Dear Non-Smoker,

[space0matic]

I'll never forget my co-workers. Every time I went outside in the freezing cold (we had no outdoor smoke shelters) I got an earful. I was the only smoker in my team of 18. It was every time, and it was relentless. They would call me every name in the book, I guess that kind of bullying is allowed if the target is a smoker. What I had to put up with was maddening. I actually think it made me smoke more- instead of nipping out for 1, I would have 2. Anything to prolong going back to the earful I was going to get once I came back. Sometimes, I would leave the office to get something from a different office, and when I came back they started in with the remarks even though I hadn't even had one.

When I had to quit cold-turkey (I was trying to get pregnant), they only noticed one week in.
Then, to my amazement, they started to give me tips on how to quit smoking.
YES, the entire crew were former smokers!

I will NEVER be like that.

I have to say, I've never gotten treatment like that from a non-smoker. It's the former smokers that are so very bitter.

 

[Serianna]

Oh I know the shaking is normal. I am one of those people who is very very calm in nearly every situation one could think of (car accidents, bodily injury of myself, heck even when my kids get hurt I hit that "spot" where I go into survival mode, I'm told I am eerily calm, and just deal with whatever comes along.) I only get shaky when I get mildly ...... off to boot, never when I'm in a REALLY mad way, just when mildly ticked off. Husband says I'm weird

 

[PaporPlas]

I go to a close by "tea shop" (boba) cuz' they have an outdoor smoking area. I used to sit out there and have a smoke or two while working on my laptop and sipping my tea. They serve food there too, mostly Taiwanese lunch type food. I live in a predominately Asian part of Los Angeles, so I am usually the only White gut at the place. This place is close by and I like it as a break from my usual coffee shop "work place".

So, I'm sitting at a table yesterday, all by myself, and vaping with my tea in the outside "smoking area". There are actually ash trays on the tables. A couple of twenty something Asian females come out and notice the table closest to the door has a "No Smoking" paper taped on top of the surface of it. (That table is under the 20ft distance that is a regulation of this city.) One says to the other (rather loudly) "Oh, look NO SMOKING." I figured they were bummed cuz' they thought that meant the entire area. So, I say, "Just that table cuz it's so close to the door." They ignore me and my comment and take the table next to mine. I worked for the next hour and neither of them ever fired up an analog, nor did they take a pack out and set it on the table. Pretty common at this place. Almost a badge of "I smoke" honor, I guess.

Well, it wasn't until I read this thread that it dawned on me that they were probably reading that sign nice and loud for me! LOL Not sure if they realized I wasn't "smoking". However, about 10 minutes after they made the announcement to me, a group of about 10 twenty-somethings rolled up and pushed two tables together and every one of them lit up. : o

I just wonder if those two young ladies knew they were actually sitting in the "smoking section"?

 

[mercurialmaven]

Though your comment upon observing my four minute carto-refilling process, "If I were a smoker I'd smoke or quit" is interesting... when I give a .... what a non-smoker would do about their hypothetical nicotine addiction, I might consult you specifically, although probably not, because it sounds like you'd deal with it like a masochist.

Thanks.

I guess I've been really fortunate as, so far, I've mainly had great responses from non-smokers and suspect responses from smokers. As of now I've converted one coworker to vaping- she literally stopped analogs once her last pack ran out and hasn't been back sense. We're slowly working on another smoker.

I think some non-smokers have a feeling of superiority because they don't smoke, even if they have other habits that are just as foul or unhealthy. One non-smoker I work with is morbidly obese and always makes fun of me for vaping, or has some smart comment to make. It's okay for her to rag on me but if I said anything about her weight or how maybe she should join me at the gym, I'd be in the wrong.

Sometimes you just have to give people the side-eye and keep it moving. They obviously need to feel important to SOMEONE so might as well let them think it's you for 10 minutes.

 

[panachronic]

I probably would have said "If I was a non-smoker I would mind my own business"

One of my favorite retorts to use in these situations goes like this:

Me: "You know, my grandpa lived to be 95 years old."

Non-smoker: "Really? Did he smoke?"

Me: "No, he minded his own .......*** business."

