Rant about some members of the e-cig community

[Dissonance]

Been using these forums for a while (Lurked for months before I made an account) and seen a lot of discrimination about people that switched to vaping from using hookah. Hell, even my first post on this site (looking for recommendations on gear) I was getting replies like "hookah isn't addictive, just quit" or "if you didn't smoke cigs then why start vaping". Let's clear some things out real quick...

First off, a hookah smoker (Using unwashed tobaccos like tangiers or nakhla) takes in more nicotine than your heavy cigarette smoker. Nicotine obviously is the addictive substance that vapes were designed to deliver. Just because we got it by boiling our tobacco rather than lighting it on fire does not mean that we didn't become addicted. Hookah is just as addicting as any other form of tobacco consumption. It's even more popular in some cultures than smoking cigarettes.

Second off, vaping is more similar to a hookah session than it is to smoking a cigarette. A lot of shisha tobaccos use vegetable glycerin. It helps make bigger clouds, keeps the tobacco wet so it doesn't cherry, and probably helps keep the flavoring evenly distributed. Not to mention a lot of people smoke flavored tobaccos from hookah, where as cigarettes just taste like cigarettes... Sure, you can get different kinds of tobacco and maybe some other stuff added (like clove) but you're never gonna run across a cigarette that tastes like a spiced chai tea or a white gummy bear (Two Fumari shisha flavors). Therefor, a lot of hookah smokers are switching over since they can get an almost identical experience that's theoretically much healthier for them. If nothing else, we don't have to worry about that drunk friend knocking over our vape and flinging hot coals onto the floor.

And lastly, even if people start vaping that don't have any sort of nicotine addiction... Just look at it like this... Hookah bars are becoming pretty popular (At least, around where I live) simply because you can inhale good tasting smoke that doesn't make you choke. If someone wants to pick up a vape with some 0 nic juice rather than go to a hookah bar and smoke tobacco, you should be encouraging them. There's nothing addicting about it and they could stop any day with absolutely no problem.

That's my little rant, aimed at all the narrow minded "e-cig" users out there that think in order to be a "real vaper" you need to have lit some tobacco on fire and inhaled it. Just wanted to throw this out there so maybe some of those people will open their minds and realize that just because they got addicted to nicotine through cigarettes it's not the only way.

 

[wv2win]

I have no experience with hookah but I appreciate your explaining the similarities to vaping and why you would be interested in vaping. There are many on here who are not so judgemental about why or how others vape. But unfortunately it is becoming more prevalent that some ECF members like to tell others how they should vape, etc.

 

[minimalsaint]

I have no experience with hookah but I appreciate your explaining the similarities to vaping and why you would be interested in vaping. There are many on here who are not so judgemental about why or how others vape. But unfortunately it is becoming more prevalent that some ECF members like to tell others how they should vape, etc.

I notice a lot of new members who are very zealous and misdirected regarding vaping, especially telling others their business.

To the OP:
Pay them no mind. Who cares. However, expect that when you post something on a public forum that there will be supporters and opponents to anything you say. All that matters is that you take away what is valuable and leave the trash at the curb.

 

[Zealous]

Hm, I have never been to a hookah bar or used one. This is interesting information so thanks for sharing.

 

[crxess]

I could care less who Vapes - as long as they are of legal age.

I do wish people would stop trying to make a distinction that these devices are portable Hooka's. They are not, no matter how you got here.
People also Vape to aid in Diet control. Still wondering if they have a clue what the FDA is trying to do.

 

[Baditude]

I had never been to a hookah bar until my college-age son & daughter treated me to a session last summer on Father's Day. They would frequent a hookah bar like a social gathering with their friends, like other adults go to a watering hole to socialize with friends. I was rather amused at how much smoking hookah was very similar to vaping.

The vaporizers which we use for e-cigarettes could have many uses besides being an alternative to smoking cigarettes. Until the FDA determines just "what" our devices really are, who am I to say what an adult does with them?

