How has this culture impacted your ecig experience?

[SMKNOMOR]

I was just posting in a thread about whether we intend to put down our PV's and move on from vaping some day. I do... someday but not now...I get sad just thinking about it.

But it got me thinking, If I hadn't found and had been embraced by this wonderful community, would I still be a vaper..... I'm not sure I would.

My first PV came pretty close to doing the trick but not quite. I found reviewers on youtube then ECF and through this community I was not only introduced to better, more effective information and equipment to get the job done but I was embraced by a community.

I had no idea what my first venture into ecigs would eventually evolve into, add-on's, modifications, vape meets, upgrades, thread posts,a ridiculous collection of juices and PV's traveling to conventions, drooling over the latest and greatest and of course making new friends I had no idea it would become such a lifestyle.

So what I'm wondering is, as an added value, how much more has having this community and being a part of this culture had an impact on your ecig experience.Because I for one can tell you, it has made all the difference!!

 

[lolady]

My favorite cultural feature is the free bucketful of friends that comes with every ECF registration!

 

[mohawkx]

I finally found a place that would even have me as a member.

 

[expat]

My favorite cultural feature is the free bucketful of friends that comes with every ECF registration!

An extra unexpected and yet truly delightful bonus for sure.

 

[afrazier5]

Value? You cannot place a value on the vaping community. I started Utah Vapers (Facebook) after I started vaping and have more friends and business associates than I thought possible. It's not even about support, it's about friendship and family now.

 

[demon72]

I was just posting in a thread about whether we intend to put down our PV's and move on from vaping some day. I do... someday but not now...I get sad just thinking about it.

But it got me thinking, If I hadn't found and had been embraced by this wonderful community, would I still be a vaper..... I'm not sure I would.

My first PV came pretty close to doing the trick but not quite. I found reviewers on youtube then ECF and through this community I was not only introduced to better, more effective information and equipment to get the job done but I was embraced by a community.

I had no idea what my first venture into ecigs would eventually evolve into, add-on's, modifications, vape meets, upgrades, thread posts,a ridiculous collection of juices and PV's traveling to conventions, drooling over the latest and greatest and of course making new friends I had no idea it would become such a lifestyle.

So what I'm wondering is, as an added value, how much more has having this community and being a part of this culture had an impact on your ecig experience.Because I for one can tell you, it has made all the difference!!

Ya know.... you bring up a real good point... when I bought my mall kiosk kit..... I promised myself that I would at least make it pay for its exorbitantly priced self in savings vs the cost of analogs, but where it mayve gone from there I am not sure. Honestly with that not so great kit and without my Riva, Im not even sure it wouldve lasted that long (Im pretty rough on my tools and if they cant hang then they are not good enough) I know for sure if the one I had woulda broke beyond repair before it paid for itself I sure wouldnta bought another... so therefor I mightve started smoking again.

Anyway back to the point. Once I got here on ECF, everything changed a little.... I am the first vaper that I know and with my wife we have helped several others along the path thus far, but had I remained alone on my journey (no ECF) theres a good chance I wouldve given up.... I smoked for 20 years, hell whats another 20! So yea the community aspect of it is truly the most amazing thing about vaping to me thus far.... Ive been on other forums (just in general) but nowhere else that I have been has there been this much solidarity and kindness from one member to the next. Sure ya got the little "Riva is better than Ego" or "REO rules" tiffs going on, but its all in good fun. Most other places are alot of abrasive opinionated posters that wanna argue and talk trash.... here I havent seen that much if at all. Just a buncha paople on the same but different journeys, happy to lend an ear or a hand or advice or whatever.... makes it a nice place and very halpfull for someone who is already enduring what can be said as one of the hardest things to do (quite smoking).... Anyway... I think Im finished...... Thanks all.

 

[Puffadder]

+ However many members there are here.

I doubt I could say it any better than the Op and Demon so to all of the other members out there who have made this community what it is please accept a simple

​

 

[Dicot]

Without my accidental stumble upon ECF while I was looking up reviews for an $130 E9 kit, I literally had the kit in the shopping cart and was sitting at the checkout page. If I never found ECF I would of purchased that thing and I probably would of said screw it altogether after a few weeks and gone back to cigs, that is if I ever even stopped cigs to begin with.

My girlfriend was the one who was really gung ho about ecigs, she bugged me for weeks before I finally got off my ... and looked online. I'm a very skeptical person, so I was honestly expecting it to be trash and was just doing this to appease my girl. Of course this initial attitude was due to my previous experiences with the mall kiosks. I had no idea there were so many better options until I found this forum, and certainly had no idea there was such a generous and enthusiastic culture behind it all.

Bottom line without this forum, and the supportive, helpful members that call this place home I highly doubt I would be sitting here about to hit 3 months without a single cigarette.

 

[ShannonA]

Yes ECF is a jewel for sure.

 

[Sandrita]

Yes I agree I think ECF has had a massive effect on us vaporers and is great for the whole e cig community!

 

[Philx123]

There's nothing like being part of a community, especially when it's global. I love that you can ask away and always find someone to help.

