Are hobby vapers more successful at quitting?

[18SixFifty]

This is a question that has been on my mind recently. I have been vaping for around 3 years give or take. In that time I have turned on around a dozen people to vaping and one by one they have all fallen off the wagon. Not one of them turned it into a hobby like I have. They didn't go on line looking for fun new toys. They didn't get into making mods or DIY juice.

They bought decent starter kits and when the batteries died or the atties/carto's stopped working they went back to smoking. Each of them had their own excuses of course. My batteries died and I just had to have a smoke. All I was getting was a burnt flavor, etc etc etc.

So my question is; Do people who turn vaping into a hobby have more luck at quitting?

It seems like it to me, but this is just from my experience. I would love to hear other people's experiences and opinions on the subject.

Remember, I'm pulling for ya. We're all in this together!

 

[Eblyth00]

It would only make sense the more money and time you put into something the more likely you are to stick with it

 

[milo hobo]

My entire group (mom, brother, sisters, friends, wife, etc) quit. They generally vape one flavor and may try others. However, once they got over the hump of learning, they stuck with it. It is not a hobby to them, but they are satisfied. When they tried to smoke again, which I think is inevitable, they found it dissatisfying.

For example, my friend who is smoke free for a week (he's a quick learner) bought a pack of cigarettes last week after vaping for 4 days. He tried one, and rather than smoke it until it tasted "good", he threw it out and realized he has no desire for smoke.

I think that the "hobby" has a social element to it that helps people get over the hump. If you have just a good support group that understands the pitfalls, the hobby is not needed.

 

[Rhapsodies Fire]

We turned it into a hobby here at our house, but we were feeling desperate to quit and were so thrilled with our own success, we continued in our search for the next best thing so we could share it with our smoker friends. So perhaps...however....

The three folks we successfully turned into vapers did not make it a hobby. They don't belong to the forums, vary rarely ever look for new stuff, and if they do...they often come to us to see what's new. If they have any failures, they bring their gear to us for repair or troubleshooting.

The rest of the folks we introduced to vaping (12), all fell off the wagon...and with the usual excuses too. They weren't interested in researching, didn't care about nic levels, batteries, atties, etc. It was all too much for them. They prefer to smoke, because they found it to be easier. Basically, they want to quit, but lack the confidence that A) this can work and the discovery that B) this is much easier than they think. There's a big hurdle to get past...I know it took me 6 months to get past it.

So to answer your question, I don't know if there is a direct correlation.

 

[DC2]

Yes, because of this...

It would only make sense the more money and time you put into something the more likely you are to stick with it

And because they look at it like it's fun instead of looking at it like it's a hassle.
And because they are likely to get better gear, and better performance from the gear they have.

 

[18SixFifty]

Dear, milo hobo thanks for the reply. How long have they been successful?

 

[edensin]

There might be some truth to this. Mostly because there are learning curves, and problems arise that you have to be willing to search out the answers.
However, a desperation to quit cigarettes is an excellent motivator.

 

[18SixFifty]

Dear, endinsin. I wasn't really desperate to quit. I was ticked off at the tax increases and sick of paying huge fines for my cigs. I didn't have health problems or anything like that. Sure I knew it was bad for me, but I was one of those guys who has 100 year old relatives that smoked.

I can see how poor health would be a huge motivating factor for many many people. Excellent point.

 

[Butters78]

I turned it into a hobby myself right away. A little background, I quit smoking back in 2010 with snus and nasal snuff succesfully. Come Jan 2012 a friend on the snus forum sent me two Leo batts with a 510 converter to give vaping a go. I fell in love because I did miss the visual of "smoke" and it was relaxing. After that I got a kgo, then a couple mods. It was fun punching my own tank, mastering the bottom feeder, building my first coil.

So the hobby factor didn't have anything with me quiting smoking but it's really enjoybale. Some people collect stamps, some play sports, some enjoy ham radio, etc etc.. it's been great though due to the social aspect Milo hobo mentioned. I moved here to San Antonio due to loss of work. My wife and I were both working in a marketing office in the gulf shores, AL area then the economy tanked. Over there we had a good social life with friends etc I really felt it was a great place to settle down. Too bad I couldn't stay there. Anyways here in San Antonio I haven't connected with anyone, friends wise. So none of the male bonding, BBQ invites, going to the beach to chill. I have my wife and son who are my best friends of course but it's nice to have other interaction. That's where you guys come in, because we are connected in vaping. It's been a therapy for me.

