i had an altercation at work regarding vaping....

[iClearoman]

Ok guys I'm at work and I walk outside to have a quick vape. A fellow co worker was out there smoking and we were just talking and stuff. So I go back in and a customer asked to speak to me. I went up to talk to this lady and she began yelling at me about when she was walking in she could smell the smoke and it was very offensive. She automatically assumed I was smoking which really made me angry. I tried to explain to her that I was not smoking and she was smelling a fellow co-worker that was and that I would let him know to smoke further from the building. She then proceeded to call me a liar and yell at me some more. I finally decided to stop trying to explain what vaping was because she was obviously gonna keep being ignorant about the situation.

So there is my story of the only problem I have ever had with vaping in public. It just made me so angry that she was yelling at me for something I quit over three months ago. Have any of you guys had a problem/altercation with vaping in public? I wish people weren't so ignorant about this wonderful thing.

 

[Rickajho]

Sheesh! Fortunately I've never experienced anything even remotely close. (I vape in stores all the time and have never been confronted about it.) But keep in mind what she was really upset about was the smoking and smelling it. Chances are if that had not come into play your vaping would have been a complete non issue.

 

[BadTrainDriver]

Stories like this make me thankfully that my job doesn't include face to face dealings with customers.

 

[ppeeble]

I had a similar situation where i was accosted for smoking. My answer was to say ' I don't smoke' and fix my accuser with a steely glare. End of.
Your situation was one you couldn't win. I would have just forced out a fart and asked if that was better.

 

[DetraMental]

Wow these non-smoking zealots are horrible. I bet she's a self-proclaimed Christian too, tsk tsk, behaving that way in public. I would have fixed her with a stare too. She was out of line accusing you and calling you a liar to boot.

 

[keepsmiling]

I would have just forced out a fart and asked if that was better.

 

[keepsmiling]

Even more hysterical because this was my very last post!!>>>

 

[cloudsfordaze]

I would have just said, ma'am, I'm sorry for the smell, but I can assure you that it is not me. If she were to continue calling me a liar I would say ma'am I'm sorry but you are clueless.

 

[Harlen]

Smile and just say ok we will see to it .

 

[TyPie]

Ignorance is bliss!

I haven't been directly confronted, but it still sounds all too familiar. We have all heard those in heated debate, empowered by the latest group of ANTZies, pushing the latest ANTZie causes promoted by the nanny state, claiming that their rights have been trampled and that their space has been violated. It's impossible to even share the AIR anymore!

We can only just carry on. I'm not so sure there is a suitable answer or response for people like this, other than to recommend that they go and ride behind a bus and inhale some diesel fumes against their will for a spell. That will teach 'em not to confront a Vaper.

 

[Robino1]

I have a problem with people that need to .... their nose in another persons business.....
Doesn't matter if you were the smoker or not, that is just totally rude behavior. The ANTZ have done a great job at getting people to look down on smokers and verbally abuse them/us.

When did it become acceptable to Force ones opinion onto others?

SMH

I'm sorry, I know it was a customer, a no win situation. Still doesn't make that person have the right to verbally abuse (yeah, that's what it is) another human being.

 

[TyPie]

I would have just forced out a fart and asked if that was better.

Is this even legal anymore? I thought this practice has been outlawed under new anti-pollution regulations.

 

[steved5600]

Like Tater Salad said, "you can't fix stupid'. Just grin and bear it. All you can do.

 

[Zealous]

I have a problem with people that need to .... their nose in another persons business.....
Doesn't matter if you were the smoker or not, that is just totally rude behavior. The ANTZ have done a great job at getting people to look down on smokers and verbally abuse them/us.

When did it become acceptable to Force ones opinion onto others?

SMH

I'm sorry, I know it was a customer, a no win situation. Still doesn't make that person have the right to verbally abuse (yeah, that's what it is) another human being.

I totally agree. being naive/ignorant about vaping is one thing. Blatant rudeness is something all together different & I just don't understand when people in our society decided it was acceptable to just walk up to people & accost them. I've had people do this to me on other matters in the past & frankly it really pisses me off.

 

[Lurch]

I have a problem with people that need to .... their nose in another persons business.....
Doesn't matter if you were the smoker or not, that is just totally rude behavior. The ANTZ have done a great job at getting people to look down on smokers and verbally abuse them/us.

When did it become acceptable to Force ones opinion onto others?

SMH

I'm sorry, I know it was a customer, a no win situation. Still doesn't make that person have the right to verbally abuse (yeah, that's what it is) another human being.

There are far too many people in the world like this. Unfortunately, in my previous line of work, I ran into them continuously! They believe that the way to get their information/opinion across is to bully people.

 

[jpargana]

Ok guys I'm at work and I walk outside to have a quick vape. A fellow co worker was out there smoking and we were just talking and stuff. So I go back in and a customer asked to speak to me. I went up to talk to this lady and she began yelling at me about when she was walking in she could smell the smoke and it was very offensive. She automatically assumed I was smoking which really made me angry. I tried to explain to her that I was not smoking and she was smelling a fellow co-worker that was and that I would let him know to smoke further from the building. She then proceeded to call me a liar and yell at me some more. I finally decided to stop trying to explain what Vaping was because she was obviously gonna keep being ignorant about the situation.

So there is my story of the only problem I have ever had with vaping in public. It just made me so angry that she was yelling at me for something I quit over three months ago. Have any of you guys had a problem/altercation with Vaping in public? I wish people weren't so ignorant about this wonderful thing.

