Why do vapers expect to be treated differently than smokers?

[coat]

Golden Rule, man!

Wouldn't you have liked it if the drunks had stopped screaming? Don't you wish the drunk loud people were "bothered" enough to shut up?

The people angry at you vaping next to them indoors feel the same way. You should be bothered because it bothered them and decent people care about how they are treating others.

Again, nobody has ever seemed the slightest irritated by me vaping, but often curious. Yes I would have appreciated if those people "shut up". But if they just kept their drinking subtle and conversed at a reasonable volume for the situation, it would've been enough.
I'm always considerate of others when I vape in public, but the possibility that someone might get offended will not stop me entirely.

 

[InTheShade]

I think bazmonkey hit the nail on the head, just because we can, doesn't always mean we should.

I am a big proponent of vaping openly and respectfully. I only vape inside in my own home, in my truck, in my office (we actually have an ecig policy that lets us - for now) and in places where I have asked explicitly for permission from the owner or manager.
I wouldn't ever think to vape at the store, in a line for an ice-cream, at the ballpark or inside a restaurant unless I knew they had a vape-friendly policy and I knew it wouldn't upset people.

As vapers I truly believe we all have a a responsibility to go above and beyond to show that we are considerate of other people.

The problem with rights is that your rights end where mine begin - where is the line?

 

[coat]

seriously?...what if YOU were that ONE person? because that is who you are thinking about....ONE person. LOL

i was vaping in my car today and got a finger wag from a person in another car....i didn't have an opportunity to explain to them that i wasn't doing anything bad (not that the preceding sentence is relevant LOL)

I am that "one" person every day. There's a lot of things people do that irritate me, but they have their rights. And with the amount of people that I've seen convert to vaping AFTER seeing me vape in public, I do not care what one closed minded person has to say if they refuse to educate themselves.

You must keep in mind that this also highly depends on your location. Whoever was in that other car obviously has never seen nor heard of ecigs before. Most people I see seem to know of them at least through big tobacco brands. When they see that mine look nothing like cigarettes, it peaks their interest.

 

[InTheShade]

I had to listen to a bunch of drunks screaming on the train home today. I consider this rude and offensive when I'm exhausted after a long day of work. But though I may be annoyed, they were doing nothing wrong. So why should I be bothered if someone gets angry when I vape inside? I'm doing nothing wrong. Whether it pisses people off or not, I still have rights.

My dad always said take the higher ground. And I don't think he meant climb a hill with a musket.

 

[bazmonkey]

...I was afraid to vape in public when I first started because I didn't know how people would react. Then I started asking permission, nobody cared. Now I've realized that its easier to just do it.... So why should I worry that ONE person somewhere in the world might not like it?

I'm not saying don't vape liberally anywhere because someone out there might not like it. If that one person asks you not to sometime, just do what they ask. It's not an outrageous request, you know?

Of course, it's different if they're being rude themselves, but if they ask somewhat nicely, maybe just give them what they want and collect the brownie points.

 

[hottierockstar]

I am that "one" person every day. There's a lot of things people do that irritate me, but they have their rights. And with the amount of people that I've seen convert to vaping AFTER seeing me vape in public, I do not care what one closed minded person has to say if they refuse to educate themselves.

You must keep in mind that this also highly depends on your location. Whoever was in that other car obviously has never seen nor heard of ecigs before. Most people I see seem to know of them at least through big tobacco brands. When they see that mine look nothing like cigarettes, it peaks their interest.

i am not saying don't vape in public....what struck me was you saying why should you care what one person in the world thinks....because each of us IS that one person...that being the case...seems like all the more reason to be considerate no matter what the activity is.

i think i got the finger wag because it doesn't look like a cigarette...and i think she actually wrote down my license plate LOL

 

[coat]

My dad always said take the higher ground. And I don't think he meant climb a hill with a musket.

For every one person who will be upset with my behavior, there will be at least 10 smokers who decide to mimic it by educate themselves and converting to a healthier lifestyle.

