Recent confrontation in a parking lot

[Skeebo]

Did you have tattoos? LOL just kidding.....

 

[JMarca]

I don't see it happening, I've heard and in 2 cases seen disputes over vaping on private property but in a public parking lot out in the open?

Only thing I can think of is either you were stealth vaping inside the restaurant then came outside and was confronted there, or you just made this up to get attention.

I just don't see anyone coming up to someone in a parking lot for no reason and harass them in an open area (especially a parking lot), too much to lose, it's dangerous.

 

[Anjaffm]

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.

Excellent posting!
I fully agree.

 

[seahawkin]

My encounters are usually positive, but then I am told that I am intimidating. Don't get that all all as I am kinda a big dork.

Sorry you had to deal with aggro, lots of weird press out there lately that may be driving it. I keep CASAA.org cards on me and pass them out when the questions get hostel and talk about how it really saved my life. If anything I have more converts then aggro.

 

[Amraann]

Dear OP, I am curious as to what they specifically said to you?

 

[danfinger]

We need to be respectful ...

But then:

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.

At your table in a restaurant? In a store? I'm curious how you rationalize this activity as being 'respectful'?

While those sales people may not have lambasted you, what impression do you think they come away with after witnessing you doing this? Do you think they see someone who is being respectful?

I think we need to be mindful at this stage of the game in managing people's perceptions of vaping. Stealth vaping anywhere smoking is not permitted will only hinder our cause. Let's remind ourselves that we're vaping because it is better for us, NOT because we can 'Get away with it' in places where we couldnt' smoke.

 

[edyle]

Sorry for opening a can of worms on this subject.

Subject? What's the subject?

Perhaps the subject is

Anger Management.

 

[MN_Mike]

Have you heard of the philosophy that just because you can do something, doesn't always mean you should? I agree that if the public needs to be more informed about what vaping is and what it isn't. I don't agree with people vaping in grocery stores around food. I also don't think cussing people out or telling someone to mind their own business is exactly helping our cause either. You want people to respect your choice, why not respect other peoples choices? Some people don't want to be around smoke or vapor, some establishments don't want people to vape there. Stomping off like a spoiled child and cussing people out, just because someone told you no is stupid. Grow up.

 

[rico942]

I have a good friend Abraham who owns and operates a medium-sized restaurant in Tijuana, it seats maybe 150 people max ...

Smoking is optional, but there is an ashtray on every table (usually a clam shell) ...

Occasionally tour groups from the US stop there, the restaurant has a convenient parking area on the street for a large bus. The tourists will sometimes raise a fuss aout smoking, some are even aware that Mexico technically has a federal law about indoor smoking (which local patrons and business owners cheerfully ignore) ...

Abraham will smile and nod, and have one of his waiters drag over a big industrial fan, turn it on, and point it at the complainers ...

Problem solved !

The food is great, the prices are a bargain, and they keep coming back ...

 

[Zildjian]

Personally I would have told his self righteous azz to f*off. If I'm outside with no kids around and someone did that to me. That would be my response. I hate people like that.

 

[Myxlpyxlx]

I didn't vape in the restaurant as it is an upscale type. I had a medical procedure done before that so I was rocking a valium grog and in a bit of a bad mood having to wait 4 hours longer to get it done, so it equated to 28 hours no food 16 hours no drink and 14 hours no nicotine. I wasn't dressed well, in essence I probably looked derelict. The way they approached me put me on edge to start with and they basically shouted that I was why vaping in public was not going to be accepted. I did take a few short pulls heading to the car but they weren't anything at all noticeable. When I walked through them they were scattered to less than a cigarette pull. The one at the car was a rather large cloud compared to a cig pull or similar but by no means as dense as a chaser cloud. Being dopey I did demonstrate what a real dense cloud looked like, several times.

 

[LDS714]

Some people don't want to be around smoke or vapor, some establishments don't want people to vape there.

