text: why do people start smoking? why, when all of the reasons not to smoke and the danger to one's health caused by smoking, are people so foolish as to start smoking anyway (my brother and cousin are classic examples) the answer is in your question: foolish.  i didn't start because my friends pushed it on me...they didn't (hey, more for them, i guess they were thinking), so i really don't know why i did. i bet a lot of people couldn't tell you why, but i can guarantee no-one is glad they did. in four months it will be 20 years that i've smoked. i will quit before then....i will never say "i've smoked for over twenty years!" yuck! btw, i do agree that it's horrible and it's killing people, but it's really not necessary that non-smokers insult smokers like they do. i am not gross...i'm not like that "maxine" lady with a cig hanging out of my mouth with a ash a mile long. i'm a very intelligent person, a friend to anyone in need and i love my family very much....i just made a mistake. btw, part of this answer was for any smoker haters that might be reading :o)