I leave them alone. Only when I don't know them or they don't know me and they light is when I ask if they can do it somewhere else or wait at least until I'm gone. I don't smoke, but I now don't really care if they do (before, I used to care). 

I hate people who point out the obvious in a righteous manner.

As if we didn't already know that smoking was unhealthy... Sheesh.

I generally leave people alone when they're smoking. I personally don't smoke, but I'm not going to go out of my way to tell other people it's bad for them when they most likely already know that.

I like your comparison between overeating and smoking, it made me laugh.

I'm not a smoker, but back when i was in the military i smoked the hookah when i was deployed because it was a social thing and was a way to talk about what had happened during our day. right before i was ready to leave the military (the month prior to coming home), I was extremely stressed out and needed to find a way to relieve it. well, asked my friend for a cigarette and she let me have one. do i smoke now? no. i've never bought a pack of cigarettes in my life. never really saw the need to. if people want to smoke, i say let 'em. why is it any of my business what they want to do with their personal life? you pointed out that you don't smoke around kids and you do it outside and only with people who aren't bothered by smoke. i say that's very considerate of you. if someone is going to light up a cigarette in front of me, i'd try and find a way to excuse myself from being near them, but if i wasn't able to, it's not going to kill me.

that's my spiel on it. just thought i'd put my perspective on how i feel being as i am a non-smoker.

Smoking is far worse for you than obesity/poor eating habits. Sorry. The studies have been done. And when you put on a few pounds after quitting, you are still much, much healthier for having quit.

I can't stand the smell of smoke. I hate being around people when they smoke. I've seen many people suffer very serious consequences as a result of smoking. I've never said anything to anyone though because you are right, it is their decision to do so.

OP- I see that you are frustrated by a society that demonizes smoking- I understand, because smoking doesn't make you a bad person. Even so, I hope that someday you reconsider and that you take the necessary steps to quit.

http://www.americanheart.org/downloadable/heart/1196353713832QuitSmoking.pdf

If they're smoking far far away and not harming me or anyone I care about, then I leave them alone.  If they're bothering me, I may ask them to stop or move, or move myself, but I won't lecture strangers about their health.  If they're somebody I care about, I will try to convince them to quit, just like I would encourage a friend with an eating disorder to get help.

I do think being addicted to cigarettes is worse than an eating disorder, since it's often quite difficult to really keep the smoke to yourself and so affects a wider range of people.  For example, I can live with a person with anorexia without becoming anorexic myself; but living with a smoker forces me to become a smoker to some degree, since I'm exposed to their smoke.

I don't like cigarettes, never have and never will. I think lighting up is stupid, but then I can't really judge either because different people light up for different reasons whether it's due to stress or depression or what have you. As long as it's not anyone I really care about, I leave them alone. It's their body and not my business; unless they were born yesterday, I'm sure that they are fully aware of the risks and potential dangers of lighting up. In the case of small, confined spaces where there isn't much room for me to move away to, I'd advise people not to smoke around me, though, because I literally can't breathe. 

Say whatever you want, but they are all excuses. I know, because I used to say them. I smoked for 9 years (and have now been smoke free for 8) and said it all:
"I know its bad for me"
"It's my right to smoke"
"I choose to do it to my own body"
"At least I'm a considerate smoker"
"Messing with me about my smoking is hazardous to YOUR health"
"Everyone dies someday"
"Eating fast food isn't healthy either but people do it all the time!"

etc etc etc

The truth is, you DON'T know what you are doing to your body. Every time you inhale cigarette smoke, you are breathing in POISON. Poison that goes into your lungs, which get carried by oxygenated cells into your bloodstream and out to every part of your body. By the time most smokers learn of their fate with lung cancer and emphysema, it's too late. The poison has carried itself and infected the whole body. Over half with lung cancer die within the first 2 years. I know, I watched my mom die an extremely painful death, at the too young age of 56 (and I quit way before she was even diagnosed).

I listened to her excuses all my life too. "Every time you get into a car you take your life into your own hands... at least I know what I'm doing to myself." But you really don't. Cause if you did- if you saw and experienced what the end result is like, you wouldn't pay to breathe in poison.
In the end, my mom's friends and medical community mostly deserted her too.... heard it constantly "well she did it to herself..." But she didn't WANT to die. She just wanted to smoke. Unfortunately, that's what killed her. The only reason she's not here, is because of her addiction to cigarettes. So say whatever you want to make yourself feel better about it, we can see through the smoke. 

If you think you're a smoker you are not.....only the cigarette who smoke...  you are merely the sucker of its end..

Because we feel its worth it, and thus our reason for doing so. Smoking when knowing its bad for you, is no different than not doing homework so you can sleep, or eating for pleasure and not watching the calories. Its not about whether or not you feel its worth it, what others are doing, whats important is that THEY feel its worth it. We do these because we are human, although we put our lives above all else, we have other needs that if great enough it will be come top priority over our lives because we made the choice that it is worth it. Its only natural for all of society who can't possibly mind read to not understand an individual's perspective to realize how they could possibly justify lowering their lifespan, nor could you possibly feel that their justification with words is anything but convincing. WE ALL DO IT, in some way or another, even if it does not directly affect our life spans, or only affect a little its only natural that we feel that we require certain satisfactions to make "Life" worth living.

(I am not a smoker, I don't do drugs, I don't drink, because I don't feel the psychological and emotional pleasures are worth the physical side effects, but that's just my individual opinion. Plus  I would like my grandfather to stop smoking because I am selfish and I want him to live as long as possible, but that doesn't make me any less of a human than this person)

people that do things that are "bad for you" and self-inflicted (a poor diet, smoking, doing drugs, drinking too much) know exactly what they are doing. if they want to, let them. if i want to smoke a cigarette (respectfully, of course), i do. if i want a burger, i don't want someone going "you know, that's going to make you a fatty." shut up, i know these things.

If they're smoking in a non-smoking zone then YES I will tell them to stop. But usually I won't say anything to a stranger- but it causes me to cough. I'm not sure if it triggers some allergic reaction or the smell is way too strong (like a woman wearing perfume, but worse). I do talk about it with my friends who smoke, and they are courteous enough to not do it around me But it does make me sad that smokers are poisoning their bodies, and poisoning other people as well.

eds and smoking are BOTH bad.
and i definitely don't comment on people's habits. THEIR lives. the bob marley quote about not pointing fingers unless your hands are clean totally applies.