Substitute or Alternative?

[EasyDraw]

I have been vaping for 4 whole days now, so I consider myself an expert on the topic.
Just curious: Do you approach vaping as an alternative to smoking, or is it a substitute to smoking? I know that sounds like a redundant question, but it is not.
Do you hold your PV like you (used to) hold your cigarettes, and that's very important to you? Do you only get batteries with orange LEDs? Does the appearance of your PV have to look, at least generally, like a cigarette? Do you NEED the throat hit and voluminous vapors to feel satisfied? By the way, nothing wrong with ANY of that.
Or do you not care how you hold your PV, don't care if it even resembles an analog, and as long as you get some vapor and some taste, feel like you are getting your nicotine?
As far as my personal experience (4 days worth, lol) goes, I kinda struggled at first with trying to MAKE my PV a cigarette. From the tobacco taste of the juice to the way I held it and the amount of vapor I was seeing. I am starting to settle down with it and have realized that I am not smoking an analog, and that this is an alternative way to get my nicotine. I don't hit it as often as I did an anolog -- I don't have to because it never "burns down". I tend to hold it like I imagine people hold hookah mouthpieces: 4 fingers on top and the thumb underneath, with it pointing downward. If I get a throat hit with little vapor, fine. If I get a lot of vapor and minimal throat hit, fine. And, although I like the "tobacco" taste, I'm also finding different flavors are now appealing to me. (Cherry and Banana are pretty good, gonna get RY4 in a couple of days).

I am just curious as to how others approach the habit/hobby? Are you hardcore "trying to copy my habits of smoking but vaping instead"? Are you "just getting my fix of nicotine in a cleaner way, no matter how"? Or are you somewhere in between?

Bob the newb

 

[mischiefgrrl]

At first when I had the Blu I was holding it like a cig and I liked the fact that it looked and mostly felt like an analog. Then I discovered a better hit by taking a slow draw and covering up the holes where the battery and atomizer meet. I was holding it like another rolled thing that you would smoke (not gonna say what specifically )

To get converted to e-cigs I think most of us think it's important that it look and feel like an analog. Then once we get the hang of it, we can move onto other things. I ordered a 510 about a week after starting with Blu. I started with a basic black model with the red LED. Then ordered a shiny blue one with red LED and then a black with purple LED.

I also thought I would only want tobacco flavored juice. When I ordered the Blu and got the variety pack I didn't think I would like the flavors except for maybe cherry and vanilla because on occasion I had smoked those fancy cigarettes. Wrong again. I have no desire for tobacco flavored juice and absolutely love Vanilla, Mocha, Caramel, etc. Though I really think RY4 is my favorite so far and I guess that has a little tobacco flavor. I also don't care for menthol like I thought I would, but I like the mint that tastes like peppermint. I never thought I would want to "smoke" sweet stuff as I'm not that much of a sweet tooth.

At first it was a substitute to get off of the analogs. I needed not only the nicotine but that physical movement habit as well. I don't find myself having serious "nic fits" as I did when smoking analogs but admit it is like my pacifier. When I get off of work I vape pretty much non-stop until I go to bed. It's much better than chain smoking because it actually makes me smile when I exhale that vapor.

I hope that it is not a lifetime habit just in case these things get banned. I think I could give it up though and not go back to analogs if that happened. When I'm at a movie or get out of a restaurant I don't think of vaping at all like I did smoking. At this point it is something that makes me happy rather than something that controls me. I own an e-cig, it doesn't own me.

 

[TrashbagJesus]

I bought my first e-cig, a RN4081 by Smoking Everywhere unfortunately, because a few of my friends talked me into it. The one thing I always heard the most from.. everyone really was; 'You smoke too much.' Unfortunately, I did smoke too much. I smoked for 11 years, at least a pack and a half a day or more and I'm only 25. Two packs a day was quickly becoming my standard and that was even increasing. I was usually on my second or third cigarette, burned down to the filters, by the time my friends had finished their first.

When I bought the RN4081, I had no idea what I was getting into. I didn't really think twice about it helping to quit cigarettes. I know I was ready to quit but, I really enjoyed smoking and I always have. For me, smoking was something to do.. a way to pass the time, a reason to take a break, a method of slowing down, sitting down and relaxing.

I was attracted the the RN4081 because it resembled a cigarette; it light up red at the tip, was white with a tan 'filter' and produced 'smoke'. Too bad I had such a hard time starting on that particular unit, it almost made me give up on e-cigs. I wanted it to be as close to smoking a real cigarette as possible and at first it was merely a side attraction to analogs. I held it like a cigarette and 'smoked' it like one too. I picked up some JC Original Tobacco when my pre-filled tobacco flavored carts ran out. I was still smoking analogs though.

