Smokers

[Chesterwiz]

Hi all,

Feel free to nit pick my spelling and be sure to ream me for it! J/K

Since I quit smoking and started vaping over 4 months ago I have come across smokers and I try to tell them what I am doing to quit. I am getting a bad reaction from them in the way I go about it. I was like a V4L salesman in explaining it to them and I am not getting any smokers to quit like that. I moved to the tactic of gently explaining it and not getting all excited about it like I used to.

Its like their getting offended by me quitting. I understand 100 percent why. They do not want to quit so they will find any excuse to continue.

I almost (almost) feel bad for vaping in front of them. I had one person say “if I was going to quit I would do it cold turkey.” Or “I can quit any time”.

I am not forcing them to do anything but they are giving me a weird reaction. I am to the point of not wanting to show them what I am doing to quit. I feel like I am the bad one for quitting from their reaction.

Last person I ran into asked me “is that an E ciq?” I said ya…..I have used it to quit for 4 months now…..then went on to say the little story about how you have to find the right one and the gas station ones are gimmicks. So I do not get a bad reaction I say ya now I am addicted to this…..to make it not so awkward. I say it has nicotine in it blah blah. I also said it works for some and not others (even though I am thinking how can it not work!)

So I used to be all gung ho about telling them but smokers are getting all defensive about it and making ME look like the bad one….go figure…..damn them smokers!
On the good side some have been real interested (mostly family) and ask questions about it and want to try it….

I guess you’re either really into vaping or totally against it and want to kill yourself with smokes from what I can see so far.

As I type this I wonder what I would have thought or done when I was a smoker and did not want to quit while someone showed me the PV…../ponder

I am still waiting for the day someone thinks I am smoking and does the hand waving in front of the face and/or coughing act. “hey you can’t smoke here”

So anyways that’s my story what’s yours?….any reactions good or bad from smokers or non smokers?

Ches

 

[Morandir835]

Chesterwiz sir of my friends who smoked, the only ones who switched were the ones who were trying to quit. The ones with no want to get away from analogs I didn't even take the time to explain ecigs to them. That seems to be the real driving force behind someone putting down the cig and picking up a pv.

 

[genuinefraud]

i get the same reaction. I don't bother explaining how my ecig works or what it is anymore..

 

[SnowDragon]

All you can do.....is do what you do. When and if somebody approaches you (even then most aren't serious) then share your experience. If they are still serious (as in researched some things, ask you questions) then all you have to do is just be there for them and help them get set-up.

Like Morandir noted, people have to be searching...yearning...for any alternative to smoking. I have learned to completely keep to myself about e-cigs, the less I say, the more others want to know. Even then, I only give them links so they can research it on there own. If they come back and say they have looked into it, have questions, and want to get started.....great, looks like we might have a new Vaper!

 

[Lisa66]

I have virtually no friends or family on this side of the country that smoke. However, I have several friends in California (go figure) that do. I've been out there twice this year and both times was made fun of as if I'm some sort of snob now. I really don't get this because I don't make a big production out of it, I still go outside with them, I've never complained about smoke and I certainly don't make comments about their smoking. I just join them, pull it out and vape. I suspect they might be jealous over my success at quitting.

 

[Iowa Gal]

I have had some really good experiences with family members and am so happy for those that have converted to vaping (my dad, a dear uncle, my brother and his wife) In regards to friends I have a few that are now more interested since I have been vaping since Oct of last year. There are a few that I have provided with batteries, chargers and carts that try them, but haven't converted...but the longer I stick with it, the more interested they seem to be. Generally I'm pretty quiet about it, those most dear to my heart I have given them the tools to start, but then leave it in their hands...

 

[RiaCricket]

I switched to vaping quietly. My bff tried it & switched immediately & my dh switched slowly. It took a few well-placed "eww, you stink!" remarks, but he got it. LOL When I'm out & vaping, if I'm approached, I hand out V4L cards & answer questions. In the 6 1/2 months I've been vaping, only 1 person had a negative comment & she was drunk off her ....! BTW, my bff & dh have converted numerous smokers at their jobs. Kind of like that old commercial: she'll tell 2 friends, & they'll tell 2 friends...

