The nicotine gum question

There are some dogmatic true believers that think you haven't really quit if you use the nicotine gum. This is stupid. If you have quit chewing, you have quit chewing. It doesn't get much more tautologous than that! If you say 'you haven't really quit chewing' when, in fact, I have actually quit chewing, you are being a dick.

There are a whole host of things that come along with the chew (see negatives in previous post) that don't accompany the gum. My plan is to use the nicotine gum for 4-6 weeks, weaning off. Why be a masochist when I can do this more gradually?

I went to a site and this guy was like "Quitting everything, with no gum, is the only way." No. You are wrong. That is one way, and if you were a decent person you would wish to help me on my path rather than pull me onto yours.

Research into addiction shows the importance of context in triggering the behavior. The behavior I want to stop, much more than the nicotine addiction, is chewing. That's where the biggest risks are coming from in my life, the big negatives. But when giving up the Skoal, I will also be removing many dimensions of the addiction. The rush of buying a can, opening it, and putting in the dip, the spitting, etc.. I need to get into the habit of driving by the store without "running in" for a can. Sitting at home at night working on my computer without having the dip in.

Then I can wean off the nicotine.

To those that want to be dogmatic: I don't want to hear it. I've got a schedule that makes sense and I need support in that. I didn't do it without thinking, or without consulting other people that have quit (thankfully less dogmatic people). If I fail, then you can tell me you told me so. Until then, keep your Debbie Drag-me-Down shit to yourself.