Teenagers and Cigarettes

missesdash · Feb 20, 2012

So I've been going through my stuff, and I realize a lot of my characters smoke. A lot as in most. I'm not really worried about whether or not it's "appropriate" but more whether or not it's likely to make a character unikeable.

I've seen some stronger reactions from teenagers over tobacco than I have over marijuana or alcohol. It's not unrealistic in the way I portray it. The teenage characters who smoke work in a restaurant and use smoke breaks as an excuse to catch a breather. The two older characters are both drug dealers and indulge in a lot of substances, of which tobacco is definitely the mildest.

In my other stories it just seems to fit the personality. I also worry that I might be projecting because it's so normalized in my social circles (I'm a social smoker). I throw it around like nail biting or knuckle cracking.

Is that excessive for something like smoking? I guess I'l really interested in how most people perceive smokers. And whether or not it matters that most of the 16 year old girls I write smoke.

kuwisdelu · Feb 20, 2012

missesdash said:
In my other stories it just seems to fit the personality. I also worry that I might be projecting because it's so normalized in my social circles (I'm a social smoker). I throw it around like nail biting or knuckle cracking.

So it really just depends what you're characters are like and what kind of social circles your characters hang out in, too. If it fits them, I say it's fine.

HarryHoskins · Feb 20, 2012

missesdash said:
The teenage characters who smoke work in a restaurant and use smoke breaks as an excuse to catch a breather.

missesdash said:
The two older characters are both drug dealers and indulge in a lot of substances, of which tobacco is definitely the mildest.

missesdash said:
I guess I'l really interested in how most people perceive smokers.

Can't talk for most people. But for me, smokers (including myself) are idiots and addicts. As for social smokers ...
:ROFL:

Niiicola · Feb 20, 2012

I agree with kuwisdelu that it should really be based on whether your characters would smoke or not, but then I used to smoke as a teenager, as did many of my friends. And I don't really know what the line is with agents/editors these days. Isn't it funny that you can have bestsellers where the MC kills a whole bunch of people (ahem, Hunger Games), yet smoking runs the risk of making them unlikeable?

mickeyDs4 · Feb 20, 2012

I started socially smoking at work just so I could have a break. I don't see anything wrong with it. Smoking is the one thing that I think all kids try at least once in their lives.

HarryHoskins · Feb 20, 2012

mickeyDs4 said:
Smoking is the one thing that I think all kids try at least once in their lives.

Smoking and wanking, surely.

missesdash · Feb 20, 2012

Niiicola said:
I agree with kuwisdelu that it should really be based on whether your characters would smoke or not, but then I used to smoke as a teenager, as did many of my friends. And I don't really know what the line is with agents/editors these days. Isn't it funny that you can have bestsellers where the MC kills a whole bunch of people (ahem, Hunger Games), yet smoking runs the risk of making them unlikeable?

No one has said anything about it with my current novel, because I do think it fits. It's just that the old love interest (the bad one) smoked. But the new one (good) does too?

But, I also think it might be more acceptable because 3 out the 4 main characters who smoke can't actually die from it. Would you judge a smoker the same way if there was no health issue?

missesdash · Feb 20, 2012

mickeyDs4 said:
I started socially smoking at work just so I could have a break. I don't see anything wrong with it. Smoking is the one thing that I think all kids try at least once in their lives.

That's a good point. A teenage smoker isn't quite the same as a 40 year old smoker in terms of outlook.

kuwisdelu · Feb 20, 2012

missesdash said:
But, I also think it might be more acceptable because 3 out the 4 main characters who smoke can't actually die from it. Would you judge a smoker the same way if there was no health issue?

Ehh, I know some people might, but I think judging a character (or a real person for that matter) based on whether they smoke is stupid. Everyone has vices. Everyone has flaws.

It's the kind of thing where I just can't get myself to care what readers who would judge a character based on that kind of thing would think.

HarryHoskins · Feb 20, 2012

missesdash said:
But, I also think it might be more acceptable because 3 out the 4 main characters who smoke can't actually die from it.

missesdash · Feb 20, 2012

HarryHoskins said:

Harry, while I value your varied and interesting contributions to the thread, each additional laughing blue smiley makes me doubt the sincerity of your initial laughing blue smiley.

LindsayM · Feb 20, 2012

If it is consistent with the character, stick with it. And yes, the fact that that they can't die from it adds an interesting twist that gives you more leeway in my humble opinion. That said, you may get some push back if you glorify the smoking (omigod that first cigarette is so good how can anyone not smoke???).

MysteryRiter · Feb 20, 2012

missesdash said:
Harry, while I value your varied and interesting contributions to the thread, each additional laughing blue smiley makes me doubt the sincerity of your initial laughing blue smiley.

LOL!

I don't really have anything different to say, just here to agree with the others. If it fits your characters, go for it, but if you make smoking out to be a gift from god or something along those lines, it might start to make people dislike your characters.

amschilling · Feb 20, 2012

You'll be accused of trying to corrupt the youth of America, I'm sure. But I've found a lot of the youth of America doesn't really want anyone telling them what will corrupt them or not (so it wouldn't be a deterrent).

