Vapers’ code of conduct

Times are tough in Europe for the E-cig community. Governments have until 2016 to implement the newly adopted Tobacco Directive. Why haven’t people provided their signatures to counter the directive? Are E-cig users the only ones concerned? You’ve surely understood that the answer is NO, the directive does not concern only E-cig users. It concerns the non-smoking housewife and as well as the tired paternal figure of the family to step up and ensure their relatives or kids have a way out of the tobacco business in case they fall in it for whatever reason. You’ll probably say “It’s too late, the directive has been adopted”. It’s not too late, it’s never too late. Perhaps are we to blame for the image of the E-cig that we have created. Perhaps non-smokers imagine we vape because, by doing so, we can by-pass the actual tobacco laws protecting them?

I believe no one has any direct answers to provide, however, maybe it is time to start listing a code of conduct to show everyone we are not vaping to by-pass the law.

1. Thou shall care of one’s personal space

A lot of vapers get their kicks by making the biggest clouds possible. That’s great, I do too. However, make sure these clouds don’t head into an innocent’s face. I was vaping by the bus station a couple of days ago and made this monstrous cloud. Unfortunately, the wind shifted and brought it behind me where people were walking. I saw this lady trying to avoid the cloud as if it were the most toxic thing on earth (it appears not everyone loves the smell of milky strawberry). She was furious. I turned back and saw everyone at the bus stop staring at me. I really felt bad and it was my fault. I love listening to some good ol’ Barry White, but politeness stops me from sharing it with everyone on the bus… It’s the same thing. Like Barry, vaping doesn’t kill, but we still have to keep in mind that people just don’t want to smell your vape. So vape on, but be sure you’re not blowing it in other people’s faces.

2. Thou shall stop preaching

You quit smoking by starting to vape. Congratulations, you’re like most of other vapers, including myself. You’re happy you finally stopped smoking. You want to tell the whole world… well don’t. Tell it to people that want to hear it: “Wow, you stopped smoking thanks to the electronic cigarette, that’s great. How is the transition going?” you may go ahead and reply. “Wow, you stopped smoking thanks to the electronic cigarette, that’s great.” Just a nod or a simple “yep” would suffice as it appears your interlocutor is just being polite and does not really care. If you feel the person in front of you really shows interest in the subject, you may throw in your monologue on “there are over 4000 components in a cigarette of which 60 are considered carcinogenic… I can smell better… wow I didn’t realize smoking smelt so disgusting… I can taste better… I can walk up the stairs without getting tired… I start jogging real soon…” but be careful, check from time to time to see if the person is still interested… just in case.

3. Thou shall try to convert smokers

While driving, I surprise myself vaping when I don’t want to. I vape, stop, but I come across a smoker in another car, I like to vape a little more, pretending I didn’t see the other person looking at me (cool vapster attitude). I know why I do that. Because I want to convert as many people to the vape as possible because it works. Ever went to your smoking friends and, while taking a vape, saying “…you know that’ll kill ya…” Even if they clearly say “thanks dude for letting me try your e-cig, I’ll think about it”, what they really mean is “It was the only way for him to shut it”. Your friends don’t need help. They don’t need for you to undertake a quest to guide them to the light. They don’t need you to remind them that ciggies stink, are dangerous, require a filthy ashtray indoor, get in your clothes, your breath, your teeth… They need time to think about it and they need you to be ready the day they have questions.

4. Thou shall not vape everywhere

Indeed, we’ve been fighting for our rights to use e-cigs in places that cigarettes aren’t allowed. But, let’s be real, there are some places where you just shouldn’t vape. Logical places like:

Schools

Hospitals

Client meetings

Trains

Planes

The Atlantic ocean (underwater of course)

These are just some examples. In restaurants, go on and ask the tenant. If he agrees, then let the others shut their mouths. Of course, you are to follow rule number 1 (you know the one about vaping in people’s faces).

Don’t vape where it is not allowed to smoke. For non-smokers, you ARE a (kinda-) smoker so you shouldn’t be allowed to. For smokers, you are being provocative because you ARE a (kinda-) smoker. Only vapers don’t think of other vapers as vapers.

5. Thou shall stop vaping in the toilet

Before I started to work in the E-cig market, I worked for a big company. The kind of company where you can only take a 15min break in the morning and a 15min break the afternoon… You know where this is going. Restrooms are not vape rooms. I felt great satisfaction in doing so knowing that the only way to get caught would be that someone should force the door and expose themselves to a privacy breach lawsuit. But it is still morally wrong, so just stop doing it as I did, you never know.

6. Thou shall clean up your mess

Paper towels, napkins, used coils, e-liquid drops everywhere, dirty clearomizers, etc. Clean your mess. No one will follow or listen to a dirty vaper. Smokers will be assured that smoking is less of a pain in the ass than vaping if you leave your mess. Non-smokers will think of us as drug addicts with our syringed bottles, our plyers, and coils. And old lady asked me if all this was part of a new drug in town… I replied it was actually good for everyone’s health. Then she just started staring at me, emotionless.

So please, keep in mind these “rules”. Show everyone we are not smokers and that we still are civilized and respectful persons. As parents show their kids, be the model of our community. Vape On.