A short conversation with a smoker

[LadyPamela]

A co-worker, in his mid-50’s, has tried to quit smoking several times in the years I have known him. This time he said he was quitting on his b-day which was last Thursday. I saw him outside smoking this morning and asked him wasn’t he supposed to quit? He said it didn’t work out last week (whatever that means) and that he’s waiting for a prescription for Welbutrin from his doctor.

I asked if he thought that was going to work. He said it worked for him before. I said, “Before?” He said he quit for 10 months with it the last time. I said would that be considered a success or a failure then?

I said it has been 2 months since I quit smoking. He said can I still say that when I’m using “those things”? I said, “If a tree falls in the forest and no one hears it does it make a sound?”

(that response just popped out of my mouth because all I was thinking was that smoking "those things" was irrelevant. I am not smoking tobacco.)

 

[Mordred]

Actually, it IS relevant and your answer was a non-sequitur. We have in no way, shape or form kicked the habit, we´ve just moved on to a safer way.

That said, you should tell your co-worker to give e-cigs a try, because it´s obvious that he too is unable/unwilling to kick his nicotine habit and would benefit from switching over to vaping.

 

[DC2]

Actually, it IS relevant and your answer was a non-sequitur. We have in no way, shape or form kicked the habit, we´ve just moved on to a safer way.

That said, you should tell your co-worker to give e-cigs a try, because it´s obvious that he too is unable/unwilling to kick his nicotine habit and would benefit from switching over to vaping.

We are no longer smokers, we are now nicotine users.

 

[LadyPamela]

I do consider myself a non-smoker. I quit with Chantix for a month before I used e-cigs. I stopped the Chantix and I use nicotine and non-nicotine juice.

I ENJOY vaping as much as I enjoyed smoking. I go outside about twice a day and vape which is nothing compared to the once an hour smoke I used to do.

Does someone who uses nicotine gum still have to call themselves a "smoker"?

 

[frankie1]

Excellent point LadyP!

 

[dperino]

those are great points, but i suppose it comes down to the individual (at least in the pv community that is). what one chooses to refer to themself as in this case is perhaps not as important as being off of analogs. "those things", as your coworker puts it, could lead him to less frustration and lots less expense if he could wrap his head around the concept.

 

[smonomo]

Actually, it IS relevant and your answer was a non-sequitur. We have in no way, shape or form kicked the habit, we´ve just moved on to a safer way.

That said, you should tell your co-worker to give e-cigs a try, because it´s obvious that he too is unable/unwilling to kick his nicotine habit and would benefit from switching over to vaping.

Yeah that's me alright. I didn't have the stamina, or will power to quit tobacco, so I took the easy painless way out with e-cigs ...'no pain, all gain'

We are no longer smokers, we are now nicotine users.

Who's we?...Well, count me in , but many here on this forum are off the nic all together.

 

[SheerLuckHolmes]

I think this 'perception' of using PVs as still smoking is the revelant point. The general public sees a cloud and thinks smoke. I seriously doubt that this will change much. We can educate all we want, but as long as there is a cloud, there will be fire. Other NRTs that do not produce clouds are more acceptable for this same reason.

Some smokers are afraid of PVs because they are not analogs. My roommate has been trying to switch to PVs from analogs for six months. She just can't seem to make the mental shift to using PV like she uses cigs. All of the fussing and fiddling with the devices, bats, juice pisses her off. All she wants to do is stick it in her mouth, lite it and put it out when done. Whereas I enjoy all of the fussing, fiddling and such.

What I have never understood is all the attacking of smokers. It started in the 70's with all the pollution kicked out of factories. But they have powerful lobyists and over the years that has dies off. The industries kicked alot of $$ to Washington, followed a few policies and regulations that the government could point to and all is well. But they are still pumping tons of pollution into the air. But they aren't getting hammered like before, because they went through the government hoops.

Individual smokers are just that, individuals. So all of the control boobs have fallen onto indivdual smokers. IMHO its not about saving people, improving their health, its just about control freaks trampling anyone that gets their attention. Smoke, vapor, clouds become the target. And those producing those clouds are just sending up smoke signals saying, "Here I am, bash me somemore."

Thus endeth the rant. Please return now to your everyday life and have a great day, won't ya!?!?

 

[Dredbull]

I always used snus for the times when hell came to visit at work. Camel snus did not have the little engine that could effect for me..
Went to vaping, NOW when I cannot get my nic hit hard or fast enough to me it is fail. I would have to wait for the withdraw headache to come and make me grumpy.

I got a SB recently and some hardcore snus, it is fog it up outside chill collect my thoughts bs with the smokers. Go inside and I am fiending from smelling analogs on customers. Drop a snus and ride that out as long as possible.

