My public experiences so far.

[Rexa]

I have been really busy and haven't had a chance to go out until last night (friday!). I've been vaping for two weeks now and the only public place i've done it is at work (i work in a printing company). Everyone loves it at my job and they laugh at my "fake cigarette" and my bosses don't care because they are actually smokers who have to go outside to smoke (I am still trying to convert them). They love the idea and are more happy for me that my body is feeling better than ever and don't mind the "clouds of vapor" at my desk.

Anywaaayz, so I went out into the city (downtown Manhattan near wall street). I went to a small bar/club. I did not bother trying to vape inside because in all honesty I just didn't feel the urge to use it (which I think is great). I step outside to get a breath of fresh air and see a huge crowd of smokers of course. I decided to whip out my 901 (black with a blue LED) and begin puffing on it. No one noticed. I turn around to face people and try really hard to shove my LED in their faces and still nothing... The owner of the club who I happen to be friends with starts talking to me and he finally realizes something is strange 15 minutes into our conversation while I am sitting there vaping away. He askes me "what's that blue light". I told him it's an e-cig which is really a nicotine inhaler. Some folks overheard the conversation and then start to notice me and then they all started asking questions too. I explained to everyone over and over what it was and what it does.

They all asked me "is it FDA approved?" and I said no. It turned a lot of people off. They then asked me "so when do you plan on quitting it?". I said "well you can also use zero nicotine liquid so technically you are just feeding an oral fixation".

So at the end of the night, while I did bring about some awareness regarding the e-cig, it seems to me that people were more concerned about when I am "quitting the e-cig" instead of the whole point of the e-cig which I tried to reitterate one too many times. The general idea was that I was feeding an addiction with another addiction (regardless if we think it's healthier or not). While this is true, I actually don't vape a lot now that I am in my second week of quitting analogs. In fact, today I only vaped in the morning with a cup of coffee.

I told the owner that I wasn't going to vape inside because I did not want others to start lighting cigarettes if they thought that I was indeed smoking and he agreed to that because he felt that could happen (he's a really nice guy who smokes too so I was being respectful).

Just thought I'd share.

 

[OutWest]

The not being FDA approved turning people off bit - That's something I just dont understand. I mean, look at some of the things that have been fda approved: chantix, which can cause insanity, blindness, and death; pondimin and redux, which caused heart valve damage; antidepressants Celexa and Lexapro, which have caused deep depression in some users who then ended up committing suicide; Seroquel, which can cause diabetes, cholesterol and triglycerides abnormalities, sudden cardiac death, suicide, neuroleptic malignant syndrome, and tardive dyskinesia (the very thing it is supposed to prevent); and the list goes on and on. With the dangers of FDA approved products, i'd rather take my chances on something that hasnt been approved.

 

[Nicotine]

Was trying to get my mother in law interested today in using e-cigs. My Janty kissbox was in a very good mood and gave an excellent debut performance.
As she lit her 3rd cig in ten mins she told me she wanted more "research" done on e-cigs. I said "there are thousands of research papers on cigarettes and all bad, but you still smoke". She replied it might be bad in a different way. LOL well I can't think whats worse than dying in agony of lung cancer, but hey she obviously knows a fate even worse than death.
Well I am sure she will carry on smoking two cartons of cigs a week.

Turning people around is going to be a monumental struggle.

 

[Rexa]

I said "there are thousands of research papers on cigarettes and all bad, but you still smoke". She replied it might be bad in a different way. LOL well I can't think whats worse than dying in agony of lung cancer, but hey she obviously knows a fate even worse than death.

People are afraid that there is "poison" in the liquid or that the chinese are going to try and poison us like they posioned their own with the tainted milk scandal because most liquid comes from there (they asked me where the liquid comes from too so I had to explain). I didn't want to make any false claims or mislead anyone and I told them upfront where the stuff in my ecig came from (which was eastmall). I now know that liquid can come from other places too but if they try and look for the easiest (can cheapest way to get it) it will most likely come from China.

P.S. I thought that comment was incredibly hilarious

 

[dumwaldo]

When people ask you if it is FDA approved ask them why it would need to be. Point out that we have been using 'smoke machines' in nightclubs, concerts and assorted other types of shows for many years and they are kicking out the same thing that we are smoking minus the nicotine content.

If they say that the nicotine content makes a big difference ask them if they drink coffee or soda and explain that nicotine is a stimulant in the same class as caffeine.

As far as the liquids go, buy JohnsonCreek liquids. They are made in America.

To be perfectly blunt this will make little difference to most people. Things like logic and individual thought process are lost on most of the masses that believe anything television and newspapers tell them. But it is still a worthwhile pursuit to try an educate others.

If you talk to a thousand people and only one 'gets it' that is still one person who's entire life could possibly be effected in a very positive way.

DW

 

[ISAWHIM]

Having an FDA approval seems to have a strong "False" and "Misleading" representation that something is safe... Does that not qualify for the same concern as our e-cigs?

