"It's not smoke." ..... "Theres no tobacco..."

[l337acc]

I remember the days when I first started vaping that I was extremely excited to show off my new vaporizer. I would do it in just about any location I found myself and just about everywhere I went there was someone there who said "Hey is that the electronic thing?"

I really didn't understand what everyone was talking about when they said they would be harassed by people since just about everyone I talked to already knew about it.

So that experience was good.

But like with everything, and the law of big numbers, eventually your luck runs out.

Over the months I've been getting increasingly annoyed with having to explain the same spiel to people. If I was in a restaurant, outside, I would be told that "this is not a smoking area"

To which I would ALWAYS reply with "It's not smoke..." and give the same spiel all over again, only to be told "tobacco products are not to be used." ....

Okay....."Theres no tobacco..."

And the spiel continues until someone who isn't afraid to use their own discretion comes to listen (Manager/Owner)..

I've found that I have grown so tired of explaining the process that I simply don't vape in public any more. I do it in my store, but not in anyone elses establishment.

I had this one customer tell me that I shouldn't smoke in my store, and instead of explaining in detail what it is, I replied with a brief explanation, "It's not smoke, and even if it is: I pay the rent around here"

</rant>

 

[jtpjc]

My experience is that it is very hard for people to grasp that it's not smoke they are seeing. I don't blame them, if I didn't know what an ecig was, I would react the same way and it would take a lot of explaining to me to get the concept. And even then, my mind would be overwhelmed. If it walks like a duck and it quacks like a duck, it's a duck. Then they tell you it's not a duck. Whoa!

 

[BenP]

I cant say I blame most people, when i tell people its steam I also get a wierd look.
After all, its a hell of a lot thicker looking than the steam you get from your cup of tea. Either way, the law is on our side

 

[bwood12043]

After having vaped for over two years now and totally analog free for 21 months, I have been in many situations where I have had to deal with the perception of others. Yes, it is frustrating at times, but on the flip side, there are just as many situations where it is gratifying with those who ARE receptive to the idea.

My personal experience has been that if I do NOT use the reference to electonic cigarette or e-cig at all, but only refer to my device as a PV or vaporizer, I get a much more receptive response. I think the word cigarette has such a negative aspect that I do try to not use it at all when out in "the world".

Patience and cooperation is the key to our changing opinions in this adventure.

It took many decades to get the public to their current mindset on smoking, after all, 38 years ago, I smoked in my gynecologist's office, in the hospital, on a plane, in a movie theatre, wherever I wanted. It took a long time to change minds to think AGAINST smoking, and it will take time to get people to accept PV's and the new technology.

Two years ago, no one I encountered in public had ever heard of PV's and now that has changed drastically, so we have to continue to be ambassadors and approach the introduction of this device and it's advantages to the public with patience and understanding.