Any other non-(ex-)smokers here?

[specious]

I've recently got into vaping, and I've noticed that most introductory material I read is written from the point of view of an ex-smoker: e.g. explaining the health benefits of vaping versus smoking, how the technique of drawing on a vape is different from drawing on a cigarette. And that's great!

My background is different, though - I've smoked only a couple of cigarettes in my life and have never felt the dreaded "nicotine craving".

So I was wondering: is anyone else here like me? What got you into vaping? And do you think vaping could become a mainstream recreational activity even for people who've never smoked?

 

[TheColdHandedVG]

You really shouldn't be vaping if you weren't a smoker. The whole point of vaping is to quit smoking. It's not meant as something to just start doing for fun.

 

[Blindtarm]

I do hope you use 0% nicotine liquid. Not good to start vaping nicotine if you weren't a smoker to begin with. Gives vaping a bad reputation.

 

[TomGeorge]

Welcome!
Glad you decided to try vaping and to join ECF! We have another voice to spread the word of vaping and another voice (from a different perspective) to tell all of the naysayers the truth!

What set up are you using? And what was your reason to try it out??

 

[amolson]

Welcome!!! I never really had much of a nicotine addiction, it was more of a 'stick something in my mouth' addiction. Vaping keeps me from snacking on things and drinking soda. So far I've managed to avoid over 400-500 calories a day, on average. Down to one soda a day from 4-5 at the highest. Soda just does not go with Fire and Ice vape juice.

That said, yeah, there are still a lot of people who think hobbies are bad. And I think 0 nic is a hobby, like Jones Soda. At least that's my opinion. However, if you drink too much soda, you'll get fat. If you vape too much 0 nic, from the most recent studies, it's about as toxic as taking a really long bubble bath.

Honestly, yes, I do think it could become a mainstream recreational activity and it would be the best thing for vaping. Move it away from e-cigarettes/nicotine and have that be a niche market. Especially as the flavors keep getting better and better. It's very much the kind of thing where people can collect, steep for others, create a secondary market, trade and tweak. DIY is huge, also, unlike the soda market. Even the bottles themselves from some manufacturer's are really cool. If I like 'Twas Brillig from AiV I'll probably get a 30ml bottle of 0 nic just for the bottle.

I don't know if it will ever be bigger than smoking was in its heyday, as it's not inherently addictive without nicotine, but as a hobby I can see it becoming something that a majority of adults do for fun, on occasion. Just as many, many people will have an occasional glass of wine with dinner or bottle of beer at a BBQ. Particularly as our society becomes more sedentary. Might not be able to afford the calories in a luscious blackberry crumble, but you can vape it.

 

[Elizabeth Baldwin]

How old are you? I ask because if you are an adult and made a conscious decision to start vaping I think its your business. Sure, it gives ammo to our opponents but how can we seriously tell another adult not to do something? Would we have listened when we were smoking? I wouldn't have. I was an adult and made my own decisions. Just like the decision to start vaping. As long as you are vaping 0 nic and you are an adult then what's the harm? Even if he decided to Vape nic its his business.

He's an adult. It's like trying to tell an adult not to smoke. You are just blowing hot air. People will do it anyways. I'm seriously not going to tell another adult not to do something that I do myself. Vaping, to me, is very enjoyable. I'm way past quitting smoking and now its a hobby. I could quit but I won't. So who am I to judge.

I agree that it gives the ANTZ some data to shove down our throats but do we really care what they think? Honestly, the majority of vapers were once smokers. There really aren't many who just decided one day to pick Up Vaping. Those numbers may rise over time. But...what if those same people would have picked up smoking instead? How do we know starting vaping has stopped them from a more dangerous habit?

I smoked for over 20 years and vaping has greatly improved my life. I could care less what anybody thinks about me vaping.

You are going to get quite a few tell you that you shouldn't have started vaping. Sort of useless advise considering you are already vaping. It's like beating a dead horse.

