Ah, the quit smoking forum

[oxygen thief]

I searched for a thread like this but missed it if it's on this noob section. When I was drinking coffee and waking up I went to the stop smoking forum I was shocked at the venom many stopped smokers were hitting e cigers with. When I was smoking I never had a nonsmoker be as aggressive and hateful of some at that forum. They would probably regretted it if they did.

I'm not here to call those people names because that would only put me on their level and that's not who I am. But, I moderate an unrelated forum and I would give these personal attackers one shot. If they attacked an ecig user or vice versa a second time they would be banned. I don't care how long of a member they were.

I didn't join the fray because life's too short and these are not the kind of people I want to associate with.

I've been around AA because my mother was drinking herself to death until she joined and got sober. So from other people I hear, AA is a cult, AA is just switching addictions. Why do people keep going to those meetings? Well, maybe I should have suggested that my mother drink because she wouldn't be a cult member. Nope, I enjoyed her company for 18 years sobriety before she passed. I was so proud of her.

I used to go to a massage therapist whose brother died of lung cancer at 30 from a 3 pack a day habit. My father died of lung cancer at 59. I turn 59 in one week. My brother died at 63 of lung cancer. If I want to use a harm reduction method of my choosing because it works, why care what a bunch of angry people say. They are meaningless to me.

 

[adeline]

I've heard this before from others. You're not alone.

We aren't here to judge. We won't tell you what you should do. We like having members, regardless of where you are in your journey. Welcome to the forums... I hope you like it here!

I will refrain from expressing my opinion about the ex-smokers, but I will say that they do sound jealous. Please remember that quitting smoking is a process, a journey, and a rough road for most people.

That isn't the case for a lot of people here. Sometimes people quit accidentally. Other times, like in my case, it's downright easy. My journey was so easy I was never stressed, moody, or short-tempered. I was pleasant to be around, and enjoyed it.

Enjoy what you have. You discovered a great way to get away from cigarettes, and you should be happy about it.

I know we are happy to have you here, and happy for you!

Welcome!

 

[nannyhen]

I'm so sorry to hear about your father and brother.
I know that smokers and ex smokers give my son-in-law a hard time. They tell him is is not an ex smoker, since he uses an ecig. He tells them it is a PV not an electronic cigarette. Smokers tell him that it is stupid.

 

[fourtytwo]

I still like hanging out with my smoker friends when they go out for a smoke. I just try to stand up wind. I don't judge them as I was one of them not too long ago.
As for the self righteous former smokers, I often remind them that they were really unpleasant when they were quitting and have not changed much since.

 

[Wishdog]

The most venomous forum I've ever seen is the Orlando forum on (MODERATED) That site is great, but the moderator at the Orlando one must be asleep at the wheel, or maybe banning nearly everyone would be too difficult.

Ignorant and judgemental people are everywhere. I had a lady tell me last week that nicotine addiction is just mental and doesn't really exist. But, then again, a contractor my wife worked with said I'd die early because I drink diet drinks. She's also said that people are killing themselves and their kids because they eat gluten. *groan*

Anything that keeps a cancer stick out of your mouth is good. Dipping tobacco is better. Vaping is nearly perfect as a nicotine delivery system. Even the nicotine gum that's more expensive than cigaretes (where I live) is better, though that stuff really hurts my throat. Anything's better.

My father's side of the family has always had issues with alcoholism. When my aunt kicked the habit by smoking pot, oh, there's some controversy for you. But she quit that once she had children. My dad doesn't touch alcohol and will never touch the stuff.

Sometimes I get all fired up at the ignorance on the internet, but arguing with them is like beating at the wind.

 

[Danousa]

The reason most people keep going to the 12 step meetings is usually because they identify with the people in the rooms, get the help and answeres they need. The reason most people keep comming back to ECF is because they get the needed help, renforcement, and tools to solve nic issues. Kind of similar, but different. Keep comming back!

 

[oxygen thief]

I quit for a year about 30 years ago. On July 4th a guy handed me a cigar to help light fuses on a half decent fireworks show. A big, impulsive mistake, I bought cigs the next day.

I had resigned myself to smoke till I died..didn't want to quit, I loved cigs. Then I noticed I couldn't breath and when going to bed wheezed and tried to cough up an impossible lump in my throat.

When I discovered my GS a year later I tried a few and thought this is good. I had 8 cigarettes left and smoked them. Popped a Green Smoke in my mouth and it's a whole new world. I expect to vape forever but I also expected to smoke forever. I know that if I decide to, I can get off everything. I don't smoke analogs.

More ex-smokers die of lung cancer now than active smokers. So many people have quit but the damage was done. Although quitting or vaping can buy you more time. So be it. If that's my fate, I'll bloody go down swinging. I just wish that this industry existed 40 years ago.

Hey, it's all good.

 

[oxygen thief]

The reason most people keep going to the 12 step meetings is usually because they identify with the people in the rooms, get the help and answeres they need. The reason most people keep comming back to ECF is because they get the needed help, renforcement, and tools to solve nic issues. Kind of similar, but different. Keep comming back!

I will! I went to 12 step meetings, Al-Anon and ACOA. I needed as much help as my mother because her drinking was over the top starting at age 7 for me through high school. It, drinking and recovery, has had a profound effect on my life. Some of the imprints on your mind formed from taking care of a parent that should have been taking care of you do not go away. The meetings are helpful. I'm not religious but being in a room with people telling their stories and you reaching down to do the same, well, if there's a God, he's in those rooms.
The fast friendships I made in the program were due to the sheer honesty people in those rooms shared. You know who they are and maybe for the first time in your life you realize that trusting others is possible.
Hey this is an e cig site.

 

[Jaymzifer]

I like the analogy of ECF and a 12 step meeting. I have spent some time in those rooms and I can see the similarities; both have supportive members that can help one through many different problems. Keep coming back, it works if you work it so work it cuz your worth it.

 

[oxygen thief]

I like the analogy of ECF and a 12 step meeting. I have spent some time in those rooms and I can see the similarities; both have supportive members that can help one through many different problems. Keep coming back, it works if you work it so work it cuz your worth it.

When closing a meeting that I chaired, Well why don't we close with the lords prayer. No we don't want to do that. Cool, let's just do the serenity prayer. No, not on Tuesdays. OK!!! Let's sing I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry. Yay!

 

[Cloud Wizard]

Addicts of all types almost always get aggressive or mean when confronting something that feels threatening to their current way of life. Quite often, they simply haven't made the emotional transition that their brains did to start them down the path of changing a bad habit. We've all been there, it feels personally humiliating to have to recognize the "weakness" (real or perceived) that goes along with being unable to do it on your own and it's insulting when someone else has found a way to do it when you haven't. Fortunately, this place has awesome folks, full of empathy, and a real desire to be supportive.