vaping is NOT smoking!!

[realsis]

Hi friends, I got confronted by my sister in law the other day. I had not seen her in some time and we were talking and I said, I quit smoking, it's been over 100 days now. I have been vaping instead. She looked me straight in the eye and said, " so, your still smoking, just vape". I argued my point then she continued to belittle my acomplishment by saying. "It still has nicotine". I felt like I'd been punched in the stomach. I said yes, I'm still using nicotine, however I'm no longer getting the hundreds of toxins that cigarettes have! She looked at me again and said, your still smoking it. I tried to defend myself and vaping once more and said. It's not smoke, it's vapor.... she looked at me again and said, your still smoking!! At this point I dropped it. I get so angry when people say it's smoking!! We are NOT smoking!! Maybe I could have handled it better but I felt so badly that she didn't even consider what I've done a accomplishment! Well vaping is not smoking and I think I have accomplished something! I just wish others saw it the way we see it. Bottom line, vaping is not smoking and I think we all have accomplished something great by quitting smoking!!! Just wish others saw it the same way...

 

[bamani71]

I'm sorry she belittled your accomplishment. Some people are so set on their opinions that nothing you say will change their minds. Congratulations on 100 days!

 

[Jerrycat]

I've actually had to make this distinction numerous time myself... you can't have smoke unless something is combusted or burned. For those that argue the point I simply remind them that I am cooking the juice to the point that it is steam and inhaling that steam.. for the militant sorts I like to point out that if vaping is smoking, then by their definition, everytime they stand over their cooking dinner and sniff in the aroma... they are smoking.. that usually ends the discussion.. btw, congrats on being coffin nail free for 100 days!

Sent from my Venture using Tapatalk 2

 

[cthulhufan]

I'm sorry she belittled your accomplishment. Some people are so set on their opinions that nothing you say will change their minds. Congratulations on 100 days!

Absolutely this. YOU know what you're doing is orders of magnitude better for you than smoking. YOU feel the difference in your health and at the end of the day THAT is ALL that matters!

I know the frustration of trying to explain this to stubborn folks but I have no problem just dropping the subject and feeling just fine because I know what a positive impact this has had in my life.

Congrats on the 100 day mark! Keep it up.

 

[DoubleEwe]

You should ask what she thinks of all the 'smoke' that comes out of a boiling kettle...

 

[jensy]

Sometimes once people get something in their head that's it there is no changing their minds even with facts. You have indeed accomplished something great by quitting cigarettes so don't let her dampen your spirits . You are doing great !

 

[Just Me]

Blow cigarette smoke through a tissue, what do you see? A yellow spot.

Blow vapor through a tissue, what do you see? A clear spot.

As has been said over and over, "Smokers smoke for the nicotine and die from the tar."

I feel your angst. I've been confronted almost the exact same way by at least 5 people (who know absolutely nothing about what they're saying). Just go on and do what you're doing. You're not doing this for them; you're doing it for YOU!

 

[Despraci]

I would just tell her that the next time she is boiling water that her water is on fire and should call the fire department. Lets see what kind of reaction she gets from that. Some people will never be able to comprehend the difference.

 

[Amraann]

Realsis, you have had a time of it lately with people judging your vaping. Your SIL sounds charming.

I do not think that your going to change others opinions. At least not those very stubborn in their thinking. You can however change how you react to them.

I am not sure how you could be smoking when there is no smoke. In any case I think you need to not let such things upset you.
I noticed her reply to it is not smoking was "it still has nicotine"

Maybe you should have asked her what was so bad about nicotine? Or tell her all of the other things that contain nicotine.

 

[DaveP]

You have to get technical to make people understand electronic cigarettes. After all, it's called an electronic cigarette, so to them it's still a cigarette, only electronic, and they don't know what that means. The news doesn't explain the difference, only that they might contain antifreeze and that terrible substance, nicotine.

You can't blame them for repeating what the news tells them. To effectively carry on a meaningful conversation with them, you have to educate yourself and be prepared with some talking points to help them understand that vaping is an excellent alternative to smoking. It's so much better that there's been no deaths attributed to ecigs outside of one in the UK that was declared just because the guy happened to be a vaper and he died. In the U.S. when you die from heart or lung problems and they know you were a smoker, your death certificate will say that you died from complications resulting from smoking.

