Nine and a Half Years Ago -

[DPLongo22]

NEVER would I have guessed I'd be watching this heart-wrenching destruction of the life saving, life changing, and truly amazing thing that came to be called "vape".

The onslaught of daily emails, most by names of companies/people I've been following and supporting for years, is literally ripping my guts out. I try to put myself into their positions and I cannot. The sacrifice, the money, the time, the sheer excitement (back when) of doing something SO phenomenally different from anything that had come before...

To those who are securing PMTA acceptance, that's great. Unfortunately, the taste in my mouth remains sour.

I'm not going to list all the names here and now. We all know the carnage, and each of us has our own story to tell. The bottom line is that it's a tragedy on SO many levels. Health, economics, freedom, humanity (etc., etc., etc.).

Most of all though, it's a truly horrific tragedy for everyone who changed their lives to begin down a road that should have been paved with nothing but success. The vast majority of which didn't do it for fame or fortune, but instead to change the world for the better. They paved the way, and showed many of us how to follow. Answering all of our questions, and walking us through, one crazy device, topper, or juice at time.

I know this is just a bunch of gibberish, but I guess I just can't find words to convey how ing heartbreaking this is to watch. I also know I'm just one in a vast sea of vapers who feel the same way.

That is all.

{sigh}

 

[AngeNZ]

I know this is just a bunch of gibberish, but I guess I just can't find words to convey how ing heartbreaking this is to watch. I also know I'm just one in a vast sea of vapers who feel the same way.

No gibberish

As an international vaper, I'm just as sickened to see this happening to the States.

I work on a farm, so I'm perfectly qualified to say that this is pure and utter crap

 

[DPLongo22]

I work on a farm, so I'm perfectly qualified to say that this is pure and utter crap

Okay, so THAT got a smile...!!!!!!! Thanks, Ange.

 

[Katdarling]

Thank you, DpL. With all my heart, thank you. You said what most of us must feel and think.

 

[UncLeJunkLe]

To those who are securing PMTA acceptance, that's great. Unfortunately, the taste in my mouth remains sour.

Better stock up on some mouthwash. I believe September will prove to be the final nail in the coffin of vape in the USA. Might be a good idea to get a backup freezer.

 

[Skeebo]

Good post DPL. I feel bad for vendors, us, new vapers; and terrible for smokers out there who may never know vaping as an option to quitting cigs.

 

[rosesense]

Well said, Mr. DPL. I am so angry I could spit, even though I have known it was coming for a long time.

 

[Enoch777]

Couldn't have said it any better myself. The sentiments are shared 100%. We all discovered this thing together. Taught each other best practices, safety, tips, where to get what, how to make this or fix that. We all changed our lives for the better and to have it so rudely and casually stripped away is heartbreaking indeed.

Vape strong and keep up the good fight. They may take us down a peg or two but they can't break our spirit & community to THR and it's blatant benefits.

 

[Katya]

*sigh*

I never thought it would come to this.

 

[pwheeler]

It is very depressing seeing what has been happening. You stated it very well, DPL. Vaping saved my life, and I truly feel sorry for those who will never get the opportunity to do what we've done. I've been over 7 years cigarette free. Never in my life could I have done it without finding vaping and the so many friends and wonderful vendors involved. After all this time, I know I will never go back to smoking. Been weaning myself little by little from nic, but I am not totally free of it yet. Still, it's a far better option than burning tobacco. I just don't know what everyone is going to be able to do when it's all said and done. I just know I"m not going to give the government the pleasure of turning to Big Tobacco.

 

[Rossum]

NEVER would I have guessed I'd be watching this heart-wrenching destruction of the life saving, life changing, and truly amazing thing that came to be called "Vape".

I suspected this would happen before I even tried it. During the second half of 2013, I kept seeing stories in the media lamenting the fact the FDA had not yet regulated "electronic cigarettes". So I thought, if they're being that vocal about it, there must be something to it, and maybe I should try it before the FDA ruins or outright kills it.

I got my first starter kit on the December 13th, 2013. It took a few days and one equipment upgrade before I had my last cig, but I never finished the pack that I opened the morning that kit arrived, and I had been a 40+ a day kind of smoker.

I quickly concluded that vaping works too damn well, and there was no way The Powers That Be would let it survive in that form. But I wasn't going to let them take it from me either, so on 12/31/2013, I ordered my first liter of nic base.

To me, the most surprising thing is how long it took for them to get to this point. I figured it would happen much more quickly.

