Why did Bulma fag?

[Bussani]

In UK people call cigarettes as fags, something which is offensive to say in US.

I think everyone knows that, but he (and I, a Brit myself) have never heard fag (as in cigarette) used as a verb before. Is that just what people say in England these days? "Let's go fag," instead of, "Let's go smoke"?

I thought it was a older term that had fallen out of use in Jolly ol' England-land. Is that not the case?

It was still going strong last time I was there, which was about...a decade ago, to be fair.

[Chuquita]

Interesting cultural differences; I feel if DB was from another country, one of the characters would've offhandedly mentioned the smoker-smell at some point. It is a strong, unpleasant odor (imo). Because it's a regular thing in Japan, even characters with strong sense of smell like Goku don't recognize it was anything out of the ordinary.

[TripleRach]

Interesting cultural differences; I feel if DB was from another country, one of the characters would've offhandedly mentioned the smoker-smell at some point. It is a strong, unpleasant odor (imo). Because it's a regular thing in Japan, even characters with strong sense of smell like Goku don't recognize it was anything out of the ordinary.

Half of my family smokes, so I grew up around it. But I have no idea what it smells like at all, so I guess I just became completely immune to the smell. People often tell me I smell like cigarettes after I visit my smoker relatives, and I just go, "Huh, really?" I wouldn't be surprised if Toriyama is just as oblivious to it as I am, especially since he smokes himself (or at least did back then).

Smoking was (and still is to a lesser extent... though I'll let someone like Julian or kei go into more authoritative detail) incredibly pervasive at that time in Japan, as well. Nothing like the stigma attached and lopped onto it like we had/have in the US.

I've often heard it compared to the way smoking was in the US prior to 1970 or so. When you watch old movies or TV shows (like I Love Lucy), it's really common and nonchalant.

[The Tori-bot]

In UK people call cigarettes as fags, something which is offensive to say in US.

I think everyone knows that, but he (and I, a Brit myself) have never heard fag (as in cigarette) used as a verb before. Is that just what people say in England these days? "Let's go fag," instead of, "Let's go smoke"?

I thought it was a older term that had fallen out of use in Jolly ol' England-land. Is that not the case?

It was still going strong last time I was there, which was about...a decade ago, to be fair.

It's still very much in use, and I hear it often (friends saying they're popping outside for a fag, for example)... but I must echo that I've never, ever, ever heard it used as a verb. Have a fag, absolutely, but... to fag? "Could you please not fag in here?"

... Exactly what part of Britain are you from, dbboxkaifan?

[kei17]

Smoking was (and still is to a lesser extent... though I'll let someone like Julian or kei go into more authoritative detail) incredibly pervasive at that time in Japan, as well. Nothing like the stigma attached and lopped onto it like we had/have in the US.

Yeah, smoking was quite pervasive in Japan, but it definitely wasn't so among females. In 1993, when the Buu arc started, about 13% of the female population were smokers. Surprisingly, it's little lower than the U.S.'s recent rates.

http://www.health-net.or.jp/tobacco/pro ... 90000.html

[LiamKav]

It's still very much in use, and I hear it often (friends saying they're popping outside for a fag, for example)... but I must echo that I've never, ever, ever heard it used as a verb. Have a fag, absolutely, but... to fag? "Could you please not fag in here?"

... Exactly what part of Britain are you from, dbboxkaifan?

Thirded. You would "smoke a fag", "have a fag", but never would you just, well, "fag".

(Hopefully this doesn't get like the oh so fun conversations I've seen on Transformers forums over the renaming of "Slag".)

[Piccolo Daimao]

Toriyama himself was an avid smoker, and often commented that he should stop, saying he would go through a couple packs a day. So I've never really been too surprised that some of the characters in Dragon Ball, and many of his other series, smoked. Although it's never overpowering to any scene, it's just something one of them is doing casually while talking. And as Mike mentioned, it was a habit that was incredibly pervasive at that time in Japan.

Yeah, like many authors, Toriyama occasionally inserts things from his personal life into his fiction. I think he mentioned that Piccolo Daimaou was based on one of his editors, and he gave Blooma short hair at the 22nd Tenkaichi Budoukai because he likes short-haired women (presumably the same reason why Videl has short hair too, aside from the in-universe reason of long hair making it impractical for battle).

In UK people call cigarettes as fags, something which is offensive to say in US.

I think everyone knows that, but he (and I, a Brit myself) have never heard fag (as in cigarette) used as a verb before. Is that just what people say in England these days? "Let's go fag," instead of, "Let's go smoke"?

I live in Plymouth, and no, I've never heard someone use the word "fag" as a verb before. But whatever, it doesn't really matter. I have a friend who uses the word "cripulation", which...isn't really a word at all. Unless you count Urban Dictionary, which always makes shit up.

