I went to see a movie with my parents tonight and decided to take my disposable e-cigar with me, just in case I found the courage to use it. I decided not to use it in the theatre.
After the movie, I whipped it out in the spacious lobby, making sure to find a good place far enough away from people so as not to cause any offense - there wasn't much of a crowd anyway. So, I took a couple of drags, and, immediately, a really nice couple in front of me began laughing, starring in amusement at me for having the gall to light up in a smoke free place. The man said, "You know you're not supposed to smoke in here!" with a smile on his face.
Meanwhile, I noticed a lady about twenty feet away from me scrunching up her face in absolute disgust, waving her hand in front of her face as if to swipe away whatever foul smoke she thought was heading her way. She must have been absolutely stricken to see someone smoking what she thought to be a big, obnoxious-smelling stogie. I can't say I blame her initial reaction, for I know that real cigar smoke is quite powerful - even to cigarette smokers. I can't even recall the last time I've seen anybody smoking a real cigar in public, so it must have given her flashbacks to the 1950s or something.
I began telling the couple who were laughing at me - in full earshot of the "dying" lady - that I wasn't actually smoking but vaping. I told him that I was not breaking any laws. The guy asked me if it was one of those devices to help you quit smoking, and I just said yes. They were pleased with my response and went on their way.
Unfortunately, my dad was embarrassed by my actions and said to the angry lady, "I can smell it, too. It smells like plastic!" I gave up and walked out of the lobby into the mall to continue vaping in peace. We then walked through the mall, me vaping away without anybody caring or noticing, and took the elevator down into the underground parking lot full of exhaust fumes. The lady in the elevator was wearing too much perfume, but I didn't get mad.
I asked my dad if he really thought the vapor smelled like plastic, and he said yes. My mum disagreed, saying that she couldn't smell anything. My dad said that he would never go to a restaurant that was full of people vaping because of the smell.
Back at my parents house, I asked my mum if I could test the vapor near her to gauge her reaction. My mum is one of those people who hates the smell of smoke, finds it irritating to her eyes, and avoids it like the plague. So, I sat beside her on a chair and exhaled some plumes of vapour into the air around her and asked if she could smell anything. She said she couldn't. We then exited the room and came back in and both of us could smell a slight "something," but it wasn't plastic, and it was not offensive in any way. The smell soon dissipated. On the other hand, my dad said that he could smell plastic in the adjacent room, even though I had not been vaping there.
Unfortunately, I think that e-cigs are likely to be banned in all public places. I remember when people used to smoke in the food court at the mall and how much the smoke filled the room. Now, imagine lots of vaporers doing the same thing, and you'll have trouble. Even if the second-hand vapor turns out to be harmless, people will still complain about the smell. They won't want to breathe in the vapor, either. They'll start complaining, and eventually managers will get fed up with all the complaints and decide to ban the use of e-cigs outright. Judging by my experience tonight, I can see it coming.
After the movie, I whipped it out in the spacious lobby, making sure to find a good place far enough away from people so as not to cause any offense - there wasn't much of a crowd anyway. So, I took a couple of drags, and, immediately, a really nice couple in front of me began laughing, starring in amusement at me for having the gall to light up in a smoke free place. The man said, "You know you're not supposed to smoke in here!" with a smile on his face.
Meanwhile, I noticed a lady about twenty feet away from me scrunching up her face in absolute disgust, waving her hand in front of her face as if to swipe away whatever foul smoke she thought was heading her way. She must have been absolutely stricken to see someone smoking what she thought to be a big, obnoxious-smelling stogie. I can't say I blame her initial reaction, for I know that real cigar smoke is quite powerful - even to cigarette smokers. I can't even recall the last time I've seen anybody smoking a real cigar in public, so it must have given her flashbacks to the 1950s or something.
I began telling the couple who were laughing at me - in full earshot of the "dying" lady - that I wasn't actually smoking but vaping. I told him that I was not breaking any laws. The guy asked me if it was one of those devices to help you quit smoking, and I just said yes. They were pleased with my response and went on their way.
Unfortunately, my dad was embarrassed by my actions and said to the angry lady, "I can smell it, too. It smells like plastic!" I gave up and walked out of the lobby into the mall to continue vaping in peace. We then walked through the mall, me vaping away without anybody caring or noticing, and took the elevator down into the underground parking lot full of exhaust fumes. The lady in the elevator was wearing too much perfume, but I didn't get mad.
I asked my dad if he really thought the vapor smelled like plastic, and he said yes. My mum disagreed, saying that she couldn't smell anything. My dad said that he would never go to a restaurant that was full of people vaping because of the smell.
Back at my parents house, I asked my mum if I could test the vapor near her to gauge her reaction. My mum is one of those people who hates the smell of smoke, finds it irritating to her eyes, and avoids it like the plague. So, I sat beside her on a chair and exhaled some plumes of vapour into the air around her and asked if she could smell anything. She said she couldn't. We then exited the room and came back in and both of us could smell a slight "something," but it wasn't plastic, and it was not offensive in any way. The smell soon dissipated. On the other hand, my dad said that he could smell plastic in the adjacent room, even though I had not been vaping there.
Unfortunately, I think that e-cigs are likely to be banned in all public places. I remember when people used to smoke in the food court at the mall and how much the smoke filled the room. Now, imagine lots of vaporers doing the same thing, and you'll have trouble. Even if the second-hand vapor turns out to be harmless, people will still complain about the smell. They won't want to breathe in the vapor, either. They'll start complaining, and eventually managers will get fed up with all the complaints and decide to ban the use of e-cigs outright. Judging by my experience tonight, I can see it coming.
Then of course, I am happy to explain my lack of need for their generosity. 