 

[Enoch777]

After all this time, I know I will never go back to smoking. Been weaning myself little by little from nic, but I am not totally free of it yet.

About 10 months ago I managed to quit for oh - 2 weeks. It was fine and I vape 12mg/18mg. I managed to get rid of cravings by snacking on carrots and doing some light workouts whenever I'd have a nic fit. I remember getting to 14 days and thinking "It feels so weird to not carry my mod with me and drip to my heart's content." I had no real conniption to vape at that point and experienced no major withdrawal. A HECK of a lot easier than all the times I tried quitting smoking which left me feeling physically ill, antsy, agitated, angry, depressed, etc...

You wanna know what brought me back? I just felt so gal darn tired during the day. What can I say, I love my stimulants. Caffeine and nicotine. Yes it's not healthy - but at least with vaping it could definitely be worse.

I think that's what hurts worst about all this. I know it's a crutch and I'm okay with that, yet soon those without a stockpile won't have any other option. Speaking of which I might panic order another 1L of 100mg while there's still time

 

[Myrany]

I suspected this would happen before I even tried it. During the second half of 2013, I kept seeing stories in the media lamenting the fact the FDA had not yet regulated "electronic cigarettes". So I thought, if they're being that vocal about it, there must be something to it, and maybe I should try it before the FDA ruins or outright kills it.

I got my first starter kit on the December 13th, 2013. It took a few days and one equipment upgrade before I had my last cig, but I never finished the pack that I opened the morning that kit arrived, and I had been a 40+ a day kind of smoker.

I quickly concluded that vaping works too damn well, and there was no way The Powers That Be would let it survive in that form. But I wasn't going to let them take it from me either, so on 12/31/2013, I ordered my first liter of nic base.

To me, the most surprising thing is how long it took for them to get to this point. I figured it would happen much more quickly.

Same here though I was a few months behind you in trying vaping. Within 2 weeks of starting I found out about the potential deeming and pretty much figured barring a miracle we were doomed. I made it my business from that realization to now to be able to continue to vape for my lifetime. We did get a few reprieves along the way. It took far longer than I think many of us were expecting but I think the end was pretty much a foregone conclusion.

This will be controversial so if it is inappropriate moderators please edit the statement out. Watching this whole thing unfold has really opened my eyes to what is really going on in government and how blatantly unfree we are in this country.

 

[Dieseler]

Yes all this has been lurking for many years as we often would hear this and that sign this petition and that petition send emails to the powers that be etc etc and said to myself sooner or later .

Recall vaping before joining any forum including the UKVapors forum vaping outside the courthouse taking a lunch break during jury duty back then and would get questions etc and it was something different to a cig smoker which i did for many many years .

I recall fond memories of forum members like Scubabatdan for one when he first came out with his huge genesis tank that he designed and sold to many members mine long gone.
My gosh those years flew by.

The learning experienced help me in many ways building mods, diy e-liquid etc.
Recently last year making a rebuild-able coil head from a proprietary coil the famed Zenith just in case something like this would happen.
Stocking up all along the way for the Mrs and i on everything until our end days for this storm is likely to hit hard.
Hope many others did as well or are making up for lost time

Wonder what the forum will be like in the near future

 

[BNEAT]

We're not going anywhere Dave, it's just gonna be a little more work now

btw peeps, I own a business in Louisville and from what I'm hearing B2B is still on, so anyone in the area is welcome to ship to me if this rings true

 

[Falconeer]

Well said DPLongo22 - when I discovered vaping in October 2015 and got my first 1Stick30w and a Nautilus Mini I thought it was literally a miracle for me, an Old Smoking Man of 50 years standing who had failed 2 smoking cessation courses using Big Pharma's useless substitutes.

Discovering ECF and getting help advice and encouragement was the second miracle and I do hope the Forum goes on.

While we have TPD this side of The Pond, things aren't (yet) so bad here ... BUT the accursed WHO is starting to make noises about refillable devices and I fear the same thing will happen here in time.

Over the Winter I have aquired a bunch of Squonking Kits, laid in several hundred feet of Kanthal wire and doubled up my monthly order of E Liquids for stock - but none of us should have had to do things like that.

You know, back in 2015 when I joined ECF there was excitement in the air and the Forum contributed to that - we had all found something good and rather marvellous. I miss those days. I hate those who have connived to ruin this.

I wish you all the best.

