in order to figure out whether it would be okay to hit a WoL with disabilities.

[Edax]

b) how the hell does smoking (or drinking for that matter) help you cope with anything? How does putting another layer of problems and health issues on top of all the crap you experienced provide solace or refuge?

Some people on a hard day eat ice cream to cope. You could make the same judgement statements against ice cream but for most people, they want their creature comforts in times of stress. Making no attempt to counter high levels of stress can be extremely unhealthy in the short term.

[Granyala]

Some people on a hard day eat ice cream to cope. You could make the same judgement statements against ice cream but for most people, they want their creature comforts in times of stress. Making no attempt to counter high levels of stress can be extremely unhealthy in the short term.

If they eat ice cream until an addiction sets in and they risk their health by obesity: yes the same criticism applies.

People need to realize that a hard day is what it is and stress is what it is. Instead of trying to "cope" with the stress, they need to work on mitigating it's appearance in the first place. That's the only sustainable way of tackling such a problem.
Your "creature comforts" won't help your body if you continuously overexert yourself both mentally and physically.

[Vyrerus]

If they eat ice cream until an addiction sets in and they risk their health by obesity: yes the same criticism applies.

People need to realize that a hard day is what it is and stress is what it is. Instead of trying to "cope" with the stress, they need to work on mitigating it's appearance in the first place. That's the only sustainable way of tackling such a problem.
Your "creature comforts" won't help your body if you continuously overexert yourself both mentally and physically.

So like, you ever gone to work, and while they're flushing the sanitation tanks in your building, one of your stressed out co-workers goes to what's supposed to be a cordoned off bathroom and commit suicide? Cause that's pretty common in the military, including other things like guys throwing themselves into propeller blades that are at speed.

You go home early from that, cause command thinks you need the day off to de-stress. You find your wife fucking some rando in your bed. Guess you shoulda just done better at mitigating the appearance of your stressors, huh?

No one gets to control the stressors that are placed against them in life 100% That is an asinine presumption to work with. Humans need coping mechanisms of varying degrees for varying levels of stress.

The stress placed on the body by nicotine addiction or psychological dependency on alcohol and other similar drugs is incredibly bearable, particularly because they take your mind off your troubles. Yes, this can be problematic and ruin lives, but life can and will ruin itself with or without these comforts.

It's easy to look down on someone who lives with dependency on such things, but until you know exactly what they're dealing with, you really shouldn't judge. No one handles pain or stress the same way, anyway.

[Granyala]

The stress placed on the body by nicotine addiction or psychological dependency on alcohol and other similar drugs is incredibly bearable, particularly because they take your mind off your troubles. Yes, this can be problematic and ruin lives, but life can and will ruin itself with or without these comforts.

As s/o who grew up in a household with a drunken and violent father: yeah right. Keep downplaying the dangers of alcoholism.

There are other ways of coping with stress that do not involve such negative side effects. Sadly, drinking/ingesting toxins instead of dealing with what you experienced has become socially acceptable.

Welp, I 'depend' on antidepressants for depression and chronic anxiety, and pot for pain. Am I someone you think "needs help"?

You obviously need help or medical personnel would not prescribe medication.... kind of self explanatory.

Sometimes that help comes via therapy, sometimes via medication, often a combination of both administered by professionals.
That is not the same thing as grabbing a glas of Whisky for every problem you encounter and "self medicating" in an uncontrolled manner.

[Penthea]

There are other ways of coping with stress that do not involve such negative side effects. Sadly, drinking/ingesting toxins instead of dealing with what you experienced has become socially acceptable.

People turning to consuming alcohol and other types of toxins is often indicative of other problems. It's very easy to say people should seek other ways to cope but for some people their choices are slim at best. Therapy can be super expensive and even if you can access it you could find yourself on a very long waiting list. If you're a minor it can be impossible to seek medical help without your parents being involved and if they're part of the problems you're experiencing...well yea, don't think I need to explain the difficulties with that.

Sure consuming certain things can be expensive too but the fact is therapy can be so expensive that it's more affordable to seek a destructive coping mechanism. It's also more immediate than a waiting list that can last for months or even years.

Anyway any coping mechanism that turns into addiction can have negative side effects. Even gaming. Anything done to excess has negative side effects. You don't need to ingest something to seek a destructive coping mechanism.