Personally, I started smoking to fit in. Not actually peer pressure, per se, but a desire be recognized as a peer.
Lady, we never looked at the evils of smoking when we smoked because it would threaten the addiction. Ignorance is bliss and we were determined to maintain our bliss in addiction.
Lainey, actually the medical community knew about the dangers long before the 50's, but since most doctors smoked back then there was little incentive to promote the dangers and quitting. I don't have the info available at the moment, but there was a doctor either around or before that time who issued a warning about the link between smoking and lung cancer. He was later forced by the medical community to apologize publicly for getting so upset over an insignificant thing. The real outcry happened when the Surgeon General broke with government policy and upset the apple cart with his warning on the dangers of smoking.
ElderOne
[B]My Milage:[/B]
[B]My Quit Date: [/B]5/23/2005
[B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 827
[B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 16,540
[B]Amount Saved:[/B] $3,919.98
[B]Life Gained:[/B]
[B]Days:[/B] 150 [B]Hrs:[/B] 20 [B]Mins:[/B] 33 [B]Seconds:[/B] 48