 

[NCC]

Aside from readily available supplies that aren't going anywhere, like PG, VG and batteries, I'm stocked up for my expected life span. I appreciate that not all vapers are sitting as pretty as that. My advice to them, assuming they desire to continue vaping, is to stock up in a hurry, even to the point of bending the budget.

For people who have likely got 40+ years of life left...well, that's a different matter. I guess if I were in those shoes I'd have to consider the harsh fact that just maybe I'd have to give it up one day.
Hey, nobody with a lick of sense got into vaping unless they were already addicted to tobacco. I know that if I had to quit tomorrow, it would be easier than going cold turkey from cigarettes. But, it's still withdrawal from an addictive substance, which is not fun. Vaping gives you the option, if that's your goal, to gradually wean yourself from nicotine, down to zero if you choose.
I choose not to. But, I'm an old fart who smoked longer than young adults of today have been breathing air.

It bothers me a lot that the major health organizations that proclaim to want people to quit smoking have steadfastly refused to endorse vaping...essentially on the grounds that vapers are still consuming nicotine (although the amount, down to zero is never considered). The recent propaganda, featuring young people in hospital beds, victims of vaping? Or victims of black market eLiquid? I've been vaping for more than a decade and my doctor verifies what I already knew...my lungs are in better shape than they were 30-years ago.
The never ending objection is that, "well, you're still consuming nicotine"...yes, if you choose to. But nicotine isn't the big killer. That would be SMOKE, which is not a product of vaping.

I strongly feel people who are not addicted already via combustible tobacco should NOT begin vaping. Vaping is a less harmful alternative to smoking, but it is not harmless.

 

[aikanae1]

I always thought this was more about who profits vs health when fda confiscated a shipment of ecigs from china, claiming nicotine was a "drug". From then on, vaping was surviving on borrowed time.

It's crazy that the mail ban covers all tobacco/vaping products but nicotine from pharma companies are fine, and also approved for long term use. No need to go on.

Just the idea of placing my last vape order is scary and sad. The hardware is just one part. I don't think I would've continued vaping without support and guidance from y'all.


Sent from my LM-G850 using Tapatalk

 

[Chasing Clouds and Flavor]

NEVER would I have guessed I'd be watching this heart-wrenching destruction of the life saving, life changing, and truly amazing thing that came to be called "Vape".

The onslaught of daily emails, most by names of companies/people I've been following and supporting for years, is literally ripping my guts out. I try to put myself into their positions and I cannot. The sacrifice, the money, the time, the sheer excitement (back when) of doing something SO phenomenally different from anything that had come before...

To those who are securing PMTA acceptance, that's great. Unfortunately, the taste in my mouth remains sour.

I'm not going to list all the names here and now. We all know the carnage, and each of us has our own story to tell. The bottom line is that it's a tragedy on SO many levels. Health, economics, freedom, humanity (etc., etc., etc.).

Most of all though, it's a truly horrific tragedy for everyone who changed their lives to begin down a road that should have been paved with nothing but success. The vast majority of which didn't do it for fame or fortune, but instead to change the world for the better. They paved the way, and showed many of us how to follow. Answering all of our questions, and walking us through, one crazy device, topper, or juice at time.

I know this is just a bunch of gibberish, but I guess I just can't find words to convey how ing heartbreaking this is to watch. I also know I'm just one in a vast sea of vapers who feel the same way.

That is all.

{sigh}

I can’t imagine what you feel and I can only go based on my own experience and I’m coming up on my 3 year vapeversary 7 months before my daughter was born, I a skeptical 34 year old man (at the time) who had smoked cigarettes for 18 years of my life would accidentally quit smoking by means of a seemingly meaningless trade, A 25” flatscreen TV with a built in DVD player for a kangertech mod and top tank with a couple bottles of ejuice and a few coils and the rest writes itself! I was not a smoker anymore and overnight I became a enthusiast to a product that I thought was solely a BIG TOBACCO ploy to find a new dangerous invention to hook the smokers on. Well color me stupid for ever thinking such nonsense and now as in right now I find myself lost and depressed because it feels like I’m a 7 year old boy about to watch his best friend move away again. I can’t explain the corruption I have witnessed and I feel like the world has no idea that there are forces at work steeling freedoms every day and it’s as if no one cares but me!

 

[UncLeJunkLe]

...accidentally quit smoking by means of a seemingly meaningless trade, A 25” flatscreen TV with a built in DVD player for a kangertech mod and top tank