The Wonderful World of Vaping: COMMENTS

[DonDaBoomVape]

Yesterday, in the New Members' Forum, I posted the first installment of a six-part series, The Wonderful World of Vaping: An Illustrated Guide to E-cigs. Within hours, I received the ultimate ECF compliment: the moderators made it a Sticky. [There should be an emoticon for a swelled head.]


I mention it here for two reasons:

• Although obviously quite relevant for newbies, I think there's a lot of information (and pictures and links) of interest to more experienced vapers as well. [For example, the preparation of that guide exposed me to categories of PVs, suppliers, ECF sub-forums, instructional & review videos, and facts outside my previously narrow focus.]

• At least until I complete and post the remaining installments, the moderators have closed that thread to comments. They want to keep all six parts grouped together at the top of the thread. Makes sense, but it cuts off discussion, which I welcome.

This is the thread for posting your replies. I invite your comments, corrections, suggestions, or even random stream-of-consciousness thoughts. Although positive feedback is always nice, constructive feedback also is welcome.

I only request that you keep to a minimum.

I look forward to your replies!

 

[Richie G]

• At least until I complete and post the remaining installments, the moderators have closed that thread to comments. They want to keep all six parts grouped together at the top of the thread. Makes sense, but it cuts off discussion, which I welcome.

This is the thread for posting your replies. I invite your comments, corrections, suggestions, or even random stream-of-consciousness thoughts. Although positive feedback is always nice, constructive feedback also is welcome.

I only request that you keep to a minimum.

I look forward to your replies!

A terrific all-encompassing idea, Don. Thanks for sharing.

A 6 parter, eh? That would explain why we haven't seen many posts from you lately. <g> And to think, I remember your first few posts (under a different Don-like moniker) where your wife was having a bad reaction to your (PG) vaping and banned (oops, bad ECF word) you to the patio. Glad to see you got that straightened out -- tell me, how is she getting along at the hotel? <giggle>

It's nice to see that we share many of the same opinions and have drawn similar conclusions on all things e-cig related. Your prose in that first part is telling (to me, anyway) where this is all going. 'Tis a valiant effort, Sir. I'm looking forward to the rest of it. It's always comforting to know that my time and research hasn't been wasted if somebody/anybody agrees with me just a little. <g>

From the Table of Contents, I can't tell if you're going to go into the FDA thing, the ban of e-cigs in Wisconsin, the ban of e-cigs in Suffolk county (here in NY), et al. I hope you do because it's integral to the whole e-cig/PV movement.

I've turned a few people onto vaping. Most of whom aren't willing to do scads of research like some of us actually enjoy. Perhaps, your essay (bordering on tome <dig> <nudge>) will be what is needed to persuade them from the dark side. How cool would that be? Getting lots of people off analogs?

I'm looking forward to more on this. (isn't that just like a vaper? we ALWAYS want more!)

 

[Jim Davis]

I found this to be one of the best informational documents yet. It's actually fun to read, and I'm looking forward to the rest of the parts. I get dozens of PM's asking for help, and I can assure you that the link to this guide will be on my return PM's.

In fact, when the series is complete, I think I'll put the link in my sig too.

Outstanding

jd

 

[DonDaBoomVape]

Thank you, Richie, for your kind words ... and for remembering me from my DonBoldUser days.

My wife and I found that she wasn't reacting to PG vapor, but to the smell of some of the more intense flavors (e.g., mint). Neither of us have had to move out to a hotel . I just do most of my vaping on the patio. [BTW, I think the word you were reaching for was 'banished' not 'banned.']

I will not be getting into "FDA stuff" in my opus. The moderators and I discussed it and agreed that it's too sensitive an issue right now. The News, Campaigning, and Law forums deal with it quite thoroughly.

Thanks again!

As for you, Jim, I've already expressed my deep appreciation in all those PMs we've been exchanging during the past 24 hours (orchestrating the best way to "publish" my miniseries).

 

[Ez Duzit]

Very nice Don. I wish everything would have been all together when I was trying to find info about PV's, prior to my first purchase. But noooo. I had to spend hours and hours jumping all around this forum to get my info.

Anyway, love the writing style. Very informative, but easy to read.
Just finished with pt 2. Again, well done, but the links for the pictures aren't working.

Keep it up Don. You are making it easier for the next potential PV user, looking for information before they take the plunge.

Ez

 

[DonDaBoomVape]

Very nice Don. I wish everything would have been all together when I was trying to find info about PV's, prior to my first purchase. But noooo. I had to spend hours and hours jumping all around this forum to get my info.

Anyway, love the writing style. Very informative, but easy to read.
Just finished with pt 2. Again, well done, but the links for the pictures aren't working.

Keep it up Don. You are making it easier for the next potential PV user, looking for information before they take the plunge.