So yesterday WAS PERFECT! vaped when I could, rode the snus train and my co workers were amazed I was not being a monster. I had to let a few in on the secret but they told me to go for it.

I am down to ONE analog a day and that is the morning duece assist.

 

[DC2]

Who's we?...Well, count me in , but many here on this forum are off the nic all together.

They are not we, they are them.

 

[cluster]

People who use e-cigs as a mean to stop nicotine use may consider themselves non smokers, maybe. Others, not really. We are health conscious, technologically minded smokers.

 

[solaar]

Classic conversation

Before I knew about the e-cig, on my long overseas flights, the easiest I got over the cravings was not with gums or patches or any other of those placebos but with a simple DIY device. It was a gutted plastic ball pen, about the size of a real cig which I stuffed with a bit of cotton and dripped some really strong menthol or orange flavoured oil in it. I took nice long drags and inhaled as if it was a real one. It was priceless especially after the meals, almost like in the good old times when there were still smoking zones on planes.

Guess what, I got almost the same partly amused, partly dirty looks as if it was a real cig although absolutely nothing would come out of it.

And guess what... it's so bloody much about the gesture than anything else. I bet you on that

 

[LadyPamela]

I just don't consider myself a smoker anymore. I was no casual smoker, I smoked a pack a day for 30 years. That I quit for a month before using e-cigs is a miracle to me. That I can go all day without vaping is a miracle. That I don't HAVE to vape is a miracle much less needing a smoke.

I think at this point it is more of a habit than an addiction and I do believe that being able to feed the habit even with non-nicotine juice is what will keep me from going back to smoking analogs.

I sometimes enjoy a cocktail, a glass of port or a rum & coke when I get home from work. Does that make me a DRINKER? No, it doesn't. There are months at a time when I don't think about having a drink at all especially if I have run out of my fav and never remember to pick some up.

I enjoy a vape with my morning coffee and after a meal, just like I did with analogs. If it's not harming me, not harming others, there is no distinction to my way of thinking between that or having an addiction to caffeine. I don't feel a need to quit drinking coffee simply because it might be an addiction either. Although some people are opposed to caffeine too.

 

[LadyPamela]

Ohhh... I did tell my co-worker about e-cigs and of course he has seen me with them. The first thing he said was that they contain anti-freeze. I explained about the FDA statement on that. He then said that you don't know what harmful effects e-cigs have.

I said I supposed cigarettes are better for you then.

He didn't say a word.

 

[cluster]

A drinker is not necessarily an alcoholic. I drink maybe alcohol 6 times a year. Does that me me a drinker? yes.

I would suppose that the real thing is: if you can stop vaping altogether and not smoke for months, you're probably in remission from being a smoker. But it takes at least years to pretend being a non smoker anyway and vaping nicotine is year 0 of that road for those who would imagine that it makes them non smokers.

 

[kristin]

How can you be a smoker when there is no smoke? Regardless of what you call yourself, technically, you're not a smoker, anymore than someone using a Nicotrol inhaler. So obviously, just because it contains nicotine and you inhale it, it doesn't make it smoking or you a smoker.

If used in lieu of tobacco cigarettes, PVs are smoking cessation devices, but not necessarily nicotine cessation devices. Of course, if you're smoking AND vaping, you're still a smoker.

IMO, if you are using PVs instead of tobacco cigarettes, you are no longer a smoker. You have quit smoking. You are now a vaper/vaporer.

PVs are smoking SIMULATORS, but they aren't the real thing.

Just like my electric fireplace is not a real fireplace. It has something that looks like flames and logs, produces heat and sits in a mantel, but it's still not the same thing. It's a simulation of the real thing. And guess what? There's no smoke there, either! LOL

 

[telsie]

If used in lieu of tobacco cigarettes, PVs are smoking cessation devices, but not necessarily nicotine cessation devices.

EXACTLY.

I haven't given up nicotine, but I have given up cigarettes. And without those, there's no tobacco, no combustion and no smoke. I'm not smoker anymore!

 

[Heed]

Are we who solely vape smokers?

See my signature:

 

[solaar]

Referring to all of the last comments; the addiction only lasts a couple of days, the habit lasts much much longer and then some. That's why gums, patches and all that other overpriced rubbish have a "success" rate of about 15%. With all respect to those who made it through with the placebos, I still call it failure. A quite miserable one in fact.

 

[kristin]

Referring to all of the last comments; the addiction only lasts a couple of days, the habit lasts much much longer and then some. That's why gums, patches and all that other overpriced rubbish have a "success" rate of about 15%. With all respect to those who made it through with the placebos, I still call it failure. A quite miserable one in fact.

Good points. And the success rate is actually worse than that, as I discovered while researching my article. It's less than 7% after 12 months! 8-o