My parents just found out about my brother smokes hookah. They figured that since he was on his own and in college, it was his decision, but they don't agree with it.
I felt bad because I had known about it for months and I didn't tell them. Was I a bad sister? Or was I being a good sister?
Well after they found this out they did a lot of research because my brother tried to justify his smoking by saying that the tobacoo is filtered out, and that it's not as bad. AS BAD being the key words. AS BAD meaning that it is still bad for your health. They found out that even though the smoke you breath in from the tubes is not that bad, the smoke which comes out from the top is worse than second-hand smoke. There haven't been very many studies on the hookah, though, since it is just beginning to become popular. Why would you want to do something that is so ambiguous?
My brother also tries to justify it by saying it's a way to unwind after a stressful day, but aren't there other, less harmful ways to unwind?
My brother is really into the environment, and yet he smokes, which pretty much rapes the environment. It's hipocritical. I don't understand it.
Basically, smoking tobacco is smoking tobacco, no matter what form it may be in. It doesn't make tobacco any less harmful or addictive. You're still facing possible lung damage or cancer. Why would you want to take that risk?
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What is Hookah? Is it like weed?
No, it's a method of smoking. You know the thing the caterpillar's smoking in Alice in Wonderland? That's a hookah. It can be used for tobacco (its intended use) or weed.
I don't need drugs - I have genetics.
You weren't being a bad sister. I mean, you were scared to tell the it seems. But I mean I'm glad they found out. It's not like it matters since he's 18 anyway. But still, I'm glad that you care :).
My brother also tries to justify it by saying it's a way to unwind after a stressful day, but aren't there other, less harmful ways to unwind?
My brother is really into the environment, and yet he smokes, which pretty much rapes the environment. It's hipocritical. I don't understand it.
Basically, smoking tobacco is smoking tobacco, no matter what form it may be in. It doesn't make tobacco any less harmful or addictive. You're still facing possible lung damage or cancer. Why would you want to take that risk?
Your brother is just trying to play it down to himself to make it seem okay. It's a common psychological thing people do. There are less harmful ways to unwind, like exercise. Lol, you're right about smoke "raping" the environment, but hey he's addicted to tobacco. It's not worth the risk but humans develop bad habits. We are our own enemy.
+mspin
Hookah is flavored tobacco and not weed. (if he's into true hookah) It also does not contain nicotine so there is not much of a problem that he does it. There is no tar or anything like cigarettes. I don't see why you would think you are a bad sister for not telling..
Cupcake Bunny
But it turns out that there is nicotine in it.
It's still addictive and there's tar in it. Tar is a byproduct of smoking tobacco, no matter in what form.
Honestly, Hookah isn't bad at all (unless you're putting drugs in it). It is just flavored tobacco. My family has one at my house, but then again my father is from Iran and in Iran, smoking the hookah is a traditional and socially accepted thing to do with close friends and family.
Plus. It's not your fault at all. It was your brother's decision, not yours, that got him in trouble. Don't worry!
Granted, what your brother is doing probably isn't GOOD for him, but it's not like you kept a heroin addiction a secret. If he wasn't doing something that put him or others in imminent danger, you don't have to tell them. In fact, I think he probably appreciates your discretion. When my brother got in trouble with my parents for stealing $2000 from them and getting kicked out of school for vandalism, he told them, "Oh yeah? Well Lizzie drinks all the time. At least I don't do that." I was 21, and had only been drunk a handful of times, but his defense worked! They totally freaked out on me and the pressure was off him for a little while. Brothers can be such jerks!
http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/ediblewoman
This is a decision and a choice between your brother and his parents. While you share parents, just like when you were little, as long as he isn't putting himself in IMMEDIATE danger, it isn't your place to tattle. Growing pains post living at home will always abound, but your brother needs to know he can trust you, so someday if there is something much bigger than this you can be there to offer him guidance. It also allows him to keep telling you things, if he felt he had to begin to hide things, then when something big comes down the pike you might know nothing about it which helps no one.