I asked myself the other day whether I was a "non smoker" at nearly 11 weeks quit or merely an "ex smoker". I don't smoke, but the general subject still dominates my thoughts more than I would like. Are all you quitters "non" or "ex"?
Truebrit - I think you are technically "both" a non-smoker and an ex-smoker. Not sure where the question would ever come up except on a health insurance or doctor's form. You can check - non-smoker now, but it doesn't change the fact that you WERE a smoker at some point in your life.
So, I will be referred to as a "non-smoker" from hereon out - but I guess I will always be an ex-smoker. Or is it like a recovering alcoholic, you are always an alcoholic, just not one that drinks anymore? Hmmm - this is an interesting subject.....
I have been an ex-smoking, non-smoker for 2 weeks, 1 day, 19 hours, 1 minute, 47 seconds
True Brit,
How do you think of these things?
Very interesting!! I guess it depends on who is doing the asking.
Like skimmer said about the recovering alcoholics, I suppose we could be considered recovering smokers!!
So non smoker, ex-smoker, recovering smoker....to me all means the same thing.
Not sure if this helps, but here at the hospital where I work, this is the description we provide when filling out a medical record.
An Ex-Smoker is some one who previously smoked but had since quit. A Non-Smoker is a person who has never smoked before.
The reason this distinction is made is because an EX-Smoker still has the addiction even though it is now under control, whereas the NON-Smoker does not have the addiction.
So I guess this "technically" makes you an Ex-Smoker.
Hi All
This question was more humerous than serious and the reason I asked was because my husband said, much like you folks, that I was an ex smoker because I have smoked. Well, we were in a coffee shop in our local town and after we sat down I said to him "Oh dear! I won't be able to sit here" and when he asked why I showed him the sign placed on the table that said "reserved for Non Smokers". Sorry about the English humour!!
As long as you don't smoke - you say non I say ex - What matters is you don't smoke! I would say after a period of time (TBD) you no longer have the addiction. Most questionnaires give two choices:smoker or non-smoker. I love checking off NON-SMOKER.
Hi All
Well, we were in a coffee shop in our local town and after we sat down I said to him "Oh dear! I won't be able to sit here" and when he asked why I showed him the sign placed on the table that said "reserved for Non Smokers". Sorry about the English humour!!
Sounds about like something I would say to my husband if he had pointed that out to me!! So I suppose "English humor" and Mississippi humor are closely related!!
Hi All
This question was more humerous than serious and the reason I asked was because my husband said, much like you folks, that I was an ex smoker because I have smoked. Well, we were in a coffee shop in our local town and after we sat down I said to him "Oh dear! I won't be able to sit here" and when he asked why I showed him the sign placed on the table that said "reserved for Non Smokers". Sorry about the English humour!!