Wow!! Just... wow!! The nerve of some people!!

" It just made me so angry that she was yelling at me for something I quit over three months ago"

Well, sorry, but in my opinion, that is not even the point. Even if you had NOT quit, that... person... still would be way out of line.
Smoking is legal. Governments PROFIT from it. That... person... had NO right to yell at you, just because she THOUGHT you were doing something that is LEGAL, but which she does not APPROVE. If she doesn't, it's entirely HER problem. Not yours.

Much worse than that: she called you a LIAR, after you tried to explain it to her? I do not know how I would have handled it, really... I have past 40 years, and I do not have the same patience to suffer fools I used to have 20 years ago. So, kudos on handling that so well - it was a costumer, after all. Granted, a very biased, dumb one. (On the other hand, she was not complaining about anything related to business, but about something related to your personal life... something she has ABSOLUTELY no "right" to complain).

 

[TraceyS]

yes my mother in law. had not visited for three years but went.....she knew I was almost two years without a cig....as soon as I walked into the apartment she was going off on smelling tobacco.....ummm no I quit......gave her my vamo and pt2 to smell...yes that is it! Tobacco! I told her it was doodle...as in a snickerdoodle cookie vape and left and went to the room we were staying in apart from them...vaped away alone for days lol

Tracey

 

[B2L]

Assuming people with strong opinions (however misguided those opinions may be) will respond rationally is a stretch. When people react emotionally instead of rationally they come across exactly like that customer did. Maybe a parent/friend or someone else close to her died of a smoking related illness and that causes her to over react from an emotional state.

I'm not trying to excuse her behavior, having been a psych major I always try to get in someone's head and see where they are coming from. It helps me to deal with their behavior in a calm and controlled manner. When I know, or think I know, where someone is coming from, I can deal with most anything they may say or do.

I've been approached and told "You can't smoke here" I just tell them "thank you, I haven't smoked in 4 years but I appreciate your concern"

That being said, some people are just nuts and I try to ignore them

 

[chawk]

Ok guys I'm at work and I walk outside to have a quick vape. A fellow co worker was out there smoking and we were just talking and stuff. So I go back in and a customer asked to speak to me. I went up to talk to this lady and she began yelling at me about when she was walking in she could smell the smoke and it was very offensive. She automatically assumed I was smoking which really made me angry. I tried to explain to her that I was not smoking and she was smelling a fellow co-worker that was and that I would let him know to smoke further from the building. She then proceeded to call me a liar and yell at me some more. I finally decided to stop trying to explain what Vaping was because she was obviously gonna keep being ignorant about the situation.

So there is my story of the only problem I have ever had with vaping in public. It just made me so angry that she was yelling at me for something I quit over three months ago. Have any of you guys had a problem/altercation with Vaping in public? I wish people weren't so ignorant about this wonderful thing.

Where was your boss while you were being verbally assaulted?? Next time tell them you don't get yelled at for something you didn't do and to go see the manager. You don't get paid to get yelled at and your boss shouldn't allow it!

 

[mwjones]

Is this even legal anymore? I thought this practice has been outlawed under new anti-pollution regulations.

Not only that, but you could be fined thousands by a "Human Rights Tribunal" for offending someone's "sensibilities."

Assuming people with strong opinions (however misguided those opinions may be) will respond rationally is a stretch. When people react emotionally instead of rationally they come across exactly like that customer did........It helps me to deal with their behavior in a calm and controlled manner. When I know, or think I know, where someone is coming from, I can deal with most anything they may say or do....That being said, some people are just nuts and I try to ignore them

You should try owning firearms. Then the irrational antis really come out of the woodwork, and no amount of logic or rational thought will prevail I sometimes find it difficult to just let people go on about things they don't know about without trying to enlighten them of an opposing point of view or correct them when they're spreading blatant lies or misinformation to other people and I am witness to it. Coincidentally, I don't like working in retail, sales, customer service, etc, where I could conceivably have to deal with this kind of BS. I work in a large machine shop where I only have to deal with maybe 20 people with any kind of regularity, and in general they're pretty laid back, "good ol' boys" type of people.

Where was your boss while you were being verbally assaulted?? Next time tell them you don't get yelled at for something you didn't do and to go see the manager. You don't get paid to get yelled at and your boss shouldn't allow it!

Unfortunately, the manager or boss will be MOST concerned about the bottom line $$$, good will, word of mouth and reputation, and repeat business. You get paid to do what you're told to do, and if that includes putting up with stupid people and their BS, then that's what it includes. Don't like it? Go find another job, there's a whole stack of resumes from people who would love to have yours current one :S This fosters the "customer is always right and has a license to treat employees like garbage and always get what they want" attitude and environment. It doesn't help that the entitlement generation is REALLY coming into their own now, and more and more people act this way by default.

Advice? As I see it, you have a couple of options.
1) Grow a thicker skin, and pick your battles. You can't fix stupid. Laugh about it later.
2) Stand up for yourself, and maybe get fired. Rent and car payments be damned, I have somethign to prove!
3) Whine to the boss that nobody stood up for you, which makes YOU look weak, with weak problems solving skills, confidence, leadership ability, etc.
4) Make an effort to get a different job where the issue is a non issue, knowing full well that there are going to be jerks regardless, see option 1