oomis1105:
“For anyone who likes to point out that their parent who smokes is a tzaddik in all other ways, and I totally believe you, substitute alchohol for the smoking addiction. No matter how wonderful that parent may have been all your life, would you defend alcoholism the same way?”
I don’t think the two are comparable. An alcoholic will often abuse his/her loved ones (if only with negligence), while smokers do not.
That said, there is a very good reason for not wanting others to smoke. It’s fairly simple:
U’shmartem mioed es nafshosaichem
+
Kol yisroel areivim zeh la’zeh
=
Caring if fellow jews smoke.
Sqeak:
“You certainly are free to opine and disagree with others, I was referring to how you choose to do so. The trick that you learned as a med prof. is just as appropriate in a non-professional setting. Treating people respectfully shouldn’t depend on being paid to do so.”
Well said, couldn’t agree more. might I add that people will often be more open to your way of thinking if you treat them with respect.