Nagging Will Not Make Someone Stop Smoking

How do you get someone to stop smoking? You do not. If a person is going to quit, it is up to that person to do so; nothing you say or do will make it happen. In fact, it may do more harm than good. Go to any smokers' forum, and you will find a post about the way smokers are treated by non-smokers. Most smokers appreciate the concern, but don't like the way that concern is voiced.

Here are some common ways that non-smokers irritate and alienate their smoking friends...and sometimes complete strangers:

Constantly reminding smokers of the health risks associated with smoking-This does not work. A person would have to be from another planet to not know the risks of smoking. So telling a smoker over and over again that he/she is going to get cancer does not help; it just comes across as nagging. Smokers are probably more aware of what happens to a person who smokes than non-smokers are simply because they have been told repeatedly by their friends and families.

Making not so subtle remarks about how disgusting smoking is in front of smokers-This only makes people mad. Unless you do not like the smoker in the room and you do not care about offending the person, it is best to keep your mouth shut. You may think that you can offend someone into stopping, but you can't.

Making comments about how much the cigarette is bothering you when you are in a public place-within earshot of the person smoking the cigarette-Again, this is not going to make that person put out the cigarette. It might just cause that person to exhale harder in your direction. The mentality of a smoker in that situation is usually, "If it bothers you, then leave. It is a public place, and I have the right to do what I want." And the smoker would be right.