Another "Vaping Is Worse Than Cigarettes" Comment From A Smoker

[LMS62]

Just smile and say, "Enjoy your lung cancer when it comes."

My brother died from lung cancer in June 2012 (he had smoked for 35 years). He was diagnosed in Feb 2012, and after seeing what he went through for those 4 short months, I honestly cannot think of any circumstance where I would say that to another human being.

 

[Cam775]

I work in a bar that just went non-smoking after 30+ years of being a smoking bar. My entire bar will empty out every 45mins or so and everyone in the place will go out and smoke, I call it the "the great exodus".

I was literally laughed at for vaping, I tried at first to explain "what's in that liquid stuff ('cause, you know...no one REALLY knows) and how it works and I've been met with nothing but resistance and snide comments. Most recently the "everyone I know who quit died within a year" comment .

I know well how it feels to deal with those "in denial" and from my experience I have no sympathy. It's hard to quit, I know it first hand, like we all do. I never wanted to quit in the first place, I did it because my husband was whining incessantly. Then I went back to smoking and realized how stupid I was and how much I didn't enjoy it...but at least I had an open mind enough to look into it and make my own decision. That's where the difference is, if someone wants to plug their ears like a two year old and play the I can't hear you game or the my Mom's brothers, uncles doctor said game, I just have no patience anymore. If someone has questions or wants help I'll be the first to offer up some good juice or take them to the shop for a decent set-up. I was just told recently by a customer who actually wanted to quit that I should sell the stuff because I have a great pitch! There are some people who are genuinely interested and there are some who are just looking to push your buttons because you vape and they still smoke ...I'll sit with my smug look and think about zapped's cognitive dissonance comment when dealing with the former

 

[ashtrayogdc]

I like to go the other route with it personally. Usually my response is something like this "I know they are about 10 times worse than smoking but they just taste so good...."

 

[Danbrooks2k]

I am so glad I am way past that battle with my coworkers. I came out to this platform in February and was the only vaper aside from one guy with an ego and CE4 clearo. I stood out in the smoking area and happily puffed my e-cig. I answered ever question, carried a few extra drip tips for anyone wanting to try a puff and eventually started loaning out my LEMO drop filled with 6mg juice on an aspire CF sub.

I found the best deals on isticks and subtank minis online and printed those pages out for anyone wanting to buy a set up for themselves. I even called ahead to vape shops to let them know a coworker was heading to them and what they needed.

The biggest hurdle was guys who already got burnt with an overpriced ego starter kit, or guys who didn't want to look silly or be laughed at for vaping. Fortunatley as the medic on this location my medical opinion is well trusted. Every one out here that smoked either has completely stopped smoking or has dropped to a cigarette in the moring and probably no more than 3 a day.

Be patient with your coworker. Offer to loan her you old mod so she can try it for herself.

Remember the old saying... you get more bees with honey...

 

[Kriengsak Wangdulyakiti]

My reply is based on my assessment of what is in their mind, some I give full explanation, some are non-smoker and I would say "no, it is safer" and that's all I let them find more info by themselves, some who have no idea, really want to know but approach me with negative question like" it is worse than cigarette, isn't it?" and want to hear how I defend vaping would get my reply as "yes, EC is really bad".

 

[Racehorse]

I had an open mind enough to look into it

When I was still smoking, ex-smokers sure were smug.

I guess to them, if I was open minded, I would have quit like they did.

Obviously, they had that look on their face like the cat who ate the mouse, and I was just a dumb chit who wasn't worth the time of day. They had no patience for me, that's for sure.

I was a leper.

I'll sit with my smug look and think about zapped's cognitive dissonance comment when dealing with the former

For some, "being right" is everything.

At the end of the day, what you get in return is the opportunity to feel smug.

If that fills you up......... go for it.


I get no satisfaction knowing all those "dumb people" will still be smoking and dying, so I will keep trying to shine the light. I don't feel a whole lot of big self-congratulatory feelings about quitting smoking.........but I sure do feel lucky. Right time, right place, mind-tweak....all of it had to come together and a light had to go on. So, I mostly want to help others out of ............sheer gratitude.

So much in life is about luck and timing. I would love to think it's because I"m wonderful and smart, and not dumb and closed minded..........but the truth is, I've learned otherwise. There but for the grace of god go I...........

 

[hmar]

I've never had an attitude from a smoker about my vaping, except some good natured teasing. Non smokers and ex-smokers can be bad. I have a friend who goes off on how I need to quit "those things" who never gave me any grief when I was smoking. I ignore it for the most part.

