← Back
Why indoor vaping bans could multiply the number of vapers
Wales is talking about banning e-cigarette use indoors. Will the rest of the UK follow? It's an interesting question and one which could have an unexpected outcome if a UK-wide ban on indoor vaping in public places came about.
At present, we all know that e-cigarettes are rapidly gaining in popularity, but they are yet to become properly mainstream. It is surely a matter of time before they do, and you sense that they are on the cusp of this 'tipping point'.
In 2000 Malcolm Gladwell wrote a book called "The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference" and if studied in the context of the rise of e-cigarettes, it poses some interesting questions.
In it he talks of "the moment of critical mass, the threshold, the boiling point" and he seeks to explain how "ideas and products and messages and behaviours spread like viruses do".
He talks of three different types of social animals: 'Connectors', 'Mavens' and 'Salesmen' who, together, form the three "agents of change". Let's look at these people in the context of e-cigarettes:
Connectors: Connectors are the people in a community who know large numbers of people (usually over 100) and who are in the habit of making introductions. If all vapers were forced outside, connectors from both sides - tobacco smokers and vapers would be brought together.
Mavens: Mavens are "information specialists", or "people we rely upon to connect us with new information." They accumulate knowledge, especially about the marketplace, and know how to share it with others.
Vapers are typical mavens. They are early adopters of new technology. Part of being an early-adopter is that these people like to share their information. As Malcolm Gladwell states, "Mavens are really information brokers, sharing and trading what they know". So, as above, if smokers and vapers are put in the same place, expect the 'maven' vapers to start spreading their ideas. It's what they do!
Salesemen: Salesmen are "persuaders", charismatic people with powerful negotiation skills. You can see where this is going now, can't you... suddenly we have 'pens' of vapers and smokers bundled together outside every bar and nightclub in the UK, and in among every one are a number 'salesmen' of vaping technology.
Vaping has the potential to cause a revolution of sorts. An indoor ban would be a disappointment and a bit of a pain in the neck, but would it halt the rise of e-cigarettes?
Quite the opposite...
In it he talks of "the moment of critical mass, the threshold, the boiling point" and he seeks to explain how "ideas and products and messages and behaviours spread like viruses do".
He talks of three different types of social animals: 'Connectors', 'Mavens' and 'Salesmen' who, together, form the three "agents of change". Let's look at these people in the context of e-cigarettes:
Connectors: Connectors are the people in a community who know large numbers of people (usually over 100) and who are in the habit of making introductions. If all vapers were forced outside, connectors from both sides - tobacco smokers and vapers would be brought together.
Mavens: Mavens are "information specialists", or "people we rely upon to connect us with new information." They accumulate knowledge, especially about the marketplace, and know how to share it with others.
Vapers are typical mavens. They are early adopters of new technology. Part of being an early-adopter is that these people like to share their information. As Malcolm Gladwell states, "Mavens are really information brokers, sharing and trading what they know". So, as above, if smokers and vapers are put in the same place, expect the 'maven' vapers to start spreading their ideas. It's what they do!
Salesemen: Salesmen are "persuaders", charismatic people with powerful negotiation skills. You can see where this is going now, can't you... suddenly we have 'pens' of vapers and smokers bundled together outside every bar and nightclub in the UK, and in among every one are a number 'salesmen' of vaping technology.
Vaping has the potential to cause a revolution of sorts. An indoor ban would be a disappointment and a bit of a pain in the neck, but would it halt the rise of e-cigarettes?
Quite the opposite...
Related Posts
-
Which is the Most Realistic E-cigarette in 2019?To some people, replicating the look and feel of a cigarette is the most important aspect of shopping for an ecig. This is o...
Read now -
How are "Approximate Cigarettes" calculated with electronic cigarettes?In e-cigarettes, often the first thing a customer looks for is the equivalent number of cigarettes their e-cigarette might de...
Read now -
Tell us about your vaping journey!Blog update 6th June 2014 - applications for "My Vaping Journey" are now closed. Thank you to those who applied and we look f...
Read now