That said, if you have a teen who drinks you're going to piss a few of them off. Same with a teen who (gasp!) does THINGS with her boyfriend. Heck, being the "wrong" religion will tweak some folks. Write what's true to your characters and don't worry about it. Someone somewhere is always going to be pissed off at something you do/write about/etc.

missesdash · Feb 20, 2012

I just wonder if it's possible to passively glorify a practice just by having it show up consistently throughout my work. As in, multiple books.

scarletpeaches · Feb 20, 2012

HarryHoskins said:
Smoking and wanking, surely.

Not at the same time, I hope.

Personally, I hate smokers. I'd rather read a book about baby killers.

HarryHoskins · Feb 20, 2012

missesdash said:
Harry, while I value your varied and interesting contributions to the thread, each additional laughing blue smiley makes me doubt the sincerity of your initial laughing blue smiley.

Oh, apologies then, MD. I thought you were taking the piss.

scarletpeaches said:
Not at the same time, I hope.

Let me rephrase.

HarryHoskins said:
Smoking and wanking, ~~surely~~ sorely.

missesdash · Feb 20, 2012

scarletpeaches said:
Personally, I hate smokers. I'd rather read a book about baby killers.

I wonder if my agent would object to me changing all of my smokers to baby killers. E-mail subject "You're gonna love this!"

CharacterInWhite · Feb 20, 2012

I don't judge a character for smoking.

I would judge them for smoking in a way that inconveniences non-smokers.

So seeing people smoke in a smoke break area? Perfectly fine.

Seeing a guy light up on a bus with a baby or two? Not fine at all.

scarletpeaches · Feb 20, 2012

CharacterInWhite said:
Seeing a guy light up on a bus with a baby or two? Not fine at all.

I tried lighting up with a baby or two. In the end I decided a pack of matches was more convenient.

Mclesh · Feb 20, 2012

When I was in high school, we had a smoking area. (This is back in the Stone Age. Or Stoned Age. *cough, cough*.)

Our school had a definite dividing line when it came down to those who smoked versus those who didn't. The jocks/cheerleaders didn't; the "bad" kids did.

So I'd say if it fits the character, do it. I have two smokers in my book, one adult, one teen. I think I probably would have had more smokers if it weren't such a taboo subject now. (I don't remember really consciously thinking about this though. The smoking fits the characters.)

KateSmash · Feb 20, 2012

Pretty much every smoker and ex-smoker (myself included) got their start in their teens. (Some earlier.) It doesn't seem like such a stretch for me to have YA characters who smoke. It's one of those things that's always been a part of my life.

And it really blows my mind how smokers are treated. Like, a person smokes and they're instantly vilified for doing something unhealthy with an addictive substance, but we pity the users of harder drugs and get them medical help. The only real difference is the legality of the drug.

No matter what you do, someone's going to accuse you of glorifying it by it simply being there. But that goes for just about anything the Mommy-brigade likes to gripe about. It all boils down to the trite but true "do what's best for the story/what fits the character".

CharacterInWhite · Feb 20, 2012

Smokers tend to be villified by non-smokers because the hobby involves spreading a gaseous carcinogen.

The only reason I judge smokers who aren't considerate of non-smokers is because we don't want anything to do with tobacco and cancer, and I'd thank you kindly to keep your poison to yourself.

This sort of mentality applies mostly to day-to-day stuff, like waiting at bus stops or break rooms. At night, if I go into a smoker's lounge, I'm obviously not going to complain about all the smoke in the room.

Mandiloo322 · Feb 20, 2012

I actually find that I enjoy concrete details like lighting/smoking a cigarette during a character's conversation. I don't come across it very often, so it stands out to me and seems to make the scene pop. I really can't see the presence of cigarettes "glorifying" smoking. Besides, the most important thing is whether or not the character would smoke. I do agree that where the character is smoking (around children or not) would be more polarizing than just smoking in general.

kuwisdelu · Feb 20, 2012

CharacterInWhite said:
Smokers tend to be villified by non-smokers because the hobby involves spreading a gaseous carcinogen.

The only reason I judge smokers who aren't considerate of non-smokers is because we don't want anything to do with tobacco and cancer, and I'd thank you kindly to keep your poison to yourself.

This sort of mentality applies mostly to day-to-day stuff, like waiting at bus stops or break rooms. At night, if I go into a smoker's lounge, I'm obviously not going to complain about all the smoke in the room.

I feel the same way about people who drive automobiles near me.

Teenagers and Cigarettes

You can't sit with us!

Revolutionize the World

Straw-fed

Twitchy

Straw-fed

You can't sit with us!

You can't sit with us!

Revolutionize the World

Straw-fed

You can't sit with us!

Murder isn't so bad...

You can't sit with us!

Straw-fed

You can't sit with us!

Kind of a big deal

It's too hot

this was a triumph

Kind of a big deal

[Shhhh....I'm writing.]

Revolutionize the World