<p>Woah. There are two reply buttons. Odd.</p>
<p>Anyhow, to the op – I can think of a number of things far worse that you could do to yourself than smoking (presumably you’re here only referring to cigarette smoking? Or are you referring to all forms of smoking). </p>
<p>I consider it a disgusting habit and would be in strong favor of limiting it to privately owned areas only – principally over the carcinogenic effects of second hand smoke. If someone is smoking in a common area (either in a confined public space, or in a confined private space without the express permission of the owner of that space [ie, a restaurant]), I imagine that I’d politely ask them to take it elsewhere or stop. If they refused, then I might be tempted to escalate the conflict, but that would depend on a number of other variables that I’m not considering here. It’s important to remember, though, that other noxious fumes can mimic the effects of second hand smoke (pollution in a big city comes to mind, as does the exhaust of industry), so I’d say that I’d be in favor of restraining those sources as well by the same token. </p>
<p>The hidden pleasure is by and large found in sating their nicotine addiction and avoiding the nasty withdrawal effects that occur when you remove that continuous supply of nicotine. I hear smoking also gives one a slimmer figure, or something of the sort, due to its suppression of one’s appetite. But don’t quote me on that.</p>
<p>Also, as someone else already mentioned, many of our actions can lead to our eventual deaths – take the consumption of fast food, for example, and its effects on the heart. I’m perfectly ok with strangers doing that (in and of itself – the practices of those megabusinesses that provide for them are another matter, or the treatment of the animals involved in production, etc.) to themselves, and would only be in favor of intervention if mcdonald’s eaters released airborne pathogens, or something, that in turn gave me heart problems. </p>
<p>Whether the government ought to have the ability to intervene in the dietary habits of minors, however, is another matter. Or their smoking habits, too, I guess.</p>
<p>Oh, and if someone I cared about started smoking (or adopted any other self-destructive tendencies), I would attempt to exert my will over them and make them quit. :]</p>