 

[Anjaffm]

How old are you? I ask because if you are an adult and made a conscious decision to start vaping I think its your business. Sure, it gives ammo to our opponents but how can we seriously tell another adult not to do something? Would we have listened when we were smoking? I wouldn't have. I was an adult and made my own decisions. Just like the decision to start vaping. As long as you are vaping 0 nic and you are an adult then what's the harm? Even if he decided to Vape nic its his business.

He's an adult. It's like trying to tell an adult not to smoke. You are just blowing hot air. People will do it anyways. I'm seriously not going to tell another adult not to do something that I do myself. Vaping, to me, is very enjoyable. I'm way past quitting smoking and now its a hobby. I could quit but I won't. So who am I to judge.

I agree that it gives the ANTZ some data to shove down our throats but do we really care what they think? Honestly, the majority of vapers were once smokers. There really aren't many who just decided one day to pick Up Vaping. Those numbers may rise over time. But...what if those same people would have picked up smoking instead? How do we know starting vaping has stopped them from a more dangerous habit?

I smoked for over 20 years and vaping has greatly improved my life. I could care less what anybody thinks about me vaping.

You are going to get quite a few tell you that you shouldn't have started vaping. Sort of useless advise considering you are already vaping. It's like beating a dead horse.

Excellent posting I agree 100%

 

[Ace90]

How old are you? I ask because if you are an adult and made a conscious decision to start vaping I think its your business. Sure, it gives ammo to our opponents but how can we seriously tell another adult not to do something? Would we have listened when we were smoking? I wouldn't have. I was an adult and made my own decisions. Just like the decision to start vaping. As long as you are vaping 0 nic and you are an adult then what's the harm? Even if he decided to Vape nic its his business.

He's an adult. It's like trying to tell an adult not to smoke. You are just blowing hot air. People will do it anyways. I'm seriously not going to tell another adult not to do something that I do myself. Vaping, to me, is very enjoyable. I'm way past quitting smoking and now its a hobby. I could quit but I won't. So who am I to judge.

I agree that it gives the ANTZ some data to shove down our throats but do we really care what they think? Honestly, the majority of vapers were once smokers. There really aren't many who just decided one day to pick Up Vaping. Those numbers may rise over time. But...what if those same people would have picked up smoking instead? How do we know starting vaping has stopped them from a more dangerous habit?

I smoked for over 20 years and vaping has greatly improved my life. I could care less what anybody thinks about me vaping.

You are going to get quite a few tell you that you shouldn't have started vaping. Sort of useless advise considering you are already vaping. It's like beating a dead horse.

Very well said Elizabeth, I couldn't agree more !!

 

[MrAndrewFitzy]

I started Vaping for the flavour, i used to smoke a lot of shisha and loved the flavours they had. when i came across the crazy amount of e-juice flavours i fell in love.

 

[Grimwald]

I'm at the "get off the lawn" stage of my life. If I could go back and visit my 18 year old self, just beginning to smoke in college, I'd kick my 18 year old ..... I have no idea how old you are, and agree to some extent that 0% nic might be OK, but if you are anything like my 18 year old self, turn around 'cause I'm ready to kick. JMHO

 

[Megs]

I never considered myself a smoker. I have a weird thing with nicotine that I don't seem to have the 'urge' that people get. I can smoke one cig and walk away. I also once smoked daily for six months then stopped cold turkey and didn't touch another one for over six months (or go bat-crap for a cig ).

The main reason I chose to vape was because I missed some of the side effects of smoking. I have an eating disorder and a cognitive disorder that affects my attention, and smoking seemed to help both of those. I thought maybe I could get the best of both worlds - the advantages of a smoke and the benefits of being a non-smoker - if I vaped. And I was right. A really interesting thing that I've found since is that it isn't the nicotine that helps me. I almost never vape nicotine anymore, but still get the benefits. Whether it's the calming action of vaping, that it fills my oral fixation, whatever. It works for me, so I don't question it too hard.

I agree, nobody should be telling you that you shouldn't vape. I view it as a hobby also - and that''s how I justify my bankroll and the time I spend on it. If you like it, obviously it's filling some need or want in your life, and that's great!

