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Twitter as Smoking Cessation Aid

I was talking to a couple of friends and occasional smokers today, and both were commenting about how nice it is that Seattle is almost entirely non-smoking now, so they didn't light up while in town for the MVP Summit.  I've never smoked, but listening to them, clearly they were not addicts in the hard-core packs-a-day kind, but they would smoke socially or just to be doing something.  So it occurred to me, especially given that the three of us had just spent half of lunch each individually checking various Twitter feeds (and email) on our phones, that perhaps Twitter and similar apps on mobile devices are having a positive health impact.  Why light up a cigarrette when you can keep your hands busy with your phone checking Twitter, texting friends, or scrolling through emails on your Blackberry Windows Mobile Device?

Any smokers care to affirm or deny that this effect exists?  Now if only the constant use of mobile phones didn't come with its own social costs, especially with significant others...

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Published Thursday, April 17, 2008 4:22 PM by ssmith
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# How To Stop Smoking » Blog Archive » Twitter as Smoking Cessation Aid

# re: Twitter as Smoking Cessation Aid

I'll comment that this is the 2nd time I've heard you mention Blackberry but NOT iPhone :)

Friday, April 18, 2008 12:15 AM by Russ Nemhauser

# re: Twitter as Smoking Cessation Aid

Yeah, sorry, I don't need an overpriced phone, or one that, as ScottW notes, sucks compared to the BB for email.  ScottW loves his because it's so suboptimal as an email device that he's no longer addicted like he was with his BB.  I'm still in the honeymoon stage having come from PocketPC and experiencing the goodness of BB email for the first time.  *drool*.  iWhat?

Friday, April 18, 2008 1:02 AM by ssmith

# re: Twitter as Smoking Cessation Aid

Friday, April 18, 2008 3:30 PM by Rob Kitson

# re: Twitter as Smoking Cessation Aid

Not going to happen. Smoking has nothing to do with twitchy fingers. It's the feeling of the lungs and bodies.

Any "dedicated" smoker will tell you that if left with just maybe $10, they'd spend that money on a packet of cigs rather than eat lunch.

Thursday, May 15, 2008 5:19 AM by Aaron Seet

# re: Twitter as Smoking Cessation Aid

Yeah, I pretty much was referring to casual smokers, not hardcore nicotine junkies.  Pack-a-day addicts are going to need a lot more than something to do with their hands...

Thursday, May 15, 2008 8:57 AM by ssmith

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