 

[Kweb]

I think it is like anything else- whatever your reasons, if you want something for real and make a decision to do something, you will be successful. We like it enough to make it a hobby for us. No one made that decision for us. It is impossible to make choices for others. I feel downright evangelical about this, but unless the person I am talking to really wants it for themselves, nothing I say will make a difference.

 

[Butters78]

I appreciate all you guys, you are like family to me.

 

[njay23]

When I first started I was using the cigarette look alikes. I would switch between real cigs and the "fake" ones. Once I started using mods, even just an ego battery, everything changed. I think once I was really vaping, that is using eliquid and tanks or clearos, it was no longer a substitute for smoking. It turned into something different. I don't really know how to explain it. I really think the fact that it no longer looked like a cigarette really made a difference.

 

[edensin]

Dear, endinsin. I wasn't really desperate to quit. I was ticked off at the tax increases and sick of paying huge fines for my cigs. I didn't have health problems or anything like that. Sure I knew it was bad for me, but I was one of those guys who has 100 year old relatives that smoked.

I can see how poor health would be a huge motivating factor for many many people. Excellent point.

I hear ya 18, it's nearly 9 bucks a pack here in WA now. Adding taxes to cigs to discourage smoking and help cover costs of health care for smoking related health issues? I dunno, I suspect it is supplimenting the Gov's dog grooming bill.

To be honest, after being completely villified as a smoker, I feel a little better about myself as a vaper. I am grateful to not walk into some public gathering and be subjected to the acceptable social hate smokers get. Or be forced to stand 30 feet from the door, in the rain, to appease the "haters". So that was another huge motivator for me.

 

[vsummer1]

I didn't start out doing this for a "hobby" but since I made so many mistakes getting the set up that works for me I guess I am whether I like it or not.

I am also starting the DIY. Not for a hobby, but for a way to save money. I am pretty sure I will still be buying from vendors the flavors I really like, but some I can just whip up myself. I just don't want the stuff taxed so high it would be as expensive as smoking.

Did that make me more successful? Nope. I quit using the Blu before I ever found out about all this other stuff. The other stuff just makes it more enjoyable and less costly.

 

[AuBadge]

For me, it's not a hobby. My hobbies are things I *like* (not *need*) to do. I like and *need* to vape, because it's gotten me away from cigarettes while providing the nicotine I *need* in some tasty flavors. If I take care of my devices, they will take care of me.

 

[Fiamma]

I had no real health issues at 71. I had smoked for 55 yrs, the last 20 of them 2 cartons a week. Other than being a little short of breath during a fast walk and sinus infections off and on, nothing.

I quit because I got tired of the sin taxes that kept going up and up on cigs. I started researching online, read a bunch of stuff looked at reviews, etc. until I felt I understood the basic principles of how things worked, bought an Ego starter kit and some juice and waited for it to come in. Stuff arrived on 23 Feb 2011. I put the batteries to charge and looked over the rest of the gear, punched the tanks, filled them up and went to bed. Smoked my last cig before bed.

Next morning I put the batts on and learned how to draw on Ego T's. Not a lot of fun, leaking, juice up the tip etc, until I learned. I vaped Ego T's and then C's when they came out for a year and a month. March 2012 I bought both a Provari and a Silver Bullet. Equipped them with carto tanks, cleaned the egos and set them aside. I've bought other mods since.

I have the pack and a half of my cigs and a lighter sitting on top of the microwave in the kitchen. I look at them off and on and remember how stupid I was to blow all that money on something that might have killed me.

Now it's a way of life to vape. I'm not so much of a hobbyist as a collector. I wrap my own coils for an RATank, I have a bunch of mods that I love and life is good. I buy very little juice, I DIY. Nic level is down to 4mg and there it will stay. From the new research on nic and the human body some nic is a good thing for someone my age

The people I've converted have stayed converted, save one. That one had a compelling reason to quit and just could not get the hang of vaping as a way of life. Part of that may have been that he didn't make the time to sit with me and talk about the stuff and watch to see how things are done. He made a lot of excuses. The rest of them I spent a lot of time with to get them off on the right foot, and it's been a year now and they are still vaping happily. If something goes bump they call and say ummm this or that happened what do you think?