[LiamKav]

That is so denche.

he gave Blooma short hair at the 22nd Tenkaichi Budoukai because he likes short-haired women

But he also gave her long hair on several occasions, too. Could he not make up his mind? (Although I think she has short hair more often than long hair.) And how does this explain Yamcha, who usually seems to be at his best when he has long hair? We need answers!

[Piccolo Daimao]

he gave Blooma short hair at the 22nd Tenkaichi Budoukai because he likes short-haired women

But he also gave her long hair on several occasions, too. Could he not make up his mind? (Although I think she has short hair more often than long hair.) And how does this explain Yamcha, who usually seems to be at his best when he has long hair? We need answers!

He said it in an interview.

[Lord Eeyore Haw-Haw]

Personally, I read it as "Why did Blooma become part of an old English schoolboy tradition, and become someone's fag, i.e. gofer, choreboy, etc." That's what "fagging", as a verb, calls up in my head.

[The S]

Interesting cultural differences; I feel if DB was from another country, one of the characters would've offhandedly mentioned the smoker-smell at some point. It is a strong, unpleasant odor (imo). Because it's a regular thing in Japan, even characters with strong sense of smell like Goku don't recognize it was anything out of the ordinary.

Half of my family smokes, so I grew up around it. But I have no idea what it smells like at all, so I guess I just became completely immune to the smell. People often tell me I smell like cigarettes after I visit my smoker relatives, and I just go, "Huh, really?" I wouldn't be surprised if Toriyama is just as oblivious to it as I am, especially since he smokes himself (or at least did back then).

I had the exact opposite effect. I was constantly around smokers, and if anything, I grew to detest it more, the more I was around them. It didn't bother me to begin with, but by the time I was in my late teens, even a brief whiff sent me into coughing fits.

[BlazingFiddlesticks]

Where's that shot from?

[jpdbzrulz4sure]

Where's that shot from?

Episode 205.

If I remember correctly, Bulma was also shown smoking in episode 202.

[Gaffer Tape]

201 is the episode you're thinking of, actually.

[DNA]

I lived in England until mid-2010 and am going to move back there soon. I know my fair share of people there and no one ever used "fag" as a verb. dbboxkaifan maybe your ex-teacher meant something else..? You could have just used the word cigarette, since it's what it's called no matter which English speaking country you come from, fag is just a street name for it.

For those who find the word "fag" funny because of cultural differences, my favourite still is "fanny".

And for those saying that Blooma would smell horribly, different brands of cigarettes will smell very differently from one another. I'm not a smoker so I can't say I know which brands smell like what but I know some of them have got an horrible strong scent whilst others have got a mellower scent. Cigars for example have a different dry smell. Even different kinds of cannabis can smell different, from a foul sickly smell to a sweet mellow aroma.

Maybe Blooma and Brief smoked a mellower kind of cigarettes. :P

[jpdbzrulz4sure]

201 is the episode you're thinking of, actually.

Ah, yes. Man, do I suck at math.

[Akumaito Beam]

And for those saying that Blooma would smell horribly, different brands of cigarettes will smell very differently from one another. I'm not a smoker so I can't say I know which brands smell like what but I know some of them have got an horrible strong scent whilst others have got a mellower scent. Cigars for example have a different dry smell. Even different kinds of cannabis can smell different, from a foul sickly smell to a sweet mellow aroma.

Apparently wherever I live nobody has ever smoked anything ever resembling "pleasant". Maybe it's a stupid American thing, we're not known for refined taste. I can't tell you how badly I want to smack my people over the head with their own kettle whenever they pull out tea bags. (They....they always pull out a tea bag....ALWAYS.)

[DNA]

Apparently wherever I live nobody has ever smoked anything ever resembling "pleasant".

From what I'm told, American cigarettes are stronger, that probably gives it the fouler smell.

Maybe it's a stupid American thing, we're not known for refined taste.

Everyone talks smack about their own country. Don't say that, you've got the best candy bars ever. Also amazing techniques for barbecue.

I can't tell you how badly I want to smack my people over the head with their own kettle whenever they pull out tea bags. (They....they always pull out a tea bag....ALWAYS.)

You're supposed to pull out the tea bag after two or three minutes, sometimes five depending on the kind of tea. If you don't, the infusion starts overpowering and you get a bitter taste in your tea. Then again, I don't use kettles, I infuse them directly in my mug.

[LiamKav]

Don't say that, you've got the best candy bars ever. Also amazing techniques for barbecue.

I hope you are not including chocolate in that "best candy bars" ever claim...

[DNA]

Don't say that, you've got the best candy bars ever. Also amazing techniques for barbecue.

I hope you are not including chocolate in that "best candy bars" ever claim...

About a week ago me and my friends went to this recently opened american store, it only sells american products. We only bought candy bars. They bought a dark chocolate Snickers (which was pretty good), a almond Snickers (which was delicious). I bought a freaking Butterfinger, we all had a try and the overall decision was "orgasmic". So yeah, american chocolate bars rule.

By the way, in that store peanut M&M's always go out of stock.