A bit of a Rant and an Observation (People first, not Products!)

[BigBen2k]

I'm beginning to see an end to this thread too.

I don't read every thread on here, and I choose what I want to read, based on my preferences.

I enjoy the humanitarian threads, as much as the technical ones, that I choose to read. A memorable one recently, was how this fellow and his wife quit together, but she was experiencing some issues. Plenty of people offered their good wishes, made appropriate recommendations, and maybe some folks subscribed to the thread, to be able to get updates.

I had a technical question about a product, and quickly got a reply from a fellow member, complete with a picture.

Overall, we all share one thing; we're getting off cigarettes, and using e-cigs. It transcends religion, politics, social status, etc. This is actually, a pretty cool place to hang.

 

[The Ocelot]

Look.... a squirrel!

............................

 

[Tache]

Okay - here we go. This place is at its very heart about people! Yes, we have addictive personalities (props to Ocelot for that observation). Why else would people still be active on this forum, in some cases, for over four years.

I sincerely believe that one of the reasons that vaping has been so successful for so many people in reducing or eliminating analogs is because of the support and reiterated success stories written about on this and other vaping forums. We have an amazing community here!

The other day I read and responded to a thread where the subject was not technology - a marine had just found his beloved cat had died and lit up a cigarette to help stem his tears. I can only assume that he posted here because he felt safe in confiding such an emotional event with a like minded and compassionate group. There was no derision, no " its just a cat", or "shame on you for smoking" - the responses were empathetic and supportive.

Yes, we also talk about tech. There is so much to learn, and it truly is overwhelming to newcomers. I've yet to see a thread where an honest newbie question was ridiculed - always there have been useful and patient responses. Very much people oriented - providing information at a level commiserate with the ability of the questioner.

As each of us grow through the journey, different areas of the forum provide what is needed. Interest piqued by advocacy? Check out news, media or legislation. Taking that first big step into VV or VW after your initial Ego starter kit, head over to the APV forum. Feel like a good belly laugh, find the taco and pizza hijacks. The list goes on.

This is a people place!

 

[Arnie H]

I am NOT attacking this forum in particular, so everyone can stop defending ECF. I call it like I see it, and I am looking at the entire spectrum of the vaping "subculture". I do think there is some truth to what I have said and I stand behind it. Agree or disagree as you like.

 

[Tache]

And here I thought your post was just to "stir the pot" and get people thinking and posting about your thesis.

 

[Arnie H]

I must admit, I do like "stirring the pot" as it were. So I am glad people are thinking and posting. Please continue, just want people to know that I love my fellow ECF'ers and my goal was not to "bash" ECF, but share my opinion and observation.

 

[BigBen2k]

I think that it's what you make of it; that was my point. But in all fairness, I don't hang out in other vaping forums, so you might be on to something: I don't know.

 

[The Ocelot]

Okay - here we go. This place is at its very heart about people! Yes, we have addictive personalities (props to Ocelot for that observation). Why else would people still be active on this forum, in some cases, for over four years...

or have over 8,600 posts in a year (cough).

It is a people place and, I think at heart, a people community. Talk about shiny toys may get the most attention, but that doesn't make it the most important thing. Ever meet another vaper in the wild? Sure, you show off your toys, but it's much more about OMG! One of me!!!

Another vaper!!!
What's your main set-up?
What do you think of Vivi Novas?
Have you tried RBAs?
Have you found an ADV? What's your handle on ECF?

 

[puchox]

I share some of your views OP. While i believe for the most part this forum is a great place to look for support, advice, different experiences sometimes those good things get overshadowed by people overreacting over different opinions.
Remember, most of us, dismissed or rationalized years of people telling us analogs were bad for us with things like "You have to die from something", "I do what i want", "I'm free to choose whatever i want to do with my life/body/etc" and so on.

As others have said, we're addicts, those strong reactions we had against those who pointed out our smoking habits just didn't disappear. Imho they get exacerbated because most of us believe and educated ourselves to believe so that this is a better alternative than smoking, the thing is those strong reactions do not end with people "attacking" our hobby but with people that "attack" our device, juice, vendor, etc of preference. I mean, opinions are like as*es so when someone instead of discussing a certain device or delivery method just plainly "attacks" it we feel the need to defend our position...yet again and that pisses some people off.

Just to give 2 brief examples, in my particular case, i had some "fights" on the fasttech threads. Particulary about chinese liquid vs american liquid, i got very angry because random people would show up to say that chinese liquid is the worst thing that happened to humanity since the a bomb without any kind of argument behind those posts. The same goes for the "My twist hits just like a provari" posts, i do not own a provari, but i understand why people like it. Most of the happy owners of a provari already went through what they think it's an inferior product so having post after post trying to undermine what they believe to be a superior product probably pisses them off like hell.

