Vaped While Driving- Classmate thinks they saw somthing else

[Oiisu]

So this guy approaches me today and is chuckling and goes "you made my night yesterday" I ask him what he's talking about "Dude, I was driving behind you yesterday" "Yeah, and?" "I saw you!" "What happened??" And then he mimes smoking an illicit substance. I tell him it was an e-cigarette, "Haha okay man, I'm not gonna tell anyone" "No, dude, its nicotine" "its cool, I did some things when I was younger too"
So I send him a text later saying it really is an e-cig, I don't want any rumors going around, and attached a pic of my vape and he replies "Even if it wasn't, I wouldn't say anything, I wouldn't spread a rumor"


It seems to me the guy just thinks I'm trying to cover myself and can't be convinced I wasn't smoking something, I'm in professional school and I don't want any kind of reputation like this at all, even if he doesn't tell anyone it sucks enough, but beyond that, I have a job working with his mother sometimes, so if that's the one person he told in the world- then people at my work will hear I am using illicit substances, and other people I work with are in my class- so then it spreads around my school that I'm doing illicit substances.

So either the rumor gets out and my reputation is ruined, or it doesn't get out and its just a matter of time before someone else who is ignorant of vaping gets the same misconception and does spread it around- basically I think I should quit vaping because its not worth the risk of being slandered. I feel like banging my head against a wall.

/I know this forum has a rules against illegal speak, I hope I didn't step over any lines, I need to get this out there, please don't delete the thread, tell me what needs to be changed and I'll do it.

 

[Spencer87]

This angers me. Educate... don't bend over and take one just because other people think bad of you.
It would never quit because of someone else's thoughts. You know how much slander you get for always smelling like cigarettes. Don't change who you are because other people are not educated. If everyone was like you, e cigarettes would have been banned and this forum shut down years ago.

 

[twgbonehead]

First, I think your post was framed very acceptably. I sincerely doubt the mods will have a problem with it.

A piece of advice - you can't go through life worrying about what other people might think of you, particularly when it's untrue.

If I were you I would make it a point to vape openly in public where your friends and classmates would see you. Some will be curious enough to ask you about it, and you can educate them (and in doing so, spread the info that you're not doing anything wrong). Going underground, or quitting vaping might just make you look more guilty. But that's me; you have to decide for yourself.

Life has it's challenges; we need to overcome them. If your reputation gets "ruined" based on a false allegation made by an ignorant person, then hopefully you will eventually find a more reasonable and better group of people to hang with.

Best of luck! Vape on!

 

[Rwb1500]

Some guy? How exactly did you come up with some guy's phone number? If you're gonna tell us a story like this you might as well tell the whole story.

 

[supertrunker]

I'd say i saw him with someone that was not his wife. Two can play at rumours.

T

 

[imsoenthused]

Time to get a whole lot more visible vaping in public. Honestly, the way some people hide it and act like it's a dirty secret is it any wonder someone might make that assumption?

 

[twgbonehead]

Some guy? How exactly did you come up with some guy's phone number? If you're gonna tell us a story like this you might as well tell the whole story.

??? Rwb, did you actually read the post? I thought he explained it pretty clearly. The guy is someone he knows (he works with the guy's mother, after all).

 

[Oiisu]

Some guy? How exactly did you come up with some guy's phone number? If you're gonna tell us a story like this you might as well tell the whole story.

Sorry, I guess that does change the story, we are very friendly to each other and he has been a super nice to me, but we haven't known each other very long and haven't hung out outside of school. If I had to guess I would say that we will probably end up being good friends, but we still don't really know each other very well at this point

 

[classwife]

I did edit the thread title a little bit

Vaped While Driving- Classmate thinks they saw somthing else

 

[QBass]

As has been stated, if you are vaping to kick the tobacco habit, be very open about it. It is something to be proud of. Others acquainted with you should be encouraging of your vaping if they know this is the reason. At least they will have no reason to mistake your activity as illicit if you are open about it.

 

[Papa_Lazarou]

Yeah, I had a (rather conservative) client 'catch' me vaping outside of our studio. The look on her face told it all: "Oh my god, you're... you're one of those <insert term for users of illicit substances>".

I caught up to her later that day and showed her my grand, saying "Hey, I saw you were looking at this - it's a kind of an e-cig; I used to smoke and this is for nicotine replacement. Were you interested in these?". She nearly fell over a chair trying to back away.

Two months later, over a client dinner with her, she asked if our company had drug testing and was I worried about that.

Yep - you can lead a horse to water......

My father used to say: If you want to be seen, stand up; if you want to be heard, speak up; and if you want to be liked, sit down and shut up.

Do not sit down and shut up, OP. Do not.

