# My stupid county banned e-cigs indoors today :( **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [September 4, 2014, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-stupid-county-banned-e-cigs-indoors-today/697488 "2014-09-04T16:01:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2014, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-stupid-county-banned-e-cigs-indoors-today/697488/41 "2014-09-05T14:58:30Z")
> [@Bruce\_Wayne](#): > > I’ve been to you home city of Chicago on a few occasions. I looked out at the city from the restaraunt at the top of the John Hancock center and could see the smog covering the city like a blanket. Why anyone in city covered in smog would worry about second hand smoke let alone vaping is beyond comprehension. It must have been awhile since you’ve been here. The smog’s long gone. Now if you look down on the buildings from the Hancock, you’re more likely to notice all of the plants and greenery planted on the tops of buildings to help the air, one of the few things Daley did right. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2014, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-stupid-county-banned-e-cigs-indoors-today/697488/42 "2014-09-05T15:00:08Z")
> [@Shakes](#): > > I don’t want to smell your perfume while I’m trying to enjoy my dinner. So… ban perfume? When you can smell the perfume from two tables over, then yes, ban perfume. ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2014, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-stupid-county-banned-e-cigs-indoors-today/697488/43 "2014-09-05T15:04:45Z")
e-cigs should have hired e-lobbyists. ---
**Author:** ![PaulParkhead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@PaulParkhead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PaulParkhead)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2014, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-stupid-county-banned-e-cigs-indoors-today/697488/44 "2014-09-05T15:09:29Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > On a purely intellectual level, I don’t suppose anyone should consider it to be so. It might be instructive, however, to learn how such a product would be received by the vaping market. Right, I see what you mean. Personally, I’d have no objection to using such a product if it could be made. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2014, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-stupid-county-banned-e-cigs-indoors-today/697488/45 "2014-09-05T15:22:12Z")
> [@Shakes](#): > > I don’t want to smell your perfume while I’m trying to enjoy my dinner. So… ban perfume? Yes, please. Or at least for people who think that if a drop is good, immersing oneself in a 55 gallon drum of the stuff is better. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2014, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-stupid-county-banned-e-cigs-indoors-today/697488/46 "2014-09-05T15:30:04Z")
Just wondering-How effective _are_ e-cigs when it comes to quitting smoking? ---
**Author:** ![Steophan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steophan/32/9595_2.png) [@Steophan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steophan)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2014, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-stupid-county-banned-e-cigs-indoors-today/697488/47 "2014-09-05T15:35:21Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > When you can smell the perfume from two tables over, then yes, ban perfume. No, don’t. You - or anyone - don’t get to ban things just because you dislike them. Things should only ever be banned if they cause provable, measurable harm. Smelling something doesn’t do that. Of course, smelling something means that there is _something_ in the air, and it’s reasonable to test whether that’s harmful. So, anyone care to link to studies that show perfume or e-cigs are harmful? ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2014, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-stupid-county-banned-e-cigs-indoors-today/697488/48 "2014-09-05T15:40:46Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Just wondering-How effective _are_ e-cigs when it comes to quitting smoking? I’m not typical of Vapers because I only vape when I drink. But still, drinking is a very strong trigger for smoking. I haven’t touched a cigarette for 1.5 years. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2014, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-stupid-county-banned-e-cigs-indoors-today/697488/49 "2014-09-05T15:57:53Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Just wondering-How effective _are_ e-cigs when it comes to quitting smoking? Anecdotal, of course: I know a lot of people who’ve quit using c-cigs as tobacco substitute. One or two of them have taken to e-cigs long term, though. It worked for me as well, though I started smoking again after six months while getting ready for the bar exam. ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2014, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-stupid-county-banned-e-cigs-indoors-today/697488/50 "2014-09-05T16:00:00Z")
> [@Steophan](#): > > No, don’t. You - or anyone - don’t get to ban things just because you dislike them. Things should only ever be banned if they cause provable, measurable harm. Smelling something doesn’t do that. . . . If a fellow hasn’t bathed in twelve days, or wears a whole pint of after-shave, or farts uncontrollably, most restaurants will politely ask them to leave. In truly extreme cases, the offense could qualify as a disturbance of the peace. I have freedom of speech, too…but I won’t get away with screaming at the top of my lungs. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2014, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-stupid-county-banned-e-cigs-indoors-today/697488/51 "2014-09-05T16:03:42Z")
> [@LibrarySpy](#): > > If vaping is odor-free and undetectable, you can just go into the bathroom or an empty conference room to get your fix. More annoying than your current situation, but at least you won’t have to go outside with the cancer-stick losers. I hate to stick up for smokers, but sneaking off to a bathroom stall to suck on a plastic pipe wouldn’t especially make me feel like a winner. ---
**Author:** ![Steophan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steophan/32/9595_2.png) [@Steophan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steophan)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2014, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-stupid-county-banned-e-cigs-indoors-today/697488/52 "2014-09-05T16:17:09Z")
> [@Trinopus](#): > > If a fellow hasn’t bathed in twelve days, or wears a whole pint of after-shave, or farts uncontrollably, most restaurants will politely ask them to leave. What a private business does is one thing, a government ban is something else entirely. > [@](#): > > In truly extreme cases, the offense could qualify as a disturbance of the peace. > > I have freedom of speech, too…but I won’t get away with screaming at the top of my lungs. I’d like to see cites for either of them. Firstly, that someone could be criminalised for the way they smell, as that seems absurd. Secondly, plenty of protests involve people screaming at the top of their lungs, and it doesn’t seem to be illegal. It does depend how close to someone you are, extremely close could actually harm them. Unlike a smell. ---
**Author:** ![Sinaptics](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/278dde/32.png) [@Sinaptics](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sinaptics)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2014, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-stupid-county-banned-e-cigs-indoors-today/697488/53 "2014-09-05T16:17:18Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Just wondering-How effective _are_ e-cigs when it comes to quitting smoking? From [webmd](http://www.webmd.com/smoking-cessation/news/20140520/can-e-cigarettes-help-you-quit-smoking): > [@](#): > > A new study by British researchers suggests that e-cigarettes can help people stop smoking. > > The study found that people who wanted to quit smoking were about 60 percent more likely to succeed if they used e-cigarettes compared to would-be quitters who tried an anti-smoking nicotine patch or gum. ---
**Author:** ![Ramira](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ramira/32/344_2.png) [@Ramira](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ramira)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2014, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-stupid-county-banned-e-cigs-indoors-today/697488/54 "2014-09-05T16:18:27Z")
I understand in this how the americans ended up with the prohibition. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2014, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-stupid-county-banned-e-cigs-indoors-today/697488/55 "2014-09-05T16:20:59Z")
> [@Sinaptics](#): > > From [webmd](http://www.webmd.com/smoking-cessation/news/20140520/can-e-cigarettes-help-you-quit-smoking): Thank you. Facts am good. ---
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2014, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-stupid-county-banned-e-cigs-indoors-today/697488/56 "2014-09-05T16:24:09Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Thank you. Facts am good. Problem is, there just ain’t enough of 'em yet. ---
