Had my first question from a complete stranger

[Eranda13]

I was at the dealer having my car inspected on Saturday morning, and while waiting I went outside to check out the new Hondas and have a little vape. I walked past two smokers on the way out the door.

I was literally minding my own business, walking from model to model, happily vaping away. I wasn't really even thinking about what I was doing or the fact that there were probably 20-25 people in a position to see me.

Anyway as I was walking back to the customer waiting area two salespeople came up to me and asked me "is that one of those electronic cigarettes". The guy asked me if it worked. I said yes, that I haven't had a tobacco cigarette in two months. I held it up to show them (I have a small 808 battery with with a Kanger eSmart clearomizer on it). I unscrewed the battery from the clearo and explained very briefly. One guy asked me if there was nicotine in there and I said yes and that it was in the liquid, along with flavorings.

Then he asked the dreaded question... "so, how long until you stop using this?" pointing to my e-cig. I told him that since nothing in the ingredients is known to be a health hazard or a carcinogen- and all are separately FDA approved, that I was planning to use it until someone proved otherwise.

Not sure if that's the answer he wanted to hear... but it was the truth.

 

[blackmajik]

Well at least you were honest about the duration of use but can't blame you since the juices taste great and keeps me off of cigarettes, it has become a past time and a hobby for me. I would of said the same thing but to become less addicted to vaping, I am slowly weening myself off of the nicotine.

 

[JohnnyVsGirl]

On July 17th it'll be one year. Still going strong and have lowered nic levels from 18mg down to 12mg. In another year maybe down to 6mg and then down to none. It was the easiest and fastest way to quit. If we need it in our hands to pacify it's always better than an analog.

 

[Butters78]

While making a face like Fred Sandford when he smells something bad, you should of said while pointing to his wife..

"The same time you give up that."

 

[HazMatt]

I'm with you Eranda. I am still relatively new to vaping, 9 weeks free from the grip of analogs. And I am lowering my nic levels. My first week I used 36mg mostly. Then, I dropped to 24mg. Now, I have started ordering 18mg.

During particularly strong cravings, I still use 36mg. I may never actually stop using my favorite nic juices and I am fine with that.

 

[dokebilee]

The latest curious and complete stranger that I met said, "is that used to smoke weed?" I chuckled and said no, then he proceeded to follow me for 5 blocks or so while I explained everything.

 

[SpinDr480]

Yep, we all know that dreaded questions everyone asks.."how long until you stop using that?"

My answer has been, "Since it doesn't have any known harmful chemicals, I have no idea or intention at this time because it has helped me quit those nasty cigs. Also, it has become sort of a hobby getting to try all the great flavors, and tinkering with devices so I enjoy it alot"

 

[degnr8]

I'm with you. I've been vaping for three years now. I'm happy at 30 mg and have no intention of giving it up unless a credible source shows a health related reason I should

 

[MoonLit_Water]

Waiting outside while having an oil change I was vaping on an eVic with a T3. A guy walked by looked, did a double take and then a few steps back. He said what is that thing!? I said it's an electronic cigarette, he said no it's not, My Sisters uses them and they look like regular cigarettes. I held it up so He could get a better look and told him well this is just an advanced model. He said Well it looks like a screwdriver to me and walked away.

 

[Ken62]

I use mine in my office and leave it out on the desk. My every day setup is an 1100 twist with a vivi nova, so it's pretty hard to miss.

I have never had it confused with anything used illegally. It HAS started many conversations about e-cigs, my success with them, how they work and their future.

 

[Erised]

I told him that since nothing in the ingredients is known to be a health hazard or a carcinogen- and all are separately FDA approved, that I was planning to use it until someone proved otherwise.

GREAT response!!!

 

[Nicadmus]

The word is spreading! Always nice to see. I find myself getting irritated sometimes with some of the misinformation out there, but always try my best to explain things to anyone that has an interest.

 

[txredxj]

i tell people i have an addiction and this is just a safer alternative to analogs. i dont really plan to quit it but if i can that would be great. seems alot of people dont view cigarettes as an addiction, even smokers.

 

[skyztheLynnit]

seems alot of people dont view cigarettes as an addiction, even smokers.

Say whaaaatt?

 

[txredxj]

maybe just the word addiction is what gets them. habit i guess would be more pc

 

[EddardinWinter]

Then he asked the dreaded question... "so, how long until you stop using this?" pointing to my e-cig.

I would say, "Sometime after you start using this!"

 

[volume control]

I love watching smokers stare in awe of my Evic when i walk by. Im generally amazed more dont ask me about it, i have even vaped in restaurants multiple times, and everyone just kept their mouth shut. One time a nurse tried to tell me it was illegal to use ecigarettes in MA. I told her she was wrong and she didnt care to agree, but didnt say any more. And one other time a non smoker at a bar told me he thought i was smoking but was confused about why it didnt smell bad. He asked me what i had in there and was rather shocked, never had seen an ecig before. I actually spoke with him at length about it and he was approving of the fact that it had no impact on him even sitting next to me at a bar.

 

[NotoriousJDP]

I also get people thinking I'm smoking an illicit, green, leafy substance. I actually had a guy come up to me and ask if he could "toke" with me.

Or I get people who just ask what it is and then seem really interested in finding out how to get one for themselves.

 

[Baditude]

A couple of months after being smoke-free, I proudly announced to the medical people (nurses and surgeons) that I work with that I had quit smoking and did it with e-cigarettes. They all congratuated me, but some asked when I was going to stop the e-cigs, too.

I said that I hadn't really thought about it, but for the time being I plan on continuing using my e-cigs. "But you're still using nicotine!"

Yes, that's true. But I'm not inhaling smoke or 4,000 other deadly chemicals that are in cigarettes and cause cancer. Nicotine is a stimulent drug just like caffeine, which is in a lot of the products that everyone consumes on a daily basis. Coffee, soda pop, and chocolate just to name a few. I'll wager that I'm consuming less nicotine than all that caffeine that you have been drinking from that pot of coffee in the staff lounge all day. No one had a comeback reply to that.

Just last week, I found out that one of the surgeons that I occassionally work with is a smoker, and recently purchased a cigalike to use when he can't smoke analogs. I showed him my Provari with an pyrex cartotank attached and he jokingly exclaimed, "That's no electronic cigarette! That's a G** D** hookah pipe!"

My personal physician playfully calls my Provari a "water pipe".