What are these little plastic things i have found in my sons room

[u/AmoebaSuccessful3393]

I have found a few of these little plastic things scattered around my 15 year old sons room, and was wondering what they are?

[u/avsecgirl]

Mom smoked her adult life and is now battling just to breathe. So so important to dismiss the feeling you are young etc and won't happen to you. The bill will come due. And you will pay. The Keith Richards of the world fool you into thinking its cool and you won't have to worry about breathing through an oxygen tank. My own family had a great grandfather who smoked, chewed tobacco, ate his pancakes covered in bacon grease. You couldn't kill him with a rock. Died at 105. Dont roll the dice with free radicals. That's my only take on this. Genetics plays a big part, but smoking is just mind numbingly stupid.

[u/Da_Question → u/avsecgirl]

Think of the money too. Getting addicted to nicotine etc costs a ton of money. I know guys blowing $15-30 daily on cigarettes. So like $5-10k a year. Just don't.

[u/FACE_MEAT → u/avsecgirl]

Vaping is not the same as smoking. Lighting dried leaves and inhaling the smoke is a terribly harmful way to deliver nicotine to your brain. Inhaling an aerosolized nicotine solution is orders of magnitude less harmful.

[u/Tommymcflurry → u/FACE_MEAT]

Yeah there no reason to get addicted to nicotine in the first place and the main/biggest risk is switching to actual cigarettes because just vaping nicotine won't do much if anything at all. It's like comparing coke to coke zero, they are similar but only an idiot would compare them equally.

[u/Own-Jeweler3169 → u/avsecgirl]

Yesssss now I can be old, senile and shitting my pants for a few years more yesssssssssssssss.

Sorry for your Mum ofc, but I feel like ultimately people should be able to do what they want, but ofc must be accountable for their actions.

[u/Frank_Scouter → u/Own-Jeweler3169]

The worst part isn’t dying a few years earlier. It’s struggling to breathe for 10 years before you finally keel over.

[u/Own-Jeweler3169 → u/Frank_Scouter]

And not smoking will entirely prevent that? You still will struggle to breath for a material portion of your life, before you die, furthermore, how do you know any number of things could happen and despite doing everything by the book, you still end up 6 feet under, just like everyone else. I don't think that it's a fair price to pay (assuming it' something you want to do), just so you can tack on some extra years, which was my point.

P.S. I am sure you have seen Breaking Bad, similar thing as to Walt played by the book, and still ended up with cancer, there are a million other examples fiction or not.

So it is what it is right, do what you want, be accountable for it, and don't be a snitch for god's sake. Perhaps I should catchphrase that (TM).

[u/pit_vipars → u/Own-Jeweler3169]

Are you arguing that smoking is good? Dawg 💀

[u/Own-Jeweler3169 → u/pit_vipars]

Absolutely not, you've missed the point.

I am not silly enough to defend the fact that smoking is bad for you, I am defending the fact that people have agency, should be able to choose their own decisions - whether you like it or not, and that be accepted, regardless of your opinions.

More importantly, don't be a goodie two shoes snitch. Like people haven't done the same and worse in their life - and I don't want a bullshit excuse of 'i learnt my lesson so I am passing it on' that's on the person and in this case the parents, but people seem to eager to snitch, whereas I remember years ago, people would not go out their way to grass up some teen on a relatively minor thing.

[u/pit_vipars → u/Own-Jeweler3169]

The kids probably like 14. He literally shouldn’t have his own agency lmao.

[u/Own-Jeweler3169 → u/pit_vipars]

It says 15, and sure let's go back to the topic of kids (above points was generally about above teenagers), the parent has every right to parent their kid how they want, that isnt my issue, the issue is everyone being so eager to snitch, they likely see it as a moral positive, I do not. Quite simple really.

Everyone's getting their panties in a twist because I assume they think i'm saying smoking's good, im not. I'm saying being a snitch is bad WHEN it concerns a thing like this. We do not know how the parents will react, however it;s likely the kid will get a bollocking, not a positive outcome from this - so basically you lot just got him into shit for no reason other than internet points.

As proven by all the comments joking how he's gonna get bollocked.

[u/Hands → u/Own-Jeweler3169]

Oh good lord give it a break dude I could not possibly roll my eyes any harder. Teenagers/minors are quite frankly too stupid to responsibly make this kind of decision, that's why they don't have the same rights (or the same level of responsibility/consequences) an adult does. Once they're a grown ass adult they can make whatever moronic decisions they want.

I started smoking in my mid teens and it took me 20 years, god knows how many tens of thousands of dollars wasted and probably a significant chunk of years off my lifespan to finally kick it, I could have used a few more snitches in my life although I doubt it would have changed much of anything because as I mentioned before teenagers are fucking stupid about this kind of thing.