 

[obsidian5889]

Why is everyone telling this guy to stop vaping. Yes it's a great way to quit smoking but it's also an enjoyable experience and a fun hobby whether you use nicotine or not. You are all acting like it's something dirty that only ex-smokers should do. Well I say welcome and I hope you have many years of enjoyable vaping.

 

[Sandylp]

Well, I never smoked analogs in my life, but I enjoy vaping. Incidentally, I'm old enough to be a grandmother, so I guess I'm old enough! I enjoy the flavors, and it keeps me from eating junk food while watching tv. I use the 0 nic and am experimenting with making my own juice. I've also found that it's fun to make the coils and wicks. BTW, I use Kayfuns on Provaris.

 

[amolson]

Well, I never smoked analogs in my life, but I enjoy vaping. Incidentally, I'm old enough to be a grandmother, so I guess I'm old enough! I enjoy the flavors, and it keeps me from eating junk food while watching tv. I use the 0 nic and am experimenting with making my own juice. I've also found that it's fun to make the coils and wicks. BTW, I use Kayfuns on Provaris.

Woot! You go, girl!

Know what you mean about the munchies. It's so much easier on the waistline to have a vape instead of a cookie.

I have a Kayfun (clone) now, so all I need is the Provari. If nothing else than because a Kayfun looks ridiculous on a VV3. I'm sorry, but I have some sense of style, even if the boss doesn't think so. Almost wish I'd been a 2 pack a day smoker so I could justify buying myself a Provari sooner.

Have you checked out the flavors from Decadent Vapours (sold in the states by Liberty Flights)? You can't buy their juice, but you can get their flavors here.

You should have seen me doing my first build. It would have made a cat laugh. Not one of my better efforts. Gotta love the 'waffle baby' effect, but at least I got the coil on there (1.8 ohms) and it wicking correctly.

 

[RuinerXL]

I honestly thought the first reply to the OP was just trolling, until I read the second reply. Not sure I understand the sentiment; vaping isn't some sort of exclusive club for ex-smokers or people trying to quit.

Add me to the list of non-smokers who vape. I did smoke cigarettes on and off through college, in pretty much the same way Megs described it above. Never smoked very much, had long periods of not smoking at all and never felt cravings of any sort. I do agree that the act of smoking was probably addressing some other need, such as an oral fixation or even simple boredom. I found that a cigarette would often fill the space between two classes quite well, and it offered an easy way to make acquaintances, etc.

I picked up vaping as a side effect of being peripherally involved with the modified car scene after moving to San Diego. I noticed lots of people at car meets I'd go to using these fancy looking contraptions for what looked like smoking. Before long, I had an eGo with a Mini Protank 2 and have since gotten into rebuildable tanks and drippers.

I think another thing that drew me into vaping was just a natural inclination to take on hobbies and interests that involve being geeky. I love the technical aspect of rebuilding, and how the different variables that go into a build/setup affect the qualities of the vapor produced by it. The ability to customize the aesthetics of vaping hardware adds to the appeal for me, as well.

Perhaps there are those who truly feel that non-smokers who vape give the rest of the community a bad name, but I think the increased popularity of vaping across all demographics only serves to further its acceptance as far as the general public is concerned. There's too much nuance to vaping and the reasons people do it to make blanket statements about it. For some, it's a smoking replacement. For others, it's a fun hobby. Sometimes it's both, or maybe neither. Fine by me!

 

[Rlrick]

I definitely agree with you all. Why start something just to try out a new fad. That's what happened to me when I was 10 years old and started smoking because it was cool and made me look bad. That was 48 years ago and wishing I had never started smoking analogs. For once in my life 5 months ago I started Vaping. And I have been able to be free of the addiction of smoking 1-2 pad habit. Like you all said if I could go back in time I would have beaten my ... to the point of no return. So get wise don't start, for all I can do is to inform you, not tell you what to do.

 

[amolson]

I definitely [dis: ed]agree with you all. Why start something just to try out a new fad.