 

[Recycled Roadkill]

There's a hookah bar that I've driven by many times when I was going to a vape store that's out of business. The windows are painted black and though I've attempted to looking inside I see nothing. I imagine they smell strongly of stinking tobacco but since I have no desire to go inside, I'll never know.

Prior to the vape store going under, the owners had told me the hookah bar owner had told them that they were about to go under too.

 

[FinchX]

I just mentioned in another thread about a dead end job I had briefly that allowed the customers to smoke inside -cringe-

It was a porn/head shop, where we obviously sold porno and toys to go with it, but we also sold a lot of extremely nice ....s and hookahs. Believe it or not people, we did have plenty of people who purchased ....s for TOBACCO.

Regardless, I got my hookah education there. I, personally, never saw anything wrong with using a hookah. You are very correct in that its addictive, and I could be completely wrong by saying this, but a hookah, I would think, has to be better for you than torching up a cigarette. Even if it's not, the smell is infinitely more tolerable than the smell of cigarettes.

That being said, I can't fathom how or why anyone with an IQ higher than Forest Gump's would jump down your throat because you moved on to vaping from a using a hookah rather than being a cigarette smoker. You're an adult and it's your right to do as you wish, it doesn't concern them nor is it any of their business actually.

The only thing I can imagine is some 18 year old hipster who spends the rest of the time starting arguments while playing online video games like world of Warcraft, sitting there puffing on a Blu ecig (no offense towards blu users.. Whatever keeps you off the real thing, more power to you.. I'm just trying to paint a picture of a stereotype I have in mind) while wearing one of those trendy knit hats INDOORS despite having central heating in their house... </end rant> apologies to anyone I might have accidentally included in there who would never give someone a hard time because they weren't a cigarette smoker prior to vaping... lol

 

[FinchX]

Afterthought ... This is the same type of hipster who goes to the local vape shop, buys the cheapest set up there is, all so they can go sit aimlessly in a shopping mall puffing away just because, "they can." ... (While wearing a trendy knit hat indoors...LOL)

 

[Dissonance]

FinchX, about hookahs being healthier than cigs... I believe they are, but there are a lot of tests that say things both ways. One of the major flaws I find in most of the tests is they don't announce their testing conditions. A hookah prepared correctly doesn't cherry like a cigarette, but rather cooks the tobacco so by the end it looks like a turkey that's been in the oven too long. Hard, crusty, but no ashes. If they incorrectly packed the bowl, or kept constant airflow through the hookah (Like they do in cig tests, hook it up to a vacuum til it's done... This would cause the coals to maintain a higher-than-normal temperature) then there would be cherries popping up and releasing the nasty chemicals you get from actually incinerating tobacco. That being said, there's no question that a hookah session is significantly longer (1-8 hours, my personal record was 6... Versus a 5-10 minute cigarette) resulting in a much higher volume of smoke being inhaled, as well as the coals releasing carbon monoxide (natural coconut coals release less, quicklights significantly more). It's something that's been debated for a while... I can say, however, that when I switched from hookah to vaping I didn't get the life-changing results a lot of people report. I never really had problems with shortness of breath or anything of that nature while smoking hookah... So take that for what it's worth.

But it doesn't really matter, switched to vaping and honestly I'm getting a better experience. The flavor is much more intense, don't gotta worry about keeping lit coals just in the right place, no more burns in my carpet, and I can dry burn and re-wick my dripper in significantly less time than it takes me to clean my hookah and light up coals. Not to mention I went from spending ~$100 in shisha/coals a month to ~$20 a month in DIY juice + RBA supplies, and I can actually take my vape with me when I go places versus having to wait til I was home to sit down and enjoy a hookah.

But yeah, I get what y'all are saying about just ignore them... But seeing a thread recently where a guy was getting questioned after mentioning he switched from hookah just irks me. Kinda hoping some of those people see this thread and understand why some people are switching to vapes that have never smoked a cigarette before. I know the people this rant is about is a very small percentage of the community, but if someone not already set on switching were to meet the same reaction I did with my first post... They'd probably keep smoking hookah thinking e-cigs must be just for cigarette smokers and have qualities to them only ex-cig smokers would enjoy.