For some of us the forum is our support network. For others they need a person they can call, they don't do forums or don't have time, whatever reason. They just seem to need someone hands on for them.

I lurked here and read for a year before I signed up, mainly because I'm an IRC or vid chat type, not a forum type. I have always liked the fast exchange of information. I've gotten used to posting here and I do like helping new people and 'cheerleading' so to speak. Even old dogs can learn new tricks

 

[Ty89m]

I didn't start out thinking of vaping as a hobby, just as a fun new way to try and quit cigarettes. Things all changed for me once I started frequenting ECF. It has now become not only a great hobby, but an all around enjoyable social experience. So many great folks on this forum!

Do I think the hobby/social aspect has kept me on track? Sure. I found the transition to vaping quite easy though, so had I stuck with one device, and never found this fourm, I still think I'd have been successful in staying smoke free.

But when it comes down to it, this is a great hobby, with great people involved. I'm very thankful for it all!

 

[Mariwashere]

I would say yes if you think that the research, tweaking, learning, going out on your own to figure stuff out and investing in it is the hobby part. Two of my friends have successfully quit smoking, taught their father who has successfully quit also, two other friends have only cut back, all 4 using the ego. I use a Prodigy V3 and quit as well, but have been vaping for 3 years, though I only fully quit about a year ago. Cloves were my biggest downfall... not one single clove juice I tried matched in flavor. I still take a couple hits off a friend's clove every now and then, but the initial clove sweetness and sting turns into nasty ashtray taste quickly.

Those of us who quit completely have done research and tweaked our setups with the cartos, tanks, and juice combos that we like best. The others just use whatever the basic kit comes with and replace the same parts. The thing that clicked for me was when it stopped being a toy and became my nicotine delivery system... that's when the research started and after getting enough nicotine through vaping I didn't crave smoking and it became so disgusting to me I couldn't go back. When smoke drifts to me at the bar I literally feel nausea. The friends that still smoke use candy flavors in the egos like it's a toy... I think some quality tobacco flavors and tweaked setup would give them the taste and 'burn' they are looking for, but they don't seem interested in learning.

 

[MrPicC]

I've definitely done much better since I turned my bud onto to vaping. Together in 2 months we have spent hundreds and hundreds of dollars looking for new toys and talk vaping 10 hours daily. It definitely helps talking about it and supporting each other.
I've done my damndest to get my girl to vape 100 percent but she just doesn't care bout the toys and the vmaxs or provaris to give an example. She doesn't even fill her own cartos by herself and still smokes a few each week.
All the others I've tried helping also just get too confused too quickly and want all the answers given to them. I try to explain that the whole point is learning so they keep occupied but they don't care enough and IMO don't care enough to quit. To each his own I guess.

Sent from my SPH-D710 using Tapatalk 2

 

[exodus454]

All the people I've converted which would be about 9 people - one has fallen off and gone back to cigarettes, two smoke and vape regularly with the excuse that "you can't just light up an eboge and smoke it" (one is a provari user/other is buzzpro) which I feel is ridiculous. Another that had an ego had successfully quit smoking but ran into some "life trouble" had gone back to smoking but recently bought a buzzpro and is back on the vaping exclusive wagon. NONE of them will go do research on their own.

My most recent conversion just bought a provari off the bat because he's seen everyone else go from ego's to expensive stuff and wanted to skip the in-between. He also bought a couple hundred bucks worth of DIY stuff - flavors, nicotine, bottles, etc with my guidance. He's the best off of the group because he has a stockpile of cartos, supples, etc but everyone else flies at the bare minimum for equipment and liquid at almost all times. Almost all of them have issues and come to me for help even though I show them exactly how to work through problems, and where to go to find answers when you run into issues.

A few are interested in learning, but none will go out and learn things on their own. Everyone always comes to me because I have all the answers and I'm pretty sure it effects their vaping experience because none of them go out and find what THEY want or need.. they just follow the herd.