Why not try a relatively harmless hobby? We love, in this country, to disparage doing anything for fun. I know, I know, if you're not working at least 3 jobs you hate 16 hours a day, 7 days a week, you're a neckbeard slacker living in your parent's basement. Whatever. Go right ahead and try to convince other people of the virtue and righteousness of giving up all hobbies. You're just going to turn them off, which doesn't win anyone over to your cause.

I think the rest of us will go over here, have a vape, maybe a glass of wine, laugh, listen to some good music and have fun! It took me over 40 years of living and 5 years of watching people die for a living to learn to have fun and relax when I could. Life is much better this way and if you want to convert people to your cause, it works far better than snarling and snapping at them. If you denigrate their curiosity and interest by falling for the same lies they're being fed, that all vaping is dangerous and only to be done 'if necessary' they're going to back those lies. "Hey look, this guy is doing it and he knows more about it and says it's dangerous! Oh noez, we have to stop that."

If it's so bloody dangerous, then maybe no one should do it. THAT is the message discouraging 0 nic vapers gives. That what we're doing is a horrible, shameful and dangerous thing so only people who 'have to' should do it.

Myself, I think anyone who likes food and flavors and sweets but can't afford, (and most can't) to buy whatever they want to give it a try. I got some of Ahlusion's Blue Fairy today. It was amazing and to buy the real thing, probably at least a couple hundred dollars and a wicked hangover the next day. I'll take the Blue Fairy over the original green one any day. Talk about a healthier choice.

 

[Auntie Mame]

I would hope that if for whatever reason someone wants to inhale something other than air they would choose a good tasting 0 nic vapor over smoking cigarettes. Master Po would nod sagely and say -- "Excellent decision, Grasshopper!"

 

[Micchi]

Full disclaimer: I'm a left-wing bleeding-heart nutjob.

My girlfriend is a non-(ex)-smoker vaper. It's, admittedly, mostly my fault - she was intrigued at the smells coming out of my mouth, at the way I'm able to calm my anxiety (from general anxiety disorder) with a few hits of the vape, and at the fact that it helps satisfy both my sweet cravings and my oral fixation. She vapes 0nic.

I feel that vaping 0nic as a mainstream hobby is a thing that's both possible and necessary.

Let me pause for dramatic effect while someone gets up in arms about that statement....LOL.

The thing is, if the only data available on long-term health effects is from people who have attempted to destroy their lungs for years with cigarettes, then there will always be someone who doesn't take that into consideration and publishes a shock study about it. Non-(ex)-smokers vaping happily and safely serves an important purpose - the destigmatization of vaping. And the less stigma, the more acceptable, the harder to push hardcore taxation and anti-vaping agendas.

And, the more of my friends I can swap juices with and hang out playing with vape gear.

That's just my two cents.

 

[granolaboy]

my girlfriend likes to vape, and shes not a smoker. She likes to smoke clove cigarettes or maybe menthols when shes drinking, but now enjoys a bit of vapes after dinner. She likes the mild stimulating effect of the nicotine, and claims it helps her digestion. Shes not the kind to get addicted to things though; can pick things up and put them down at will.

A part of me wants to tell her not to, but thats because I spent 20 years destroying my lungs with cigarettes. She's not going to be so desperate to vape that she would even consider a cigarette. If you aren't a smoker, cigarettes aren't that appealing, especially if you've vaped. And nicotine on its own isn't that addictive. It was quite the effort to get off of smoking tobacco and be satisfied with just vaping. There's a heck of a lot more in a cigarette I was addicted to than just the nicotine.

So I think it's great non smokers are getting into vaping. I'm having fun with it. The flavours are fantastic, the nicotine is clean and enjoyable, and inhaling vapor and blowing it out is super fun! Why not? It's nicotine, not ...... for krissakes.

Being an adult is all about accepting responsibility. Anything that is truly fun is dangerous or bad for you, whether it's skateboarding, mma, sex, drugs, or vaping nicotine. All activities are fun and reap other signifigant benefits, but all may and likely will come with a cost. As an adult, it is up to me to decide what I'm willing to risk to have a certain experience, and accept the consequences.

In short, nobody tells me what to do, and I really enjoy vaping.

Stick that in yer atty and vaporize it!