Re:Hackers and Caffeine
by pavelludiq on Tuesday September 08, 2009 @12:22PM
(#811306)
I started smoking because of the boredom and frustration of high school. After that nightmare ended i had to re-rationalize smoking and i ended up doing that by telling myself that it has a positive effect on my concentration in a combo with caffeine. Im not sure if it really is so, or is it me just trying to rationalize my stupid addictions.
Anecdotally and completely unscientifically, my experiences suggest yes, first and foremost as a former smoker who tended to take notice of the distribution of professionals who also took smoke breaks in the half a dozen or so places I worked in three years. Seems like the same sorts of tendencies that make nerds responsive to caffeine probably apply to stimulants in general, especially noting the long-held poetic association between creative, focus-based tasks and tobacco. I also know more than my fair share of ADD types (in a noticeably classical kind of way) who sincerely regard it as a form of viable self-medication.