**Author:** ![Rachellelogram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rachellelogram/32/8689_2.png) [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2014, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-stupid-county-banned-e-cigs-indoors-today/697488/57 "2014-09-05T16:48:36Z")
> [@EmilyG](#): > > **Rachellelogram** , has your company decided to enforce this new rule? I’m just curious as to whether your workplace has talked to you about it, or if you’d only read about it in the news. It’s a law, they don’t have a choice whether to enforce it or not. And if it’s illegal, I wouldn’t want to be seen using it inside anyway. > [@Morgenstern](#): > > Congratulations on quitting, that was the right thing to do. However, I just can’t understand why you would want to do anything even closely related to smoking now? Consider yourself cured and walk away from it. Because I can’t function without nicotine. A few years ago, I almost lost my job when I quit for ~6 months without nicotine replacement. I made a lot of “stoner mistakes” because I was so easily distracted and unable to focus. > [@OneCentStamp](#): > > Nitpick: Ted Nugent is a teetotaler. All his irrationality is strictly hermetic in origin. Thanks, I didn’t know that! I thought he was a crazy drunk conservative. I guess he’s just a crazy conservative. > [@SeaDragonTattoo](#): > > Ever been on a bus and gotten an overwhelming scent of strawberries, oranges, vanilla wafting through the place? I have. My coworker’s old-lady perfume isn’t illegal, and it’s far more offensive than any of those scents. > [@SeaDragonTattoo](#): > > If I saw her in the bathroom or other non-smoking area away from smokers and her vape was unscented, I would totally let it slide. That’s the plan, although nobody will see me doing it in the stall. > [@Czarcasm](#): > > Just wondering-How effective _are_ e-cigs when it comes to quitting smoking? They’re pretty fucking effective, but that’s anecdotal. I haven’t looked for any studies for a statistical conclusion yet, but it worked for several smokers I know. My mom (smoked for ~20 years), my aunt (lifelong smoker), some cousins, my coworker, and me. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2014, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-stupid-county-banned-e-cigs-indoors-today/697488/58 "2014-09-05T16:54:19Z")
> [@Rachellelogram](#): > > A few years ago, I almost lost my job when I quit for ~6 months without nicotine replacement. I made a lot of “stoner mistakes” because I was so easily distracted and unable to focus. I’m a heavy smoker, and I laughed out loud when I read this. Physiological nicotine withdrawal symptoms are gone in a matter of days no matter how much you smoke. ---
**Author:** ![DingoelGringo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9d8465/32.png) [@DingoelGringo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DingoelGringo)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2014, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-stupid-county-banned-e-cigs-indoors-today/697488/59 "2014-09-05T16:55:08Z")
> [@Trinopus](#): > > Wait… Was it a total ban, or just a ban on using them in public? > > I’m wholly in favor of the latter…and pretty strongly against the former. It was a ban on indoor use. ---
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2014, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-stupid-county-banned-e-cigs-indoors-today/697488/60 "2014-09-05T17:05:56Z")
> [@Bruce\_Wayne](#): > > In a free society the onus of answering those questions should be on lawmakers not the OP. I prefer legislating things because they are harmful, not because they could be. And by harmful I don’t mean that one part per zillion of nicotine per air your getting from that person vaping 30 feet away, or outdoors. Normally I agree (cf., sex offender registries), but because this is similar to a product known to be harmful, and promoted as a harmless substitute for a harmful product, I think we are bumping up against “extraordinary claims require extraordinary proof.” However, if the research comes back that vaping is relatively safe for the vaper (particularly compared to smoking), and harmless to the person sitting next to him, then I am fully prepared to concede that you should be able to do it pretty much anywhere. I would hold out for exceptions like K-12 teachers not vaping in their classrooms, and perhaps allowing places that cater to children to ban it-- Toy R Us, for example. Also, if it proves a fire hazard around chemicals or oxygen, there may be some “no vaping” zones. I also think any indoor venue reserves the right to limit people to unscented or flavored types, since those can bother people with allergies. > [@jsgoddess](#): > > I also think the association between smoking and vaping means that the vaping industry had better get off their asses and demonstrate the safety of the product. It looks like smoke, so people are gonna think it’s smoke-like unless something demonstrates it isn’t. Yup on the testing, although, I think that ecig companies are actually counting on people having the preconceived idea that smoking is _so awful_ pretty much anything has to be less harmful, so who needs research? > [@Isamu](#): > > You react to vapour from an e-cigarette? What kind of reaction do you have? If it has artificial flavors and scents, probably the same kind a lot of people have to perfumes. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-stupid-county-banned-e-cigs-indoors-today/697488.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-stupid-county-banned-e-cigs-indoors-today/697488.md?page=4)