why do people ask if you have an extra cigarette?

[blues90]

As long as i have been alive there are 20 in a pack not 21 or extras taped to the side. This has always bugged me , why not can you spare a cig or give up one?

It's like extra change ,well let me see.

[Divine Discontent]

1. The DU lounge would love this question! It is an odd question people do... eom

[cherokeeprogressive]

2. LOL.

I used to have a friend in the Navy who would ask "Can I MOKE witcha?" and it was obvious he didn't have a cig so it was second nature to shake one out of the pack for him.

Damn guy drove a newer car than mine, and lived in a better house. He was so personable though that I never thought about sharing with him.

Give away a smoke a day and keep the doctor away for another month!

[mdmc]

3. they mean do you have an extra one for them

some folks will say, "Nah, I only have 5 left. One for break, two for lunch, and two for my afternoon break. Sorry I can't spare one right now."

[EFerrari]

4. Because in general, sharing is not something we know how to do

or how to request.

[Breeze54]

5. I just tell them I left them in the machine.

:P

[Growler]

6. Because they are addicts

and need a smoke NOW, but they've smoked all their own cigarettes.

Seriously, how many people ask if you have an extra twinkie? Exactly! No one is addicted to twinkies.

[RaleighNCDUer]

7. No?

You've never met my brother in law.

[Growler]

9. lol

sorry to hear that!

[bbinacan]

8. I don't think I've ever been asked

if I had an extra cigarette. I've heard "can I bum a smoke" and even "can I buy a cigarette from you". I've asked a coworker if he's ready for a smoke break and he said "I'll need to get one from you, I'm out".

[Indigo Blue]

10. Because they don't want the one that you're smoking.

:shrug:

[Digit]

11. Because they are too cheap to have enough for their own consumption

I have stopped giving them out. One lady was getting quite notorious for asking me for cigarettes and I let her know my brand was 42.00 per carton and I was having to watch my spending...(true).

I was on Chantix until my boss made me quit the drug because it made me forgetful.

I am going to appeal to HR.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

17. You Can Appeal To HR All You Want.

But as a bit of advice, if it was making you forgetful and intruding into your performance, then your choice is likely either to quit the drug or risk being fired. Just keep that in perspective.

[leftyclimber]

24. You're lucky Chantix just made you forgetful.

It made me have a hair-trigger temper and sent my blood pressure up to 150/100 from 120/80. I had to quit taking it because I was going to have a stroke more quickly on Chantix than I would on Camel Filters.

Sigh.

[zippy890]

36. I got sick on Chantix too

stopped sleeping and migraines, vomiting, mood swings.

:scared:

[LunaSea]

12. Get yourself some foreign smokes....

Carry around some Russian cigs, or better yet, Korean if you can find them, (I scored a pack of "Balloon Flower"from a student on a long flight once, exceptionally odd, putrid flavor, as I imagine the sweepings of a florist shop might taste)
The older and cheaper the better.

Sure, a pack of filterless "Picayunes", or "Home Run" brand will do the job, especially if they've been left open in the glove compartment for six months or so, but nothing induces tears and hacks like a really cheap Russian smoke.

Of course you could also check Ebay or a thrift store for some "commemorative" cigs, I do have a pack of "Apollo-Soyuz" smokes from 1974 in my desk drawer.

"Bum a smoke?"
Sure, no problem.

They never ask twice.

[CrispyQ]

13. How much is a pack of cigs these days? --nt

[blues90]

14. here in calif over $5 for good ones

we order on-line now for $13 per carton

[SoCalDem]

25. Has the equalization board sent you a love-note yet?

We had to cough us almost $200 to get them off our backs.. seems CA wants tax money and more tax money on out of state cigs ordered.. we got nailed and it took months to convice them that was all we owed them..

find a person in a state where they are cheap, and have that person send them to you via "care packages"..

[blues90]

28. not yet . I was not aware of this

We have not done this for more than 5 times this year.

[SoCalDem]

30. If you use a credit/debit card, they report the sales to the tax board

the Indians I used to order from, swore to me they did not report their sales by individual, but the credit/debit cards do..

