Some of the things you state as ridiculous reasons for smoking are true. Because of the MAOI's and other chemicals in cigarettes effect on the body, they do calm people down. Obviously there must be something to the taste thing because there are very few ejuice makers out that don't have a tobacco line. There must be something enjoyable about cigarette smoking because by definition an ecig is designed to replicate that as much as possible-- if it were not enjoyable, we would not need that.
I smoked for 35 years. I heard every story in the book about why I should quit. I had every nonsmoker within a 50 mile radius full of helpful tips. Like lollipops...you get the hand-mouth motion, great taste, but none of the bad stuff. Sound familiar? The best thing to do is go about your business. If interested, they will ask and then try to be informative without being preachy, and I think it would be helpful if you could avoid phrases like "I used to be a disgusting smoker" or "I hated the way I stunk all the time when I smoked" or "mindfully ignorant smokers". Speaking as a person who heard those things long before ecigs came around, they do nothing to help promote an ecig and rather slam the door to hearing anything else said. Despite all the smug patting ourselves on the back, we're just one FDA decision away from rejoining them in the Febreeze aisle.
I see several responses to this thread talking about what has been said as if it was an all out assault on cigarette smokers. One person even referred to some of what was posted as "trash". Sensitive, are we.. ?? Someone please point out to me what was such a huge "attack" on smokers. I think that anyone who has been so offended needs to settle back and look at what was said.
If anyone is so offended by the most far fetched reasons for smoking on earth being made light of .. maybe you have a problem .. . I know human nature is, I didn't like that so the other party is wrong .. Right?
I never put it to people as if they're degenerate idiots for smoking.. I tell them about the benefits I'm enjoying. My health, the way I feel, the money I am saving, the fact that I'm not giving money to a government I hate, etc. I figure there's a better chance of swaying someone without pushing them.
The only thing I've ever heard that could be a possible benefit of smoking is that it calms some peoples nerves. I've acknowledged that possibility many times. I don't believe that effect is common in smokers and I know that in most of them/us smoking does the exact opposite because of being in perpetual withdrawl from nicotine UNLESS we would chain smoke.
If you're one who benefits from a certain calming effect from MAOIs or whatever else.. you're still subject to the perpetual nic wd as a smoker. So I just don't see the point either way. Some people obviously do. I'll never agree that it's worth what they're doing to their body but I'll also never look down on them or heckle them about it.
The only thing I don't agree with Ms. Kristin about is that she tends to softplay the harm that cigarette smoke does to a smokers body. I've seen it first hand, it is well documented and anyone should know that painting the inside of your lungs with a carcinogen rich tar is about the worst thing you could do to yourself.
I agree with her on just about everything else. The possible benefits to a small percentage of smokers. The overblown media blitzes against everything. The whiny preachy non smokers. The attitude of superiority some non smokers and/or vapers tend to cop at smokers. Etc.
I also understand WHY so many smokers come up with such nonsense about vaping. The government brainwashes, the difficulty of something challenging their closely embraced cigarette which is a deeply rooted mental crutch and "friend", how easy it is to just keep smoking and ignore the facts.. People, especially here in the states, follow the path of least resistance. And have, for some time now.
The people close to me who smoke have all quit.. Thanks to me. Not because I heckled them or went on and on about it, but because I showed them that I believed in it. I showed them the benefits I get out of using a clean alternative. I showed them that I had done the research. I addressed any concerns they had. Now they're more hardcore about vaping than I could ever be!!
All in all it comes down to a few important things
1. I don't like our soul stealing, people killing, citizen raping government
People in my family died and not so we can live as we are. They did it so that we, the people, could make our own decisions and live a safe healthy happy life. That we would reap the reward of any production we took part in. Not have our health and wealth raped away at every turn.
2. I don't like ignorant people who will debate something without logic
A-lot of people in this state will try to argue the piss out of something without backing anything they say with one ounce of logic. And then when you corner them about it, they have no point to make, they'll look at you like you're stupid and walk away.
3. I'll give it to someone right between the eyes. Even myself.
Anyone who wants to be close to me not only appreciates that but will return the favor. Things I've heard that have hurt me or shocked me or knocked me off center the most have come from people I am very close to. And it has been appreciated at every turn.
In short this means that I don't have time to preach at anyone. I don't care what anyone does if they don't have the brains to listen to me. I know how to be wrong if someone corrects me with their own logic. I don't expect anyone to give me advice or help if I am not open to listening to what they have to say.
Though, I still giggle when I think of it. Oddly enough so does Ron now-he realizes he was silly.......we have not discussed ecigs in several days-I certainly don't want to lecture anyone. Lord knows quitting is NOT easy. I justy thought the WV drowning thing was hilarious...
them for the good of mankind. Whether it's a ..... insisting that the sky looks red, an idiot insisting they want to stab themselves through saran wrap because they know it'll protect them, a cigarette smoker who insists that vaping is just as dangerous as cigarettes when that is clearly 100% impossible to anyone with two brain cells lit up, etc.