 

[WillieB69]

I can understand everyone's viewpoint that we should try to be as helpful and informative about vaping as possible. However, when someone disrupts a conversation and proceeds to spout off a bunch of negative comments on a subject they know nothing about, they simply aren't ready to hear the message. How someone approaches me on the subject (or any other topic) is going to directly affect my response to them. If I feel like they're going to listen, I'll talk with them. If they just want to be negative, ain't nobody got time fo' dat.

 

[WillieB69]

I have a friend who goes off on how I need to quit "those things" who never gave me any grief when I was smoking.

Have you shown your friend the definition of "irony" in the dictionary?

 

[Butch]

Well at least I dont smell like her doctors cesspool..........

 

[Zakillah]

I usually ask "Would you prefer being in a room with a burning Christmas tree or a room filled with theatre fog?"

 

[bluecat]

For many many many years if you sailed across the ocean you would just drop off. Some people refuse to believe that life may be "out there" other than ours. Even though a human mind cannot comprehend the vastness we live in outside of our own little world.

I too have lost patience with anyone who refuses to open their minds to other possibilities. People are too busy using other people brains instead of their own.

 

[Scotticus93]

How many years after knowing that smoking might do serious damage to us did most of us continue smoking? I count myself as one who "didn't want to hear" ..........anything.
As an ex smoker I feel this compassion too. I'm glad to say I didn't bum any smokes at the bar last night. Vaping has been up and down journey for me but vaping has been winning 99 percent of the time. That lub


I dunno, guys n' gals. I was once a smoker. In denial. Don't know that I'd be saying that thing about lung cancer to anyone ....... if you know anyone fighting cancer,it's not even something to say to another human being, ya know?


Sorry, but I have nothing but compassion for smokers, having been an addict myself at one time.

I do understand why they would say things like this.....how many things did we say to ourselves when we continued to smoke..........maybe they want to try vaping and have heard a lot of bad things about vaping, just like they heard bad things about chantix, about patches, about wellbutrin........etc. etc. etc. You know it's hard for them, they are scared and in the clutches of the cigs.

Please, have patience with these poor smokers.

THEY"VE ALREADY BEEN DUMPED ON BY EVERYBODY ELSE.........last thing they need is to be DUMPED ON BY VAPERS, huh?

I guess I feel a deep compassion/empathy for smokers, and I am very likely to give them a lot of rope. I remember being there. Never felt "smug" about being a vaper, just that I absorbed the message, I was ready.........some of them aren't yet. Patience and caring, grasshopper.

As for me, I am only practicing harm reduction. Can I tell any smoker, or ex smoker,or even myself with 100% or even 95% CERTAINTY that I won't have lung damage after 20+ years of vaping? No, I cannot. Because I don't know that. Neither does anyone else. I only know it is harm reduction from smoking combusibles. But there are many variables besides just combustion.

I'm sure not going to be getting all "smug" about vaping, esp. not to smokers since it only seems like yesterday that I was smoking, even though it was 3+ years ago. But I smoked for many decades. How DUMB WAS I?"???

How many years after knowing that smoking might do serious damage to us did most of us continue smoking? I count myself as one who "didn't want to hear" ..........anything.



I dunno, guys n' gals. I was once a smoker. In denial. Don't know that I'd be saying that thing about lung cancer to anyone ....... if you know anyone fighting cancer,it's not even something to say to another human being, ya know?


Sorry, but I have nothing but compassion for smokers, having been an addict myself at one time.

I do understand why they would say things like this.....how many things did we say to ourselves when we continued to smoke..........maybe they want to try vaping and have heard a lot of bad things about vaping, just like they heard bad things about chantix, about patches, about wellbutrin........etc. etc. etc. You know it's hard for them, they are scared and in the clutches of the cigs.

Please, have patience with these poor smokers.

THEY"VE ALREADY BEEN DUMPED ON BY EVERYBODY ELSE.........last thing they need is to be DUMPED ON BY VAPERS, huh?

I guess I feel a deep compassion/empathy for smokers, and I am very likely to give them a lot of rope. I remember being there. Never felt "smug" about being a vaper, just that I absorbed the message, I was ready.........some of them aren't yet. Patience and caring, grasshopper.

As for me, I am only practicing harm reduction. Can I tell any smoker, or ex smoker,or even myself with 100% or even 95% CERTAINTY that I won't have lung damage after 20+ years of vaping? No, I cannot. Because I don't know that. Neither does anyone else. I only know it is harm reduction from smoking combusibles. But there are many variables besides just combustion.

