Inappropriate Behaviour

The Man Who Lit His Cigar Before the Royal Toast by H.M. Bateman..

When I heard the expression "inappropriate behaviour" I at once thought of the Bateman cartoons. Of course standards- and, indeed, ideas- of "appropriate" and "inappropriate" change. Today, of course, it would be "The Man who Lit His Cigar" Full stop! (Or as they say in America, "Period".)
Another thought occurs: why is it now considered acceptable to persecute smokers but not to criticise...(fill in the blank)?