All in all we should try to be more civil about these issues and get along while dismissing the people that keep generating discord among the community with that kind of attitude. They will either understand that we're together in this and while we might not share the same opinions on devices, liquid, etc we share the same opinion about vaping and how it changed our lives for the better or they will just stop posting when they realize that kind of attitude isn't going to take them anywhere in here.

sry for the wall of text

 

[SharonMM]

Well I am glad to have found this place.. I doubt I would have stuck with it (vaping) if not for the helpful guidance of the members of this community.

Its an intimidating prospect, this vaping stuff. There's a lot to know, and while I can totally understand getting frustrated with the boneheaded comments and redundant questions, I think we would all be wise to keep in mind that we all were new at some point, and we all share a common goal.. to get our vape on and quit the stinkies.

I'm still somewhat new too, but I can remember reading on here those first couple weeks like "what in the F are they talking about?". The verbiage here is a second language and the learning curve is steep. It's incredibly disheartening to first, post a question when you're not even sure your using the right words, but then get answered with some bs snarky remark or get berated for being dumb... I've seen it happen a lot, and its happened to me too. My skin is pretty thick so I just ask again, and I've always gotten the answers I needed eventually which I am grateful for.. But who can say how many people were met with that kind of reaction and said "f this, ill just go back to smoking"?

Just saying.. the op is right. People should come first over allegiance to your gear, your juice, your clique, your tacos or whatnot. There's a lot more to be won here than a pissing match..

Sent from my HTCEVOV4G using Tapatalk 2

 

[Nicolay]

In my experience on this forum ... new members call themselves 'newbs / noobs' but the residents don't. On other forums (and YouTube) its the other way round, which can be disheartening. Its only one fact why I love ECF, but its the most important one for me.

Ciggs are the same the world over (mostly), yet the gear that comes with vaping, although costly, is a good aspect one can turn the mind to to start forgetting about tobacco. With cold turkey there is ... nothing, NOTHING I tell you! Its like being in a closed coffin, but pumped up on energy drinks. It slowly gets better, but at first its a living nightmare.

 

[ukeman]

holy crap... (jk) but although i see OP perspective, good lord buzzlove is right.

my point is this: i came here after my first 6 months of vaping and associating with another forum that i chose because it sort of popped up first and sort of appealed to me (lots of members and experienced)... what a huge mistake that i didn't keep looking because ECF has proven to be the right place...
That particular forum had like NO RULES.... It only dawned on me after putting up with just too much rank behavior. I can't even bother to describe the pathetic rudeness over there. It was celebrated.

 

[Nermal]

I've been analog free for two days and determined to stay strong this time so you may get sick of seeing me but tuff ta-ta's. That's what I like about this community.....

Hi calico kitty. Two days is a close approximation of eternity, isn't it.

 

[Jo Patterson]

There are sections - if you want people first, head over to the lounge.
This is the section where people help people with "stuff"

JMHO

As much as I love my fellow ECF members and I believe strongly in vaping solidarity, one aspect of the vaping subculture which I find disturbing is this focus on products, rather than people. Sometimes I feel we are so into the latest electronic gizmos and vaping gear, that we lose sight of the people these products were intended to help and whose lives may well have been saved by them.

By the gods! I tell you it makes me ashamed sometimes to be a part of it all. Alot of this is due to the techie nature of vaping, but wow, I wish we could shift the focus to put people first sometimes. This is really what counts. People getting together to help other people.

Helping people quit smoking by any available means was the driving force behind my starting our local support group, and I hope more vaping and smoking cessation support groups will emerge. It sort of balances out what many people see as some sort of scam and a fixation with products that keep people addicted to nicotine (which was one woman's opinion of E-cigs). My reply to this woman was that E-cigs are not a scam and in many cases have helped people to quit smoking. I added also that E-cig allow people to gradually reduce their nicotine intake if they desire it and I pointed out that it is not the nicotine in cigarettes that kills people!

Please excuse my ramblings.But it just bothers me sometimes.

 

[josie wales]

Somewhere on the internet, on a forum for pet rocks, there is a guy asking why the forum is so focused on pet rocks.

 

[The Ocelot]

Somewhere on the internet, on a forum for pet rocks, there is a guy asking why the forum is so focused on pet rocks.

There's a whole forum about petting rocks? Do they pet special kinds of rocks, like crystals, or regular rocks?

 

[josie wales]

There's a whole forum about petting rocks? Do they pet special kinds of rocks, like crystals, or regular rocks?

Mostly about JAFR's. People think they found some super rare gemstone worth millions but 9 out of 10 are "just another f#*%in rock"!!

 

[MonkInsane]

In the end this forum has something for everyone, albeit technical or humanitarian!

 

[_more_]

 

[puchox]

Somewhere on the internet, on a forum for pet rocks, there is a guy asking why the forum is so focused on pet rocks.

OP is talking about a certain attitude, not about normal discussions on the forum. Btw, post like yours just proves what we were talking about earlier.