Keep those receipts handy..they may wait a few years, and then whack you..like they did us.. by then you have no easy access to what you actually ordered, and you have to take their word for ir, or they will deduct it from any tax refund you may have coming...or hold it until you straighten it out..

at 5 purchases, if you ordered 5 cartons each time, you probably "owe" the state over $100 already:(

[blues90]

32. we used a check . We have the receipts. I will call these people

Monday and ask what they do .

[Subdivisions]

15. I found the perfect way to turn someone down when asking for a smoke...

I quit smoking.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

16. It's A Polite Way Of Asking. People Probably Don't Know How Petty You Are.

Saying an 'extra' one in that context is the exact same thing as saying can you spare one. They're asking if you have an extra one that wouldn't be missed if you gave it up, as to not put you out. It's called being polite. But to be so petty as to dissect the specific phrase and actually be bugged by it, well, that's a reflection on you, not them.

[Robb]

19. I knew this Egyptian guy back in the day

...who had the best construction for this task.

"Can someone ... (pause) ... borrow to me ... (pause) ... a cigarette?"

Then he would shrug just like this guy --> :shrug:

Never went wanting, that one. Too oddly charming to say no. :D

[blues90]

20. Why is it that you always have some smart ass remark?

I know what it means and what the language is all about. Beside that I have given away many cigs and even when offered a quarter I don't take the money.
It is always without fail the people who use this phrase are the ones who block my path to make a point of getting in my face to ask for one.

So yes the phrase pisses me off to no end.

I asked a simple question out of curiosity and I don't need a lecture on semantics.

How does that reflect on you?

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

34. Why Are You Always So Petty And Bitter?

Maybe if you loosened up in life I wouldn't always have to be such a wiseass.

And talk about semantics... Maybe you want to read your OP again. :think:

[zippy890]

37. good point about semantics n/t

[blues90]

39. So your answer is to coin me petty and bitter?

Well that's really original. I don't feel I am bitter at all , skeptical yes.

As far as petty, just climbing in to voice your opinion just for the sake of doing so is not petty? That is no different than my OP you criticize.

So I don't see things your way makes me someone that needs to loosen up?

You really don't know a thing about me , I suppose I should just laugh it all off to loosen up.

[baby_mouse]

23. Oh my god. I did an Ignore list amnesty to get THIS?

BACK you go.

[Bluebear]

26. Ain't that the truth?

[Blue-Jay]

35. "It's called being polite."

What would you know about that?

[LostInAnomie]

18. You want an honest answer?

A lot of career smokers know how many smokes they are going to smoke throughout the day and when they are going to smoke them. They almost have it down to a science. The thoughtful mooch doesn't want to put the career smoker out and leave him/her without a smoke for their planned break. When they ask if you "have an extra cigarette" they are really asking "Do you have a cigarette that you won't be needing for your day?".

[caraher]

21. For some people it's just an excuse to get some human contact

Easier to ask for a cigarette than to say, "I need someone to talk to, even just idle talk."

[cherokeeprogressive]

22. Nope. But when I get 21 in a pack, I'll let you know. LOL. n/t

[renegade000]

27. In the same vein

I always have to catch myself when I'm about to say, "can I borrow a piece of paper?"

Because I'm really going to return it when I'm done. :P

[sl8]

33. I can relate.

I've pretty much got myself trained to say, "Can I steal a Post-It?".

Still not completely accurate, but it definitely eliminates any confusion regarding whether they'll have it returned to them.

:-)

[L0oniX]

29. Because they are homeless and jobless bums?

[blues90]

40. NO

[JeffR]

31. Same reason people ask if you have extra change, as you noted

If you don't want to give, don't give. Not really so complicated, is it?

[Wcross]

38. What I REALLY hate are people that "sort of" quit smoking.

They are out there every break bumming cigarettes every day. I have had to tell a couple of these people "No". Every once in a while is OK, to quit buying them & expect someone else to supply you is wrong.