Afterthought ... This is the same type of hipster who goes to the local vape shop, buys the cheapest set up there is, all so they can go sit aimlessly in a shopping mall puffing away just because, "they can." ... (While wearing a trendy knit hat indoors...LOL)

Sadly I know a few people like that (Well, not know personally, but I was the one who sold them the cheapest setup they could get xD Oh the joys of working at a vape shop then running into customers later...)

 

[NealBJr]

I've converted two Hookah users to vaping. One person wanted a zero nic solution and was quite adamant about that. I think huge clouds are needed to convert a hookah user, so I always go to at LEAST an ego twist for starters.

and for those who want a true E-hookah, I show them this:

 

[NealBJr]

Afterthought ... This is the same type of hipster who goes to the local vape shop, buys the cheapest set up there is, all so they can go sit aimlessly in a shopping mall puffing away just because, "they can." ... (While wearing a trendy knit hat indoors...LOL)

We should outlaw those trendy knit hats.....

Best way to end a "hipster trend" is to have us adults start using it. let's all wear trendy knit hats.

 

[Dissonance]

I've converted two Hookah users to vaping. One person wanted a zero nic solution and was quite adamant about that. I think huge clouds are needed to convert a hookah user, so I always go to at LEAST an ego twist for starters.

and for those who want a true E-hookah, I show them this:

Nice I haven't seen those before, I saw where Starbuzz released a vape that looked like a hookah hose and sold carts with their flavorings

But yeah, you're definitely right about the clouds. I picked up one of those cheap blister kits that have the 1100mah battery and a CE5 when I started just to have something I could take on the go. Still smoked my hookah while I had it... Switched to an MVP + Vamo (I got both, couldn't decide) and a PT3 and just stopped smoking hookah since vaping was more convenient, but still wasn't fully satisfying... When I switched to mech mods and RBA's is when I was truly converted. When you set up a hookah, you can tell a lot about the performance from the clouds it makes. If you're getting thin clouds, you generally either packed the bowl wrong, did something wrong with your coals, or are using bad shisha. Switching to e-cigs, that "thin cloud" mentally kinda sticks around subconsciously... So when you blow that thin cloud of vapor out from your basic starter kit, it just automatically clicks that it's no good. Another thing you might wanna keep in mind when converting your hookah-smoking friends is to set them up with a tank that has good airflow. Going from a hookah to something like the CE5 or even a protank feels like you're trying to suck a bowling ball through a coffee straw.

 

[DetraMental]

You are the first person who has taken the time to shed any light on what it's like to smoke a hookah. I now have a clue, thank you! I had heard lot's of talk about it but never really understood it. I'm glad you have found ecigs/pv's/apv's to help you make the switch and find it to be healthier. Keep us posted on how you're doing and your experiences they are most interesting! Vape on!!

 

[Burn_notice_fan_NY]

I've done hookah sessions when I was in college and in other countries. My thought about the rant: I agree that whatever keeps you off/from doing combustible tobacco.... All the more power to you if you are of legal age. With that said my experiences with hookah and that I know of my friends is that once a session is over, you don't start again. It's like going to coffee with friends (even if they owned one) very rarely did anyone do it more than twice a week. With this said, I think some people that antagonized the use of ecigs for hookah exclusive users is do primarily to the fact that use of it tends to be rather limited... Almost along the lines of smoking one cigar per week. The use, in my experience, is almost pure social and not really focused on nicotine feeding addiction. For this reason, if one can go more than two weeks without the agony of nic-fitting, then why pick up a nicotine delivery device.
However, as I said before, if it keeps you off smoking, hookah or cigarettes or even cigars, then more power to you.

 

[FinchX]

Burn Notice, I know the type of people you're referring to in the hookah communities. For them it's a relaxing social gathering.

