I will start this off by saying that I am aware there is a Public vaping section, but for the life of me can't get my posting active so if there is a moderator who can move this and help me out, I'd be eternally grateful.
vaping in public has long been seen as the ultimate "perk", if you will, to our chosen hobby and lifestyle. We all know that there is no harmful secondhand smoke from our PV's and that the worst that happens is a typically pretty delightful smell gets exhaled with a large plume of what is essentially water vapor. No harm, no foul, right? I feel that this is in fact wrong, and not only does it make us look a little irresponsible and a little douchey to some (Perkins dude, really? Can't let grandma eat her omelet in peace?), but it may end up our ultimate downfall. vaping is indeed a grey area in many localities, and one can still maintain respect with our E-cigs and enjoy increased freedom with use of a little decency and spelled out care. I found that a few simple actions are actually looked at with much respect and tends to get our crowd looked at a little better, so I crafted my own personal "Rules for Public Vaping" that I find to be good general guidelines and that I hope you choose to adopt.
Rule #1: Not vaping front of children other than your own or your friends, should be an obvious one. Lets be realistic here, huge clouds look pretty sweet to an 11 year old kid (my girlfriend's brother, for example) and we don't want to encourage a new habit amongst youth, especially as possession of e-cigs by minors is one of the greatest problem arguments facing our community.
Rule #2: Your juice DOES have a smell, and some people just won't enjoy it like you. I love the scent of my Fruit Juice Gum, love it. No matter how much I enjoy it though, the fellow three feet down might not. If you're going to vape in a public place, try to avoid other people with your vape and be respectful of their right to only inhale oxygen if they choose.
Rule #2.2: Restaurants are off-limits. That same smell that may even make you a little hungry may make someone lose their appetite entirely. On top of there being kids around, not one person wants the smell of their steak to be altered by the smell of your Boba's Bounty or Cherry Limeade vape. If your restaurant has a smoking section, opt to sit there if you wish to vape.
Rule #3: Walmart and other 24 hour chains, after 11pm or your locality's curfue. After that time there are typically no kids in these spots, and at least in my town places like Walmart are pretty dead at night. I've been asked to pocket my mech mod in the daytime, but not once ever at night. You couldn't have a cig while picking out bread before, must you vape while doing so now?
Rule #4: Its typically easy to ask the manager if its alright, and usually if you ask they are fine with it. In small businesses or even smaller stores, its typically a good thing to ask the PIC if you can vape in their establishment. As long as whatever manager you are bugging isn't to busy, they usually are fine with it, and you avoid the awkward moment of getting asked to put it away if you don't. Plus, assuming makes an ... out of both "u" and "me"
Rule #5: Be respectful! This likely goes without saying, but after being on the other end I gotta say it. If someone asks you to put it away, be it that you are indoors or maybe it just plain freaks em out, do so, and even try to explain what it is. I used to be the guy at Taco Bell to have to go tell customers they couldn't vape inside as I was the only employee who was a Vapor Advocate. I approached the situation every time by saying "Hey, as much as I don't wanna do this, I have to ask you to vape. The bossman said if I can't vape inside because of corporate that he won't allow the customers to either, sorry man!" and more than once I had people get defensive as though I wasn't just as much of a Vapor Rights advocate as him.
The bottom line is guys, and I know its been said, is that we as a community have to make the CHOICE to be respectful with our vape, or like cigarettes the government is going to FORCE us to be "Respectful", and no one wants that. Look at poor Duluth, MN. We have lightsaber-lookin flippin sweet cloud chuckin devices and if we want to keep playing with our big boy (or girl) toys, we have to act like "big kids" about them. I know this probably doesn't apply to a vast majority of the existing community here, but I had to get it off my chest, and feel free to add your personal thoughts to this.
/rant
(grammatical edit 6/28)
vaping in public has long been seen as the ultimate "perk", if you will, to our chosen hobby and lifestyle. We all know that there is no harmful secondhand smoke from our PV's and that the worst that happens is a typically pretty delightful smell gets exhaled with a large plume of what is essentially water vapor. No harm, no foul, right? I feel that this is in fact wrong, and not only does it make us look a little irresponsible and a little douchey to some (Perkins dude, really? Can't let grandma eat her omelet in peace?), but it may end up our ultimate downfall. vaping is indeed a grey area in many localities, and one can still maintain respect with our E-cigs and enjoy increased freedom with use of a little decency and spelled out care. I found that a few simple actions are actually looked at with much respect and tends to get our crowd looked at a little better, so I crafted my own personal "Rules for Public Vaping" that I find to be good general guidelines and that I hope you choose to adopt.
Rule #1: Not vaping front of children other than your own or your friends, should be an obvious one. Lets be realistic here, huge clouds look pretty sweet to an 11 year old kid (my girlfriend's brother, for example) and we don't want to encourage a new habit amongst youth, especially as possession of e-cigs by minors is one of the greatest problem arguments facing our community.
Rule #2: Your juice DOES have a smell, and some people just won't enjoy it like you. I love the scent of my Fruit Juice Gum, love it. No matter how much I enjoy it though, the fellow three feet down might not. If you're going to vape in a public place, try to avoid other people with your vape and be respectful of their right to only inhale oxygen if they choose.
Rule #2.2: Restaurants are off-limits. That same smell that may even make you a little hungry may make someone lose their appetite entirely. On top of there being kids around, not one person wants the smell of their steak to be altered by the smell of your Boba's Bounty or Cherry Limeade vape. If your restaurant has a smoking section, opt to sit there if you wish to vape.
Rule #3: Walmart and other 24 hour chains, after 11pm or your locality's curfue. After that time there are typically no kids in these spots, and at least in my town places like Walmart are pretty dead at night. I've been asked to pocket my mech mod in the daytime, but not once ever at night. You couldn't have a cig while picking out bread before, must you vape while doing so now?
Rule #4: Its typically easy to ask the manager if its alright, and usually if you ask they are fine with it. In small businesses or even smaller stores, its typically a good thing to ask the PIC if you can vape in their establishment. As long as whatever manager you are bugging isn't to busy, they usually are fine with it, and you avoid the awkward moment of getting asked to put it away if you don't. Plus, assuming makes an ... out of both "u" and "me"
Rule #5: Be respectful! This likely goes without saying, but after being on the other end I gotta say it. If someone asks you to put it away, be it that you are indoors or maybe it just plain freaks em out, do so, and even try to explain what it is. I used to be the guy at Taco Bell to have to go tell customers they couldn't vape inside as I was the only employee who was a Vapor Advocate. I approached the situation every time by saying "Hey, as much as I don't wanna do this, I have to ask you to vape. The bossman said if I can't vape inside because of corporate that he won't allow the customers to either, sorry man!" and more than once I had people get defensive as though I wasn't just as much of a Vapor Rights advocate as him.
The bottom line is guys, and I know its been said, is that we as a community have to make the CHOICE to be respectful with our vape, or like cigarettes the government is going to FORCE us to be "Respectful", and no one wants that. Look at poor Duluth, MN. We have lightsaber-lookin flippin sweet cloud chuckin devices and if we want to keep playing with our big boy (or girl) toys, we have to act like "big kids" about them. I know this probably doesn't apply to a vast majority of the existing community here, but I had to get it off my chest, and feel free to add your personal thoughts to this.
/rant
(grammatical edit 6/28)
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