Converting Smokers

[Dave L]

I lot of folks, myself included, have shared stories of helping people give up tobacco through vaping. After the money I wasted and the damage done to my body for so many years, I'm grateful I discovered vaping and have become a bit of an evangelist to any smoker who wants to listen. I thought it would be useful to have a thread where people could share ideas about what is most effective. Do you try to convert smokers? Do you wait for them to ask you about vaping or are you more aggressive? What works best when you know someone is struggling to give up the habit? I've only been vaping a couple of months, and I guess I've converted around half-a-dozen smokers, or at least inspired them to give vaping a try. I knew about e-cigs for at least a couple years before making the commitment to quit, and the main reasons I didn't try it were, I didn't have faith that it was anything more than a gimmick, and the expense of getting started was daunting. The thing that finally pushed me over the line was facing the fact that the monthly expense of smoking was simply inexcusable. I'd like to hear stories, ideas and strategies from other vapers. There are other threads devoted to activism and political discussion. I'm more interested in the one-on-one. Anyone care to share?

 

[IntelligentDesigner]

I wouldn't want people pushing their religion on me unsolicited; in fact it makes me wanna knock their teeth out. They're lucky I'm not an ....... So why would I go and push mine on someone who didn't ask for it?

If someone asks, I gauge whether or not they're serious, and build either a thoughtful or minimal response on their reaction. Otherwise I let the smokers smoke.

 

[Bullette the Cowdog]

"It's attraction rather than promotion."
-Bill W.

 

[scabbytattoo]

Yep I agree. I only talk about it if one asks I know I didn't want to give my smokes up for the first few months my wife was vaping. Now I'm bigger into than her.

 

[Equus5O]

To be honest, I haven't even started vaping yet and I've mentioned it to other smokers more than once

 

[gthompson]

I wouldn't want people pushing their religion on me unsolicited; in fact it makes me wanna knock their teeth out. They're lucky I'm not an ....... So why would I go and push mine on someone who didn't ask for it?

If someone asks, I gauge whether or not they're serious, and build either a thoughtful or minimal response on their reaction. Otherwise I let the smokers smoke.

This one thousand times over.

 

[mare ze dotes]

I liked it when I phoned my Mom and told her that I quit smoking and was useing the electronics. She did not say What? she said that some of her nursing friends were useing them too. She was happy for me. Goodness.

 

[Kopfstimmen]

At the most, I might walk up to someone that's smoking that I know, and vape while they smoke and strike up a conversation. When they ask what it is (assuming they ask, which they usually do), I tell them. If they ask more about it, I tell them - otherwise, I consider it a lack of interest and go on to talking about other stuff.
This approach poses more of a problem at parties, where complete strangers are asking a lot of questions at once. Usually in German, which is not my native language.

 

[BostLabs]

I wander out to the smoke hole at least once a day at work. I'll do my own thing and vape away. If anyone asks I'll answer what ever questions they have and as soon as they run out of questions I'll stop. The next day they may have more questions.

I have at least one convert and several on the fence.

I don't push. If they are not ready no amount of pushing will do the deed.

 

[Whosback]

I think vaping is something we each have to come to on our own. I love it I know several smokers who I would love to see try it and we've got into talks about it. However I will never try a push for it. You have to respect what others want to do even if you know it's bad for um.

I think even the slow converts will come around in time, not all of um but a lot. We can help them get the gear, turn them on to good juice venders, do everything we can with what we have learned, but we can't make the choice for them.

 

[Dave L]

At the most, I might walk up to someone that's smoking that I know, and vape while they smoke and strike up a conversation. When they ask what it is (assuming they ask, which they usually do), I tell them.

That's pretty much how I am, too. I don't push. The exception for me is that occasionally I can tell someone thinks I'm doing something illegal (or, in California, quasi-legal). Then if I have the chance, I make it clear that I am using a cigarette substitute. This often leads to constructive conversations. I agree with most of what's been said so far, but I wonder if there might not be ways to be a bit more assertive without being aggressive. With this in mind, I vape as openly as possible in most public places.

 

[mattiem]

I'm sure you've heard the old saying "you can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink". That is how I see this. We that have found this wonderful device know what it has done for us. We can share info on how well it has worked for us but until we have walked in the other persons shoes we don't know how well it will work for them.
Both of my sisters are now vaporors. They were both happy for me but just didn't know if it would work for them. They both knew that they wanted to quit smoking but were afraid that they would invest the funds necessary to get started and it wouldn't help them.
In most cases the number one thing is that a person has truly got to want to quit. The second thing is to get the equipment in their hands. Doesn't have to be fancy, just functional. I put together all the cig-a-like batteries that I started with and gave them to my younger sister. She lives nearby so I was able to show her how everything worked. She is no longer a smoker and is now able to purchase her own equipment.
My older sister was a bit harder. She lives across the country from me so I couldn't do the hands on things for her and I didn't have any equipment to send to her. Along came an Angel from here on ECF that knew about my quandary. He sent her everything she needed to get started. She is no longer a smoker.
The main thing in both cases is that they were ready. They wanted to quit smoking. Don't try to force feed anyone. Answer questions when asked but don't preach. Push too hard and you will push them away. We smokers and ex-smokers can be a stubborn bunch. Vape on......