Am I the only one who feels awkward Vaping in public?

[Ansah]

I quite smoking a few years ago in favor of Swedish snus, and have only been vaping for less than a week, but yeah, I am definitely awkward vaping in public. Not because it's embarrassing, but because I'm afraid I will only cop a resentment and get angry if anyone gets in my face over it. Since I got my Ego-C kit, I've practiced a bit of stealth vaping, but will probably continue to pop a snus pouch once in a while because even though the nicotine hit isn't as fun, it's completely 100% discreet and I really dig that aspect.

When I used to smoke, I often rolled my own, which was always a an inevitable "conversation piece" that I got thoroughly sick of. So I'd probably rather avoid those kinds of dialogues with potentially anti-tobacco strangers when vaping if I can.

 

[Yinzer]

I really dont like the fact that I'm not supposed to vape at my desk at work. I'll generally take a hit or two at my desk if im in the middle of an epiphany in my code, and luckily none of my team members care.

It's just rather annoying that it doesn't have any smell, and I'm still not allowed to smoke indoors for some unknown reason. The even weirder part is they paid for the thing as a 'Smoking cessation device'....

Meh, my office is the only place I've had an issue.

Who did you contact about having it paid for? I rarely make use of my medical insurance...might be worthwhile looking into

 

[John Castle]

I quite smoking a few years ago in favor of Swedish snus, and have only been vaping for less than a week, but yeah, I am definitely awkward vaping in public. Not because it's embarrassing, but because I'm afraid I will only cop a resentment and get angry if anyone gets in my face over it. Since I got my Ego-C kit, I've practiced a bit of stealth vaping, but will probably continue to pop a snus pouch once in a while because even though the nicotine hit isn't as fun, it's completely 100% discreet and I really dig that aspect.

When I used to smoke, I often rolled my own, which was always a an inevitable "conversation piece" that I got thoroughly sick of. So I'd probably rather avoid those kinds of dialogues with potentially anti-tobacco strangers when vaping if I can.

Tangent: I still love me some Snus. Favorites are Swedish Match Lab Series and Northerner Boost.

On topic: I can understand where you're coming from, but I don't think you'll encounter too many people getting in your face -- then again, it might depend on the overall tenor of the community you live in. I live in a college town that's trying way too hard to be eco-fashionable and politically correct, and when anyone brings up my vaping in public to me at all, it's in a spirit of idle/friendly curiosity, not confrontation. I don't think you have as much to worry about as you might imagine.

 

[Ansah]

Tangent: I still love me some Snus. Favorites are Swedish Match Lab Series and Northerner Boost.

Tanget: Skruff Stark, Grov, General Stark and the original Ettan...(Sorry OP if this is hijacking the thread).

On topic: I can understand where you're coming from, but I don't think you'll encounter too many people getting in your face -- then again, it might depend on the overall tenor of the community you live in. I live in a college town that's trying way too hard to be eco-fashionable and politically correct, and when anyone brings up my vaping in public to me at all, it's in a spirit of idle/friendly curiosity, not confrontation. I don't think you have as much to worry about as you might imagine.

On Topic: Ditto. I too live in a somewhat pretentiously intellectually precocious college town, and certainly much of what is on the mainstream left-of-center agenda here is, IMHO, politically hip. But there is also a strong undercurrent of a sort of Wilson era neo-progressivism that smacks of a hubristic, academically-centered cultural agenda that manifests as attempts to coercively control the practices and behavior of the populace on a panoply of levels... My own view is that the cultural life of a people cannot and should not be dictated by social engineers, however well-intentioned.

But you're probably right. I'm a wee touchy about the devolvement of whole anti-tobacco crusade (which began as a wholly legitimate indoor clean air pursuit) and tend to overreact. As I get more used to vaping, I'll no doubt experiment more.

 

[tipsynoodle]

I vape everywhere smoking is allowed.....don't care what people say...i flaunt mines lol......and i have a big setup...my "smokey" as i call it is longer than my hand......i find myself educating people a lot.....

 

[DizGrizz]

...On Topic: Ditto. I too live in a somewhat pretentiously intellectually precocious college town, and certainly much of what is on the mainstream left-of-center agenda here is, IMHO, politically hip. But there is also a strong undercurrent of a sort of Wilson era neo-progressivism that smacks of a hubristic, academically-centered cultural agenda that manifests as attempts to coercively control the practices and behavior of the populace on a panoply of levels... My own view is that the cultural life of a people cannot and should not be dictated by social engineers, however well-intentioned...

Wow, love the thesaurus speak. Seriously, I enjoy reading things written by people with a voluminous vocabulary.
John Cleese of Monty Python fame used to write sketches to which they referred as "thesaurus sketches" and they were a blast to watch/hear. One of the most notable was the "cheese shop" The Cheese Shop sketch, Monty Python - YouTube

 

[KillTheNoise]

I quite smoking a few years ago in favor of Swedish snus, and have only been vaping for less than a week, but yeah, I am definitely awkward vaping in public. Not because it's embarrassing, but because I'm afraid I will only cop a resentment and get angry if anyone gets in my face over it. Since I got my Ego-C kit, I've practiced a bit of stealth vaping, but will probably continue to pop a snus pouch once in a while because even though the nicotine hit isn't as fun, it's completely 100% discreet and I really dig that aspect.

When I used to smoke, I often rolled my own, which was always a an inevitable "conversation piece" that I got thoroughly sick of. So I'd probably rather avoid those kinds of dialogues with potentially anti-tobacco strangers when vaping if I can.

Another dipper! And yes, snus IS dipping. I haven't touched my can of Copehagen for 3 days, haven't even thought about it except when I tell people this exact statement. Dipping is ....ing gross.

