Spoilers Star Trek: Picard General Discussion Thread

[Campe]

"Social smoking" and "social drinking" are imaginary made-up terms. There's no need for either of those substances, period. If you want social interaction, then talk to that person. With the internet you can even do it long distance. Period. No substances needed.

I've seen even a little bit of alcohol and a little bit of smoke where they thought it was tobacco but was actually marijuana and messed up their psyche--yeah, you're not going to convince me to budge on this. No one is born wanting to smoke. No one is born wanting to drink alcohol. These are acquired addictions and the best prevention is never to acquire them to begin with by never trying them to begin with. Period.

It is nice to sit back have a drink on weekends. Is it necessary? Absolutely not. But suggesting that this is an addiction because one WANTS to drink? This comes off extremely judgmental. I will admit wholeheartedly that my wife and I likely drank too much during the Covid years. It was a matter of coping and it was not the healthiest choice. We also knew this and realized cutting back was a smart move for our livers, our brains and our wallets.

Still, come on, man. Take the judgment down a notch. You can say, “I choose not to drink, smoke or do drugs” and leave it at that.

 

[Set Harth]

I will admit wholeheartedly that my wife and I likely drank too much during the Covid years.

My peak level of weekend drinking was in the last few months prior to the start of covid.

No one is born wanting to smoke.

Yeah, it usually kicks in around junior high school. As in, literally across the street from the school.

 

[fireproof78]

I know many social smokers and they enjoy it and the connections made. I get the whole "don't smoke" but that's not how it works. What do you replace it with? Not just the chemical side, but the social, and behavioral and create the same opportunities for connectivity?

"You can do it if you work at it?" Again, true but how do we make it easier rather than demonizing it? We've spent decades demonizing it and it has been mixed to its efficacy. We don't advertise to kids but kids still smoke. The up and coming generation just turning 21 are showing less interest in drinking but smoking and vaping continue.

What do you do to create positive opportunities for the social aspect? Star Trek? We can't even agree on favorite episodes!

 

[Ray Hardgrit]

It's weird to me that anyone still smokes in 2026, I assumed that would've been a solved problem by now.

 

[cooleddie74]

I don't smoke and have no plans to start the habit (and was raised not to) but I can see why people start up the habit. Nicotine and other chemicals are relaxants and calm users, and until the addictive effects of drugs and relaxants are bred out of human physiology then we're going to be dealing with dirty habits like these.

 

[Yistaan]

It's weird to me that anyone still smokes in 2026, I assumed that would've been a solved problem by now.

Unfortunately our world is contolled by image and appearances, and somehow smoking has made a comeback as far as being "cool" again. No amount of facts, health statistics, mortality rates or whatever is going to be able to fight image in many cases.