Shy/Embarassed?

[werkkrew]

Personally, I feel a little bit shy about vaping. The few people I have shared it with basically label me as someone who didn't actually quit smoking, or they just think its strange.

I'm a relatively private person - I don't share most of my hobbies with my co-workers in fear of being labelled in some particular way, vaping is no exception. Even my dad who has ben a smoker for 40+ years sees it as silly and compared it to methodone for ...... addicts - a slightly less bad addiction, but an addiction nonetheless.

How can we increase awareness to make vaping more acceptable and/or how do you describe it to the clueless people around you?

 

[studio52]

Just vape, and be happy your not using analogs any longer, we know that this is amazing, and much better financially and health wise too. You wont convert everyone, best to let them ask you about it when they see you vaping..give them a few highlights and shut up. Dont over sell vaping. Its something they will have to want to do..you wont convince very many the first time you talk to them...but 6 months down the road when they see your still vaping and have not returned to analogs they may just show a greater interest.

 

[MrSheen]

Vaping in public doesnt bother me at all...and I wish that more of the people, many smokers, who look at me, some with interest, some with that "Whos that weirdo?" look, would come up to me and ask me, I'd be more than happy to "enlighten" them....but, people are strange!....or maybe I frighten them!! Mwahahah!!

 

[nansc]

Try to make a joke about it.I hear you... I'm a private person too.If I was still working I would be vaping in my car.

 

[throatkick]

...... to the clueless people around you?

Assuming we place the emphasis on the word CLUELESS, I think you answered your own question beautifully. They are clueless. Why should you care?

The more you feel weird or insecure, the more brazen they will get. You need to look and feel very proud and confident that you have transitioned to vaping.

 

[jtpjc]

Ask them if they would rather see you smoke. That should make THEM feel shy and embarassed.

 

[werkkrew]

Even though cigarettes are awful for you, they are still socially accepted and understood. Seeing someone sucking on some sort of electronic gizmo seems strange to most people. Its not so much that I care what they think, more that I try to avoid bringing attention to myself pretty much all the time. That being said, if a bar is already smoke friendly, I will vape there care free.

On the other hand, if I vape in front of a friend or family member who I had previously told I quit smoking, their usual first remark is something like "I thought you quit smoking", and even after I explain it, they still hold the opinion that I have failed at my effort to quit - which I would rather avoid. As such, I find my vaping to be a mostly private activity because I do care about what my friends and family thinks, even if they are somewhat ignorant.

 

[Dana A]

My step dad told my mom that he bets I will spend a bunch on this and go back to smoking. Sorry sucker but thats NEVER gonna happen. I love vaping even more than I ever did smoking. My best friend bought a starter kit the same day as me and said she thought it bothered her asma. I know I misspelled asma but u know what I mean. People who love smoking can't ever imagine that anything could replace their beloved cigs. Showing interest in vaping may make them feel obligated to try it and they feel threatened by anything that suggests they quit. I know because I was that person. I remember saying that I would never try chantix because it gives people nightmares. I didn't want to quit so of course I would never try chantix. Just because you are now dependant on vaping does NOT mean that u didn't quit smoking. If you hide out to vape that's ok and its ok if you don't. The most important thing is that your not smoking! Give yourself a pat on the back for being open minded.

 

[otrpu]

If I were you I'd tell your step dad you'll take that bet for a hunnert bucks. With a hunnert bucks I can buy nuff eLiquid to last a couple years. JMHO

Cheers,
otrpu

 

[Lacedolphin]

Can you imagine what the first few people with laptops felt?? Pretty much the same thing.

I just ignore most people until they ask. Some think it's "strange" but I just chuckle to myself and think "good luck with cancer". I've had kidney cancer so I know the risks first hand unfortunately. I was diagnosed at 35, I am now 38 and cancer free as far as I know right now.

Not only does vaping help with my breathing, but I'd like to keep what kidneys I have left, so I WILL vape my face off alone or in a crowd.

 

[Nosha]

The funny thing about some people is that they tell me hey that's not safe for you its unhealthy as there smoking a cigarette, I just tell them its a lot better for me than what your doing right now. Because when I smoked cigarettes I could hardly breath and had very bad chest pains. Now that I have been vaping for the last 6 months all that has disappeared . So don't be afraid of what others think because if they don't get it then that's there problem.

 

[werkkrew]

If a smoker ridiculed me about it I wouldn't care. It's more the friends/family who I have told I quit smoking I worried about.

 

[Nosha]

Well I wouldn't worry to much about it , It will be up to you when and if your ready to let them know . Just keep up with what your doing because it is way better than going back to those cigarettes

 

[ianlm]

barring bad luck, in a few years people will probably look at analog smokers the same way. vape proud! it's one of the best decisions i've ever made, and you will feel the same shortly if you don't already

 

[ctourtelot]

My take on worrying what people think....

Statistically, 10 people will cry at your funeral.

Other acquaintances will attend or not based on the weather.

So.. If you wouldn't even come to my funeral, let alone be sad that I'm gone, then your opinion means precisely S*** to me.


I'm pretty inconspicuous about my vaping when inside public places that are no smoking. I don't necessarily hide it, but I don't blow out huge plumes of vapor either. I get strange looks and questions...even some "fake coughs" when I'm not containing the vapor if I'm outside, but I just don't really care what anyone thinks.

Maybe I'm just getting old lol.

 

[zoiDman]

If a smoker ridiculed me about it I wouldn't care. It's more the friends/family who I have told I quit smoking I worried about.

Sometimes I find the less Words or the Less you talk about something it is better. I would just tell your Friends that you are doing it to "Save Money".

If they want to ask question, just say "it's ok, but I'm Saving a Lot of Money".

I think that after a Very Short time, they will just stop asking questions or Looking at you any dfferently.

 

[VapApe]

Let me say this about opinions.
Opinions are like back sides every one has one.
If some one as a problem with your vaping, Then that's there problem.

My self, I am a cranky old F who doesn't suffer fools gladly

 

[Shortstuff116]

Just ignore the ignorant. Personally, I vape anywhere and everywhere I want to either openly or stealthily. I don't advertise it where I shouldn't but I don't hide it elsewhere. I don't concern myself with what other people may think because I know how much better it is for me, how much I enjoy vaping and the fact that I saved more than $10,000.00 in the first 2 years off analogs makes me happy - and that is all that matters to me.

 

[Baldr]

If a smoker ridiculed me about it I wouldn't care. It's more the friends/family who I have told I quit smoking I worried about.

Those friends and family that you care about, well, if you don't educate them about vaping, who will?

At the very least, I'd tell them "It's healthier, I'm saving money, and I don't stink like a smoker anymore. I'm very happy that I quit smoking."

So.. If you wouldn't even come to my funeral, let alone be sad that I'm gone, then your opinion means precisely S*** to me.

I skip a lot of funerals for people I care about. It doesn't mean I'm not sad, but they are dead whether I go to the funeral or not. Me going doesn't help them in any way. When I do go to funerals, I go because of the friends or family that will be there.

So far, at least, I've never cried at a funeral. That's in public. I'll save it until I get home. It's not because I don't care, it's because that's a private thing.

 

[werkkrew]

At the very least, I'd tell them "It's healthier, I'm saving money, and I don't stink like a smoker anymore. I'm very happy that I quit smoking."

That's a pretty good way to look at it.