 

[QSSV]

Just the opposite reaction from people here. Someone always ask me about it, I always start with "I love it, it's like having your cake and eating it too. Plus, I've lost 35 pounds since I started using this little wonder". I've even gotten people that have never smoked really excited about it and a couple (non-smokers) that actually ordered a kit for themselves.

 

[katz-in-boots]

Feel free to nit pick my spelling and be sure to ream me for it! J/K

but really, too interesting to bother with spelling, grammar & syntax.

Its like their getting offended by me quitting. I understand 100 percent why. They do not want to quit so they will find any excuse to continue./FONT]/QUOTE]

I recall feeling somehow betrayed by former smoking buddies who kicked the habit. It was as if my smoking was somehow okay while others did it too I felt guilty - if they could quit....

 

[Mmc]

I have bought kits for friends, loaned batteries, chargers and enough cartos samples for friend to get a real feel for it. I've had a few friends buy kits, but nobody I know has quit smoking yet but me. I think quitting is all about timing and really wanting to quit. Wanting to quit enough to make the effort-it is a lot easier to smoke. Now that I'm 8 months away from analogs, I love the freedom of vaping. I can vape in my office (how amazing is that!), I can vape on an airplane, I can vape in a bar, I can vape anywhere. And I don't stink! To me, it is the best of both worlds.

 

[biidaaban]

edited to remove apparent "holier-than-thou approach"

 

[phishtraveler]

tip: i don't think you meant it this way....but *nobody* likes a "holier-than-thou" approach. i just tell them i loved smoking more than ANYONE on the planet.....thats why i did not want to give it up! now i am smoking vapor.
~~~~~~~~~
"I am not forcing them to do anything but they are giving me a weird reaction. I am to the point of not wanting to show them what I am doing to quit. I feel like I am the bad one for quitting from their reaction."

 

[jordonm41]

yesterday was 8 months for me and I have converted 2 people so when asked I tell my story otherwise I just vape and go on with life.

 

[ThankU4Vaping]

I was made to feel as if I betrayed my smoking BIL recently. He always needs "a ride" and the last time he made a comment about wishing I would go back to smoking. The old sucking down a cigarette really fast before getting in the car routine is not the same when the person who used to smoke with you is sitting in the car vaping away.

You really have to want it, even sub-consciously. I loved smoking, but after 35 years of it, it's time to stop gambling with life!

 

[waylonjessi4ever]

I don't talk to anyone about it unless they ask me .I will give them a card if they want it and tell them about ECF but no sales pitch .If they want to stare at me ( some do ) like im smoking a crack pipe so be it lol.

 

[phishtraveler]

my post was not in response to yours.....it was to the OP!....quoted below

edited to remove apparent "holier-than-thou approach"

 

[KeithB]

The people I run into seem to fall into three groups.

The first group is the "I don't want to quit. I'm not going to quit." I accept that and I'm not going to try to change their mind.

The second group is the "you didn't really quit" group. I politely disagree. If the seem receptive, I'll mention some of the things I'm no longer inhaling and let it drop.

The third group of people either want to quit, need to quit or just have questions. I try to inform them as best I can, recommend some good starter kits for beginners, always mention ECF, give them a few other websites to look into, and give them some business cards (Vendors take note). I try not to overwhelm them with too much info (I could probably go on for hours just about batteries) but let them know what they want to know and make sure they know there's plenty of info out there for them. Also, I always try to let them know they can go to the local convenience stores and get roughly the same kit for $20 that the local mall sells for $150 if they want to try it, but it's not very good IMHO.

 

[LauraBolyard]

I have taken THIS approach when smokers turn their lip up at the thought of an ecig, " For me, it wasnt a question of cigarette OR E-cig (because I KNOW the answer to that one), it was a question of e-cig or nothing!! Two completely different comparisons!!

 

[Mmc]

Good point!