 

[PaporPlas]

one of my favorite retorts to use in these situations goes like this:

Me: "you know, my grandpa lived to be 95 years old."

non-smoker: "really? Did he smoke?"

me: "no, he minded his own .......*** business."

major bahahahahaha!!!!

 

[Paradox28]

I've had really good response to my vaping...my mother loves it because "her baby is going to live longer" My dad is happy for me, my brother wants one, and all the friends I'm actually around are proud that I've quit cigarettes. I've only had one negative(sort of) response and that was someone telling me that the only way to quit is cold turkey and nothing else works.

I don't care..I'm proud to vape..I'm proud to say that I don't smoke and that I am taking one step towards a healthier lifestyle. If people only knew the truth about nicotine there would be a lot less hatred towards people who use it.

 

[Nikkita6]

ahahahhaa ... glad to see that you are smart enough to not take advice from someone who has never walked in your shoes ;-)

 

[subliminalurge]

Back when I was a much younger, and MUCH more patient man, I used to try to take the high road with the non-smokers. Even in places where smoking was perfectly acceptable I'd go out of my way to keep the smoke from bothering them, sometimes even putting the cigarette out and going without if there wasn't a way to keep it away from them.

Now that these militant, self-righteous ...... have managed to make even large parts of OUTSIDE off limits, I figure they have enough, and my obligation to go out of my way on their behalf has come to an end. Even in a bar, which is no health club to begin with, it's not enough that I go outside where it's 10 below, now I have to walk to the other end of the parking lot.

And then there's the story of the woman who sued a man because he was smoking in his own back yard and she caught a whiff of it through her open windows.

It's enough.

Anyone with the arrogance and nerve to complain about my smoking when I'm standing in one of the few places left where it's actually still permitted simply gets met with the biggest lungful of smoke I can muster blown directly in their face.

It's not classy, it's not witty and it doesn't help promote any "cause". But screw it, I'm fed up.

I still take great pains to be polite and courteous to "normal" non-smokers. It's the fake-coughing, militant non-smokers that get met with "militant smoking".

 

[jdrewry]

It's kind of funny to me that ex-smokers who quit cold turkey have almost no tolerance for vapers. My brother got me on to vaping, and had joined a forum that was made up of those who quit cold turkey, or through prescribed meds. When he mentioned that he was using an e-cig, he was ostracized for it. It took him the better part of a week trying to tell those forum goers that it was his best shot at quitting analogs--that he had tried everything to quit, but nothing was working. He got no support. Since then, he's been checking out these forums (for the better, in my mind).

I know those smokers at my job are curious about my vaping, but I volunteer no information about it, unless they ask. I vape to quit analogs, and I enjoy it. I'm not going to stand getting hassled about it by those who don't smoke, or by ex-smokers who quit cold turkey. I have a lot of respect for them--they should have the same for me.

 

[DC2]

It's kind of funny to me that ex-smokers who quit cold turkey have almost no tolerance for vapers. My brother got me on to vaping, and had joined a forum that was made up of those who quit cold turkey, or through prescribed meds. When he mentioned that he was using an e-cig, he was ostracized for it. It took him the better part of a week trying to tell those forum goers that it was his best shot at quitting analogs--that he had tried everything to quit, but nothing was working. He got no support. Since then, he's been checking out these forums (for the better, in my mind).

Was it the "Quit Smoking Message Board" by any chance?

 

[jdrewry]

It was quitnet.

 

[Gingerzeronic]

Honestly, I think ex-smokers who go through the whole "will power" thing are just envious of people who don't. They believe we who do it some other way (or no way) need to be punished and feel as bad as they feel themselves.

It's like a dry drunk. They aren't "drinking" but they're obsessed with alcohol and the people who can take it or leave it. It's a fear reaction and it's sad.

 

[DC2]

It was quitnet.

Ah, yes, they share the same "nicodemon" philosophy.

 

[jdrewry]

Being from Jersey, I have another word for it...

 

[Trucapri]

I totally and completely give the proper kudos to those that went cold turkey, with or without patches, gum, etc. HOWEVER, I couldn't do it!!!!!! So far, I've been fortunate that no one has said anything to me about vaping not counting. But then again, I ain't the type to take any lip WITH cigarettes so I'm sure they don't want to chance what my reaction could be without them!!!!!!!!

