Nobody knows vaping better than the team at 88vape. Which means nobody’s more aware of the vaping stereotypes that are giving the rest of us a bad name. In this quick primer on vaping etiquette, we dig in to some of the stereotypes around the vaping hobby and explain how to enjoy your vape without annoying everyone around you.
Here’s the quick guide to vaping etiquette.
The Stereotype – Preaching
“You know I’ve not touched a single cigarette since I switched to vaping? Oh, it’s so much cheaper and it’s not as bad for you and it doesn’t make your clothes smell. Did you know your clothes smell of tobacco right now? Well mine don’t. They smell faintly of cherries. Because that’s what I vape.”
We’ve all met him (and sorry lads, it’s usually a him). The vape preacher. In between clouds, he’s putting out nothing but hot air, usually aimed at anyone who’s so much as looked at a cigarette recently.
The vape preacher means well, but he doesn’t know when to shut up. And that’s led non-vapers to label anyone holding a vape pen as someone who can’t wait to criticize everyone’s life choices.
The Etiquette – Choosing Your Battles
The problem with the preacher is that he’s not wrong. Tobacco makes your clothes smell. It’s much worse for you than vaping is. And it’s expensive.
But what the preacher doesn’t remember is that quitting smoking is hard.
Nobody who smokes thinks that it’s harmless fun. But they know that a few hours without nicotine makes them edgy and irritable, and someone talking about how easy it is to switch isn’t going to help.
So if you’re worried you might be a vape preacher, pick your battles. If a friend is struggling with quitting smoking, that’s your time to mention vaping. Just don’t bring it up as a conversation opener.
For that, you’d be better off mentioning the weather.
The Stereotype – The Fog Machine
Hang on, it’s Thursday evening and you’ve only nipped in for a quick drink after work. There can’t be a band on tonight, so why is a fog machine running on full power?
Oh. It’s not. It’s the vaping equivalent, sat in the corner clutching his custom-built, over-powered box mod and pouring billowing clouds into the bar. You’d go over and say something, but you can’t quite make him out through the fog…
The Etiquette – Show Consideration
We’ve all been guilty of this at one time or the other. Sure, it says “No Smoking” here, but you’re not smoking, are you? You’re vaping, and that’s different.
It is different. But it’s still rude. It’s been over ten years since the UK smoking ban, and people are used to public places being a fog-free environment. So before you pull out that box mod and car battery, maybe check with the manager before you start creating clouds?
And definitely consider having a small, discreet vape pen. Smaller clouds mean less chance of upsetting the neighbours.
(Of course all this counts double if you’re vaping in a non-vaper’s home)
The Stereotype – Tinker, Vaper
Here he comes. Striding in here with his custom built vape, a box of tools, and what appears to be Batman’s utility belt crammed with wads of cotton, tiny screwdrivers and what appears to be a home-made chemistry lab.
I mean, we vape and even we’re a bit put off by the Tinkerer. Maybe if he just chilled out a bit, mentioned something other than his latest set of resistance calculations, or the precise PG/VG ratio of his homebrewed juice?
The Etiquette – Chill Out a Bit
Honestly. We all love our electronic cigarettes and e-liquids, but maybe don’t be 110% on-brand as a vaper every single second of every day. It’s good to have a hobby, but an obsession is off-putting.
Of course, this list isn’t comprehensive. There are dozens of other vaping stereotypes out there. Some fair, some undeserved.
Why don’t you share your pet peeves about the hobby and your tips for proper vaping etiquette in the comments below? We’ll be happy to hear from you!
