Recent confrontation in a parking lot

[Myxlpyxlx]

Was verbally assaulted in a restaurant parking lot for taking a vape on my rda that admittedly was a bit bigger than norm. I understand and practice the art of discrete vaping but for one vaper to publicly draw attention to an after meal vape 100 feet from the building is going overboard. We don't need to do this to each other for one, and secondly even flavor junkies produce larger clouds than most store bought attys and tanks. I was using a 1.5 ohm tricro build in an atomic rda on a regular vision spinner. These people acted like I was chasing clouds in the dining area. I tried to be calm and explain to the group that public vaping is perfectly acceptable in a parking lot, but I soon lost my head and brought out my k101 topped with dual parallel .21 Zenith with a large bore tip and blasted away. I got just as dumb as they were and feel shameful for my behavior but really I'm mostly annoyed about the division of the vaping community.

I'm starting to think that the lack of education about vaping even within our own community is becoming too wide spread. So many new converts from tobacco aren't taking the time to learn about the history and etiquette of vaping. I've been at this a long time and remember when it was rare to meet a fellow hobbyist in the arts of mod and coil building. The past couple of years have really launched the craftsmanship boom to vaping as a hobby but it also mainstreamed the effectiveness of using this as a cessation aid to smoking. I hope for our sake that we can bridge this gap before it tears us apart and we lose our choice to keep this as a hobby.

 

[irwink]

Strange how so many confrontational events always seem to happen to newer members of the forum.

 

[MN_Mike]

That sucks that that happened to you. I don't have any crazy, high tech complicated devices and I'm not sure I'll ever go that big. Some people are just straight up idiots. When I go to the bar on Friday nights I take along my super tiny ego battery with an EVOD tank and either stealth vape or head to the bathroom for a few quick puffs. I really think there's two types of people when it comes to the general public. There's the people who can think for themselves and/or know someone who vapes and the people who read every scary news article and believe it without bothering to check the source. Since vaping is just now starting to come into it's own it will be interesting to see if attitudes will change. Let's hope they do.

 

[joesquid]

Strange how so many confrontational events always seem to happen to newer members of the forum.

Curious why you think this has anything to do with being new to this forum? Obviously this is not a new vaper and I don't understand what these folks problem was either. But then again, I'm new to this forum so my opinion probably doesn't count either to you and your 200 posts a year. Sorry, long day.

 

[Katcandoo]

.....

 

[supertrunker]

People here smoke in parking lots without a problem, and i vape in them without a problem.

I do avoid hassle in parking lots and just get in my car and leave, and that goes for smokers telling me how bad it is, vapers telling me i ought to get a tube mod like theirs, drunks telling me that i'm their best friend or people trying to mooch a few $. Just learn more swear words and carry on!

T

 

[The Ministry]

Popcorn not required.

Not removing posts, but gentle reminder to treat each other with respect, please.

Let's not let this descend before it's really started...

Thanks

 

[InTheShade]

So another vaper called you out for vaping in a parking lot?

Weird.

What was the nature of their complaint?

 

[danfinger]

You were getting hassled by other people vaping because they thought your clouds were too big? While you were outside? Away from the building?
I think I'd have cordially invited them to give an offering at the shrine of St. Fu. Or just laughed at them. Or most likely both. People love getting their panties in a twist don't they?

 

[crxess]

Wasn't there so I have no clue what brought on what.

Think I'll leave it at that.

 

[sc12]

Sorry you went through that. I'd have given you a thumbs up and gone on about my business.

 

[Never Lift]

No, you don't blow out more vapor then a cigarette in public, you just dont. Heavy users will be the end to us all. For realz though end the vape on vape hate. People need to mind there own business, you never know who has a gun...

 

[Veerdin]

Wait I'm confused...

Why would somebody complain about water vapour in a parking lot?

You might as well insult the atmosphere for creating mist.

 

[DaveP]

After reading the OP for the second time carefully, I sounds like some stealth vaping zealot got on his case for letting people see his exhale outside. I'll have to agree that if people don't see us vaping, the whole activity will remain a grey area for the public. We need to be respectful, as Myx indicated that he was trying to do until he was verbally attacked.