 

[subliminalurge]

Oh, yeah... Another fun non-smoker story...

Was out to eat with my family one night. Finished my meal and stepped out the back entrance into the alley to have a smoke. Just as I'm lighting it up, haven't even taken a full yet, someone walks out the door, sees me, and immediately starts in with the hand fanning, fake coughing, and evil eye.

Keep in mind that this is in an alley behind a mexican restaurant on a Saturday night. Even IF he could smell the smoke amidst the stench coming from those dumpsters, there's no way that it could have been more objectionable.

Being a newcomer to the city, I decided that this was a perfect opportunity to strike up a friendly conversation with one of the locals and ask about the night life in the area. And the conversation was perfectly nice and perfectly friendly, all the way back to his car, with me chain-puffing the whole way and aiming my exhales where he would have to walk through the smoke. Even managed to get a good lung full blown into his car as I was thanking him for his help and telling him to have a nice evening.

Yeah, I suppose it was childish. But come on, in an alleyway 3 feet from a stinky dumpster? I can't even smoke in peace there?

 

[PaporPlas]

It's kind of funny to me that ex-smokers who quit cold turkey have almost no tolerance for vapers. My brother got me on to vaping, and had joined a forum that was made up of those who quit cold turkey, or through prescribed meds. When he mentioned that he was using an e-cig, he was ostracized for it. It took him the better part of a week trying to tell those forum goers that it was his best shot at quitting analogs--that he had tried everything to quit, but nothing was working. He got no support. Since then, he's been checking out these forums (for the better, in my mind).

I know those smokers at my job are curious about my vaping, but I volunteer no information about it, unless they ask. I vape to quit analogs, and I enjoy it. I'm not going to stand getting hassled about it by those who don't smoke, or by ex-smokers who quit cold turkey. I have a lot of respect for them--they should have the same for me.

In some ways, those who quit cold turkey and are not happy for anyone that gets off the death sticks are eiher "ignorant" of what vaping is, or they are like "dry drunks". Maybe both. I don't mean either of those in a derogative way.

I can understand why the support groups don't want any of their members using any kind of nicotine, might be similar to someone coming on here trying to sway one of us to using "low-nicotine" cigarettes because they "aren't as bad for you".

Bottom line, as Vapers we are still using nicotine, we just are not getting all the poisons that are in cigarettes. Or the smoke. Oh yeah, and we don't stink any longer....and, of course no second hand smoke exposure to others....and....etc.

We should all agree to disagree agreeably.

 

[PaporPlas]

Oh, yeah... Another fun non-smoker story...

Was out to eat with my family one night. Finished my meal and stepped out the back entrance into the alley to have a smoke. Just as I'm lighting it up, haven't even taken a full yet, someone walks out the door, sees me, and immediately starts in with the hand fanning, fake coughing, and evil eye.

Keep in mind that this is in an alley behind a mexican restaurant on a Saturday night. Even IF he could smell the smoke amidst the stench coming from those dumpsters, there's no way that it could have been more objectionable.

Being a newcomer to the city, I decided that this was a perfect opportunity to strike up a friendly conversation with one of the locals and ask about the night life in the area. And the conversation was perfectly nice and perfectly friendly, all the way back to his car, with me chain-puffing the whole way and aiming my exhales where he would have to walk through the smoke. Even managed to get a good lung full blown into his car as I was thanking him for his help and telling him to have a nice evening.

Yeah, I suppose it was childish. But come on, in an alleyway 3 feet from a stinky dumpster? I can't even smoke in peace there?

HE showed you! Got you away from that "entrance" to a business. Took you all the way out to his car with him! LOL j/k!

 

[radeljack]

The best one is the lady in my office who is trying to quit using gum and patches at the same time and still smoking, she ask me how much I was spending and said that was ridiculous, then she complained that I was vaping during break at my desk, I have permission to vape anytime anywhere in our office her response was well if you are trying to quit you haven't, I mean really she is smoking with the patches on while smacking her nasty gum commenting and complaining about me. Really smokers are the worst I think it might be jealousy.