Are Ecigs socially acceptable?

[Nightshard]

It's not hard to put one and o e together, even if you've never seen an e-cig you can see it it's made of plastic/metal and it puts out "smoke".
People still have the need to ask what it is cos that's how people are.

vaping is not socially acceptable because people fear what they don't understand and because there is a lot of negative publicity.

Not much we can do, it's a loosing battle.
The tobacco companies knew they could not fight/take over this market directly, so instead they manipulated the public and planted seeds of fear, with their scientists, doctors and people of influence.
They had a lot of practice in it, after all they have been manipulating us for many years before.

 

[JustB'nMe]

I agree with drummerskey that awareness brings about some acceptance.

With regard to bigger devices, prior to my use and the evolution of the popularity of vaping, I probably would have looked at it with skepticism. However, me being the "nosey rosey" I tend to be, I would have just asked the person about it instead of assuming the worst.

With that said, I don't believe it will ever be wholly accepted by the masses. As smokers we were outcasts so why would vaping be any different? No matter what gets proven, if anything, in the future about ecigs, there will always be naysayers. Those are the staunch believers that vaping "normalizes" smoking so, to them, that's just plain wrong.

Live well, Love hard, Laugh often & Vape on!

 

[Steamix]

Who cares ?

Considering the socially UNacceptable or outright asocial behaviour by many contemporaries, vapers are downright pleasant and unobstrusive company.

Yeah sure, I vape , so call me biased and .... vape on

 

[bluecat]

Anything that was socially acceptable 30 years ago is not socially acceptable now. Everything not socially acceptable 30 years is socially acceptable now. Is it a good thing or bad? Personally.. I wish people would stop telling me what I should find acceptable.

To answer? No, it is not. What does it mean? Absolutely nothing.

 

[Visus]

When using a mod, not an analog like e cig, the cloud makers, I have noticed many people shy away from it in fear. Functions/gatherings/parties when we smoke together, some wont even touch it when offered-- here take a look', but are curious as to what it is.
Sitting, playing cards, or out in yard, they exhale their puff of analog smoke, then I exhale a cloud that envelops the whole area.
That is kinda scary after I looked at it from their perspective and media's mis-information ..

Socially accepted -- it depends on their knowledge of e cig devices...
.
Meh, one day they will know lol

 

[Baldr]

I think that some locations it's much more accepted than others. In the Dallas/Ft Worth area, there are a ton of vape shops. I keep seeing new ones, over and over. I'm not counting things like grocery stores, gas stations, tobacco stores, or head shops that also sell some vape gear, I'm talking about pure vape shops.

And there are a bunch of vapers. I haven't seen a vape shop go out of business yet, so there have to be a bunch of people buying stuff.

So when I go out and vape in public, I don't think many people there are having a WTH? moment. Most bars, there are several other people vaping. Often, it's a bartender or waitress.

In other places, based on what I've read here, there are no local vape shops, and vaping isn't as well known.

 

[K_Tech]

hey guys,

ok so im doing this research on ecigs for myself. I realize that whenever I vape in public or tell my friends about it, they get worried about how bad it is. I have some friends who smokes often and wont even use my ecig because theyre scared. I have the chi you, stingray and tesla m5, all those they think looks weird.

So A few questions:

If you didnt know what an ecig was, the big ones, what would you have thought of it when you first see someone smoking it?

If they were vaping out in the open, I think I would assume it was some sort of hookah. If they were hiding it, well, I'd probably assume it was something we don't discuss on the forum.

Are ecigs socially acceptable? Why or why not?

Most people that see me vaping seem to think it's pretty neat, and seem interested when I give them the run-down on what I'm doing and why - even the nonsmokers. Based on that, I'd say it's pretty acceptable.

What can we do to make it socially acceptable?

Spread the word, educate the masses!

 

[JoppaRoadCruiser]

I think that some locations it's much more accepted than others. In the Dallas/Ft Worth area, there are a ton of vape shops. I keep seeing new ones, over and over. I'm not counting things like grocery stores, gas stations, tobacco stores, or head shops that also sell some vape gear, I'm talking about pure vape shops.

And there are a bunch of vapers. I haven't seen a vape shop go out of business yet, so there have to be a bunch of people buying stuff.

So when I go out and vape in public, I don't think many people there are having a WTH? moment. Most bars, there are several other people vaping. Often, it's a bartender or waitress.

In other places, based on what I've read here, there are no local vape shops, and vaping isn't as well known.