 

[Oiisu]

Yeah, I'll admit this whole thing and my reaction to it stems from my entire way of being. I am always worried about what people will think of me, I am very self-conscious, and I try my best to present myself in a positive manner at all times, much of it from fear of being perceived negatively. I was always embarrassed to be a smoker, and I even now am semi-embarrassed to be a vaper. This has all backfired in the worst way possible cause its my mind going over the worst case scenarios of what people could think of me now. It seems how I deal with this could very well be an important life lesson for me

 

[Jake67]

So this guy approaches me today and is chuckling and goes "you made my night yesterday" I ask him what he's talking about "Dude, I was driving behind you yesterday" "Yeah, and?" "I saw you!" "What happened??" And then he mimes smoking an illicit substance. I tell him it was an e-cigarette, "Haha okay man, I'm not gonna tell anyone" "No, dude, its nicotine" "its cool, I did some things when I was younger too"
So I send him a text later saying it really is an e-cig, I don't want any rumors going around, and attached a pic of my vape and he replies "Even if it wasn't, I wouldn't say anything, I wouldn't spread a rumor"


It seems to me the guy just thinks I'm trying to cover myself and can't be convinced I wasn't smoking something, I'm in professional school and I don't want any kind of reputation like this at all, even if he doesn't tell anyone it sucks enough, but beyond that, I have a job working with his mother sometimes, so if that's the one person he told in the world- then people at my work will hear I am using illicit substances, and other people I work with are in my class- so then it spreads around my school that I'm doing illicit substances.

So either the rumor gets out and my reputation is ruined, or it doesn't get out and its just a matter of time before someone else who is ignorant of vaping gets the same misconception and does spread it around- basically I think I should quit vaping because its not worth the risk of being slandered. I feel like banging my head against a wall.

/I know this forum has a rules against illegal speak, I hope I didn't step over any lines, I need to get this out there, please don't delete the thread, tell me what needs to be changed and I'll do it.

Reminds me of the time my doctor gave me some samples of ...... for my brother inlaw. I left them on the counter and when another neighbor stopped by he asks "how do you like them ". When I said they were for someone else he smiled and said "sure everyone says that. It's OK."
People will think what they want !!!!


Sent from my iPhone

 

[cbrite]

If you know this person well enough, you could take your vaporizer and some good juice (something that smells particularly good and I'd take a couple of bottles) and show him how things work. Once he smells vanilla or lemon or whatever, he will "get" that it isn't what he thought it was

 

[nukleusx]

Yeah, I had a (rather conservative) client 'catch' me vaping outside of our studio. The look on her face told it all: "Oh my god, you're... you're one of those <insert term for users of illicit substances>"....

Not trying to get political here, though I know a bunch of "rather conservatives" whom are into e-cigs... IMO a better word for people who simply won't hear it are closed-minded folk on either side of the divide.

That said, I happen to live in an area that is majority red, so I am not surprised to know a bunch of "rather-conservative" e-cig folk.

As far as the illicit substances part- I always start thinking when I am driving my company supplied work van if people driving around/behind me see clouds emerge from the driver's window and think "That guy is using illicit substances while working! Oh dear lord! Someone call someone who will slap him on the wrist!"

 

[Auntie Mame]

That "friend" seems to be familiar with a substance you are not utilizing, that should tell you a bit about him. That implied substance has a very distinctive aroma. If you vape in public as many have suggested people who are not stupid will quickly realize the aroma is not there and it may open a door to conversation and will reveal the truth. You are not in the wrong. Don't hide. Live your life your way, doing what's best for you.

 

[cstone1991]

Not trying to get political here, though I know a bunch of "rather conservatives" whom are into e-cigs... IMO a better word for people who simply won't hear it are closed-minded folk on either side of the divide.

That said, I happen to live in an area that is majority red, so I am not surprised to know a bunch of "rather-conservative" e-cig folk.

As far as the illicit substances part- I always start thinking when I am driving my company supplied work van if people driving around/behind me see clouds emerge from the driver's window and think "That guy is using illicit substances while working! Oh dear lord! Someone call someone who will slap him on the wrist!"

"Conservative" is not only a political word....

OP, it really sounds like this guy was just trying to mess with you and you are playing right into his game. If you don't partake in illegal substances you have no cause for concern, but if you keep pressing the issue with him you will just make yourself look guilty and he may begin to think you actually do it.

I'll never understand why someone embarrassed of smoking or vaping would do it. Would you buy a pink shirt if you were embarrassed to wear it?

 

[Thespis]

"I'll never understand why someone embarrassed of smoking or vaping would do it. Would you buy a pink shirt if you were embarrassed to wear it?

If I was addicted to pink shirts, yeah.

 

[Ken_A]

Everything else aside...
Most likely this almost friend is probably fishing for a possible "hit" and will not find it with you.
If you are worried what people think about you, you have to decide what you want them to think. Including the negatives.
Seems to me that you are an introvert like myself. I have chosen for people to think of me as an annoying advocate person who will use the slightest excuse to yammer on about how much healthier I am now that I don't smoke anymore.
If your campus has "smoking" areas, make a point to vape there at least once a day. If not, make sure to be just outside campus and vape. The more people that see you vape, the less likely that rumors about you can take root.
You can also ask this particular guy if he smokes, and if he does, recommend a nice inexpensive Ego setup. Or even have one ready. You can get them for less than $20. I sold 45 of them at work before I started working from home.

 

[Nana Gail]

You have gotten solid advice concerning your problem, you need to Vape openly and often. The people around you be it at work or school will soon become so used to seeing you with your Vape gear that if anyone says anything they will ignore them. That said for the foreseeable future you might want to abstain from anything that could scue a urine or blood test (just incase) this friend not so great a friend. You can not live a happy life if you give a rodents bumm about what other people think you are doing, you just have to be confident in yourself. The only thing to be aware off is how your true friends and loved ones think of you! Don't sweat the small stuff! We do live in a Country where you are inocent until PROVEN quilty. Smile we all like you and we don't spread rumors.