When my wife and I switched from cigarettes to vaping, she was concerned about how she would be perceived by others. She felt like she would stick out in a crowd, or look awkward. I ensured her that she would look less silly than someone killing themselves slowly with a cigarette. She quickly got over the social acceptance, but now she, myself, and millions of others, have to deal with another stigma of vaping, legal acceptance.

Vaping in public is becoming a concern among those of us choosing to not die from cigarettes. New rules, regulations and laws deciding where we can vape are starting to appear quicker than they ever did for traditional cigarettes. Vaping gives the illusion of smoking to all but the trained eye. A vaper can spot another vaper, but it’s not so easy for the average person. Disposable e-cigarettes are sized, and some even colored, to mimic a traditional cigarette, so it can be hard to spot the difference at a glance. Exhaled vapor, which dissipates very quickly, can still be hard to discern from smoke.

This has led to rules that are simply based on “it looks like smoking” so we’ll ban or prevent people from doing it.

What part of the act of vaping do non-vapers (and politicians) dislike so much that they feel the need to regulate it in such a way?

Let’s find out.