Is an ex-smoker a hypocrite if they chastise a smoker friend?

Answer 1

Ugh! The reformed smoker!

I think it's wrong to chastise anyone. Who are we to judge someone else's actions?

Truthfully, I'd just as soon offer support for my friend: "If you decide that you want to quit smoking, I'll be happy to share what worked for me." is much more palatable than "You shouldn't do that."

Answer 2

Yeah kind of.

I didn't smoke at all until I was 19. Before then I hated the smell of it and the look of it, I hated the fact that it was such a health hazard (not just for the smoker), I couldn't understand why the hell people would choose to waste their money supporting such a pathetic habit and I especially hated that heaps of my friends were in fact smokers...

Fast forward to present time and I have been a regular smoker (of about a pack a day) for going on 4 years. I have watched certain friends kick the habit and turn into these self righteous hypocrites. I understand that they are concerned about my health and I even agree that my life would drastically improve if I quit.

However, being concerned about a friend and wanting to help is fair enough - constant nagging and "See...I did it....your just lazy!" comments are just assh*lic. I think that it's great when people quit smoking or take control over any of bad habit they might have...however I just wish that they would realise that trying to help friends with the in your face approach really won't work. If they are aware that it's not helpful and continue to make dumbsh*t comments - then they are more of an assh*le than a friend.

Personally I AM trying to quit. And I will be avoiding my "friends" the reformed smokers in the mean time. People change when they are ready to and not before. Being supportive means doing what’s best for them in a way that THEY would like you to. Rather than using an "I'm just concerned" mask to hide behind the real goal of telling as many people as you can ...just how FIGJAM you are. (F*ck I'm good, just ask me!)

Answer 3

Hypocrite, no, but reformed smokers often want to project their newfound values on others. This can be motivated by a sense of guilt for their "past sins", a way of reassuring themselves that they are better than thou for having given up smoking, or genuine concern for a friend, now that they have seen the light. They can forget that smoking is an addiction, and it's not as simple as just saying, "You should quit. I did."

Answer 4

If you are no longer a smoker it is not hypocrisy to assist them with not smoking. I don't know that I would chastise them. To help them get to the point you are now would be an excellent idea.

Answer 5

No. Because the former smoker has seen the light and kicked the habit. And there's no better advocate for not smoking than a reformed smoker. I know. I am one.

Answer 6

Depends what they're saying. If they're saying they're stupid for starting to smoke, that's hypocritical, for the stopped smoker did at one time start too. If they're staying the smoker really should better stop too, that's not; after all they *did* stop! They're setting the right example stopping.

Answer 7

Let's say I bought a car that ended up rolling over on a tricky highway curve.
My friend wants this little hot rod, but I swear it has no handling, and I will NEVER get in that car if the friend buys it.
Am I wrong, just because I once had that car?
Are you kidding!?

Answer 8

No. If they chastised someone for smoking and still smoked themselves that would be hypocrisy. But learning they were wrong and sharing it with others is nobel, not hypocritical.

Answer 9

It might depend on the exact form of "chastise"

Answer 10

No. If you were still a smoker and did that, then yes.