<p>“Regardless of what you think of texting in class for any reason, how is it comparable to smoking in a lecture hall?”</p>
<p>It is comparable in the sense that the user/smoker is being selfish: Don’t I have the right to smoke? You do, but not in public places where it can affect the health of other people. Don’t I have the right to use my laptop/phone? You do, but not in the middle of a classroom lecture where it can disrupt other people.</p>