Talking with a smoker...

[KittyBurn]

I just wanted to write about some of the conversations I have had with people about e-cigarettes in the last few days. As any e-smoker knows, when you go on your smoke breaks with one of these things you get asked a lot of questions.


I have had some of the most down to earth sincere conversations with people over the last few days about smoking. It has really been moving. What a smoker will never admit to a non smoker or someone who says,”HEY you need to QUIT!” “You know you’re killing yourself, right?!?!” is why yes yes I am. We get pissed and it makes us want to smoke more because deep down inside we know exactly what we are doing. We are also dreading the doctor visits for simple checkups because of the WHAT IF and CANCER word, causing some to miss normal checkups all together. All in all it is denial but most of all it is us loving the aspect so smoking soo much, being social, our mind giving us a break from work, brain storming, some cases weight loss, and so on. How many times have you been a part of an important meeting ona smoke break? I know I have. There are things like that in life that make quitting even harder, especially if you enjoy it. What we feel inside is so conflicting it is impossible to answer those who approach us in any other way than for us to joke as a dismissal or to get angry.

This is where my conversations have differed. When anyone sees that there is another option out there to keep their lifestyle they have grown to love, be it feeding the nicotine addiction or just having the social aspect, if you ask them, “You hate the fact that regular cigarettes are eventually going to kill you” They will look you in the eyes and agree. Not only that but there is such truth in the statement and understanding, it is really moving. I have been very fervent about the entire idea of e-smoking because honestly I have wondered SINCE I BEGAN SMOKING, why oh why can’t there be a healthy alternative, I really enjoy this. I mean come on, smoking is a past time that really just feels right for some of us. I mean look at an old 50’s picture, everyone is smoking. Look at the old ads! They didn’t know any better and so they enjoyed smoking and it was part of the culture. When we found out it was bad it was too late to turn back and the culture pushed on, even past all of the negative aspects. People look down on smokers because they are killing themselves, HOW COULD THEY! They say we smell, they say it sucks to kiss us, they move us into corners of buildings away from other people even though they don’t realize we have our own community wherever they put us. We often feel exiled or as if we may jeopardize more than our health but our jobs as well being smokers.


So now that I can tell my story with the e-cigarettes to all my friends who smoke with me, they look at what is in my hand, confused but hopeful. And I swear if there was theme music or I could jump into the inner psychie of one of them when they hear there is a healthier alternative to smoking without having to stop the routine I would start crying. Or how about the idea that you could technically smoke indoors so if you NEED to be somewhere but can’t concentrate without that smoke, do it right there, take a few drags, or hit the bathroom and grab a few puffs in there to last you.


Now don’t get me wrong being that e-cigs are still under question this may not be the answer yet, but just from a surface point of view it is a damn good step in the right direction.


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This article is from my website esmoking101.com.

[Mark_T]

A moving post, and pretty much explains how I felt when i learned about e-cigs

[LaceyUnderall]

Kitty - great post. I feel just as you do...

[Cuando]

Nice post, Kitty, I've run across a lot of the same openness.

I get the "hrrrmmm, China?" response pretty often, but people are definitely intrigued. I like to hand out business cards for the various vendors I've used so far, but really, they need to send more than two or three cards, I've gone through mine already.

I do have to say that I'm getting more and more used to vaping, and I do sort of feel like a born-again smoker in a way, as I'm constantly talking about e-cigs since I got turned onto them, and I'm constantly browsing the internet for info/reviews/etc.. I do plan on quitting entirely, but I have to say I'm very thankful for these crazy little gadgets at the moment. I have a higher self-esteem from simply not smelling like cigarettes, not to mention being able to breathe so much better.

[BlueSun]

Great post!

Tonight I walked past the local bar while I was puffing away on on eCigar, and, as usual, there were some smokers outside puffing away in -12C weather. I stopped in front of the three of them and said, "Hey, you guys don't have to smoke outside. You should try one of these." So, I puffed on my cigar and watched their reaction. One lady said to me, "Yeah right, that's a fake cigar!" I explained to them the technology behind e-cigs and then took some more puffs to show them that it wasn't just my breath in the cold air but actual vapour from the device. They asked if their was nicotine in it, and I said yes. They seemed very intrigued.

I gave them the link to ePuffer and told them to google search this forum. They asked me a couple of times for the links, too. I then walked away, feeling like an e-cig evangelist.

Next mission: My brothers (who thought the idea sounded silly when I told them about it), and my neighbours (when they come out in the spring!).

[LaceyUnderall]

I get the "hrrrmmm, China?" response pretty often,

I get that too... but at least I can always use the defense that in the US, the peanut butter supply, which we feed our entire population, is killing us. It isn't just the Chinese who cut corners. It is bad people doing bad things and it can happen anywhere.

[surbitonPete]

Yes a great post Kitty.

vaping has made me feel like a drowning man who has been thrown a life-belt.

[wv2win]

Good post, Kitty and good replies. I feel the same way about smoking. If you are not addicted there is no way you can understand just how hard it is to quit. It does cut into your self esteem. I'm anxiously awaiting my starter kit (901). I'm already talking to a few friends about e-cigs and so far have only tried one at a kiosk at the local mall. My friends are all happy for me to be the "guinea-pig". I also have questions about the fact that they are only manufactured in China. I hope they spread across the globe and eventually are made and excepted everywhere. I was surprised to see that you can buy one brand ( I think NJoy) on Amazon.com.

[Vince1]

Hi Kitty, I seem to get some unexpected responses. The people at work who don't smoke think it's great that I have found something that isn't full of tar and such with no second hand smoke and smell to bother others, while the ones who smoke respond with "what's the point if you ain't quit" ........ Strange.

[Spikey]

I always stop when I see a bunch of people outside a bar and give a quick demo, a pursmoker.com card with this forum address on the back and tell them to enjoy freezing while I go inside to vape I am very outgoing, but never have much time to be social because I am usually with a group of people.