Most of the information that's publicized in the media is negative, although there are articles here and there that applaud ecigs as possibly being a relatively safe method to quit smoking. The only way people will ever know the truth about electronic cigarettes is by actually having a conversation with a long term user who's seen and heard and experienced vaping and the healing of the sinuses, the lungs, and the ability to breathe and exercise without wheezing. If that happens, it must not be so harmful, IMO.

As far as educating the public is concerned, it's up to us to do that in a constructive way. That's kind of hard to do when you are being attacked for actually vaping in public in the first place. In 4 years of vaping, I've vaped everywhere I've been and I stealth vape in restaurants and stores. I don't blow clouds, I blow it down my shirt. I stay at my table in a restaurant and I find a lonesome corner in a department store. Sales people see me all the time and I have never had anyone lambast me over vaping indoors. All who start a conversation want to ask questions about how it works, did I quit using it, and is it like smoking. I go through the spiel about ecigs and then they want to know where I got mine so they can buy one for a relative who won't stop smoking.

So, my advice would be to walk away (as the OP said he usually does) if possible and say as little as possible. We don't want to leave people with the idea we have a militant attitude, rather we just want to provide information to people who want it. Those people in the OP sounded like they were just against vaping altogether except in their own homes. But, they were vapers? I've not seen anything like that. Go figure. Every vaping forum I've read says the same thing ... vape discretely and respect others' space. Answer any questions they have and provide accurate information when they inquire. After all, we are the only ones who will tell the true story about how vaping changed our lives and healed our respiratory systems. The press hasn't been very positive about vaping, so it's up to us.

 

[Paradicio]

I go through the spiel about ecigs and then they want to know where I got mine so they can buy one for a relative who won't stop smoking.

I’ve not come across any vape on vape hate, yet. I’m honestly not sure how I would react. I’d like to think I’d walk away or just brush it off…. Of course you never know until you are actually in the moment.

The quote above reflects what my experiences, thus far, have been like.

 

[DaveP]

No, you don't blow out more vapor then a cigarette in public, you just dont. Heavy users will be the end to us all. For realz though end the vape on vape hate. People need to mind there own business, you never know who has a gun...

I agree. I'm vaping a Kayfun 3.1 right now at 3.5v with the same 1.5 ohm coil that they jumped on the OP for ( 8.16 watts @ 2.33 amps). He was vaping on a Vision Spinner so he couldn't have been too much higher in voltage than I am. Mine creates an exhale about equal to a cigarette. If it's cool and humid outside the cloud gets a little bigger.

We don't need to be cloud vaping anywhere with the current political climate surrounding ecigs. It just gives the naysayers more ammunition to use in the fight against vaping. Most of them have really good video cameras in their smartphones. That's where viral videos originate. It's hard to walk away, but we have to do it if challenged. In his situation it was probably hard to do.

 

[raspberryblu]

I still don't get that we should "stealth" vape outdoors when that far of a distance from others. It seems ridiculous and unfair. I refuse to vape with shame when my vape is not affecting anyone else...,.

 

[Myxlpyxlx]

Sorry for opening a can of worms on this subject.

 

[DaveP]

Sorry for opening a can of worms on this subject.

Not a problem. Yours was an unusual situation where people accosted you for vaping in public. You may be the first on ECF to tell a story like that. I would be pretty shocked if a vaper starting reading me the riot act about vaping 100 feet from a building. If he didn't change his tune I'd be walking away, though. I don't have to listen to people like that and they don't really matter. There are kooks all over and that's the way I'd categorize the ones you mentioned.

Most vapers would have started a friendly conversation and discussed hardware with you. I would have. It's not often I get to do that outside of vape shops.

 

[Zealous]

Well this is just the strangest thing. I have never had anyone even really comment on my vaping practices & I pretty much vape wherever I feel like. I do use common sense & vape accordingly in various places. But in a parking lot I would certainly not be worried about steath vaping & wouldn't even think of doing it (mostly because I enjoy my vape more when I don't have to stealth so I won't if I don't have to).

I'm sorry you were confronted with that OP because from where I sit, with the information you provided in your post, it seems that those people who complained about your vape were being judgmental jerks & nothing more. I don't know what you look like of course but I wonder if their reaction to you had more to do with your appearance & their assumptions about what "kind" of vaper you are rather than about what they witnessed you doing. If some cute little grandma type woman blew the same cloud using the same set up I wonder if they'd have reacted the same way.

Don't take it personally. There's not much you can do about those type of people other than ignore them.