Are we helping or hurting?

[sawlight]

I need to vent, was just involved in a thread that made my blood boil!
Old user comes back looking for new gear. Instantly people are jumping that they've gone back to smoking and make snarky comments about the whole thing, without asking any questions!
WHAT DOES IT MATTER? Come to find out, they'd quit vaping and were looking to come back to vaping, for what ever reason. But, it this person fell of the wagon, ISN'T THAT THE TYPE OF PERSON WE NEED TO HELP?
I just don't get it. I've seen some of these same people welcome in a new member fine, but someone returning we need to admonish them?

 

[tj99959]

I never did quit smoking.
But I've managed to string about 2200 days in a row without a smoke.

And, if I feel like walking outside & lighting up, I'm free to do so. ... just probably won't do it today.

 

[crxess]

Saw, I agree with your opening post. We do need to help people think more of the journey and not so much forcing the goal too hard.

For me, it is all about the journey.................I could care less if I ever get there(Vape free) as long as I can continue to enjoy the trip and learn along the way.

 

[sawlight]

For me, it is all about the journey.................I could care less if I ever get there(Vape free) as long as I can continue to enjoy the trip and learn along the way.

I don't see me ever being vape free, honestly I'm not sure I'll ever be cig free. But like I say, going from a 2-5 PAD habit, to 2-8 cigs a day, is a huge improvement to me.

 

[tj99959]

I smoked for almost 60 years (ya I know ... slow learner), so trust me, you would not want to be within 50 yards of me without nicotine in my system.

I have no intention of getting off the use of nicotine. I just wanted to stop killing myself by burning tobacco.

And, guess what!!! Vaping works ... I'm 75 (almost) and still alive!!

 

[JustWondering1]

Thank you @Bunnykiller! I've just seen this, more than a few times, so I'm starting to question how I'm doing things.

I think you are doing it exactly the right way. Keep up the good work!

 

[JustWondering1]

Thank you @MikeADore, I'm alright and will survive. I was more concerned about the message some of us might be sending to new members here, and how to go about it in the future. As in "Am I wrong for telling them it's alright to have a cig if they really feel they need one?" after reading some of the posts I've seen.
Seems to be most so far, are agreeing with my approach, do what you need to do and don't beat yourself up about it.

I tell newbies all the time that it's okay to have a cig if needed. I am totally in agreement with your point of view. No one is going to quit smoking if they don't really want to do it. If someone quits completely, I think it's wonderful. If someone cuts down on just a few cigarettes a day, I think that's wonderful too. You were right on when you said, it's not about the number of cigs you smoke, it's about the number of cigs you don't smoke.

 

[sawlight]

I think you are doing it exactly the right way. Keep up the good work!

Thank you!

 

[Canadian_Vaper]

I really wanted to quit, for about 15 years I tried. Vaping really worked instantly for me, one day I was a smoker and the next day I was a vaper.

 

[sawlight]

I really wanted to quit, for about 15 years I tried. Vaping really worked instantly for me, one day I was a smoker and the next day I was a vaper.

Most aren't that fortunate, many are though.

 

[JustWondering1]

I really wanted to quit, for about 15 years I tried. Vaping really worked instantly for me, one day I was a smoker and the next day I was a vaper.

I had to find the right amount of nicotine in my juice before I could give the analogs up. I made sure I didn't give myself any firm limits as to how many I could smoke each day or a certain day on which I would never smoke an analog again. I just kept vaping and smoking until I didn't want to smoke anymore. I've smoked cigs since then when I had problems with equipment, but as soon as those issues were cleared up, I happily went back to vaping and never missed analogs. That's a very liberating feeling that I treasure. I know everyone's journey is different, and I want to be helpful & encouraging to everyone.

 

[JustWondering1]

Most aren't that fortunate, many are though.

Absolutely!

 

[HauntedMyst]

I take a tough love approach. If I see a vaper smoking, I hide in waiting and then pull a Jeff Gillooly on his knee caps. I like to think I'm helping through hurting. It's what Grandma did to me and I turned out just fine. Just fine.

 

[bnrkwest]

I started vaping in 2009, I liked it but the equipment was so sorry I got frustrated and smoked for two more years but i really wanted to quit. In 2011 the equipment was getting better and it took me a couple months of vaping and smoking to finally quit. I kept a frozen pack of cigs in the freezer for 2 years just incase I needed a smoke. I never did and finally threw the pack out. For me I hated having tobacco rule my life and ruin my health so vaping was my new best friend and I never see myself giving it up We all have our jouneys and that is what is so wonderful about this forum, we can all share our story and know exactly what others are going thru because we have lived it too.

 

[Detroit Doug]

What to buy when I hit 2000?

Pick up something for the wife. For not giving you too much static during your brief transition.

We can all use a few brownie points now and then.

 

[Imfallen_Angel]

Between my wife, a co-worker that I got started on vaping, and my daughter, it was a question of:
My wife, die-hard smoker, nothing worked to get her to quit, tried EVERYTHING... finally found a small kit (the cigarette mimics, way before the e-go types) and she quit smoking virtually overnight. Tried an analog a couple of time in the following years, basically to test herself, and they made her feel sick. She never wants to go back to analogs.
My daughter, took a bit longer to switch over, but now, I don't believe that she'd touch an analog, as last time she did, she found it gross.
My co-worker took a bit of time, as he was living in Brazil where he didn't have access to liquid, but since he's been back, he's mentioned how sick just the smell of analogs makes him.

So everyone is different, but at the same time, I think that there's a point where most tend to say "I'm done", so yes, there isn't really an "excuse", and if someone has one, there's probably a reason for it.

 

[crxess]

Most aren't that fortunate, many are though.

But that is the Whole point of Vaping. Give hardcore smoker a fighting chance.

The FDA and Anti's with their high and Mighty All or nothing Attitudes have no clue or just don't give a Crap.

See, unlike many ex-smokers, I can still relate...........I still have loved ones to get off Cigarettes, and it ain't easy