You saw it directly... Smokers of something the FDA has directly said was lethal, seemed acceptable socially, while something unknown (Not FDA approved.), was shunned. Obviously, in the interest of our health and safety, the FDA should not be approving anything which may be harmful, as "FDA APPROVAL", seems to socially signify that it is somehow safe. That alone, is one of the reasons many harmful things are used. There is a misconception that someone has said it was ok, through approval.

Cars are another perfect example... Having great crash-test ratings does not translate into being safe. However, people will refuse to drive a vehicle without one, but will have no issues driving a car with a bad rating. (Even if the other car is safer.)

They need to rethink the way the FDA is involved, and regulates, and rates things.

They need harm-levels, like MSDS has...

Carcinogen level (10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5...)
Flammability level (10, ....)
Toxicity level (10, ....)
Long term threat level (10, 9 ...)
Short term threat level (10, ...)
Narcotic level (10, ...)
Addiction level (10, 9 ...)
Odor level (10, 9...) {Detectable or overwhelming}
Byproduct waste level (10, 9...) {Disposal}
Proximity danger level (10, 9...) {Second hand}
Genetic dangers: {Race, youth, age, sex}
Medical dangers: {Conditions aggravated by, or leading to}
Contact dangers:
Consumption dangers:
Inhalation dangers:
Other dangers:

Listing the noted dangers as un-specific, but assumed danger level, and the unique known situations.

Only if KNOWN high danger items, exist within an item, should intervention on a new item be allowed, with proof.

I hope those people end-up researching it. They will see more of the reality, and less of the unknown mystery magic that the FDA illusion seems to hold. It is the FDA harming many more people than the items it tries to protect us from. Remove that paranoia, and people willingly dive head first into an FDA approved empty pool, from 1000 feet in the air. It must be safe... (If it is filled with water, I am sure it is!)

 

[Menolly]

The not being FDA approved turning people off bit - That's something I just dont understand. I mean, look at some of the things that have been fda approved: chantix, which can cause insanity, blindness, and death; pondimin and redux, which caused heart valve damage; antidepressants Celexa and Lexapro, which have caused deep depression in some users who then ended up committing suicide; Seroquel, which can cause diabetes, cholesterol and triglycerides abnormalities, sudden cardiac death, suicide, neuroleptic malignant syndrome, and tardive dyskinesia (the very thing it is supposed to prevent); and the list goes on and on. With the dangers of FDA approved products, i'd rather take my chances on something that hasnt been approved.

I especially laugh at those who question the e-cig, but take all kinds of herbal supplements or "natural remedies" which say that they haven't been evaluated by the FDA right on the package!

From the FDA website:
"FDA does not authorize or test dietary supplements."

 

[Alexander]

The not being FDA approved turning people off bit - That's something I just dont understand. I mean, look at some of the things that have been fda approved: chantix, which can cause insanity, blindness, and death; pondimin and redux, which caused heart valve damage; antidepressants Celexa and Lexapro, which have caused deep depression in some users who then ended up committing suicide; Seroquel, which can cause diabetes, cholesterol and triglycerides abnormalities, sudden cardiac death, suicide, neuroleptic malignant syndrome, and tardive dyskinesia (the very thing it is supposed to prevent); and the list goes on and on. With the dangers of FDA approved products, i'd rather take my chances on something that hasnt been approved.

"Plus one" on this post. I used to work for defendants in a medical litigation support consultation firm and without giving too much away, I should say that I didn't feel too good about it.

 

[Alexander]

Cars are another perfect example... Having great crash-test ratings does not translate into being safe. However, people will refuse to drive a vehicle without one, but will have no issues driving a car with a bad rating. (Even if the other car is safer.)

Perhaps off-topic: Jerry Seinfeld and Jay Leno both famously own Porsche 959s. Only a couple of hundred of these vehicles were made. Neither Jay or Jerry can take these out of their garages because they haven't been collision tested / safety rated in America. To do so requires the destruction of a minimum of three of the vehicles... Which will never happen, so the vehicles won't be operable on American streets until they are old enough to be waived under the antique automobile laws.

 

[Alexander]

Was trying to get my mother in law interested today in using e-cigs. My Janty kissbox was in a very good mood and gave an excellent debut performance.
As she lit her 3rd cig in ten mins she told me she wanted more "research" done on e-cigs. I said "there are thousands of research papers on cigarettes and all bad, but you still smoke". She replied it might be bad in a different way. LOL well I can't think whats worse than dying in agony of lung cancer, but hey she obviously knows a fate even worse than death.
Well I am sure she will carry on smoking two cartons of cigs a week.

Turning people around is going to be a monumental struggle.

Right on. It's probably a good idea to mention heart disease as well, since I believe that edges out lung cancer as the smoking related disease that kills most folks.

 

[cyberwolf]

I have begun putting it to like this;

If you were drowning and I had already thrown you three government approved floatation devices that all deflated, would you want me to throw you the big rubber life raft that had not been approved or not?

 

[planetofthevapes]

I like the way you put that cyberwolf!

 

[kyle82]

wow, where can i buy those? is this a better alternative than the ordinary cigars? how do we use it? really eager about getting an answer regarding this.. see yah guys latah.. buh buhy