Shouted at by a Barman to leave the pub!

[Tallulah]

I whipped out my pen-style and took a few puffs in the lobby of my office building yesterday, right in front of two security guards at the desk. As they saw me sucking on what looked like a ballpoint pen with no odor and the quick-disappearing "smoke," they just looked confused. I loved it.

I will be slowly, but surely, venturing out into the wilds of Chicago with my burgundy pen-style. Save yesterday's indiscretion, I will be asking permission when in bars/restaurants. But ask I certainly will. I've been smoking tobacco for thirty years, and I am positively, absolutely thrilled with this device.

[Grumpysanta]

I totally agree with Tropical Bob, Please everyone stop causing confrontation, it does no one any good and in my view is irresponsible. When we find places that accept e-cig's let's just use those places. The message will get around to the other places eventually.

[youfillintheblank]

Yeah I'm not a confrontational guy, I don't want to get in trouble. What I said about pretending to put it out on my tongue is a joke, I don't think I'd really do that. But DAMN I would love to see the reaction from someone who really thought it was a real smoke!

I got mine out of curiosity, and to help with my job search since I was recently laid off, and don't REALLY want to quit smoking, but also don't want to blow an interview if I didn't completely conceal my last cigarette. And after only 1 week, I prefer the e-cig to real ones, so that's a plus. Hopefully I find a nice new position that'll have a few smokers in the office, and a boss who'll accept it for workplace use.

Originally Posted by Grumpysanta

I totally agree with Tropical Bob, Please everyone stop causing confrontation, it does no one any good and in my view is irresponsible. When we find places that accept e-cig's let's just use those places. The message will get around to the other places eventually.

[e-pipeman]

Originally Posted by Grumpysanta

I totally agree with Tropical Bob, Please everyone stop causing confrontation, it does no one any good and in my view is irresponsible. When we find places that accept e-cig's let's just use those places. The message will get around to the other places eventually.

Places will only accept e-cigs when they know what they are. We have a duty to politely ask whether we can use our devices in establishments, otherwise "the message" will never "get around to other places eventually". We can't appear to be some species of junkie hermit - by behaving furtively we behave as if we have something to hide.

[Misty]

just started smoking these e-cigs 4 weeks..love them & the last thing I need is to see them already banned! I'm a "private" smoker I guess and just want to do the transition seamlessly without getting hassled..it's not about making a statement - gave up fighting the "system" and just appreciate there is a relaxing way to just keep on enjoying what I've been doing for years without getting crazed..

[e-pipeman]

Originally Posted by Misty

just started smoking these e-cigs 4 weeks..love them & the last thing I need is to see them already banned! I'm a "private" smoker I guess and just want to do the transition seamlessly without getting hassled..it's not about making a statement - gave up fighting the "system" and just appreciate there is a relaxing way to just keep on enjoying what I've been doing for years without getting crazed..

If you're smoking at home then that's great. If you're out in the wider world then trying to do some of the things that I've heard on this forum will probably be unhelpful. For example, wearing a lanyard and taking furtive puffs will make you look like a criminal drug addict. Similarly, blowing the smoke into your t-shirt/jumper. It is one thing not wanting to worry the sheep - it is quite another to present e-cigs publicly as something to be ashamed of. My secret fear is that there are those who are quite content to be bullied by the anti-smoking mob - even though vaping is not smoking. We can call it many things, but smoking it ain't. No tobacco, no combustion - what more do people want? I understand that in America things are very different and that simply ingesting nicotine (even for therapeutic purposes) can cost you your job. We are fortunate in England that this is not the case -yet - and to keep it that way we have to establish in a non-confrontational way (politely) that vaping is a socially acceptable act.