I'm sure not going to be getting all "smug" about vaping, esp. not to smokers since it only seems like yesterday that I was smoking, even though it was 3+ years ago. But I smoked for many decades. How DUMB WAS I?"???

I'm an ex smoker too. I'll admit that lung cancer comment did make me cringe a bit. Tho I think the commenter meant it jokingly and not in bad taste (not that we should really joke about cancer). I went out to a bar last night and didn't bum any smokes from my friends who still smoke when they drink. Vaping has been an up and down journey for me but over the last 5 months vaping has won 99 percent of the time. I agree with op tho. Some smokers the other day were trying to say I didn't know what was in the juice and there's not much research on vaping. That may be so but I have felt better since I started vaping and I'm willing to take the risk its still bad for me but within a reasonable doubt is way less harmful than smoking. I wish those smokers would at least try vaping. They sit there and point fingers. As they say. Don't knock it til you try it. I don't insult them for smoking cigs cuz I've been there myself. Why should they insult them. Next time I'll have to let them try it. Might give them a hit on my mod but problem is I run high watt setups that always leave non vapers coughing if they hit it longer than a second. This makes it hard for me to concert people. And a lot of these smokers have been doing so for years and are set in there ways. I smoked for like 3 years so it's easier for me to see this new technology as a good thing.

 

[roxynoodle]

Racehorse, comments like that are from people looking for an argument. It has nothing to do with being a smoker. If you had been eating a cheeseburger she probably would've had something to say about that, too. Or about what you drove to work.

I'm very sympathetic to smokers and put a lot of effort into helping them.

But, I'm old enough not to engage those who go through life looking for a fight. Its a waste of my emotional energy.

Anyone with half a brain has to know they don't have antifreeze We would all be hospitalized or dropping dead left and right.

 

[jdrewry]

Racehorse, comments like that are from people looking for an argument. It has nothing to do with being a smoker. If you had been eating a cheeseburger she probably would've had something to say about that, too. Or about what you drove to work.

I'm very sympathetic to smokers and put a lot of effort into helping them.

But, I'm old enough not to engage those who go through life looking for a fight. Its a waste of my emotional energy.

Anyone with half a brain has to know they don't have antifreeze We would all be hospitalized or dropping dead left and right.

The next time, you could say to her, "tell you what--if you quit smoking RIGHT NOW, I'll quit vaping".
Bet she won't take you up on it...

 

[roxynoodle]

The next time, you could say to her, "tell you what--if you quit smoking RIGHT NOW, I'll quit vaping".
Bet she won't take you up on it...

If she had commented in a non aggressive way, I would have told her whatever she wanted to know about vaping. Or just talked about whatever I'm a friendly person. I helped a new cockatoo owner at Petco the other day, and gave her my email address. I met with someone from here last week to work on RTAs (and have an enjoyable day out). But, some people seem to live for arguing, and frankly, it just makes me weary.

 

[jdrewry]

If she had commented in a non aggressive way, I would have told her whatever she wanted to know about vaping. Or just talked about whatever I'm a friendly person. I helped a new cockatoo owner at Petco the other day, and gave her my email address. I met with someone from here last week to work on RTAs (and have an enjoyable day out). But, some people seem to live for arguing, and frankly, it just makes me weary.

That's why you throw a challenge like that right back at them. Usually it'll end the argument pretty fast.

 

[OlderNDirt]

I was getting into my car downtown (very small town) just the other day and took a hit as I walked up to it. Some lady (I use that term loosely) walking across the street towards me says loudly "that's not good for you!" I held up my mod and said something like I'm not smoking and she replies "I know, and that's not good for you!" I was absolutely dumbfounded! I have no idea who she was or whether she was a smoker, non-smoker, former smoker, or a hottentot. How can and why does a total stranger feel the need to spout off about something they obviously know little to nothing about? No sense in even thinking about "educating" a person like that, except maybe in the art of M.Y.O.B!

 

[Rossum]

"That's not good for you!"

"Safer than accosting random strangers".

 

[RugerNumber9]

There's no doubt in my mind that vaping is much safer than cigarettes. The only thing that kind of bothers me is when people act like vaping is completely harmless and it has no effect on your body. Of course it does. I think it is such a great alternative to smoking and I love it but when people pretend that it is just as safe as breathing air, I think it's kind of ridiculous. Not that I am directing this at OP in anyway, I just hear this argument alot. I hear the same argument with guys who smoke {other stuff} all the time. Yes it is safer than alcohol and it has never killed anyone but to think it does zero damage to you is idiotic

Edit: But yes I do love vaping very much lol. It just has its side effects just like everything else