"Don't be a goodie two shoes snitch" applies to not telling the cops which way someone you saw stealing pampers from walmart ran, not telling a mom their minor kid is using nicotine when she asks about a piece of trash from a disposable vape.

Put another way, if this lady found a foil pouch of fentanyl or a meth pipe in her kids room would you be preaching the same holier than thou bullshit? I doubt it, but nicotine/tobacco kills more people every year than all other drugs combined including alcohol, opioids, meth etc.

[u/VerticalSFM → u/Own-Jeweler3169]

Your belief that kids ingesting nicotine illegally is a "minor thing" is flat out wrong. This shit needs to be nipped in the bud while teens are still young, else you'll end up with another generation getting brainwashed into thinking it's "cool" to have COPD.

[u/Own-Jeweler3169 → u/VerticalSFM]

Ok mate, I am sure you are a goody two shoes, but quite a large percentage of teenagers at some point would have had a cigarette or done SOMETHING illegal, so my apologies for being realistic, but I am not ignorant - again, back to my point, the issue is with everyone being eager to snitch.

I am signing off from this post, as it seems i've triggered the hall monitors, and I keep repeating the same points in this echo chamber.

Apologies if it sounds I am being hostile to you, I am not.

[u/whatisit-ModTeam → u/[deleted]]

We are pretty chill here, but please try to keep things reasonably civil on this sub. No slurs, name calling or harassment and trolling. Please follow: Reddiquette at all times. Additionally, Reddit's Rules. Yes, the internet makes us angry too sometimes, especially this particular comment.

[u/pit_vipars → u/Own-Jeweler3169]

I think you’re just an edgy 13 year old lol.
I started smoking around that age. I wish with everything in me someone would have tried to stop me. You’ll grow up and understand it some day lol

[u/firebolt_wt → u/Own-Jeweler3169]

Smoking won't make someone who's otherwise healthy be physically decrepit for a shorter time, it will make them die earlier but also get physically decrepit earlier.

[u/Own-Jeweler3169 → u/firebolt_wt]

This is true, people know this, yet they still chug alcohol often, have a shit diet, have caffeine every day, but smoking/vaping is where they draw the line? My point is, we are all going to die at some point, as long as you aware aware of the potential consequences and accept them, go do what you want.

So there's a few things here, above all; people should be able to have their own experiences - after all that's generally how you learn, people shouldn't be so hypocritical and judgemental, etc (rest of my points).

Also you don't know they will be decrepit earlier, plenty of people have smoked their whole lives and lived just fine. Conversely, people have been almost perfect, but still die early. So sure you (anyone) can be like the billionaire guy trying to live forever, but ultimately we all go in the ground, so people really should just let others live and make their own decisions.

[u/whatdoesthedesusay → u/Own-Jeweler3169]

Sounds like you should get a DNR

[u/Own-Jeweler3169 → u/whatdoesthedesusay]

Perhaps, i'm only early twenties though lol.

[u/Opinionatedbutkind → u/Own-Jeweler3169]

Middle aged person w/health problems here, and your first post gave you away as early 20s lol

It's a fine balance. I've been telling my kid for 30 years: her body, her choices. It's hard to watch her choose things she'll pay for, but it's her choice. I also tell her exactly what I'm dealing with because of my choices.

It's important for young people to have their head up their ass sometimes or they'd be too terrified to do anything. Hopefully they just don't end up suffering the last half of life 🤞

[u/Own-Jeweler3169 → u/Opinionatedbutkind]

Hiya, not sure if that's without or with, I assume it's with from context, and if so - sorry to hear that.

Yes it's not to say whether it's bad or not, it's more about having the freedom to choose, and parents getting it out of their head that they could even control that. As I mentioned, strict parents raise sneaky kids, so from my experiences I would like to think when I have kids, I would be of a similar position to you, whereby I will educate and inform and provide a safe space, but ultimately you are accountable for the repercussions of your actions - other than that, go live your life.

Regarding the suffering, obviously I was being exaggerative, but also I am not - through life you're going to suffer regardless (typically), so sure you can live your life by the book, do everything perfectly, and you could be hit by a car and die the next day, or get cancer, or any other number of things, so I think it's a balance between not having regrets (I like to think of it as, if I was on my deathbead tomorrow, would I be happy with the experiences/life I've lived - from a place of no regrets/things I wanted to do but never did). I appreciate others value their lives more, and ofc priorities change with time, but generally my message to anyone is as long as it's not harming others, and ideally yourself, go do what you want - but ensure you take accountability, not collapse and expect others to pick up the pieces.

Hopefully no one suffers, but they do, and i think people should live (or not) and let live (or not) - they should have agency. I appreciate within this context we are talking about a teen, and I think it's obvious there are lines of what's acceptable or not, but in this context - I think strangers shouldn't be 'snitching' and then naturally, suggesting how to parent the kid (irony is not lost on me).

