Defensive?

[MotherNatural]

Does anyone else still feel cigarette defensive? I'm only wrapping up day 6 so I'm sure my attitude will change with time but I still hesitate to share my significant news. Not because I fear failure but negativity instead of support. Don't get me wrong, I'm so very excited to be a non-smoker after 40+ years that I want to shout it from the rooftops but I still don't want to hear the inappropriate comments. I've already heard things like…now that you're not smoking you can…or I've heard e-cigs are bad…or but you're still on nicotine. Really? Really? They are well meaning but…really? You still feel the need to point out to me why it's good that I quit or the benefits of quitting? It makes me feel like another "you should just quit" lecture coming on when a simple "Good for you!" or "Congratulations" would suffice.
Sorry for the rant. Just wondering if others still feel defensive as I'll be the first to admit I can be over-sensitive. The monkey is off my back but I still have slight pangs for the loss of a trusted companion although it is far outweighed by the benefits. I've heard enough negativity for 40 years. Just keep it positive friends and family.

 

[Katya]

Hi MotherNature and welcome. And congratulations!

Well, you may be a bit overly sensitive and your friends and family may just be misinformed. It's a deadly combination. E-cigs are relatively new and the general media are not helping. With all the lies and attacks on e-cigs almost daily from the press, TV, Big tobacco, Big Pharma, our government--I'm not surprised people are confused.

Just smile, explain, have some handouts from CASAA and give them to those concerned. Tell them that nicotine alone is not any worse for you than caffeine and just about as addictive--it's the other stuff in paper cigs that kills you.

Here's a link to CASAA--I suggest you join us!

CASAA - The Consumer Advocates for Smoke-free Alternatives Association

 

[docsthaname]

I haven't had any comments like that about it yet, except for my mom "Oh you're doing THAT now?" all accusatory. And I'm 32, not 18. Anyway, I do still have the habit of getting a quick puff, making sure I don't blow it around anyone outside, etc. But that's just common courtesy anyway.

 

[Cool-breeze]

The general public is severely uninformed. I talked to 2 ppl this week that thought nicotine was a carcinogen. I'm lucky to have mostly support but there's a decent handful of ppl I got crap from about smoking that don't know I switched. To be fair I never told them I picked back up smoking after which ever failed quitting attempt. Best advice I have is 1 try to avoid stupid ppl. Sadly 1 never works well so number 2 is educate yourself. This way when someone mouths off bs you can educate them in a polite or smart-alic manner... Which ever you prefer

 

[Bunnykiller]

human nature never changes ( hasnt since people started living in groups) you will get approval, consent, and dissent. The ones full of dissent have no idea of what you have been living with. The ones who consent were or are smokers, the ones who approve are vaporers.
The only person you have to please in this moment of your life is yourself.
And if you pick up the pack and do a ciggie, you havent failed, you havent slipped, but what you did do was NOT smoke what you used to smoke before you began your vaping...

Welcome To ECF !!

 

[K_Tech]

I've been fortunate in that the only people to express concern about the "dangers" of vaping have been in my immediate family, and they've been very receptive to the truth.

From other people, mostly what I get is curiosity from smokers, as in "how much does that cost" and "did you really quit smoking".

My boss smokes little cigars, and from him I get the daily "what flavor are you vaping today, K_Tech?"

 

[Katya]

The general public is severely uninformed. I talked to 2 ppl this week that thought nicotine was a carcinogen. I'm lucky to have mostly support but there's a decent handful of ppl I got crap from about smoking that don't know I switched. To be fair I never told them I picked back up smoking after which ever failed quitting attempt. Best advice I have is 1 try to avoid stupid ppl. Sadly 1 never works well so number 2 is educate yourself. This way when someone mouths off bs you can educate them in a polite or smart-alic manner... Which ever you prefer

Right on.

More educational materials--for you, your friends and the OP:

Researchers Investigate (Horrors!) Nicotine's Potential Benefits - New York Times

 

[Katya]

I haven't had any comments like that about it yet, except for my mom "Oh you're doing THAT now?" all accusatory. And I'm 32, not 18. Anyway, I do still have the habit of getting a quick puff, making sure I don't blow it around anyone outside, etc. But that's just common courtesy anyway.

The comments I get are usually, "Does this really work?" I (my mother, my father, my GF, my friend etc...) is trying to quit...

But I live in Southern California, where vaping is quite common.