Ez

Thank you, Ez, for your kind words (and for appreciating my silly sense of humor)!

As for those picture links, I *assume* that you are referring to those four "INSERT IMAGE:" notes toward the end of Part 2. Those are just notes for the Moderator who is helping me exceed the normal 15 picture per post maximum. That should be taken care of soon.

I will now go look at that post to see if my assumption is correct. [With my Blackberry, I can't have two windows or tabs open simutaneously.]

UPDATE: Yeah, those first 15 pictures display just fine (at least on my computer). If you copied and pasted the URLs specified in the notes for the last 4, that may not have worked, since I'm keeping all of these pictures in a private* folder in my ECF album.

* Unlike photos of family and friends, such photos would be meaningless out of context.

 

[TheLizinator]

Well, your presentation is great and (maybe I have a warped sense of humor) the YouTube video of the guy in shower was about the funniest thing I've seen in a long time. Hahaha who da heck is that? Are you sure that's nic liquid in his atty? ROFL

Thanks for all your good work!

Liz in Indy

 

[jamie]

I've loaded the thread in two browsers. I get the youtube video but no photos.

The person who posted the thread would have to clear their cache to avoid having the photos reloaded off their own computer. That said, it might just be my issue.

 

[DonDaBoomVape]

Well, your presentation is great and (maybe I have a warped sense of humor) the YouTube video of the guy in shower was about the funniest thing I've seen in a long time. Hahaha who da heck is that? Are you sure that's nic liquid in his atty? ROFL

Thanks for all your good work!

Liz in Indy

Thanks, Liz, for your praise! Yeah, isn't that video hilarious! You could make the case that all the verbiage in my post prior to it was just a setup for the video - the punch line to a long shaggy dog story.

IM(not so H)O, one would be warped if s/he did not roll on the floor with laughter at that one.

I just stumbled on it as I was surfing for factual information and photos to use. Serendipity! I have no idea who he is or what he is vaping.

I've loaded the thread in two browsers. I get the youtube video but no photos.

The person who posted the thread would have to clear their cache to avoid having the photos reloaded off their own computer. That said, it might just be my issue.

Jamie, I'm sorry you're having problems viewing the photos. I just looked at it using my FireFox browser, which I don't use that much (and hadn't used for that thread), and have no problem. With the possible exception of Ez Duzit, no one else has reported a problem. And I believe Ez was referring to the under construction stage of Part 2 (which included comments to the Moderator about inserting the last four photos) ... and that has been completed.

Not sure where the problem lies. I'm not really a techie (not at all, actually), so I don't know how to advise you.

Until it gets resolved, FYI: Some of the pictures are there primarily to provide visual (and sometimes humorous) impact. The instructional photos of the various types of e-cigs and their components can be found elsewhere in ECF (which is where I stole most of them from) or the Internet at large. Follow my searching suggestions to track them down.

Hope it works out for you!

 

[Ez Duzit]

Actually I don't even see links for photo's anymore. I also tried IE8 along with Firefox and I can't see ANY pictures either. The only thing besides text, that I see, is the video. Even without the pics, it's a must read for new people.

 

[DonDaBoomVape]

Actually I don't even see links for photo's anymore. I also tried IE8 along with Firefox and I can't see ANY pictures either. The only thing besides text, that I see, is the video. Even without the pics, it's a must read for new people.

This is getting wierd. Don't know what to say. All looks clear as day to me. Sorry.

 

[Scottes]

Yesterday, in work, I could not see the pics. Now, at home, I can. So it may have something to do with the browser cache, something I've seen on other vBulletin forums - when things go wierd with images, clear the browser cache.

In the first post I see "" and the following list is numbered a little weird.


In any case, this is great stuff. Thanks Don!

 

[DonDaBoomVape]

I finally figured out why I (and the Moderators) could see the myriad pictures in Parts 1 and 2, but no one else could. All of the pictures used are stored in my ECF album in a folder that I had marked as *private*. [Seemed like a good idea at the time. ]

I have corrected that and the "Illustrated Guide" now really *is* illustrated (a lot)!

Thank you, Scottes, for confirming that the pics are indeed up and running! And my apologies to those I drove crazy with this. Mea culpa (it was *my* fault)!

Even if you already have read "The Wonderful World of Vaping" (which now includes Parts 1 and 2), you may want to go back and take a second look. Those pictures provide relevant visual information (e.g., various e-cig models and details of the components), greater impact, and some humor.

Part 3 should be up in a couple days and necessary edits to Part 1 (e.g., those spotted by Scottes) are being worked on. [This atypical set of postings has created some unique challenges, for me, and especially for Moderator Sun Vaporizer, who has worked diligently to make it all come together.]

