When I don't drink coffee, my skin looks better, my stomach doesn't feel like I've been downing Drain-O, I don't shake as much, and I'm probably a more mellow and satisfying person to be around.

However, I'm also about two zillion IQ points stupider, and all the time is nappy time, so coffee it is until I am magically independently wealthy.

My first boss told me I wasn't a real programmer because I indulged in neither coffee nor caffeinated soft drinks.

I think I was a good programmer, but in retrospect, no, I wasn't a real one.

With all respect to people who can quit it, caffeine is the finest drug EVER. It's cheap! It's on every street corner! They put it in lots of tasty items! It wakes you up and makes you feel better and the only side effect is withdrawal!

I t heart caffeine.

Even after almost 3 months, I miss caffeine. I'm pretty sure that's not going to go away.

the only side effect is withdrawal!

Then why are people saying it has negative effects worth quitting it to avoid?

I think you should all smoke instead.

Then why are people saying it has negative effects worth quitting it to avoid?

I don't know the answer to that.

I think coffee has more negative effects than caffeine, what with the acid stomach and all. I don't think No-Doz gives people acid stomach. I could be wrong.

Unworrisome and more common side effects of caffeine:

• Nausea (mild); nervousness or jitters (mild)

See your doctor if you experience:

• Diarrhea; dizziness; fast heartbeat; hyperglycemia, including blurred vision, drowsiness, dry mouth, flushed dry skin, fruit-like breath odor, increased urination, ketones in urine, loss of appetite, nausea, stomachache, tiredness, troubled breathing, unusual thirst, or vomiting (in newborn babies); hypoglycemia, including anxious feeling, blurred vision, cold sweats, confusion, cool pale skin, drowsiness, excessive hunger, fast heartbeat, nausea, nervousness, restless sleep, shakiness, or unusual tiredness or weakness (in newborn babies); irritability, nervousness, or severe jitters (in newborn babies); nausea (severe) ; tremors; trouble in sleeping ; vomiting

Withdrawal feels like:

• Anxiety; dizziness; headache; irritability; muscle tension; nausea; nervousness; stuffy nose; unusual tiredness

From here.

I think it would be fascinating if marijuana/hashish had been introduced to Western culture at the same time as coffee. I'm betting everybody would have become habituated to its use in exactly the same way as for alcohol and coffee/tea.

Basically, coffee would totally be illegal today if it were introduced into the consumer market. Addictive! Side effects! Performance-enhancing!