 

[MotherNatural]

Ah, support! I knew I'd find it here. Thank you. And thank you for the info. I'll print it out. Avoid stupid people? I live in a cabin in the woods on the side of a mountain with coyotes as neighbors all in an attempt to avoid stupid people. But they still seem to find me! (unlike the USPS)

 

[Katya]

Ah, support! I knew I'd find it here. Thank you. And thank you for the info. I'll print it out. Avoid stupid people? I live in a cabin in the woods on the side of a mountain with coyotes as neighbors all in an attempt to avoid stupid people. But they still seem to find me! (unlike the USPS)

Stick with the coyotes. They are very smart and totally non-judgemental! We have them here, too!

 

[MotherNatural]

I haven't had any comments like that about it yet, except for my mom "Oh you're doing THAT now?" all accusatory. And I'm 32, not 18. Anyway, I do still have the habit of getting a quick puff, making sure I don't blow it around anyone outside, etc. But that's just common courtesy anyway.

I believe our mother's took the same parenting class!

 

[MotherNatural]

Stick with the coyotes. They are very smart and totally non-judgemental! We have them here, too!

I love my neighbors! I hate that they ate my feral cats and chickens but this is their home I share.

 

[Katya]

Oops.............

I only have a big dog who always wants to play with the coyotes we encounter on our walks. I keep telling her it's a bad idea, but she's a very friendly lab.

 

[MotherNatural]

My dogs are small. They have the…Let me at 'em, I'll rip 'em to shreds….attitude. I try to explain they would be an appetizer for a coyote but they disagree.

 

[bkkdaytrader]

i've had people laugh at me when i told them had quit smoking and was now vaping--i have since converted most of those people

many smokers completely ignore me when i try to explain the benefits of changing over to vaping---others say it looks funny and they would rather be seen smoking a cigarette... I suppose decades of mass media brainwashing don't die quickly

we need a blockbuster movie with the star proudly vaping away--vaping needs to be glamourized.

 

[n3oteris]

my buddy and I started vaping at the same after visiting a local vape store. we quit smoking that day, We arrived home with our vapes and excited, and his wife gave us the ewwww ... look. she is still using analog and were 3 months off and loving everyday. I just ignore her ignorance.

 

[MotherNatural]

l

i've had people laugh at me when i told them had quit smoking and was now vaping--i have since converted most of those people

many smokers completely ignore me lhen i try to explain the benefits of changing over to vaping---others say it looks funny and they would rather be seen smoking a cigarette... I suppose decades of mass media brainwashing don't die quickly

we need a blockbuster movie with the star proudly vaping away--vaping needs to be glamourized.

Julia Louise Dreyfus at the Golden Globe awards. She received SO much negative press. I saw several negative spots on this followed by reports of banning. Leonardo DiCaprio was highlighted negatively too. I never even considered vaping as a smoking cessation tool. I finally looked into it as an alternative and consequently had that a-ha moment. Likely from spending time here before I made the plunge. More press and education is needed on using it as a tool. Physicians also need to be educated. Such a shame that more people are not even aware of the benefits.

 

[cbrite]

One of the benefits of being older (retired) is that I just do whatever I want to these days and that's that. So far I have been vaping happily for 3 weeks and the only person who knows I did it even ONCE is a friend who smokes and I told her she should give it a try. I have never smoked "in public," so I am just kind of waiting for someone to say hey you don't stink anymore, and then I am just going to say yep, I quit smoking. No need to go further unless it is another smoker and for them I will suggest they give vaping a try. BTW, I had a kind of negative mother, too--the good news on that front is that it makes you a "nicer" parent!

 

[MosinMan]

It was getting to the point for me that I felt a little self conscious smoking regular cigarettes, so I don't feel too defensive about my e cig. I was always a courteous smoker, so my habits have passed over and I don't vape around anyone who doesn't already smoke or vape. It helps that so far I've gotten a lot of support over it.

I admit the first couple days vaping in my car I was slightly concerned that a cop would mistake my krave for those similarly designed ......... vaporizers, but that's just nonsense thoughts for ya.

 

[maybeshewill]

I have a quick temper but I've never really got defensive on this issue.
I've had people say stuff like the OP mentioned. Sometimes it feels like a 'just quit' lecture. I just ignore those opinions, since I never claimed to quit nicotine. Since I can do it in a safer way, and not harm others passively, that suffices. If someone wants to make some rash claim about them being harmfull I expect evidence, and the stuff I've heard makes me laugh, and is easily falsifiable
Anti-everything puritans exist, but what can you do.