Smokers: Does anyone find it extremely obnoxious and annoying when...?

Question

total strangers tell you smoking is bad for you?
opinions anyone?

Answer 1

YES! I hate that. I just quit a job and every time I had a smoke someone would come to me and tell me all the hazards. I tell them yea, I know, I'm a smoker not illiterate. They then look at me confused and I say "I can read the box". Drives me crazy!

When I see a stranger eating a supersized meal from McDonalds, I don't tell them that it will make them fat, have a heart attack and die.

Mind your own business people, I'll make my own desicions.

Answer 2

As a smoker, I find it incredibley annoying when strangers tell me smoking is bad for me, for several reasons.

1) I don't live under a rock. I watch t.v. I listen to the radio. I am well aware that smoking is bad for me. I don't need anyone, especially someone whom I've never met, reminding me of this fact. Here's something to consider for those who decide to approach a random person who's smoking to remind them of how dangerous it is: Doing that will almost always make the person want to smoke more, whether it's out of spite, annoyance or frustration at your attempts to "help". It's better to leave the person alone.

2) Last time I checked, smoking was legal. Shouldn't smokers be allowed to smoke outside without having to feel belittled or discriminated against? I don't care if you don't like the fact that I smoke and feel the need to tell me. If you hate it THAT much, hold your breath for the .2 miliseconds that it will take to walk by me on the street. All I ask is that you leave me alone. I have every right to do it.

3) It's just plain rude. I don't go up to someone who's obese when I'm at McDonald's while they're eating a double cheeseburger and say "Oh my God, do you know how many calories are in that thing? You're going to have a heart attack! I wouldn't be surprised if you keeled over right here in this restaurant! That's so bad for you!" I'd get punched in the face. And you know what? I'd deserve it.

TO ALL NON-SMOKERS: LEAVE US SMOKERS ALONE!!! If you don't like it, DON'T PAY ATTENTION TO IT! And for the record, people aren't going to get "sick" from cigarette smoke when they're outside and just walking by someone who's smoking. You breathe in more toxins from car exhaust and air pollution all day than you do from walking by someone who's smoking.

Answer 3

I am not a smoker however it is extremely annoying when random people ask if I smoke (because i live in a household that smokes) then when i say "no." proceed to tell me how bad it is. Hello! that's why I am not smoking people!

Answer 4

I have got that in the past and ill sarcastically respond "your kidding" and they usually shut up and go away. Yes I find it annoying and if you ever see one of them is obese when they tell you this say to them "did you know eating fattening foods and not exercizing every day is bad for you?" no..people would not say that to an overweight person so they should keep their mouth shut when they come accross a smoker doing it.

Answer 5

I'm a former smoker, but I DO agree with you. But really I hate when people do that under ANY circumstance. I would never presume to tell a stranger that what they are doing is wrong unless they were hurting someone. And, sure, you could argue that cigarette smoke kills but until smoking is legally banned completely why should people stick their nose in someone else's business?

Answer 6

Unless you are blowing smoke in their face, the strangers are being rude to you. Whats next do we tell people drinking that it is bad for their liver? Do we tell overweight people that eating too much is bad for their health?

Answer 7

I'm not a smoker (nor do I intend to be), but I can see how that would be annoying.

It's one thing for friends to tell you it's bad for you- it is- but they do it cuz they care about you.

As long as you aren't smoking in a indoors public place or near someone, I see no reason why strangers should concern themselves with your smoking habit.

Answer 8

Well yes, since total strangers have no business caring about your welfare (especially when you don't care about yourself), in most cases it is probably meant to be obnoxious and annoying. They only hope it is extreme enough to alter your behavior. They do it for one or two reasons.

A) They believe that YOU are being obnoxious and annoying by expecting them to breathe your foul smelling air and help pay your medical bills through increased costs and taxes; and

B) They fear your thrift shop-style second hand smoke. Some of us have heart problems to begin with, and others just have fear. They may understand your inherent sadness and compulsion to slowly kill yourself but be offended by the selfishness of you taking them down with you.

Answer 9

Yes. I think it makes them feel quite smug under the guise of wanting to help. I just act shocked as if I were just hearing this for the first time and then ask them where they got this information. It gives these little people a chance to feel important as they rant on and on and on.

Answer 10

i'm an ex smoker...
smoking is a horrible habit for many reasons...and everyone knows it....it's ridiculous and superfluous to tell a smoker that it's bad for them......they know it....it's really kind of pompous to scold some-one under the guise of educating them....

however i will continue to get on my husbands @ss until he quits! lol