I hope this makes sense, I am a bit sleep deprived so not as articulate as usual.

[u/Opinionatedbutkind → u/Own-Jeweler3169]

W/ = with W/o = without

I agree with you that strict parents make sneaky kids, which is why I went the route I did with my kid. It is hard for parents to figure out the balance of guidance vs control, so that's something I have respect for. Education is the best deterrent, but often it needs to come from people who are NOT the parent in the teen years.

I also agree, overall, body autonomy is important, but the internet is what it is. And the parent is technically responsible for guidance for awhile longer.

All humans suffer - it's just a special kind of bummer when you've actively participated in your future suffering by being stupid aka not getting much positive from the risk. Quality of life is about how well you've lived - as measured by experiences and relationships - and it's also about being able to continue gathering experiences as you age instead of being homebound from illness or injury.

This is not to say someone who has only lived with pain or illness can't have a good quality of life, it just takes a different mindset.

For myself - I just hope I continue to adapt like I always have to whatever life throws at me. And if I'm ever in too much pain/too isolated, I hope I can choose euthanasia. That'll be a tough convo with the kid, tho, so I keep trying.

Nice chatting - thanks for indulging my middle aged ass haha

[u/Own-Jeweler3169 → u/Opinionatedbutkind]

I completely agree with you, I would take a similar approach with my child should the same arise, or I would hope to handle it in a manner whereby the kid can be open with me and I would not berate them simply as positive punishment.

I agree that education is the best deterrent, and I think my point stems from that, that you educate them and they will end up doing what they are going to do, telling your kid off because you found a vape isn't really the solution IMO, not that I am a parent, and I understand why parents behave that way - they are stressed, and it's usually the most efficient method to stop a behaviour, but being a sneaky kid, I know it's not effect, at least in my situation.

I truly hope you do not suffer too much, you sound like a genuine person with humility - wish you the best.

No problem indulging, you have been the most mature response! I often find myself gelling better with older individuals, due to them (sometimes) being less obtuse about ideal scenarios, ususally due to experience. I feel I have gained a similar skill, as I've had a tough deck of cards issued from birth.

Regardless, wish you and your child the best, I think the real test whether you've done a good job as a parent, is if your child truly wants/does take care of you when you no longer can - not by emotional manipulation or any other reason except they truly appreciate what you've done for them, assuming they have enough sense, and you have done right by them, which it sounds like have - best of luck stranger. x

[u/MeaningLeft2970 → u/Own-Jeweler3169]

As a former smoker, current vaper, this is the dumbest shit I ever heard. At least I never pretended it wouldn’t some day catch up to me. I was raised and surrounded by smokers, had my first before 13. Was hooked by 16. Smoked for ten years and quit with vapes, currently trying to ditch nicotine entirely.

Do I believe you should have the right to do whatever you want with your own body? Yes. Do I think that is a good justification for harming yourself? No.

You’re free to amputate both your thumbs if you wish, but it’s a stupid idea. Smoking kills. There is no justification for continuing to smoke. Quitting is hard. Dying of emphysema is harder, and, if you don’t care about yourself at all, think about your loved ones. If you live somewhere with a socialized healthcare system, think about the strain you’re putting on the system, all for a chemical addiction.

Fuck smoking. Fuck vaping. I wish I had never started. If you haven’t, don’t. If you do, start taking steps to quit. You aren’t just throwing away dud years at the end of your life. You’re actively taking years off it, and ensuring the final years will be filled with horrible health complications, pain, discomfort, and the shame of knowing you caused all this.

[u/Own-Jeweler3169 → u/MeaningLeft2970]

Easy to say all of that, and a bit cliche to be brutally honest, but aside from peer pressure there is a reason people smoke - it's a vice, coping mechanism, which typically points to how fucked this world/person's situation is - cigarette after sex, etc.

So not discounting what you are saying is in fact true, it's shallow to tell people how to live, yet you have no idea the reason they are smoking, what if they have had some horrible and bad things happened to them, so they've picked up a nicotine habit, and you have the nerve to tell them you shouldn't smoke - like they don't know that already.

There is justification for continuing to smoke, just none you think are acceptable, what if the justification is 'because I want to, yes i know the implications'.

Anyways as per the other comments, I feel like this is going round in circles, some of you guys are happy to be a snitch, some aren't. Let's leave it at that. This is not an intervention.

Regarding this specific post, and kid involved etc. I am still of the position that I wouldn't be so eager to snitch, but alas this is the internet and there is all types of people on here, who am I to dictate how they live their life, all i'm saying is I wouldnt snitch, unless there was SERIOUS harm to someone, which required intervention.