Do smoking bans apply to e-cigarettes?

[Mariana]

96. They're catering to the idiocy of some passengers

who will become disruptive if they think they see someone smoking on the airplane, even if it's explained to them.

I've seen this particular form of idiocy firsthand. The one time I was called out for using my e-cig in public was on an MBTA commuter train. I blew a bit too much vapor and someone saw it and told the conductor I was smoking on the train. He came over, confused since there was obviously no smoke in the car, and asked me if I was smoking. I told him no and showed him my e-cig. He said, "Oh, OK," and went on his way. Well, the passenger who complained just would not shut up about it. She did go on and on and on and on, all the rest of the (long) way to my stop, griping that he hadn't made me stop and how much it upset her that I was allowed to do that on the train, et cetera, et cetera.

Now, having some loon ranting and raving is not such a big deal on a commuter train, but folks on airplanes are understandably more uptight about weirdos in their midst, and it would be a big problem. I can't really blame the airlines for wanting to avoid that situation.