I dont know how vain I am. I could be horribly vain and I wouldnt know it. I'll have to ask around and see what the consensus is.
Yeah I dont think so either but I guess someone who is very vain wouldnt know they are. I knoa some folks like that you know.
I'd rather be a smoker (which I don't do/don't like) than obese, no doubt. Smoking wouldn't exactly alter your self esteem, would it? But in reality I'd pick neither. I want to continue to be a slim non-smoker because I think it's healthy and I feel good.
See, this is a complicated scenario. It turns out self-esteem is only indirectly related to external circumstances. Although it's common to think that obesity affects self-esteem. I think the causality is actually the inverse: People are obese BECAUSE they have low self-esteem. But I also think smoking is related to self-esteem in a major way. Or at least a sense of dependency. I need for validation. The need for a "friend" at all times.
Maybe both smoking and over-ingestion can be explained as the inability to keep one's own company. And that goes for any addiction or escapist behavioral pattern.
praxis, I never really thought about it but I guess you're right. why do people overeat? they feel empty. why do us smokers constantly need cigs? maybe we feel empty too. I know I feel empty when I'm out of cigarettes. hmmmmmm........ everyone's got their vice.