To me, saving lives IS the higher ground. And if anyone has a problem with that, maybe they stand 25 feet away from the entrance. Because their selfishness is offending me.

 

[coat]

I'm not saying don't vape liberally anywhere because someone out there might not like it. If that one person asks you not to sometime, just do what they ask. It's not an outrageous request, you know?

Of course, it's different if they're being rude themselves, but if they ask somewhat nicely, maybe just give them what they want and collect the brownie points.

Of course I have common decency. But if someone asked politely, I'd first explain what I'm doing. This actually happened once at a bar because someone thought I was smoking, after my explanation the woman said "I've been a smoker for 40 years, mind if I try?"

I saw her a few weeks ago. She is now 4 months smoke free and vaping.

 

[hottierockstar]

good gravy...i am so tired of seeing ppl say "i am saving lives vaping in public"
uhm....NO....you may be giving someone an opportunity to save their own lives by exposing them to an unknown to them option but you are vaping in public because you are vaping in public.
i think very few ppl say to themselves "oh i am going to go vape at costco because some smoker might see me and i will save their lives"

there are ppl that camp out and provide information and even pass out starter kits...that is not the same as vaping in public.

 

[DC2]

To me, saving lives IS the higher ground.

Kind of hard to argue with that.

 

[coat]

good gravy...i am so tired of seeing ppl say "i am saving lives vaping in public"
uhm....NO....you may be giving someone an opportunity to save their own lives by exposing them to an unknown to them option but you are vaping in public because you are vaping in public.
i think very few ppl say to themselves "oh i am going to go vape at costco because some smoker might see me and i will save their lives"

there are ppl that camp out and provide information and even pass out starter kits...that is not the same as vaping in public.

I recently found a job with the closest vendor I could find to my town. Over an hour away...simply because I wanted to help people by educating them about a product that saved my life. So yeah, I do believe I'm doing a bit more than just vaping in public.

 

[Super Lyndotron]

With the 'stealth cap' on my e-cig I must admit to sneakily using it at the cinema... Tho I've only been twice in the two weeks since I first got the thing. Now smoking (read: vaping) indoors which is nice because it's winter here at the moment.

But I'm yet to head downstairs at work and use it where I used to smoke, since it's a very busy corner and I don't want the quizzical looks from strangers. That said I'm not going to use it at my desk either - I head for the mens to puff away.

A mate's wife asked/told me to 'take it outside' when I was showing it to them. Rather than annoy her in her own home I didn't bother to try to explain the health benefits and secondhand non-issue.

 

[InTheShade]

Coat - I suppose it depends on who is asking, where you are and the circumstances of the request. If you are at the walmart and someone gets in your face about it, that is a whole different circumstance to vaping on a patio of a local bar and someone mentions you 'smoking'

I have had many, many conversations about vaping with smokers and non-smokers all because I had a vamo in my hand and was vaping on some nice juice. I like the fact that I can educate people about the difference between vaping and smoking and hope that they do what I did.

I guess I am just saying if you vape say at the movie theater, don't expect people to not say anything. They don't know the difference and to them, it looks harmful. Sure, educate them, but really, why are you vaping at the movie theater anyway is the question I am asking.

You seem like a reasonable person and I am not entirely disagreeing with your stance, just wanted to make that clear. There is a middle ground here because we are reasonable, but some people just vape and then look around wanting someone to say something so they can shout them down - these people are part of the problem in my opinion.

 

[hottierockstar]

I recently found a job with the closest vendor I could find to my town. Over an hour away...simply because I wanted to help people by educating them on a product that saved my life. So yeah, I do believe I'm doing a bit more than just vaping in public.

awesome (seriously)....not what we were discussing tho

 

[bazmonkey]

But if they just kept their drinking subtle and conversed at a reasonable volume for the situation, it would've been enough.

This, I think, touches on one of the reasons there is this divide between "I'll do what I want!" and "Just turn the other cheek and take it"...

Vapers think of it like this: It doesn't smell like smoke, and it doesn't harm anyone. I'm not up in their face. Therefore, I'm "vaping respectfully".

