There are two things that have evolved very quickly over the years thanks to modern technology: the cultural acceptance of smoking thanks to the advent of e-cigarettes , and mobile dating apps becoming the key to the kingdom of love.
But are these two developments directly proportional? If you meet someone on a dating site and decide to ask them out to dinner, will they be comfortable with your vaping habit?
If the person is uncomfortable, here are five tips to avoid unnecessary drama. Hopefully you can avoid the bad experience I had.
Last spring, WeFirstMet boasted that it was the first online dating site to offer e-cigarettes as an option. Since then, most dating sites have added vapers instead of smokers to their member profiles, but has the outside world caught on?
I am an avid vaper. As a single city woman, I have tried many online dating apps. From Tinder to OkCupid, I have tried them all. Usually, my male dates don't complain if I leave the table to vape. But recently, I encountered a very negative response compared to what I am used to.
This guy and I had a dinner date at a local restaurant. The dating site I met him on didn’t have a vaper option, so I left that blank. He seemed like a very outgoing guy with tattoos, a well-groomed mustache, and tight pants. Judging by his appearance, I figured he wouldn’t mind me going out to vape.
He was startled and visibly upset. He first yelled at me for not being honest about my addiction, then went on a rant about the dangers of vaping. His mood worsened when I gently explained that the dating site didn’t have a place for me to enter my vaping preferences and that it was different from traditional cigarettes. He suddenly stood up, loudly declared that we couldn’t even be intimate because my mouth smelled like an ashtray, and stormed out. Left with an unfinished dinner, an empty seat across from me, and the entire bill, I calmly followed him outside, vaped, and went back in to finish my meal.
While many people may not have to deal with awkward situations or extreme attitudes towards their vaping habits, they have at some point encountered someone else being annoyed by their hobby. If you’re on a date, should you vape? The answer depends on the person you’re dating, but naturally there are some tips before you put your lips to your device.
1. Be straightforward
If vaping is a big part of your lifestyle, be upfront about it with your date. Honesty is always the best policy.
2. Be ready to guide
If your date is new to the world of vaping and seems interested, feel free to answer their questions. Tell them about the health effects, how vaping works, and how delicious the e-liquids can be.
3. Always vape outside
Even if the place you're meeting allows vaping indoors, be polite and don't vape at the dinner table on your first date. Politely excuse yourself and go outside to vape.
4. Be understanding
Don’t assume everyone is ready to accept vaping. It’s still a new phenomenon, and research is still needed on the long-term health effects and how it affects non-vapers in close proximity. If your date doesn’t like vaping, but seems interested in you, spend more time with them and leave your vape at home.
5. Calmly withdraw
If your date gets upset and throws a tantrum in public, you should still calmly back out. Understand that not everyone likes vaping, and not everyone succeeds on the first date anyway.
