What smokers think of my volt batteries/vaping

**Anthonyy207** · 04-25-2012, 04:17 PM

Figured id post this because the only people I know that vape are my wife and I, my sister and her wife...thank god for the people of ECF. Were up here in Maine, and a lot of people here smoke butts. Im around a lot of smokers at work, around 20 people per break and I sit away from them, alone because of the smoking. Work considers vaping to be the exact same thing as smoking regular analogs so im forced to take break with them outside. I get a lot of strange looks from them. At first they wondered what it was and I explained its my PV, one lady thought my X2 1300 was a pipe for some reason. I got a lot of questions ranging from price to how to charge them. What really makes me mad is when a few of them were like oh those are those electronic cigarettes, they are expensive and don't work and on and on(they were talking about the cheap gas station ones that completely suck). Even after explaining how great vaping is and all the perks they still to this day look at me like im an idiot, even though I haven't had a stinky in over a month. Out of 700+ employees as far as I know im the only one that vapes... pretty sad. All I know is its a free country and if they want to waste their money and health on butts then whatever. I love my volt hardware and vaping and it keeps sane. Now a days I vape just about everywhere and just stealth vape because its easier not having to explain what im doing every 2 seconds to people that think im smoking. Anyone else had something similar happen?

**Retriever** · 04-25-2012, 04:23 PM

Sorry you are having such a tough time of it. It does get old explaining what you are doing, and there will always be those who disagree. The only thing you can try to do is educate them on the benefits and ignore the naysayers. Good luck!

**trichman** · 04-25-2012, 05:47 PM

When I started vaping I was the only one at work. Many smokers will make up excuses as to why they won't try or use ecigs like I don't like the taste, they don't work, it is too expensive. etc. I always threw the money in their face. With juice, I spend so little compared to my $70+ a week on analogs.

Fast forward almost 2 years and out of 6 that smoked, 5 are now using Volt &/or Bloog. I let them try mine and found that if they tried one that worked, they opened up a little. After I converted the first person and he started talking about how good they worked they started to get interested.

There will always be those that will come up with excuses and I will say well it's not for everybody. Now they are getting interested in my x2 so I wouldn't be surprised if they got them too.

Little by little, 1 smoker at a time. Education is the key but walk away from the ones with excuseitis because they really aren't interested.

**SaraBee** · 04-25-2012, 08:43 PM

Hello fellow Maine-iac! You're right. A LOT of people up here smoke. I work from home so I don't have the vape break problem, but I have never met anyone in real life who vapes other than the two people I converted. I do vape out with the smokers at bars and house parties and I've never really had a bad reaction. Mostly people are curious and they ask questions since nobody ever sees e-cigs around here.

The thing I've found is that smokers love to talk. You're usually all stuck together in some kind of small herding area and the seemingly bizarre PV you're sucking on is the most obvious topic of conversation. They probably don't mean to be insulting, they just don't know a lot about PVs because they haven't been exposed to it and if they have it's been with the crappier ones you mentioned.

Also if you're fellow smoke breakers are being sort of hostile, they might be fishing to see if you're one of those ex-smokers who's out to convert them. I know I hated that when I smoked! I like to tell people, "It's not for everyone," if it seems like they just want to tell me how crappy e-cigs are. Usually they then understand that I'm just making small talk and not trying to get them to quit. Nobody wants to be preached to on their breaks when they just want their ciggy. I also only talk about my e-cigs if they bring it up. I'm not there to make anyone feel self conscious about their smoking, I just want my nic too.

**Dishona** · 04-25-2012, 08:53 PM

My "sore spot" is when I explain the process to someone and they say something like - "Well, you're still smoking" - or "you never really quit then did you?" Especially when they were the ones that started the conversation and were asking the question - a lot of people still see me as a "smoker" and I'm passed the point of arguing with anyone any longer - just leave me in peace and let me vape alone. I know that I am now going on over a year without "smoking" and have a lot more $$$ in my account because all I ever buy is some juice most of the time.

Originally Posted by SaraBee

Hello fellow Maine-iac! You're right. A LOT of people up here smoke. I work from home so I don't have the vape break problem, but I have never met anyone in real life who vapes other than the two people I converted. I do vape out with the smokers at bars and house parties and I've never really had a bad reaction. Mostly people are curious and they ask questions since nobody ever sees e-cigs around here.

The thing I've found is that smokers love to talk. You're usually all stuck together in some kind of small herding area and the seemingly bizarre PV you're sucking on is the most obvious topic of conversation. They probably don't mean to be insulting, they just don't know a lot about PVs because they haven't been exposed to it and if they have it's been with the crappier ones you mentioned.

Also if you're fellow smoke breakers are being sort of hostile, they might be fishing to see if you're one of those ex-smokers who's out to convert them. I know I hated that when I smoked! I like to tell people, "It's not for everyone," if it seems like they just want to tell me how crappy e-cigs are. Usually they then understand that I'm just making small talk and not trying to get them to quit. Nobody wants to be preached to on their breaks when they just want their ciggy. I also only talk about my e-cigs if they bring it up. I'm not there to make anyone feel self conscious about their smoking, I just want my nic too.

**SaraBee** · 04-25-2012, 09:01 PM

Originally Posted by Dishona

My "sore spot" is when I explain the process to someone and they say something like - "Well, you're still smoking" - or "you never really quit then did you?" Especially when they were the ones that started the conversation and were asking the question - a lot of people still see me as a "smoker" and I'm passed the point of arguing with anyone any longer - just leave me in peace and let me vape alone. I know that I am now going on over a year without "smoking" and have a lot more $$$ in my account because all I ever buy is some juice most of the time.

Ugh. Some people just want to feel superior over others with no regard to what the reality of the situation is. I haven't gotten that reaction but if I did, I would feel the same as you. Some people just want to live life inside their own little box and not have their own narrow view of the world challenged. I'll let those people stay in their ash filled box and I'll be over here filling up my own box with delicious graham cracker flavored vapor!

**WhatRobEats** · 04-25-2012, 09:34 PM

Luckily I work from home so I don't have the problem of co-workers looking at me funny when I'm vaping. I can just sit at my desk with my passthrough plugged up and vape away.

The few times I've been out since the switch to E-Cigs I haven't had anyone look at me funny or even try to talk about vaping with me.

**Anthonyy207** · 04-25-2012, 10:14 PM

Yeah I definitely don't ram vaping down anyone's throat. Ive been educational about it when asked but its almost as if people at work think that they are better then me because they smoke real cigs and im "fake smoking" like some looser. It also makes me mad that work wont let me vape in the break room and they treat me like a smoker still. I also get the question from people "oh that's nice...so when do u plan on quitting all together?" I love vaping and have no need to stop. I also like getting together with my family members that vape. we can share juice and hardware and go places and vape that u cannot smoke in like the grocery store or friends homes that are non smokers. Yeah up here in Maine vaping is a novelty thing still unfortunately...

**Anthonyy207** · 04-25-2012, 10:15 PM

Originally Posted by Dishona

My "sore spot" is when I explain the process to someone and they say something like - "Well, you're still smoking" - or "you never really quit then did you?" Especially when they were the ones that started the conversation and were asking the question - a lot of people still see me as a "smoker" and I'm passed the point of arguing with anyone any longer - just leave me in peace and let me vape alone. I know that I am now going on over a year without "smoking" and have a lot more $$$ in my account because all I ever buy is some juice most of the time.

I hear that... completely