I agree with OP that (the dream of) vaping being widely accepted and tolerated is never going to happen. And I see the same thing that happened to smoking occurring with vaping. Which is well underway, and apparently many vapers are on that train. Ya know, that it is reasonable to not allow vaping anywhere in a hospital.
The golden era of vaping anywhere, everywhere is coming to a close with vaping. About 50 years less of a golden era than smoking got to enjoy. Maybe more years for smoking, I dunno, and doesn't matter as vaping golden era was far shorter.
Now if you smoke outside, come inside, and smell like a smoke, that is deemed disrespectful to the people who have to share that space with you. Thus, smoking anywhere is now essentially deemed disrespectful.
I find vapers underestimate what we are up against. It isn't just regulations of nicotine and gear, which is critical here in 2013, but moreover it is the perception of 'still smoking, causing a nuisance with second hand smoke/vape' that is what we are up against. Back in say 2010, not really a nuisance and not really an issue. Here in 2013, second hand vapor is a nuisance and, even according to vapors, a very disrespectful thing to be engaging in. Heaven forbid you vape indoors around non vapers.
But I also find it incredibly surprising that vapers don't realize what we are up against and don't realize how swiftly vaping will go the way of smoking. The reason I find it surprising is because many vapers are so anti-smoking now that they are on board with other anti-smokers but for somewhat different reasons. Most ex-smokers hate the smell of smoking now, and can suddenly relate to what non-smokers have been saying for last 30+ years. But non-smokers don't care all that much about ex-smokers plight with smoking and focus squarely on the 'this stinks, is probably horrible for me if you do it around me.' Non-smokers, who are also non-vapers, don't care to be educated with all the intricacies of vaping, and are squarely focussed on idea that vaping does have some sort of odor, contains that evil drug nicotine in it, and thus is probably horrible for me if you do it around me. 'You who need to get your fix every so often like to claim otherwise, but sorry if I don't take your word for it. Wanna do this and allow me to be a little reasonable with you? Then don't do it anywhere in public. Keep it to your home and your car, and we can have a reasonable discussion. Argue that you feel it is okay in public, even outdoors, and I may suddenly show up as unreasonable to you. Get used to it. We did it with smokers, we can surely do it with you vapers.'
So if you are an ex-smoker who is now convinced that second hand smoke isn't just disrespectful, but is likely harmful (to you) then count on many many non-vapers who feel the same way about second hand vapor, regardless of the 'truths' you feel are in play.
Again, I agree with OP, and my way of putting it is the golden era of vaping is coming to a close. I say enjoy it now while you still can, or don't, and think you are being respectful to people who really don't care a whole lot about that sort of respect. They are just glad you aren't trying to kill them.
But the glimmer of hope that needs to be remembered in this is that smoking isn't banned in our society. Vaping will not be banned. I believe anyone that tries to suggest otherwise is engaging in fear mongering.
Someone will do it.
