How do you deal with vape hate?

[DrFritz]

So I am in college, I vape on campus never indoors unless my prof. says it's ok or they themselves are vaping in class. Every so often I get that one person that sits next to me in an outside setting and throws a hissy fit about me vaping. they get on their high horse and tell me the false things they have read on the internet or saw on the news. they tell me how its no different from smoking and that I'm influencing children to smoke. What I usually say are one of two things.

A. you sat next to me
B. it isn't smoke and you are free to remove yourself from this spot.

After I say one of these statements they leave. I was wondering how everyone else deals with vape hate?

I'm curious.

 

[CKCalmer]

That would be a prime opportunity to educate the "protester" with the truth about vaping. I've got my argument down to less than a minute, chock full of confirmable facts. Some people are smart and interested, and will engage positively. Some aren't, and won't. Don't waste time or patience on the latter. They've already made their mind up.

It's hard to expect a vaper to take the time and effort to educate everyone who might approach them with distress, hatred, and/or preconceived notions. It's easy to simply resort to "go away", which would be understandable. But if we can each take a moment from time to time with a naysayer to provide some insight into the facts regarding vaping, then we will - every now and then - change a mind. And, as they say, the mind is a beautiful thing to change.

 

[imsoenthused]

I'm scary looking. It cuts down on the level of BS like that I have to put up with. For some reason the big bearded guy in leathers who pulled up on a motorcycle gets approached real friendly by anyone interested and ignored by anyone else. I don't really know how I'd respond to anyone acting like such a tool. I'm just a country boy at heart, and my tolerance for impoliteness has a definite breaking point.

 

[rondasherrill]

I'm scary looking. It cuts down on the level of BS like that I have to put up with. For some reason the big bearded guy in leathers who pulled up on a motorcycle gets approached real friendly by anyone interested and ignored by anyone else. I don't really know how I'd respond to anyone acting like such a tool. I'm just a country boy at heart, and my tolerance for impoliteness has a definite breaking point.

I live in a very... old fashioned place. Given my choice of fashion and music, I'm pretty sure most people think I'm a devil-worshiper, so people tend to avoid me, or smile and move on. The few people who have said something about my mod, tend to fall into one of two camps:

1. "I heard about e-cigarette's exploding, etc..." To which I respond that there are also reports of iPhones exploding, and the likelihood of both happening is about the same.
2. "That looks silly, I'd rather stick with my natural tobacco" To which I say that's their choice, but my choice is to at least try to not get cancer.

 

[SITS]

I ignore them.

 

[DancingHeretik]

That would be a prime opportunity to educate the "protester" with the truth about vaping. I've got my argument down to less than a minute, chock full of confirmable facts. Some people are smart and interested, and will engage positively. Some aren't, and won't. Don't waste time or patience on the latter. They've already made their mind up.

It's hard to expect a vaper to take the time and effort to educate everyone who might approach them with distress, hatred, and/or preconceived notions. It's easy to simply resort to "go away", which would be understandable. But if we can each take a moment from time to time with a naysayer to provide some insight into the facts regarding vaping, then we will - every now and then - change a mind. And, as they say, the mind is a beautiful thing to change.

Would love to hear/see that under-a- minute argument. I never know where to start.

 

[jdrewry]

Just kindly inform them that they're badly misinformed. Ask them to go back and do some "proper" research, because most of what they read is absolute garbage. Then, wish them a nice day, and keep on vaping.

 

[inswva]

I've never had anyone comment on my vaping one way or another. In public, I tend to stealth vape, so that may be part of it. My wife also tells me I don't look very approachable... so, that could also be part of it, lol.

 

[Cool-breeze]

I've actually never had a real hateful comment from a stranger. I've had a coworker ask if it was a (Other Stuff), another couple coworkers believed vaping was worse than cigs and while they would talk civilized they were not open minded. Mind you they were smokers so I believe it had more to do with protecting their cig, which I get, considering all the hating that goes on towards smokers. I've also made it a point to casually approach my smoking friends on the topic to try and help. Most of them have some comment from the news to make, my favorite response is: Reports show coke-a-cola uses ....... in their drinks. If I'm using outdated information thats 100% true. Its the same thing with ecigs and much like coke when it was discovered that something was harmful, it was removed.

 

[Evilocity]

I also have never been approached in a negative way about vaping. On occasion, someone will ask a few questions about it, mostly curious. I would probably, in as short of a time as possible, tell them to do real, non biased research on current information and then make a decision. If they seem like the antz type that cannot be reasoned with, I will tell them to mind their ******g business most likely.

 

[cope]

i would have to thank them for their opinion and kindly ask the to go ---- themselves or not so kindly.

 

[olderthandirt]

I'm not big and scary lookin' but I do have an obvious "Get off my lawn" demeanor. Never a peep from anyone.

 

[eratikmind]

I never vape next to non-smokers/vapers in outdoor areas.

Vaping is new for nearly all of the public. For the uninitiated, we are smoking in their minds.

As vaping is merely a form of harm reduction, I never exposed the said people to my vapor.

 

[Equilibrium]

I've never been approached in a negative way in regards to vaping. I mostly get people wanting to know if it really works.

I am conscious of where and how I vape though. I don't vape in crowds of non-vapers or non-smokers. I don't vape indoors (public places) with the exception of when I'm playing on my pool leagues. I play on two pool leagues - 8-ball on Tuesday & 9-ball on Thursday and we are always in a pool hall type setting. Over half of the people there smoke (outside) and when I vape inside all I get are positive inquires.

 

[imsoenthused]

I never vape next to non-smokers/vapers in outdoor areas.

Vaping is new for nearly all of the public. For the uninitiated, we are smoking in their minds.

As vaping is merely a form of harm reduction, I never exposed the said people to my vapor.

Probably has something to do with the area you're from. Around here if you get offended about someone smoking outside, you're the one everybody looks at as being rude. I'd never have thought twice about smoking anywhere outside, no matter who was around, and definitely don't think twice about vaping. It's not a cultural consideration around here, and I'm pretty happy about that.

 

[KurrptSenate]

I would have just reminded them they are free to move if I was there first

I didn't switch to vaping for anyone than myself. I'm convinced. I don't really feel the need to educate people that have already made up their mind

 

[HauntedMyst]

How do you deal with vape hate?

I give them a hug. Some people just need more love. Other people just need to be burped.

 

[Equilibrium]

OP... have you actually encountered one of your professors vaping in class? I'm just curious.

Myself... I'm not in college, that was years ago, but I wouldn't even think about doing it unless the professor was doing it too.

 

[Bolivar]

I avoid places full of self centered elitists and do all my vaping in the real world.

 

[VannyPak]

So I am in college, I vape on campus never indoors unless my prof. says it's ok or they themselves are vaping in class. Every so often I get that one person that sits next to me in an outside setting and throws a hissy fit about me vaping. they get on their high horse and tell me the false things they have read on the internet or saw on the news. they tell me how its no different from smoking and that I'm influencing children to smoke. What I usually say are one of two things.

A. you sat next to me
B. it isn't smoke and you are free to remove yourself from this spot.

After I say one of these statements they leave. I was wondering how everyone else deals with vape hate?

I'm curious.

I've never had someone come sit by me outside while I'm vaping and then complain about me vaping. I feel like your argument should be about the other person's common sense.

With that being said, I think if they choose to discuss these false things with you I would take it as an opportunity to educate them about what we do know about vaping, or how it has helped you become smoke free. If they choose not to listen or they're just looking to start a fight (because I'm sure this will happen as well) then I would politely tell them to piss off.

I'm usually kindness first, rudeness second. I try to reason with people until I see they're not listening.