Why has it become socially acceptable to be rude to smokers?

As a former smoker I can honestly say no one paid any mind to smokers 20 or 30 years ago, but in the last decade or two, we've learned how bad it really is, how detrimental it is to children (I can't believe people smoke at home with kids around).

I mean it's banned in all public places so now the only place you see people smoke is outside, and they kind of remind me of the hookers in the red light district! LOL

I don't know why but there is something seedy about it. Plus you can't ever walk into a mall without going through a cloud of second hand smokers haning out the door, even though they are supposed to be 50 feet or something from doorways.

Its just become so uncool. I can't believe I ever smoked. I started for stupid reasons and I could never stop once I did. It was amazingly difficult and took great courage and stamina to do so. I did it for my kids. I didn't want them exposed and thinking it was something that was condoned by me.

I think people who smoke are just weak. It's an addiction like any addiction.

I'm not rude to smokers, but I think its important that they ask before they light up around people. I do think it is unfair how people treat smokers, I understand its bad for your health but honestly its not like smokers are lighting up then blowing it in your face. Why not get angry at people who drink, because some people drink and drive?

I wouldn't say smokers are necessary losers...but I think people are only rude to them in public because of the risk of second hand smoke.

the smokers not only hurt themselves, but they hurt the people they are smoking around, its stupid in the first place, if you are under the age of 30 and smoke, YOU ARE SOOOOOO STUPID. It isnt new that smoking is horrible for you, they deserve every bit of rudeness that they get

Since second hand smoker was determined to cause lung cancer. A very good friend of Shizz's on here, died at 39 from lung cancer caused by 2nd hand smoke, leaving behind a wife and a young baby.

It can happen to you.

Some people feel smug about being a non-smoker (including myself), however, I don't think people should be rude to smokers although they never ask me if they could light up around me 99% of the time.

There were two instances where a smoker asked if I would be bothered with them smoking (I said yes if they were upwind of me).

It's like being rude to fat people even though sometimes it's their fault that they let themselves go.

I have no idea. I'm a smoker and I always respect non-smokers. I never smoke around them. But when they are rude to me I'm ruder to them.

Because smoke not good for health as smoker and non smoker both of them can breath in the smoke to the lungs

To a non-smoker or worse an ex-smoker, smokers stink. Even after putting out a cigarette, walking from the outside to the inside of a building getting into an elevator and off again, then I get in and the whole damned elevator smells like a wet ashtray. It's nasty, it's gross, it's disgusting. I would rather stand next to a homeless person that hasn't bathed for two weeks, brushed his teeth for a month and has crapped himself than have to stand next to a smoker. If a female that was hot as a playboy centerfold begged me for hot squeeling pig sex and was a smoker, I wouldn't go for it. Well, maybe I would just that once, but smokers do smell bad.

People will not be rude to a "respectable" smokers.

I think the smokers you're talking about is those ignorant ones who smoke in public places like restaurants. Its damn annoying when the person sittin at the table next to you started smoking when you're trying to enjoy your food...

But unfortunately over here, people are too nice to these idiots. They get away with smoking in public places. Happens to me all the time especially at those hawker stalls place. Very annoying