And some do, and others could not care less. It almost sounds like you're suggesting that if anyone doesn't want to be around something then no one should do it. Not a bad idea. Let's extend it a bit. Some folks don't want to be around stupid people, so the stupid people should stay home.

But back to the original topic, I would welcome such a confrontation as the OP had. A chance to educate.

 

[zoiDman]

... I had a medical procedure done before that so I was rocking a valium grog and in a bit of a bad mood having to wait 4 hours longer to get it done, ...

Rocking a Valium Grog. Love It.

 

[edyle]

Rocking a Valium Grog. Love It.

Probably bumped into somebody and didn't notice, plus his vape probably blew in somebody's face.

 

[zoiDman]

Probably bumped into somebody and didn't notice, plus his vape probably blew in somebody's face.

I Dunno what went on.

I just have Always Liked the word "Grog". Seems like a Perfect word to Describe the After-Effects of Certain Chemicals.

LOL

 

[Zealous]

At your table in a restaurant? In a store? I'm curious how you rationalize this activity as being 'respectful'?

While those sales people may not have lambasted you, what impression do you think they come away with after witnessing you doing this? Do you think they see someone who is being respectful?

A person's "impression" of another person is not necessarily representative of whether they are being respectful. If someone is vaping at a table or in a store & no vapor is coming out of their mouth then what is there to think about? What would a sales person have to be concerned about....unless they just don't like the look of you putting the device to your mouth in the first place? And if they don't like you putting the device to your mouth in the first place that is not you being disrespectful. That is someone else having some weird issue they need to deal with.

 

[GMayberry]

I was at a local Mexican favorite for dinner and drinks last weekend. We were one of three tables outside on the patio. I asked our server if I could vape out there and he said "vaping is fine, just no smoking." Perfect answer! A bit later another server saw a small exhale and came over and said "We don't allow smoking out here." I replied (jokingly, not sarcasticly) "Good! I hate smoke!" and gave her a big smile. She looked in my hand and said "Ohhhh that's one of those vape thingies! They are fine!"

This is the kind of interaction that I enjoy!!

 

[danfinger]

A person's "impression" of another person is not necessarily representative of whether they are being respectful. If someone is vaping at a table or in a store & no vapor is coming out of their mouth then what is there to think about? What would a sales person have to be concerned about....unless they just don't like the look of you putting the device to your mouth in the first place? And if they don't like you putting the device to your mouth in the first place that is not you being disrespectful. That is someone else having some weird issue they need to deal with.

>I've never seen anyone vape and then had no vapor coming out of their mouth. Not once (unless their battery was dead or something). If they're taking a puff which is so lean on vapor, why bother? At a table in a restaurant? Come on! Show some self control and wait. You won't die if you can't vape for 2 hours for frelling out loud.

>Those people who have weird issues DO deal with it. They write their representatives, they talk others into writing their reps. The join ANTZ groups. And that is exactly why we DO need to be concerned... and respectful.

Stealth vaping is not 100% stealth 100% of the time. We don't need to give those who oppose vaping any ammunition.

 

[AndriaD]

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

That would be my response exactly -- "blow it out your ___!" Which was also my response to being assaulted about my smoking in public. I may have changed my desired nic-delivery tool, but my attitude to confrontational asshats hasn't changed one iota.

Andria

 

[TomGeorge]

>I've never seen anyone vape and then had no vapor coming out of their mouth. Not once (unless their battery was dead or something). If they're taking a puff which is so lean on vapor, why bother? At a table in a restaurant? Come on! Show some self control and wait. You won't die if you can't vape for 2 hours for frelling out loud.

>Those people who have weird issues DO deal with it. They write their representatives, they talk others into writing their reps. The join ANTZ groups. And that is exactly why we DO need to be concerned... and respectful.

Stealth vaping is not 100% stealth 100% of the time. We don't need to give those who oppose vaping any ammunition.

We all write to our representatives too. The ANTZ dont need ammunition (EDITED) moan they are going to do it anyway regardless of if they see us vaping or not. People have a choice to walk through vapor and make a fuss, or avoid it.