Thanks to all for your patience and understanding! And special thanks to Sun and Jim Davis (and other Moderators) for all the special consideration you have been providing! [I'm typing this from my Blackberry, which doesn't easily accomodate most emoticons. Visualize a big Thumbs Up!]

I look forward to reading and responding to your questions, corrections, comments, and even complaints!

 

[Porphy]

@ Don - once you get all 6 parts up could you add a "jump to" link in each section of the table of contents for newbies needing a quick answer? Also a small subsection or index with a FAQ-like area doing the same thing, such as:

"What other models do you recommend?"

You can highlight the link with a URL answer that jumps them right to the area explaining e-cig models or add a "jump to" link on the end:

"What other models do you recommend?"

"What other models do you recommend?" - Jump to answer

 

[DonDaBoomVape]

*Great* idea, Porphy! When the time comes, I'll see if we can get back into Part 1 to accomplish this.

[Of course, that will take some more effort on my (and the Moderators') part; maybe I should have *you* do it. Only teasing. That's the least I can do, considering all the money I'm being paid for this project. <-- Not! ]

How did you link to that *portion* of the post of Part 1?

Thanks, a lot! [That's sincere BTW, despite my teasing above.]

 

[Porphy]

Each "portion" or reply of a thread has a number in the top right side of that "portion" (for example #15). Clicking that link will (or copying that link location) will give you a link that adjusts the page to that exact spot.

EDIT: now the question is, can we make it so the link stays in the same window/tab? Is that a board specific function or something from my UserCP?

 

[Porphy]

Thanks, a lot! [That's sincere BTW, despite my teasing above.]

No prob, and I totally understand. I've moderated and edited quite a few posts/guides in my day. I would totally setup the table of content for you once the guide is finished. If there is a way I can modify your post or we can replace it with a modified version afterwards.

Mainly, I want there to be an easy "one stop" guide for the majority of questions we get here. I know I search a forum first before posting and a stickied guide would be my personal preference for answers. It seems the internet is split down the center 50% will search until there's no option left before posting and the rest will forgo that for the more "hands on" and "personal" feeling of posting their specific question right away.

In either case your guide is going to help both parties, either by being a "catch all" for people searching, or being a "go to" for responders on generalized questions.

 

[DonDaBoomVape]

Each "portion" or reply of a thread has a number in the top right side of that "portion" (for example #15). Clicking that link will (or copying that link location) will give you a link that adjusts the page to that exact spot.

EDIT: now the question is, can we make it so the link stays in the same window/tab? Is that a board specific function or something from my UserCP?

Actually, I did know about that one (directing to a specific post) ... and, the way the Moderators have arranged it, the six parts will remain in set positions at the top of the thread.

I thought you knew of a way to link to a section within a post. I first clicked on your example while using my Blackberry and I guess it didn't fully load the page, but just left me at a point within the post. Doing it from my desktop, I see that it directs me to the top of the post.

I think that links from the TOC will be somewhat helpful. Even more useful, I believe, is the links I'm placing throughout the series to relevant ECF and other webpages. You'll see a lot more of this in Parts 4 through 6.

No prob, and I totally understand. I've moderated and edited quite a few posts/guides in my day. I would totally setup the table of content for you once the guide is finished. If there is a way I can modify your post or we can replace it with a modified version afterwards.

Oh, I'll take care of that ... with the Moderators' continuing assistance. They have magic ways of opening and closing threads and of editing posts from weeks prior.

Mainly, I want there to be an easy "one stop" guide for the majority of questions we get here. I know I search a forum first before posting and a stickied guide would be my personal preference for answers. It seems the internet is split down the center 50% will search until there's no option left before posting and the rest will forgo that for the more "hands on" and "personal" feeling of posting their specific question right away.

In either case your guide is going to help both parties, either by being a "catch all" for people searching, or being a "go to" for responders on generalized questions.

You may have greater ambitions for my opus than even I. I don't see it as a one-stop-shop, but as a launching pad. I hope it will become one of a handful of resources to provide an initial orientation for the new/prospective vaper. After (or during) which, s/he confidently flys solo into whatever nooks and crannies (within ECF and in the vaping world at large) s/he finds appealing. Perhaps occassionally checking back in to use the guide as a reference. [Gee, where was that ... again? Ah, here it is!]

Thanks again, Porphy! Now back to work on Part 3.

 

[dragonpuff]

Don, i'm lovin it!! I only wish this were up when i first started vaping!

Awesome job!

And i love your choice of pictures, they make it so entertaining and yet informative at the same time

 

[Porphy]

You may have greater ambitions for my opus than even I. I don't see it as a one-stop-shop, but as a launching pad.

Sorry my wording wasn't the same as my thinking in that post. You're idea is spot on. I was thinking "first stop" instead of "one stop shop".

Like: "Are you new to e-cigarettes? Got questions? It's probably answered here!"