Vaping is cheating (apparently)

[Jman8]

Cheating how? & Cheating whom? are two questions one could ask in return to understand where the other person is coming from.

I don't think it's challenging to understand what it is possibly meaning.

Cheating because we (vapers) still get to engage in act of smoking/using nicotine while claiming we quit.

Cheating yourself foremost, but also cheating the social construct we have built around 'quitting smoking' as in I don't do anything at all that resembles that activity anymore. Like if alcoholic was saying, I quit drinking, but was found in bar everyday drinking near beer. We'd perhaps think they are cheating themselves and cheating/lying to others if they claim they are free of all the things that went into their addictive behavior. Not a great analogy cause near beer isn't understood as a tool for cessation like vaping/NRT's are.

Personally, I think (some) people are too hung up on quitting, and boasting about it. But I also very much understand the liberation factor that comes from stopping something that was intrinsic to your self identity and no longer feels like a weight pulling you down.

 

[Rossum]

But stipulate it all with "at least I don't smoke anymore." To which my dual using self that's done the full liberation thing previously is like, "so, what's your point?"

My bronchus knows the difference and began protesting about half way through the one cigarette I cheated with roughly 3 months after I switched to vaping. It convinced me that I was well and truly done smoking.

 

[AndriaD]

Dual using to be a moderate smoker, like I am, strikes me as actual cheating. I'm a smoker who isn't addicted to smoking (because of vaping). That, I reckon is cheating among even people in this thread.

But as one who's done cold turkey before, I can relate to how ANY version of NRT would be seen as cheating and why vaping might be perceived in that vein even more. To which a person who likes nicotine would be like, 'and so? What's the problem?'

But for those who are all high and mighty on quitting is so praiseworthy, then I think NRT is cheating your way toward whatever the alleged goal is. You are taking a journey toward that goal by trying to have your cake (or nicotine) and eat it too (use while claiming to be a quitter). But stipulate it all with "at least I don't smoke anymore." To which my dual using self that's done the full liberation thing previously is like, "so, what's your point?"

I dunno if that's really cheating. You don't really wish to be smoke-free right now, so vaping is working for you in the way that you want -- helping you limit your smoking to less-abusive levels. I think that's an entirely reasonable application of THR --

From E-Cigarette Politics --

2: If you can't (or don't want to) initially replace all smoking, then replace some cigarettes, and gradually increase the quantity of cigarettes replaced if you can, and if you wish to.

If you really wanted to be free of cigarettes, but were still smoking them, despite your own stated goal of being smoke-free... THAT would be cheating.

Andria

 

[Jman8]

Agree that dual using, in my case, isn't cheating. Just trying to present a marker for what plausible cheating would look like. For the most part, I don't think cheating even makes sense unless you are hung up on quitting and that is a goal that has well established parameters, which in reality, it does not.

 

[AndriaD]

Agree that dual using, in my case, isn't cheating. Just trying to present a marker for what plausible cheating would look like. For the most part, I don't think cheating even makes sense unless you are hung up on quitting and that is a goal that has well established parameters, which in reality, it does not.

This idea of "cheating" is one I ran into with my ex, as I mentioned; he seemed to think that if I didn't suffer, that was somehow cheating. I think I discerned a bit of that attitude in my mom too, but that seems more understandable in her case, since it took her 10 yrs of suffering and continuous effort to finally be free of smoking -- a little bit of jealousy. Not sure what my ex's problem is, except he's just a smoker hater -- I'm sure there's a part of him that truly believes that those who smoke DESERVE to suffer, for having inflicted that smell on him for so many years. And he believes himself a spiritually enlightened person.

That doesn't mean that any of us have to buy into that puritan nonsense. For those of us who've truly wished to be non-smokers for a long time, tried over and over to quit without success, vaping is a lifeline; a way to get to where we want to be, without having to walk over hot coals to get there. And of course it's so customizable, the way that true THR should be -- as it allows you to continue to smoke, but at far more moderate levels than you might be able to, if you didn't vape. Some of us were able to drop cigarettes like a rock, thx to vaping; or, it allowed some of us to gradually ease our way into non-smoking, training our "habit" to crave a vape rather than a smoke. It's really a miracle. I'm sure that's why so many of us get so exercised by those who'd like nothing better than for vaping to disappear.

Andria

 

[Douggro]

The argument lies around the perception of what cheating is. The accepted definition in context would be "to act dishonestly or unfairly to gain advantage; deceive or trick".