 

[CES]

hmm...i wasn't planning to quit smoking when i got my PV. I'm very certain the the wealth of information here made it possible for me to go smoke free. Reading here meant that i had answers to my questions before the questions even came up. Most of the people i know who've tried vaping aren't here, and aren't vaping full time (though there are a couple who have quit smoking AND vaping). For me, the information made it possible, the support and community make it fun.

 

[TomCatt]

You guys got me all choked up, feelin' the love . No really, I started with a relatively decent kit bought at my local smoke shop; but without the info and sense of community here at ECF, I don't think I'd be where I'm at now: 134 days since my last cigarette and around smokers every day.

 

[vocr]

Since I'm less than 2 weeks in, I can't say about vaping. However, I can say, I am not sure I would've made it analog free totally if it wasn't for being able to come here and read threads and feel like part of a great fun community of like minded former smokers all over the world.

For me ECF has been a support group, on an epic scale, where I don't need to actually do any talking about my emotions or anything like that. Just being able to shoot the breeze and learn about vaping as a hobby has been exactly what I needed to get over the hump.

Now, I am over a USD grand in the hole and that is also ECF's fault (lol!) but I would've paid 10x as much to be able to quit smoking. In fact, I am not sure I haven't paid far more in pills, patches, hypnotism sessions, acupuncture, homeopathic quit smoking aids and the like over the years.

So for that, I will always look at ECF with affection!

 

[SharonCC]

I think forums like this are great! I came to ask a few questions, and met some really helpful people. I do plan on using vaping to get off cigs, and then stop, but who knows! Forums in general, do encourage some of us to "get in deeper" .....I think, because it's easier to want more when we know more. I joined a fish forum to find out how to cycle a fishtank, and I eventually got up to nine fish tanks. I joined a bird forum to ask a few questions about Linnies, and I now find myself with eight birds! I'm going to be very careful here, and try not to become so knowledgeable that my wants are endless! LOL!

 

[Raynen]

ECF changed my life because:
a) I bought a 510 kit through a mall kiosk and within 3 weeks had trouble. I googled 510 atty and found ECF. From there I was able to get my juices, batts, attys, carts... I was so happy! Now? I wouldn't change it for the world! I have two eGo batts, drip tips (growing collection of course ), LR cartos, and I'm going to incorporate LR attys in my vaping regime soon. Without ECF I would be a smoker still, but I'm not!
b) I feel like I have a lot in common with many ECFers. I have an online family that I truly and honestly care for. But most of all I have their support and determination to keep me from buying a pack. I'm SURE some of you remember my famous rant about me liking my carts and 510s... ...and now I have an eGo with an acrylic drip tip hanging from my mouth, how ironic. I do feel bad for that rant, now that I think of it, because I was so stubborn and trying to be happy but I know I wasn't. So many great friends on here, and so helpful! Typocinnamongrl and I talk on a daily basis through AIM or phone, and she helped me get my eGo set up (thank you girl!). If it wasn't for ECF I would be asking what a drip tip is!
c) I DON'T SMOKE ANALOGS ANYMORE

 

[ShannonA]

Top two things ECF gave me... great friends and a great juice vendor ( I won't mention them because I've been singing their praises all over the forum already).

 

[SMKNOMOR]

Once I got here on ECF, everything changed a little.... I am the first vaper that I know and with my wife we have helped several others along the path thus far, but had I remained alone on my journey (no ECF) theres a good chance I wouldve given up.... I smoked for 20 years, hell whats another 20! So yea the community aspect of it is truly the most amazing thing about vaping to me thus far.... Ive been on other forums (just in general) but nowhere else that I have been has there been this much solidarity and kindness from one member to the next. Sure ya got the little "Riva is better than Ego" or "REO rules" tiffs going on, but its all in good fun. Most other places are alot of abrasive opinionated posters that wanna argue and talk trash.... here I havent seen that much if at all. Just a buncha paople on the same but different journeys, happy to lend an ear or a hand or advice or whatever.... makes it a nice place and very halpfull for someone who is already enduring what can be said as one of the hardest things to do (quite smoking).... Anyway... I think Im finished...... Thanks all.

You bring up a really good point. I too was the only vaper I knew. I seen ecigs in the mall and dismissed them as a novelty for months till one day I had really had enough of smoking and wanted a better life. I remembered the kiosk and went to go pick one up but they weren't there so I found a brick and mortar.

I didn't know anyone else. I knew plenty of smokers and they thought of ecigs as I initially did. A novelty, a toy. Not that I have ever been the type to care what others are doing or what they think of what I decide for myself but it can be tough. It being just you vs the masses. Now here I am talking to you guys as part of a group

 

[moonlight]

Yeah, I love this place I've learned so much here in the last two years since I've put down the ciggie and picked up the PV

I doubt I could have stuck with it without ECF....in fact none of my friends have stuck with their PV's and I think it's because none of them became part of the community here. Every time they ran into a snag with their PV's, they went back to smoking. The support and information you get here is the key!

 

[Landhew]

I've only been here a few weeks, but I can already see that this forum is the most supportive and friendly of any forum I've ever been a member of...and that includes Great Dane forums, Mustang forums, and even Mommy forums.

If I hadn't have found ECF, then I would have most certainly bought a piece of crap e-cig and probably would still be smoking analogs. I will be forever grateful to this forum for pointing me in the right direction with patience and kindness.