Very true. Tons of vape shops around here. I never really vape out in public though. I occasionally see someone taking a drag off an ego but for as many vape shops that are in the area, I would think that I would notice more people vaping. Maybe I'm just not paying close enough attention.

But to the point of it being socially acceptable, my wife hates it almost as much as she does actual smoking. Hate to say it but I just don't ever see it being socially acceptable. So many people see vapor and they think smoke. Even after you inform them that it is different. Very different. I would love to be wrong on this though....

 

[stevegmu]

I agree with stevegmu, smoking of any type has been too demonized in the US. Hopefully, over time, that will change as e-cigerattes, or I prefer to call it, vaping, becomes more known.
As for social acceptability, I have reached an age where I really don't care if people accept what I do or don't do. As long as I am not causing harm to others it is my business (gosh, I sound like a Cialus commercial).

Here's how I see it. In a land of smokers, where smoking is the norm and widely accepted, vaping is welcomed. Take my favorite city in the world, for example, Prague, CZ. One can openly vape at the airport, in taxis- with permission, restaurants and bars- in non-smoking sections at restaurants, at hotels, museums, the metro, pretty much everywhere. I didn't see cloud blowing, but I did see a lot of vapers. Vapers everywhere. No one seems to care, except for several vocal tourists from America and the UK I ran into at a restaurant and pub. Both were told by staff that e-nic isn't smoking, and is allowed...

Prague and the Czech Republic have a high percentage of smokers for the developed world. Smoking is allowed in most bars and restaurants and hotels. Advertising is legal, and there are price protections for smokers- cigarettes are the same price everywhere- at stores, kiosks, the airport, in machines... You even see politicians smoking openly...

There have been restrictions, as of late- not allowed in public buildings, except for designated areas, and bars, restaurants and hotels can restrict areas where smoking is allowed.

It is a bit disconcerting, at first, seeing so many vapers. As I began to explore vaping in Prague, I asked my Czech friends why so many people use e-nic, as they call it. They told me smoking is bad, they know it, everyone knows it. A lot of people there smoke, but everyone knows it is not healthy, makes a mess with cigarette butts and stinks. When they see vapers, they are welcomed and congratulated for quitting smoking, not looked at like a leper...

Another reason why no one blinks twice at vapers, except for tourists, is that the other is basically legal, well, not so much legal, but not illegal, to an extent... It isn't that Prague is lawless, but that as long as no one is being harmed, everything is OK.

Why is Prague so free and accepting? They lived under the nasiz, then under communism. They know what is like to not be free and will never go back. They aren't so far removed from dictatorships, or colonial rulers, like we are. We don't know the other side, but are gradually starting to become acquainted with it...

I don't think vaping will ever become commonplace or widely accepted in the US; maybe parts of the US, but not as a whole. I won't be here to find out...

 

[BostonJim]

I live in Vegas and its getting to the point where vaping is as common as smoking, and much more preferable in public places. In fact, getting asked "What the hell is that?" is replaced with "What are you vaping?". Around the casions, older people are seen with an ego more often than with a cigarette.

 

[mrmitch5150]

Vaping is not socially acceptable because people fear what they don't understand

This is so true. I think most people just have no idea what the hell we are doing exactly, and because people associate the vapor with smoke, and smoke = bad. Regardless, I love talking to people that come ask my questions about it, and pay no bother to the ones that think it's a tool from the devil.

 

[Bill Oso]

Use the mechs/mods in 18350 mode and they will be less intimidating to people than a 10" battery operated nicotine self-pleasuring device.

 

[Myrany]

I have now been vaping about 15 months and I have seen ONE vaper in the wild. An 18 wheel truck driver gave me the PV salute as he passed me going the opposite direction.

I have also been pulled over by the cops twice and had my juice "tested" to be certain it wasn't "something else."

I know there are vapers in this town as the blu, fin, njoy and mystic displays are always sold out near as fast as they are filled up but I have yet to actually see anyone using them.

I definitely attract attention if I take any of my larger devices out of the house. The REOs and the Provari get quite a few stares and the occasional snarky comment.

 

[JayQC]

It's the same as cigarettes : No, it's not.

 

[Nightshard]

It's the same as cigarettes : No, it's not.

Well not exactly, some people will confront a vaper on the street, telling him all sorts of nonsense, while they would just ignore a smoker.

