Can I play too,
Ok, here we go and please do keep in mind that this is an opinion as so many have them.
OP,
I can relate to what your saying but then again not everyone is as bad as you say. Yes you'll have your extreme hobbyists in anything, from cars to guns to dogs..ect but as I've mentioned before these are a niche group and should be treated as such, you don't need to associate with them at all if you don't wish to as I myself avoid certain niche groups. I fully understand that the demographics of the shop ownership and attendance has changed but this was going to happen no matter what, the only thing that we can hope for is that education of new vapors is still being held to the quality that it once was. I'm not fully sure that it is but I figure if the shop owners won't fill that title then I'll step in and help out. Remember that you are still a steward for the ecig community and with your experience you've much to share.
As for the FDA enforcing regulation on the ecig market that will happen regardless, I will admit that the names that have come out lately and the artwork is not helping the cause here. Yes you are correct that the FDA is gathering information to sway the general publics opinion to their side, they don't have to look very far in truth with folks pushing the limitations of batteries, names of liquids and artwork as of lately. Remember that though it may not seem like a huge deal any negative press is just that and yes these shop owners and hobbyists need to know this. Its fine if you want to but either keep it professional and to those who are in to it or keep it in your own house. I'm stocked for when the hammer falls but that's just me, just saying.
Everyone else,
Yes, what was said may hit home for some of you and maybe force a look in the mirror but here is what stepping outside and looking in produces. It may be an opinion but its one that is invaluable and has a lesson behind it, I've tried to say "Hey folks, it looks bad to be doing this stuff" but it fell upon deaf ears and walled in minds. So here you've heard it, and you do realize that if one person who is a part of the community thinks like this what are non-smokers thinking, what is the FDA seeing from us. To believe that they aren't keeping tabs on social media, local business and meet up's is just being ignorant at the best. I'm not saying that at every place there is someone but at a good number of places there has been or is someone that is keeping tabs. I'm also sure that phone calls are being made by the general public of the antics that go on in some of these places, no the FDA isn't going to publically announce it yet. They will when it comes to hearing day and they take out that big book o complaints and findings, it will come out and then the hammer will drop.
I'm not saying to hide away in a dark place, I'm saying that to lead by example, be the person you would like to meet yourself and treat everyone with the utmost respect. Try to not only advise safety in ecigs but also live it while your out and facing the public or if you can't/don't want to then say nothing at'll about your own personal set-up (Cloud Competitions are saying what you've got in a big, big and highly visible not good way). Remember that these future generations are the ones that will continue to protect the right to vape, this fight isn't just one that will be done and over with but it will continue from now until the end of days, what we lay now is the brick work for future generations of vapers to come. Yes is a big responsibility and I'm sorry to tell you that you have it upon your shoulders but you do. I'm not saying to not do what you love, I'm saying to do it in an informative, kind and safe way and offer others a guiding lite to follow that you will be proud of.
Just my thoughts.