...so I asked her if she wanted to try it. She said, "no, that would be cheating".

For this woman, vaping occurred (is perceived) for her as a dishonest or deceiving action relative to her intention of quitting smoking cigarettes.
For most of us here, vaping occurs completely differently relative to our intention of not smoking.
The crux is how it - vaping - occurs to the respective parties. Once you understand that our thoughts and actions are always aligned with how something occurs for us, it all gets rather simple.

 

[Nermal]

This idea of "cheating" is one I ran into with my ex, as I mentioned; he seemed to think that if I didn't suffer, that was somehow cheating.
Andria

He was right, you know. Suffering builds character.

 

[mcclintock]

Yes it is cheating. Smoke has an association with fire and brimstone and evil and cancer and death. Vapor is fake smoke. Vaping is posing as being on the dark side but is not. (It fits me.)

I don't think that's what the question meant though

 

[Bob0411]

If vaping is cheating then I guess I cheat alot at least after 44 years of stinkys I love the cheating method it taste Good.

 

[Mike Geaney]

Do what's right for you. On this topic I can almost say that I don't care what others think. Since March I have had 2 cigarettes and hated them both. I feel much better physically and have no plans to quit vaping. I'm down to 6 mg, from 24, and am about to step down to 3. Starting excercise and trying to go low carb and low sugar soon as I have put in 20 pounds. That will make me feel even better. Try not to let other people's negativity take away from your accomplishment. If you feel proud of yourself, and I think you should, enjoy that feeling!

 

[AndriaD]

He was right, you know. Suffering builds character.

It *can* -- or it can make you bitter and vindictive, as he seems to be. Character can be built without suffering, if the intention is there.

Andria

 

[MudVaper]

It will be interesting to see how the OPs friend does with vaping vs. the patch vs. smoking.

 

[MattyTny]

I can see how vaping can seem a bit odd to some people. It is a similar concept and a new smoking alternative.

What I like the most about my vaping experience is that point I've gotten go now, that I don't have an urge to vape like my urge to smoke. It's funny, a year ago I was vaping more and it was like a hobby. Now I vape a few times a day, sometimes I don't feel like I need it either. It works! It really does!

 

[MudVaper]

I can see how vaping can seem a bit odd to some people. It is a similar concept and a new smoking alternative.

What I like the most about my vaping experience is that point I've gotten go now, that I don't have an urge to vape like my urge to smoke. It's funny, a year ago I was vaping more and it was like a hobby. Now I vape a few times a day, sometimes I don't feel like I need it either. It works! It really does!

That's great. It took me two years, but I'm vaping a lot less. I chain vaped the way I chain smoked. Now when I vape, which is often - just not chain - I do it with less urgency, less like my life depends on it.

 

[RoseJ]

It will be interesting to see how the OPs friend does with vaping vs. the patch vs. smoking.

I haven't heard from her since she called me. I'll see her in dance class this morning though.

 

[beckdg]

It *can* -- or it can make you bitter and vindictive, as he seems to be. Character can be built without suffering, if the intention is there.

Andria

Oh phooey!

I've certainly suffered.

And as we all know, I'm certainly a character.

(And bitter and vindictive)

I rest my case.
[emoji14]

Tapatyped

 

[AndriaD]

Oh phooey!

I've certainly suffered.

And as we all know, I'm certainly a character.

(And bitter and vindictive)

I rest my case.
[emoji14]

Tapatyped

I was thinking about that exchange later; whether suffering builds character is really irrelevant to quitting smoking. As long as I was going to have to suffer to do it, I was never going to quit smoking, PERIOD. Once I was able to do it without suffering, it became very simple. So yes, suffering MAY help to build character, but it doesn't do a damn thing for helping one quit smoking. Building character and quitting smoking are NOT the same thing.

Andria

 

[MMW]

It's not cheating if it's just the drip tip.

 

[BreSha6869]

I'd prefer it if I didn't vape, but I am ecstatic that I no longer smoke. After vaping helped me quit a pack a day for over 30 years in one day, I will take my chances "cheating".

Will I quit nicotine completely one day? I hope so, but I am in no rush as I feel MUCH better and am MUCH healthier now that I don't smoke.

 

[AndriaD]

I don't plan to EVER quit nicotine. Even if my asthma becomes so bad that I can no longer support vaping, I'll stick a patch on me somewhere -- I really don't want to grow old if I don't even remember who I am! That's one of my worst-case-scenario fears, outliving all those I love; I'd rather die young than live in a world without any of my loved ones.

Andria