 

[Lurch]

Well not exactly, some people will confront a vaper on the street, telling him all sorts of nonsense, while they would just ignore a smoker.

That's the part that floors me!!! People will actually approach someone vaping and make such statements, sometimes, according to reports seen within this forum, while smoking a cigarette!!!

We know, and have known for some time, that smoking causes all kinds of problems. While we admittedly do not have extensive information on the long term effects of vaping, it is definitely "safer" than smoking! I for one have seen improvements in my health (or at least how I feel) since replacing smoking with vaping. My doctors (both my primary care and cardiologist) have been trilled with the fact that I replaced smoking with vaping!!

I would never approach someone and tell them that doing something is bad for them when I had not done the research and/or knew anything about what they were doing!

Myrany - I was the same way until the past couple of weeks; never saw anyone else vaping unless I was in or near a vape shop. Now, all the sudden I am starting to see it more often. It may be that I am just more aware of it, but I gotta believe some of it is the increase in popularity of vaping.

 

[JayQC]

Well not exactly, some people will confront a vaper on the street, telling him all sorts of nonsense, while they would just ignore a smoker.

When I say it's like cigarettes I mean : You inhale airborne chemicals in your lungs then blow them out in a cloud. It looks like smoke, so it's smoke, so it's like cigarettes, so it's not socially acceptable, nor will it ever be.

Cigarettes are old, PV's are new. It's the only difference there is. The idea behind it is the same. That's why I hope it never becomes socially acceptable to vape.

Most vapers have trouble getting over the honeymoon phase of the vaping habit and just can't wrap their heads around why non-smokers and non-vapers might not completely approve of one's fondness for inhaling anything but air and that's perfectly understandable.

Inhaling anything but air for a hobby is not socially acceptable, that's why James Dean's cigarette habit was awesome, and that is also why it probably will stay that way, no matter how refined your battery operated apparatus really is.

I hope it stays that way. Smokers will relate to it, and most vapers are ex smokers anyway so we're not spreading the culture of smoking to people who never did in the first place. You think I sound like those anti-vaping ads who thump their fist at the promotion of candy flavored vapor to children? Maybe, but they have one thing right : If you breathe nothing but air, then you should aim to keep it that way at all costs.

When we get over how nice vaping is and come back to earth, we suddenly realize that to non-smokers/non-vapers there is no difference in the level of annoyment between a cigarette and a PV. I'm not talking about the toxicity here, I'm talking about the annoying asshats who vape their horrific strawberry mint at work right in front of me instead of getting up and going outside like I do. I did ask them to stop and they did, but not without going on in a detailed exposé on the composition of the vapor they put in their lungs like I could give two craps about it. I don't even think they know that I vape 2ml of 18mg a day even to this day and I didn't partake in the discussion because they are simply not the kind of people I want to mingle with, and this forum is filled with them.

Obviously, because vaping is considerably less harmful than sucking tar in your lungs, everyone should live their lives surrounded by a cloud of vapor wether they like it or not.


This whole socially acceptable debate reminds me of Timothy Leary's idiotic crusade.

 

[zahzoo]

Social awareness is starting to increase a lot... But I think a large portion of society knows little to nothing about e-cigs. Especially among non-smokers which out number smokers considerably.

Socially acceptable..? No. It looks like smoking and smoking is not considered socially acceptable in the US today... socially tolerable to a certain degree, maybe. But only 18.1% of adults in the US smoke today. Then only a small but rapidly growing portion of that 18.1% are vaping.

IMO... in the big picture. No... not socially acceptable. Maybe that trend will change but there's far more opposition than support among the general population.

 

[zoiDman]

...

Are ecigs socially acceptable? Why or why not?
...

Kinda Hard to Answer that Question don't ya think?

Socially Acceptable Everywhere?

Socially Acceptable Inside Enclosed Spaces?

Socially Acceptable in Outdoor Settings?

Socially Acceptable in Small Towns?

Socially Acceptable in Big Cities?

Socially Acceptable for Adults to Buy and Use them?

Socially Acceptable for Minors to Buy and Use them?

Socially Acceptable when Used with Respect?

Socially Acceptable when People just Want to Blow Clouds?

I think before I would Try and Get Replies on a Question like "Are e-Cigarettes Socially Acceptable" I would Narrow Down some of the Parameters that go into making Anything Socially Acceptable.

 

[Nightshard]

I wonder whats the situation of vaping in counties where smoking is Socially acceptable, like Russia, Serbia, Romania, etc..