I believe the op is a more frequent user who truly enjoys the experience of using a hookah, regardless of who might or might not be around to talk to.

I could be completely wrong but I interpreted that from the way dissonance talks about hookah usage. I wouldn't imagine a casual hookah bar goer would have the knowledge about using one that Diss has explained in detail.

By all means I could be completely wrong, so I mean no offense with any of that.

 

[Dissonance]

I've done hookah sessions when I was in college and in other countries. My thought about the rant: I agree that whatever keeps you off/from doing combustible tobacco.... All the more power to you if you are of legal age. With that said my experiences with hookah and that I know of my friends is that once a session is over, you don't start again. It's like going to coffee with friends (even if they owned one) very rarely did anyone do it more than twice a week. With this said, I think some people that antagonized the use of ecigs for hookah exclusive users is do primarily to the fact that use of it tends to be rather limited... Almost along the lines of smoking one cigar per week. The use, in my experience, is almost pure social and not really focused on nicotine feeding addiction. For this reason, if one can go more than two weeks without the agony of nic-fitting, then why pick up a nicotine delivery device.
However, as I said before, if it keeps you off smoking, hookah or cigarettes or even cigars, then more power to you.

I see where you're coming from, but for a lot of people it's not just a "once in a while" thing. When I smoked hookah, it'd be at least 2 bowls a day... One when I woke up (I got some caffeinated shisha that was amazing when just waking up, one thing I really do miss), and one when I got home. The higher-end tobaccos with non-traditional bowls can last 1-8 hours, so even if I only loaded 2 bowls a day I'd spend 3-10 hours smoking. Granted, I have friends that would come over from time to time just to chill and smoke a hookah with me that didn't smoke in their own home, but I also have friends that smoke more than I did. Originally it just started at a hookah bar with me, I liked how it tasted so I got one. Then it kinda became a habit after work; get home, light up a hookah, and just relax. I'm sure you can see how this can turn into more than just a social thing.

Burn Notice, I know the type of people you're referring to in the hookah communities. For them it's a relaxing social gathering.

I believe the op is a more frequent user who truly enjoys the experience of using a hookah, regardless of who might or might not be around to talk to.

I could be completely wrong but I interpreted that from the way dissonance talks about hookah usage. I wouldn't imagine a casual hookah bar goer would have the knowledge about using one that Diss has explained in detail.

By all means I could be completely wrong, so I mean no offense with any of that.

Dead on

 

[CKCalmer]

I have no experience with hookah but I appreciate your explaining the similarities to vaping and why you would be interested in vaping. There are many on here who are not so judgemental about why or how others vape. But unfortunately it is becoming more prevalent that some ECF members like to tell others how they should vape, etc.

This is exactly what I would have written after reading the OP.

 

[rzil]

I had some hookah sessions with friends every once in a while , it's less addictive than tobacco cigs but I don't think it can be a good replacement to tobacco cigs , it's still Tobacco burning and shouldn't become a daily habbit.

Having said that , I have to admit that it's not something that I'll try best to avoid , because like drinking scotch , i have never done it alone so I'm less concerned getting addicted to hookah

 

[NealBJr]

Come to think of it, I think I remember him saying that Ecigs were not like a hookah when he tried it. He did get a Vamo, but I believe he bought clearomizers, which wouldn't put out enough vapor for him. I'm tempted to do a super-build kayfun and let him borrow it. I might even get some 0mg juice next time I order from Mt. Baker Vapor (I vape 6mg). Under your recommendation, should I try a 30/70 pg/vg mix to deaden the throat hit? I buy some straight E-juice flavors, but they're way to strong to vape solo, so I'd have to get some juice. The guy was so adamant about not even TRYING my ecig because it had nicotine in it.

So, let him borrow a drilled out kayfun airhole, cotton wick, 1.8 ohm coil using 32gauge wire might put out enough vapor if vaped at 15w. Other option is an AGA0T2 with silica...but I use that occasionally. I rarely use kayfuns, and I have two.