Curious

[normadesmondtutu]

Does anyone see people vaping when they're out and about? I have yet to spy anyone using an ecig, and I've been hyper aware for the two months I've been vaping.

I live on the central coast of CA, so maybe not being in a big city is one reason. Also, there are very few tobacco smokers left here it seems, and many "health nazis". But when I was on vacation in NYC I didn't spot a single ecig either.

Kind of concerns me- I wish our number was larger and I wish the general public was more aware.

I feel I need to start my own educational campaign. But right now I vape very discretely in public, and still feel like I'm doing something "wrong".

Gotta love how the Tobacco Control agenda has made me feel guilty even when I'm not smoking.

 

[LowThudd]

I vape openly. People stare, but my eGo likes it. lol When I was in Sacramento last weekend, I asked the waitress at a restaurant if it was OK to use an e-cig. She simply asked if it made smoke, I told her no. She said "as long as it doesn't make smoke I don't care. Never heard of that before." I still kept vapor to a minimum so as to not arous suspicions, but nobody cared. I am not to worried ATM, things take time to catch on.

 

[DLite]

I vape out in the open for all to see and then explain and educate when people ask me about them. Some get the look on their face like i'm doing something wrong but who cares I dont and when they find out what it is they dont either. Took a trip to disney land a couple months ago and the employees asked me what it was and then told me that i could use it standing in line and where ever else i felt like because its not a cigarette.

 

[audio]

I think you'll find that most vapers tend to be discreet about it. Overt vapers can afford to waste time getting pulled over by cops or stopped by curious people asking about it. There's nothing wrong with being overt, but I'm too busy to be bothered.

 

[Cinjay]

I have not noticed any one else vaping either. But I have noticed that I too vape secretly thinking that I am doing something wrong. I am hoping this feeling goes away because I would love to be able to pull it out any where and vape away.

 

[mistinthewoods]

I was at the Michigan Brewers Guild Beer festival yesterday (my daughter and son-in-law brew for a local microbrew) and a young woman came up to me and asked me to take a picture of her group of friends. When she saw my PV she asked me what it was. I explained it to her and she called her boyfriend over to show him. He tried it and was interested. She wants him to quit smoking so we exchanged e-mail addresses and I hope to hear something from them soon. I told them to check out this forum and I hope they do. It felt good.

 

[muttSRT]

Never once yet. I did run into one person who claimed to have an ecig bought from a corner store, but they didnt like it and it was sitting in a drawer at home. But I am in a small town.

 

[rhantson]

Well, here in Denton Texas - it seems to be a quite different story. I think alot of it has to do with our local shop Vaporescense and its owner Greg though... I was aware of the eCig for a while, even saw a kiosk out in Vegas last Spring when I was out there for NAB (National Association of Broadcasters)... but I had never tried it... I ran into a friend vaping at a local club that I was at and it was (at that time) the first time I had seen anyone vaping...

I think alot of the reason why I never notices was that - well - you didn't really know what you were looking at... but that's my opinion... I was out shooting (I'm a promo photographer) at another local club (smaller and not as much light in the room other than the stage) last weekend, and suddenly I realized the large number of little blue and orange lights blinking up around the room... must have been a dozen or so customers in the place vaping on one eCig or another... Just two days ago I notices someone vaping a Screwdriver Mod in our local grocery store...

I think it really all depends on the availability of the product in your area - and whether or not its available by people who are doing more than just selling the product... What do I mean by that? Simple - some people will just sell you an eCig and be done with it... Others (Like Greg) help you understand the product more and doesn't sell you one - he fits you with one that you will definately like.

People who find themselves vaping and then tossing it in a drawer were not properly fitted with the product or eLiquid... My advice... before you go online and buy your first eCig (and I know a few of those site owners here are going to want to slap me, but this is my personal opinion) Look for a place like Greg has here in Denton near you, and talk to the guy who's selling it... know before you buy, and understand the make/model you are buying before you plunk down... shop wisely and you'll be very happy with what you are buying... I know I am - and that's because I understood the product better than if I had just said - "Let me hop online and spend a lot of money on a roll of the dice!"...

