ImLogicallyRight

As school starts, a whole new flock of young kids go back to school and many face new threats to their future over bad choices. They will be tempted by cigarettes and vaping, piercings, tattoos, alcohol, marijuana (now legal in many states), other drugs, and sex (yes, boys too).

What advice can you and everyone give them? The t***h first. And then the most important, that they should never let anyone else tempt or pressure them into something they don't really want to try, or at least not yet.

The point is to investigate all aspects of the various things you are being pressured to try, or feeling on your own you want to try.

My own takes on these things, one old man still out there actively playing the game and seeing and associating with the individuals who do. I see them all first hand.

Cigarettes. I tried as a teenager. Talked into two puffs by my cousin. The second one he said to inhale. It was horrible and I couldn't see why anyone would want to do that. And I grew up with the stench and second hand smoke of two hooked, pack a day parents. I never tried another cigarette. By the way, my cousin had lung cancer six months before dying in an accident. My mother's brain was scrambled from spreading lung cancer and she froze to death. She couldn't leave her one true friend, the coffin nail. Do you really want to join that new fraternity of hooked victims, standing outside in a snowstorm or freezing cold or rain or oppressive heat for a quick couple of power hits on a cigarette. It isn't necessary to be part of the special crowd. Let them live their lives as they want and die early and painfully from cancer, etc. Live your life smoke free and happily live a long life.

Vaping. All right, it can help some people wean themselves off of nicotine, but it also is getting kids hooked on something they will never be able to control. Just don't start something that was designed to get people to stop.

Piercings. You aren't a pin cushion. I see these in bars and concerts and such. Five, six or seven in each ear. Eye brows, tongue (especially yucky), nose (especially a ring between two nostrils, Looks like a snotty h*****g there), Lips (really, no one really wants to kiss you with a ring h*****g there), Nipples (I know a woman who was naked one time and bent over. The nipple ring got caught on something and as she stood back up it ripped through her nipple. Ouch. She stopped that idea right away.), belly button (looks stupid and again the thought of vigorous activity ripping it off, ouch), pubic areas (Hard to go there, but not attractive. Cheap or stupid. Tried it with a woman once. Had to stop and tell her to remove it. Never tried it again). These are all stupid ideas and you are free to do any and all, but it will never make you look better, Just more weird. If you think it makes you look better, try good g***ming and body fitness first. These are permanent. I have none.

Tattoos. Your body is not a canvas for someone's cartoon art. Cute or macho. Maybe, for a little while. But it is there every time you look in the mirror, or your lover looks at you. Do you really want your GF's or BF's name on your arm and end up married to someone else. Pictures that didn't come out right, or words spelled wrong. It happens. Think of yourself at 40 or 60. They are all still there, wrinkled. If you ever had to hide from the police, you can't hide them. Normally exposed areas of the body, can cost you jobs. The list goes on. I don't have one. Think about it and if you really want it, do it sober.

Alcohol. Yes, you can become addicted. You can do legal and illegal things under the influence, and not even realize it. Think of how many women got pregnant because they were drunk, or men committed rape because they were drunk. Yes, it happens. But it is also a big part of the western worlds culture. It can even be healthy in moderate usage. It is also a lot of fun. We do toasts, weddings, awards, etc, with Champagne. Why? I don't know. Personally never liked it. We drink wine with dinner, almost a daily routine in some places and such. Many drink it on into the night. After enough your breath smells like hell. Mixed drinks. Hey, some of those drinks will taste really good. They get you drunk also. My poison is beer. In the navy I noticed that those that drank came back with the best stories. I joined them. I have an almost endless supplies of funny, or interesting stories. Almost had some real major liver issues and quit cold turkey. I wasn't an alcoholic, just a frequent drunk. My father couldn't and it eventually k**led him. Painfully. When I started back drinking, I said two. Learned something really good here. Socially, I need, or could often use a few beers. But with only two, I stayed sober. I didn't miss hangovers. I didn't miss being drunk. But I still enjoy drinking, but more moderately now and for almost 20 years now. I now go into many drinking situations where people are buying a found of shots. I always refuse and my regular bar tenders don't even bother asking any more. Ritualistic crap that just sells more alcohol and doesn't help you at all. If you are drinking, only drink what you want and when you want. Don't let them talk you into anything or their thing. Do your own thing, moderately. And if you choose to not drink, enjoy the crowd and don't be a snob about it. The bar tender will serve you what you want, even water, with a lemon. But still tip him.

Marijuana. It isn't as bad as it was advertised all my life. But early on I noticed at parties that the most fun was happening in the kitchen drinking and those in the living room were just sitting mellowed out and half asleep. No fun. Just passing a joint back and forth while going into a daze. Never wanted to try and I was around it my whole life. But, you are free to try it. Remember, it is a lot more potent then it used to be. If you must try it, start with one hit at first. If you like what it did for you, it is your body, but graduate into it very slowly and remember, edibles can really hit you hard and suddenly. I had to carry a girl friend home one time because she ate to many brownies. It caused her to fall asleep at the bar.

Other drugs. Do yourself a favor. Don't ever go there. You never know the true potency of your next hit because you don't know who mixed it and cut it. There are all to many dead and buried because of that alone. Yes, it might make you feel good. But so does ice cream, a juicy hamburger, a nice back massage, going for a long run or bike ride. There are so many good feeling things you can enjoy that won't destroy your body or your mind. Remember, it isn't, "I won't get hooked. I'm only trying it one time." NO. It is, "I will get hooked, maybe on the first time, maybe longer. But I will get hooked and it will control my life. and maybe take my life." But, it is your life and how you want to life it and how you want to end it. I never tried anything.

The last thing is sex. Good sex is probably the most fun thing you can do. Especially with someone you really care for. It is something special when part of being in love and an expression of that love. Everyone eventually thinks about doing it the first time. Mine was a bad joke. Your first time should be something you will remember all of your life, because you got together at the right time with a partner you loved or at least really cared for. Don't ever let your friends or some partner pressure you into doing it. Just say "I'll do it when I'm ready, not just because you are ready." And use protection from disease (remember, just because you partner says they are clean isn't a guarantee) and pregnancy (just because he says he is sterile or she says she is on the pill isn't a guarantee).

To anyone who read all of this, I'm pretty sure everyone on OPP is past needing this advice. But do you know some young kid who it might help. My main message to first timers on anything is "Do it when you have previously decided that your want to partake in a particular activity, and you have decided that now will be the time, not because someone is pressuring you to do it or do it now.

ImLogicallyRight

Lt. Rob Polans ret.

Yes you were right. My dad smoked 5 packs at his peak, he'd been smoking since he was 12 'No, I won't get cancer.' He died on the table, but his surgeon did say oops. That smell, man even after he had quit cold turkey for months his coats and the rest of his clothes still had that 'fragrance.' I'm trying to figure a way to tell a girlfriend (yes, I'm married no sex or anything she's a health aide) not to smoke. My wife tells me they are candy cigarettes, but my cough says otherwise.

Yep, my first sex was a nightmare anyone with a lesser opinion of himself would have stopped for life.

The rest you nailed it.

badbob85037

I could do double of everything you listed add 12 more of what k**ls ya and would still never v**e democrat.

ImLogicallyRight

Either would I.