Non-smokers see it like this: I see people vaping/smoking. It bothers me. They are not being respectful because this is a place where smoking is discouraged or outlawed.

We are focused on how it's so much less offensive and figure "they shouldn't be bothered because it only looks like smoke". What we miss is that the fact that it looks like smoke is EXACTLY what they don't like.

Solution? Stealth-vape! I'm serious: IMO this is a "respectful" thing to do when someone asks you to stop. They only thing they notice is the visual aspect, so hide that. Since it doesn't smell and won't harm them, stealth-vaping really does remove the offensive parts. If they truly can't see it, then there's truly nothing to be offended with.

This is NOT the same as just holding in the vapor so they don't see you exhale, but still see you taking a drag. That is still insulting to them, becuase they can still see you doing it.

 

[coat]

Coat - I suppose it depends on who is asking, where you are and the circumstances of the request. If you are at the walmart and someone gets in your face about it, that is a whole different circumstance to vaping on a patio of a local bar and someone mentions you 'smoking'



I have had many, many conversations about vaping with smokers and non-smokers all because I had a vamo in my hand and was vaping on some nice juice. I like the fact that I can educate people about the difference between vaping and smoking and hope that they do what I did.

I guess I am just saying if you vape say at the movie theater, don't expect people to not say anything. They don't know the difference and to them, it looks harmful. Sure, educate them, but really, why are you vaping at the movie theater anyway is the question I am asking.

You seem like a reasonable person and I am not entirely disagreeing with your stance, just wanted to make that clear. There is a middle ground here because we are reasonable, but some people just vape and then look around wanting someone to say something so they can shout them down - these people are part of the problem in my opinion.

You're entirely right. There is middle ground, stealth vaping. People don't even notice. No harm no foul.

 

[InTheShade]

Kind of hard to argue with that.

If that were the only reason people vaped openly, I would agree. But you and I both know that is probably a side issue at most. People want to do what they want to do and not have others question them about it.

I don't think of myself as an educator, a vaping prophet or a life-saver (except maybe my own) but to say that the sole reason why people vape in public is to help save lives is disingenuous.

 

[InTheShade]

I cannot honestly say with my hand on my heart that I have never stealth vaped. So I guess I am one of those people that is part of the problem.

Pokes self in eye with sharp stick.

 

[bazmonkey]

I cannot honestly say with my hand on my heart that I have never stealth vaped. So I guess I am one of those people that is part of the problem.

Pokes self in eye with sharp stick.

If no one noticed at all, that's not part of the problem. No one noticed. It was a tree falling and no one was around.

Last comment in thread (gotta go home from work!): "Vaping in public to save lives" is absurd, I agree. It suggests that if we were all informed about vaping these people would decide to vape privately instead. You're vaping in front of strangers, to their annoyance... for the sake of education??? Ok, sure. I steal from grocery stores to teach them about loss prevention. Nevermind the free stuff I get, that's not why I do it.

 

[DC2]

This, I think, touches on one of the reasons there is this divide between "I'll do what I want!" and "Just turn the other cheek and take it"...

Vapers think of it like this: It doesn't smell like smoke, and it doesn't harm anyone. I'm not up in their face. Therefore, I'm "vaping respectfully".

Non-smokers see it like this: I see people vaping/smoking. It bothers me. They are not being respectful because this is a place where smoking is discouraged or outlawed.

We are focused on how it's so much less offensive and figure "they shouldn't be bothered because it only looks like smoke". What we miss is that the fact that it looks like smoke is EXACTLY what they don't like.

Solution? Stealth-vape! I'm serious: IMO this is a "respectful" thing to do when someone asks you to stop. They only thing they notice is the visual aspect, so hide that. Since it doesn't smell and won't harm them, stealth-vaping really does remove the offensive parts. If they truly can't see it, then there's truly nothing to be offended with.

This is NOT the same as just holding in the vapor so they don't see you exhale, but still see you taking a drag. That is still insulting to them, becuase they can still see you doing it.

I disagree with this post for so many reasons, I hardly know where to start.