 

[DocRokRx]

I too wish we saw it more. I had teased around the idea a long time ago after seeing some of those crap units in gas stations, then a few weeks ago reconnected with a friend from way back, who happens to be an avid vaper! that got me thinking and now I'm almost ready to make the switch (just need to save a bit of cash for the initial cost!!!!)

 

[TWolf]

We are all ambassadors for this fledgling industry. The public needs to be educated on ecigs before they'll be fully accepted. Until we are comfortable with it ourselves how likely is this to happen?

I am still careful not to vape where I wouldn't smoke or to be very discreet in those situations when I just have to have some nic. Otherwise though I puff away openly just as I would have an analog.

When asked about my PV, I have the choice to either be brief (i.e. "An electronic cigarette... Lot of info online if you're interested") or take the time for a full-out discussion of the value of ecigs in my life. It's never been a bother or a time-sucker unless I've made it that way.

 

[TWolf]

And to answer the original question... Other then a few get togethers with a handful of other KY vapers and 2 co-workers, I've never run into another vaper "in the wild". Since I work in a large mfg facility, even after 5 mths I still run into people daily there that have never seen a PV.

 

[tee217]

I work in the laundry department at a nursing home and trustees from the jail fold the linen's the cop that watches them vapes. As well a few others.

 

[rhantson]

Personally - I can't understand why anyone would be timid about the fact that they put the analogs down and moved to vaping... It's something that I am very proud about - especially after being hooked on analogs for 25 years... I briefly say "Its an electronic cig" when asked about it, and if they seemed interested... the next words out of my mouth are - "X number of days without one of those... " as I point to their analog... that usually strikes up a conversation about them. I'm probably a little rare when it comes to your average vapor though... I have spent a lot of time in Greg's store learning everything I can about them so I can be a true ambassador as you call it... I have already purchased kits for friends who are now non-smokers - or insisted they at least stop in to Gregs store for more information...

I vape an eGo myself now, but I am NEVER without my 510, a few extra batteries, a handful of clean - unused carts, and a couple of different bottles of tobacco and other flavored eLiquid... (yeah, 16 days in and I'm really taking this a bit overboard - sue me! My lungs are feeling SO MUCH BETTER!)

As I sit at the bar, if I find someone who really does seem interested... I ask - how much do you smoke, what do you smoke (if its not obvious), load up a cart, and hand him a 510 and say - Enjoy... when they take a hit, and try to hand it back, I tell them... "Hold onto it for a while... Enjoy it... think of it like I just handed you one of those... "

The funny thing is watching them go 15 minutes... 20 minutes... 30 minutes... an hour and still hitting it --- and they realize that they hadn't lit up yet! (or had me muck with it either) LOL -- especially those you see chain smoking 1/2 a pack in a period of two hours...

 

[rhantson]

I have not noticed any one else vaping either. But I have noticed that I too vape secretly thinking that I am doing something wrong. I am hoping this feeling goes away because I would love to be able to pull it out any where and vape away.

Be proud Cinjay! Be Proud!

 

[GloryAnna]

I never try to hide my PV when out in public. I vape when I want, where I want. If anyone asks me what my PV is, I explain it to them. If they seem interested, I point them to my favorite vendor's website, a couple of vaping forums, and insist that they stay away from the mall kiosks. I have never been told not to vape when out in a public place.

 

[catwoman]

I am new to all of this, but I have never seen anyone vaping. Of course I don't go out much, but still...And I agree about this odd sense of discomfort. I feel like I need to sneak. Everyone knows that I smoke, so pulling out a cig just gets eye rolling, but with the e-cig it is different. Maybe it is truly acknowledging the addiction to nicotine and the dependent behavior of smoking? So, I am a junkie, but this is the closest I have come to quitting in 29 years. After a week, I am down to 3 cigs a day. and when I run out of cigs that will be it. Glad the forum is here, otherwise I don't know if I could do it.

 

[TWolf]

Good for you, Catwoman!

 

[catwoman]

thanks for the support

 

[mini_art]

I never hide, I have had a few people come up and ask.
The response has always been excitement and wow I want one , I need to quit cigs LOL
I really am not worried about bad reactions from people or police.
Doesnt worry me a bit