Im so glad I finally took the 'leap' into vaping. I consider myself technically smart, been a computer geek my entire life so my fasination with tne whole vaping world is just another computer game.

But!

Its much better than dipping (or smoking, which I stopped for dipping). Times 10. Keep up the vaping man, its much better for you and your not swallowing what is in the dip! (stomach/throat/any cancer isn't cool) Be proud of your newfound habit! You should WANT to explain it to people, us vapers are still minorities (hope not for long) and you should flaunt it I think. We help people stop SMOKING CIGARETTES. That in itself should be enough motivation to not want to vape in public.

Be proud bro, you're the winner here.

 

[frozen_coyote]

I try to avoid vaping in public. I mostly get stared at uncomfortably. A few people have asked and most just shrug their shoulders and walk off wondering what kind of technology is coming out. In bars, I rarely get a second glance. My friends are disinterested until I tell them I'm vaping ecto cooler. To which, they warm up and are amazed at the accuracy of the flavor.

 

[Magikhat]

Agreed. Vaping in public feels strange. I usually take a hit then quickly put it back in my pocket.

 

[Fordeetu]

...Not for me. I'm an attention hog and like to hear myself talk.

But, some things you can do.

Keep it visible. If you are at a restaurant, bar, or bookstore, keep it on the table in front of you. Don't vape, but just let it be familiar to you in any situation.

Don't stealth vape if you are already feeling awkward. You're conscience will get the better of you. If you feel like you are doing something wrong, you are and it just adds to the uncomfortable situation.

Vape around smokers. This is two fold. It's a familiar situation and you have somewhat of a commonality with the people you are around. Secondly, it opens up the door to discussion. Talking and explaining what you are doing usually will illicit a response of interest. When you verbalize with somebody what you are doing, and if they show interest or fascination, it will help you realize that what you're doing isn't strange. It's commonplace. People smoke or chew or dip or vape for all of the same reasons. To get nicotine. Same end but a different means. For those that do no nic, it's a habitual thing which is another instance of similarity.

Don't do anything that adds to the awkwardness but you should put yourself in a situation where there is a common ground to ease the discomfort.

 

[Chuckq4yoo]

Even though it doesn't have a bad smell like cigarettes, I can relate to you OP.. I feel the same way unless I'm with my buddies.

 

[patkin]

It will be interesting to see what happens when a non-smoker dieter enjoying their cheese cake vape is sent to the smoking area.

 

[Petrodus]

Even when we smoked cigarettes ...
It was always more comfortable and enjoyable
when we took smoke breaks with others...
Enjoyable comfortable social event thing.

Well, not so much if we had to stand outside
in a smoking corral in the middle of winter !!

 

[QLogic]

I could careless what other people think of me. What I don't like is having to explain over and over again what it is and why I'm using it. Now that I can do without. Im not much of a people person and I hate repeating myself. Only people I actually take time out to explain it to in depth are smokers that I actually think may convert. None smoker always give me the same bias bull lines. I swear there has to be a book out there titled "Dumb things to ask Vapers". My favorite is "why are you smoking water?" Like really? Smoking water? That question just makes me want to use my vamo as a billy club!!

 

[blindmice]

One time at an outside concert I was puffing away. The women behind me was coughing up a lung and asked me if I could put out my cigarette. I laughed and said "I'm not smoking a cigarette", boy did she feel dumb. I've found some people are ridiculous and just the sight of smoke freaks them out so I tend to put it away in public, unless I'm in a club. Most of the time, people have no issues with it there.

 

[MidgetVapr]

Maybe im just antagonistic but i really dont give a crap who see's me vaping. My favorite looks come from the "helicopter" parent types at the local park where i take my daughter its that whole "how dare you" look to which i just give them a sly grin and chuckle.

 

[gjshaw29]

I vape openly and proudly where ever I go. Granted I'm not doing it in stores and such, I can wait the twenty mins to have a vape. But by doing it in public I've help to convert about 10 people to vaping, and I'm proud of that. Wouldn't have been able to do that if I was uncomfortable. In time you'll get used to the looks/questions and find its second nature.

 

[Ardo]

For the time being, explaining vaping over and over again is something that we simply have to do. Who else would?

Media is full of biased negative articles that sell way better than positive ones. People remember negative articles better than positive. Add to that the fact that people tend to distrust anything new at first and you get the situation, where the only thing left to do is explaining and educating from your own experience and knowledge.

Explain, educate and spread the word. It's only doing us good

 

[Alter]

I'm too old to give a rats azz what other people think about my vaping. I'm not in high school no more so what others think of my vaping really doesn't matter. I vape where I want and I am not shy about it at all. Yes there is a line on where to and not to vape and I respect that but the media is making vaping sound like were all druggies and giving the general public a false pretence of what vaping really is...quitting smoking.
I haven't been aproached by a cop or anybody negative yet just curious ones who are wondering what I'm doing but I'm ready and armed with enough knowledge to slam the negative people back with the benefits of vaping vs smoking.

 

[Dave L]

Im a genesis vaper and i blow CLOUDS.. I vape everywhere. Vaped at a movie theater and restaurant 2 days ago.. vaped at a hospital last week.. vaped at my doctors office a couple weeks ago.

To me, that's disrespectful of others. I vape openly in public too, but never where I think it might bother someone. I've taken the stealth puff in the grocery store aisle. If I'm outdoors, I vape whenever I like. I don't feel obligated to hide it, in fact I try to leave myself open to conversations that might follow from the curious looks I get. But never, never do I vape in enclosed spaces where there are groups or crowds of people. That'll mark vapers as rude and antisocial, which is the last thing we want.