When I finally learned how to use the Super Mini properly and was getting decent performance from it, I found myself smoking less cigarettes. I picked up a Joye 510, that's when I quit analogs. It's been close to a month with out cigarettes for me. I still need the feel of an analog though. I need to have a good amount of vapor and a good throat hit. I use tobacco and menthol juices. I'm not really into flavors like cherry or cola, etc. I've never liked flavored cigarettes of any kind except for a short stint smoking those promotional Camel Izmir Stingers in high school. That's not to say my tastes won't change later on.

Even though I don't smoke analogs anymore, I'll still go outside or into the garage to vape sometimes. At this point, e-cigs have become an alternative to cigarettes for me. I don't really care what the thing looks like now, my 510 is balck with manual batteries and different color LEDs; blue and green. I'm even thinking about getting a Screwdriver. I vape constantly and may, sometime in the future, try to wean myself off nicotine. In the meantime I have a good thing going here. I'm not smoking analogs anymore, I feel healthier and that's all I really care about at the moment.

 

[AshHole]

Neat thread idea! Almost Zen-like philosophy involved in this analysis - and everyone is really going to hate me for this post! I will agree with Mischiefgrrl on of her points though. But, my view on the transition though involves another factor.

I bought mine as a suppliment to smoking - so I dont know where that falls
After reading this you are going to think I am some sort of "Monk-like-OCD-twisted freak". I really am not.. honest. I am not making fun of the question either; I have honestly thought about this and I cant figure out what it is! (other than a miracle that got me away from analogs).

Honestly I had hoped for a substitute. I knew a manual battery would not be a substitute, nor would my 510 look like an analog... but I tried one anyway for fear of being beaten senseless by the 510 crowds here if I got a "lookalike".

Smoking to me was very "ritualistic" Tapping the pack, opening it, getting a cig, packing it, lighting up (zippo only), and taking that first drag. I wouldnt even take an analog that my wife lit, it ruined my "experience".

The minute I had my first battery charged, filled my first cart and vaped - I was totally confused. I loved the taste, the vapor was neat, yadda yadda yadda, but my "comforting familiar ritual" was gone. Soon after that vaping became an "alternative" and I almost gave up! I liked the "old way".

I kept pushing myself to use my "investment", and even almost burnt my battery once - by accidentally lighting it with my lighter.

But almost accidentally it became my nicotine delivery system of choice, and cleaning, prepping, mixing, charging is my ritual now. I reach for it when I am stressed. I vape like mad when I am pi**ed at my boss. So is it a "substitute"?

I dont try to hold it, treat it, keep it or inhale it like analogs. Only satisfaction is important - whatever flavor. I do like the vapor but it isnt #1. So is it an "alternatve"?

Its my substitute alternative.... or is it my alternative substitute?

 

[Nestran]

Like most probably, I started out wanting it to mimic the analog but it only took a week to get its own groove.

I hold it from the end, kinda like the hooka style you describe. I do need throat hit and good vapor.

I have all black parts and green, blue, purple leds so I never cared that it looked like an analog.

I have very specific taste preferences now and they have nothing to do with tobacco flavor although I do gravitate towards the tobacco named ones. This is mainly because of the smooth, mellow, flavors as compared to the fruity ones. I prefer dryer wines and darker beers and my vapor taste seems to follow that.

Nestran

 

[IMetalGearVaporXI~]

I had not had an analog since 2006 cause I moved in with my gf and she got tired of smelling those on me. I saw a blu ad and watched a video and decided to try since it did not smell and is healthier.

Did not get a blu though went with a cheap one called health e cig off amazon it was to hard to draw on and the charger shorted out , that one looked like an analog so I tried puffing it like one. Now I had a 510 a couple days after researching on this site more I am getting the hang of things and I should get my first flavored juices in the mail tomorrow I got to have a vice these days so I am not going to quit for awhile.

I am still searching for stronger hits , need higher mg juice , higher voltage via a passthrough, and PTB's to improve these carts. I don't think I will ever mess with analogs again if I did not find e-cig's I might have went back to em though to calm nerves.

Sometimes I puff to produce mad vapor, most times I am casually puffing now and then but even when casual I like a heavy vapor cloud. Did not think I would be interested in trying flavors since I was not really into menthol analogs but after reading good things about various flavored juices I am looking forward to trying different flavors and maybe some mixing. I am still not sure what feels comfortable when holding the 510 it's awkward feels to small for my hand with where the manual switch is.