Played poker with friends tonight. Long time friends. I always
vape at poker, am the only one that does, never been an issue. Wasn't tonight. Chose to not make FDA politics my topic of conversation, but certainly not opposed to discussing it. Just felt it didn't have to come up as open conversation, from me.
My dual using self was out later having a smoke with friend (who rarely smokes, but the occasional flavored cigar), and was talking to him a tiny bit about Final Rule. He was at least moderately curious. Told him, if I find out Trump supports eCigs, I can see me voting for him, which he found interesting (and so do I) and a few puffs later and we were done (discussing).
Later, at the table, one of my poker buddies, also a (cigarette) smoker asks me what I think about the FDA ruling. Most of me was ready to reply all politely about it while holding back oodles of near boiling point anger. Oh, I perhaps should also mention this friend is a highly expressive liberal. Before I say anything, the cigar smoking friend says, oh you don't want to ask Jman, he said he'd vote for Trump. Another buddy, sitting right next to me is like, yeah Jman posted a rant on his Facebook page.
And still this 'friend' has the nerve to say the FDA Ruling is probably a good thing considering how dangerous they are.
That pretty much got on my last nerve.
It's not like he hit on the - no really, those things could be bad for you - point just once or twice.
And it's not like I haven't had umpteen dozen conversations with these guys about all things
vaping. But I get if you're non-vaper, you really don't know. They could be deadly for all you know. Yet, if you're a vaper, you kinda sorta know. Or put more correctly, you truly do know about 58 times more than the non-vaper will ever care to know.
Over the course of about an hour, we had a few minor exchanges on the topic, all initiated by him. Sure enough, there was a point where I went off. Curse words flying, passionate, heated debate. It was unpretty, but for sure necessary.
I honestly think the whole thing comes down to he hates Trump that much.
It really felt political for me. That same feeling I've had before where cornerstone of my beliefs was being tortured/poked at, at perhaps exactly the worst time.
I've been a proud non-voter for 2 decades running. But yeah, I would vote this time if Trump gave pretty good indication he favored
vaping rights. Would love to hear him saying disparaging remarks, like only Trump can, about the FDA and/or Final Rule. That right there would probably have him convince me that it can't hurt to vote for him.
But we got a long way to go before that, and for me the Trump factor is interesting, but has a good 2% chance of working. I'd love to see that percentage go higher.
Just feels like war to me right now, I guess.
I think it behooves every non-vaper and anti-vaper to not express 'how dangerous eCigs are' while anywhere within 30 feet of a vaper. At least for the next 3 weeks. Especially if we are not the people initiating the discussion. If we live in a truly civilized society, that ought not to happen.
And if it does.....
Light fuse,
And get away.