but nice, from 2 packs to none

trebors

Freebooter Fox

deathbunny

Both b/c it turns off a lot of people and b/c it can cause... hrrrmmm... erectile dysfunction.

@PowerButton: Why not go to non-smoking nightclubs?

I say "good job!" to Dan.

Evil Tortie's Mom

And yes, I am *also* saying that smelling bad (and eventually getting cancer) is better than playing something which sucks up your life now. Cancer may take off some of the less exciting years of your life, but pokemon will take off your prime years. Years you should be spending smoking and playing tickle-pirates with the gender of your choice.

plus, you don't smell like a rose after 8 hours of stewing in your own juices while you game. Ideally, I think, if he took a shower instead of smoking, or washed his hands instead of smoking, he might experience some chafing from over-scrubbing, but will be the least smelly of the available options.

deathbunny

cudthecrud

Heroine: a female hero, such as Wonder Woman.

Heroin: an extremely addictive substance.

Gomerboy

fuchikoma

z357x

You're suggesting that you'd rather see someone be addicted to cigarettes than a harmless video game? You call an increased risk of cancer "benign"?

I'll stick with Pokemon, thank you.

And by the way, the smell of cigarettes is only pleasant to people who smoke. Most non-smokers do not find it "smooth." They find it disgusting.

AlexDitto

He died early this year at the ripe old age of 59 due to chronic cancer caused by his bad habits.

I have a female friend who smokes and honestly, I have probably seen her quit at least twice. She seems to be off them again now but I don't see her much.

battra92

KM91

mcderek3000

There are obviously a lot of other games that offer more benefits than Pokémon as a thing to do instead of smoking. How about DDR? Play that for forty days and you'd not only give up smoking but likely drop 40 pounds!

aesthetis

MeleeKirby

The 'RPG' mechanics are nothing but conditioning mechanisms that are powerful enough to drive *any* behavior, let alone one that's any good. Pokemon sells on an epic scale not because the basic game is particularly good (it's extremely shallow, assuming you could simply get the pokemon you wanted, and raise them instantly, a typical person would lose interest inside a week).

This is a case of someone going off smoking by going on heroine. Usually you're supposed to downscale the addiction, not upscale it.

This kind of insanity could certainly be useful. For instance, I imagine a genuinely therapeutic scenario where someone who's coming off heroine (real heroine, not hyperbole heroine) could be distracted from the rough experience of withdrawal and cravings by getting into a game such as this or WoW or whatever else is on tap. Perhaps a chronic gambler would be well served by this experience.

But I think in cases of something as benign as increased risk of lung and throat cancer, you're better off smelling like the smooth flavor of virginia slim.

deathbunny

Tenrow

cybereal

VakeroRokero

Gomerboy

Gatta love them menthols. MmMmM.

I also like to smoke a cigarette in between matches of COD4 from my window

ArmyofJuan

pchea

This is similar to how I got over my addiction to porn. Whenever I would feel like masturbating to porn, I'd just masturbate to Pokemon instead.

mrplow8

Cor-Wii

Inv4d3rG1R

Grey Gecko

I should seriously consider trying something like this. Granted, I don't smoke two packs a day - I usually make a pack last about two to three days, but I should still quit.

Maybe I'll come up with a neat idea like this one. Except not using Pokémon! Once again, though, more power to you.

Moridin

i have never really smoked before, too many breathing problems ( asthma, cinusitis, pick one )

but i have seen what smoking can do to people, not cool man
so yeah, training pokes instead sounds like a good solution .-.

Grey Gecko

Sentientv2

Besides, considering smoking causes people to generally lose weight, your suggestion that he's managed to gain weight simply by struggling to get past his cravings is pretty moot due to the fact that he could possibly have needed the weight.

Hustino

It would be a nice method for me, but i usually got out with my friends to night clubs on weekends, so....

PowerButton

Okari

HELLSRIDER

sugardeath

agustin2489

kylo4

Kids!!! Don't smoke! Don't ever start!

thinkfreemind

Len Bias Cocaine Surplus

If you really wanted to quit, you'd get some new friends (or convince your old ones to quit too), start frequenting more wholesome haunts, take up gardening, and start carrying a portable video game system to play in lines. You could do it, if you tried.

@Kai_: Pokemon's definitely part of who I am, too. Oh nostalgia, a fickle mistress!

AlexDitto

Gam3r

Green-clad Gamer Dude

Gl giving up guys.

no_problem

Jnkzm4

Hmm, maybe this article is another initiative.

Fyren

I got a Gameboy for pokemon and I became a Nintendo fan through the Gameboy. I had so much fun with friends and spent all summer trading, battling, and training. It was a real disappointment w/ R/S/E though because I was a bit older and had no one to compete with.

Online really made a difference with D/P, although Gamefreak needs to do two things:
1. Fix the WTC, because there are jerks out there asking for a Mew or Dialgia for their crappy Pidgey or Bidoof.

2. Make all of the pokemon procurable in one game,sure you can require trading with Diamond or Pearl but don't make people buy Leaf Green, Ruby, etc. That's frustrating.

Deaf Mute

I'd be able to quit if I could:

1. Stay inside for at least three days.
2. Stay away from the bars.
3. Not hang out with people who smoke.
4. Never have to wait on anything.

Sadly, all of my friends are smokers, I frequent bars, I HAVE to leave the house (driving + smoking....ughhh), and I frequently find myself waiting in lines of some kind...usually outdoors....and get kind of fidgety.

WolfCreek 19

Inv4d3rG1R

I feel like Pokemon fundamentally made me who I am today. It wasn't the only thing, but it is a major part of me now. Anyone else agree?

Swift_

@Mikazukinoyaiba: yes, but Pokemon won't give you lung cancer and make everything around you smell like a freshly paved road.

I must also say the picture for this article is fantastic.

AlexDitto

Otacon91

Sudden Device

Seriously, once you get into breeding and making teams you just can't stop. o_o

Deaf Mute

Squamden