anybody feel like a nerd...

[xg4bx]

using an e-cig in public? i'm going to be going to a halloween party on saturday and it'll be my first real use of a pv in a social setting. i'm a shy lad and and i'm a tad nervous at the thought of possibly becoming a topic of conversation so i'm just wondering if anybody else felt silly at first.

 

[mistinthewoods]

I didn't but after 40 years of smoking and several failed attempts at quitting I was so geeked about ecigs I wanted to tell every smoker I saw about them.
Then again, I'm a gabber. That's my personality.
You shouldn't feel self conscious about being smart. If others don't get it that's their problem.

 

[nicadd]

I did, but that only lasted a few minutes, because I was so amused at people's reactions. Some will stare at you as if you had suddenly turned into Quasimodo, while others will studiously avoid looking at you at all. Be prepared to explain how an e-cig works, and take an extra cart or so with your favorite liquid so that people can try it. If you have little cards explaining e-cigs from dealers, write ECF's addy on them, along with those of your favorite suppliers, and pass them around.

 

[CES]

The first time i used an e-cig in a social setting was also at a Halloween party. I'd just gotten it and i was little worried about how weird i thought it might look. But it was also brand new- so i really wanted people to ask about my new toy. I did answer lots of questions about it. Still do...and still feel a little self-conscious sometimes. So far, i've never met anyone who had a real problem with it- most are pretty supportive, and lots of people never notice. the main questions i get are "is that one of those new smokeless cigarettes" and "does it work".

 

[Magus86]

I wouldn't say I feel like a nerd for using my e-cig so much. I mean, I feel like a nerd anyway because I AM a nerd. I'm big into videogames, anime, and computer stuff. But I do sort of feel weird about vaping around others sometimes, especially if they're anti-smokers. Everytime I'm vaping near someone new, I sort of brace myself for the questions and weird stares. I'm also waiting for some smoker to call me a ..... or some other derogatory name for not smoking a real cigarette, but it hasn't happened. Most people are actually genuinely interested and curious, and once they find out what it is, they seem to like the idea.

Today a coworker came into the break room while I was vaping my chocolate eclair from vapor renu, and she asked why it smelled sweet. She said it reminded her of the smell of someone making waffle cones(no idea how she knows what that smells like, i didn't even know it had a specific smell). I told her what it was, and she was interested to know what flavor juice I was vaping.

 

[StarsAndBars]

Dude it all comes down to how you present yourself while doing it. Not saying you have to fake confidence or anything, but if you come off as being 'cool' while you do it (this can apply to just about anything by the way) people will think they are the freaks for second guessing you.

I get 2 smoke breaks a day. When I take my PV to the smoking area I'm surrounded by people. Nothing to be shy about. I get asked all kinds of questions about it. I don't mind. Every once and a while some old guy will ask something like "Is that one of those fake cigs?" The kind of guys who probably haven't grasped concepts like the Internet and cell phone technology. I happily say 'yeh' (with full confidence that its superior to his Pall Mall). Mostly people just ask me where I got it and such. Four people have gotten one from seeing me with mine and haven't looked back.

If vaping brings you to the topic of discussion, I say milk it. Let em' know what it's all about and how sweet it is.
Hope this helps man.

 

[hiram13pm]

I was a little nervous at first... don't be. It's a great ice-breaker, like an "insto-friend" light; everyone wants to talk to you.

Plus, all the cool kids have em

 

[UntamedRose]

Ummm No....(but then I was an outspoken nerd to begin with)

Look at it as a social advantage for you...you now have a easy topic of conversation at hand Plus you might get to save a few lives along the way, it's a rather good feeling when someone switches b/c of the info you gave them.

 

[WolfAtTheDoor]

Not really. I haven't used it too often in public, but the first time i tried vaping in march of last year, one of the first places i used it in public was on a deep sea party boat out of florida. It was kind of interesting when people started asking me about it. The captain of the boat even came down and asked me about it when some of the crew members saw me vaping. He wasn't a smoker but thought that it was rather cool, A few other passengers on the boat had heard of them and asked about them a little bit, even a couple smokers asked me how it was and what i thought about it. I thought at the time it was great, before i started having all kinds of problems with that brand and got frustrated with it.

i also had fun with a couple other friends back then as well.. Had gone over to a friends how for a visit and was on their porch when they answered the door. They hadn't seen me inhale on the pv but they saw me exhale and were like "how did you do that?" so I told them.. What, i never told you i was part dragon? It must have slipped my mind.

 

[Doberz]

My family says I look stupid using mine, yet none of them smoke? You'd think they'd be more supportive of it, lol

If you feel REALLY uncomfortable about it sparking up a big convo, just sneak in to the bathroom here and there and puff away.

 

[Travis798]

I stealth vaped in public for a bit when I first started, but after a while I started openly using it and was prepared to answer any questions anyone might have. Not many people noticed, and although I answered a few questions about it, it was pretty much a non-issue. Now I do get some looks sometimes when taking a hit off my V3, but sadly I haven't had one person ask me about it. I keep waiting for the chance to tell people it's my crack pipe, but nobody will confront me. Maybe I just look un-approachable? I know my mom says she gets questions about hers all the time. I'm one of those guys that never smiles or anything like that, and I have some cop friends that tell me I fit the profile of a serial killer to a T, so maybe people just don't want to bug me.

 

[ec!gg]

Tell them to be supportive and that this is helping you kick the bad habit. You are not a nerd, you are just finding an alternative to smoking.

 

[jeffritter955]

I did at first but now I don't worry about it. I used mine pretty openly at Freakers Ball in Kansas City last weekend. (Freakers Ball is a Halloween rock concert put on by the local rock radio station KQRC 98.9 the rock, and no I don't work for them Most looked at me weird but no one said anything. I have found it fun to put it in my mouth and act like it is a pen I am chewing on, then hit the button. Not long but long enough they see the light on the end. Tell them it's an ecig and continue the conversation while you actually take a drag and exhale some, dude the look on peoples face is priceless!

 

[ec!gg]

You are helping yourself so nothing else matters.

 

[Rhapsodies Fire]

After smoking for 25 years...I'm really proud to vape....I remember how some people reacted to me being a smoker. I don't smell like cigarettes anymore, my skin has improved, my breath is improved....so what is to be ashamed of. Having the PV helps me feel comfortable in social settings and gives me something to talk about that I know a little about. For me, its a win, win. My advice....don't be ashamed or embarassed for making a sound choice about being healthy. Use it to your advantage to make meaningful connections to those around you. Good luck and have fun!

 

[hairball]

Nerd? I smoked since I was 12. That's when I should have called myself a nerd. Vaping is your choice. Be proud, answer questions, and don't feel the need to hide it. I get asked about mine all the time. I'm happy if I can convert people to it. Pull that sucker out and VAPE AWAY!!! Have fun at the party and Happy Halloween.

 

[champions]

I am a nerd. So people expect me to have weird technology.

 

[NCC]

It was MONTHs after I started vaping before my first public appearance ... I couldn't wait!

It's not exactly like you're walking around with a kazoo stuck in your ear (bluetooth headset), now THAT's nerdy.

 

[Luvs5rugrats]

I Know, right? I went to K-mart the other weekend and there was this woman standing outside and she was laughing and jumping around and yelling and talking to herself and just being very colorful with her body language and hand motions. I didn't realize until I got right in front of her she was talking on her cell glued to her ear.

I suddenly felt 100 times better about using my PV in public. There's no way I could look more crazy than her.

 

[Skruf]

Generally most people (if I'm out and about) treat it as if I'm smoking something not legal and look away. In smaller settings it gets more interesting.