It would be worth printing a copy of this for them to read. It's too long for here at 599 chemicals.
Cigarette Ingredients - Chemicals in Cigarettes

Ecigs contain about 7 ingredients, none of them dangerous.
Comparing The Chemicals Of E Cigs Vs. Smoking Tobacco

Most eLiquids contain either vegetable glycerin or propylene glycol as a primary base combined with water, flavoring and nicotine. The ingredients most commonly found in the eLiquid for use with electronic cigarettes include:

Menthol (menthol flavored eLiquids only) – an organic compound that comes from mint oil or manufactured synthetically
Nicotine – an alkaloid from plants of the nightshade family; it is known to be addictive and may be toxic in high doses
Organic acid – an organic compound that has acidic properties like citric and lactic acids
Propylene Glycol – FDA approved food additive
Tobacco Essence (not found in non-tobacco flavored eLiquids) – adds the flavor of tobacco to the eLiquid
Vegetable Glycerin – classified by the FDA as a caloric macronutrient among sugar alcohols
Water – H2O

 

[realsis]

Thanks everyone for your support! I think what hurt the most was I was so excited to share what I had accomplished because I knew she hated smoking and thought she would be encouraging. Instead she even asked why don't you just quit everything? Obviously I can't live up to her high expectations. .. some people can be so insensitive. When she asked me why I don't quit everything I shut her up by saying, because I like my nicotine!!! I left our conversation feeling some what defeated. I NEVER thought I could quit smoking, and I've done it!! And no matter what people have to say, I'm proud 9 my acomplishment! ! We all should be proud of our accomplishments. Even if others are less than encouraging! I'm so greatful you all understand and I want to thank you all for supporting me! It means so much to me!!

 

[ConradM]

I had an acquaintance at work tell me that vaping and smoking are exactly the same. Part of me wanted to get mad an argue but the rational part of me realized that he's just completely ignorant and it's not worth it.

 

[young gotti]

i used to get mad about the nicotine comment....oh you have nicotine in it? whats the difference really?

then i go into nicotine being about as bad as the coffee they drink every morning, i also traded 100 ingredients for 3 or 4, i had done my research and clearly they had not so i'd actually say it in a snotty way, almost showing them that they aren't too bright

but i recently hit 2 years and the comment i got was "thats awesome, when are you givng up vaping" doesn't bother me anymore, i don't do it for them people, i do it for myself, if they are happy for me good if not, thats cool too

 

[bm2112]

Hey congrats! There will always be an excess of ignorant people in this world. As for quitting e-cigs.. there's no compelling reason to do so. If you like your nicotine then vape on.

 

[Towmotor]

Burns my ... that you are put thru that crap by a family member (distant tho she may be). One would hope family would give you a little more credit, acknowledge that you are at least not harming yourself as much as with analogs...and then agree to disagree the overall value of ecigs. This petulant response of "yes it is, yes it is, yes it is" demonstrates the worst of peoples ignorance.

 

[KurrptSenate]

it's an in-law

there's no law that says you have to like them

 

[realsis]

Thank you, and I agree! Vaping has been a miricle in my life! I never thought I could quit smoking, but with vaping I've done just that. I just wish if other people have something negative to say, they would just keep it to themselves! The media has put these ideas into people's heads and they believe it. I have felt here lately I have to defend myself. I keep thinking, if they only understood the reality of vaping, but sometimes there is no explaining to stubborn people who already have their minds made up against it. It makes me sad. People believe all the b.s. that's put out there against vaping! Vaping has saved my life and I'm no longer smoking, and that's nothing short of a miricle for me. I think vaping should be celebrated, not put down!!

 

[KurrptSenate]

I don't understand the need of some vapers to "convince" anyone of anything. It's a choice we make to become healthier. For some, it became more than just a hobby. A lifestyle if you will.

If a stranger asks legitimate questions about vaping in general, I'll be more than happy to enlighten them. As for the people that have their mind's made up, I have no desire to convince them otherwise.

 

[turbocad6]

ok I know my opinion may not be so popular here on this subject but I am my own biggest critic and I've been vaping for over 3 years, and personally I don't really look at it as I've "quit smoking" because lets be honest, if I ever lost the ability to vape(not gonna happen) I'd probably have to run out and buy a pack of smokes . I'm still addicted it's just that I've substituted what I "smoke"... whether I call it smoking or vaping or whatever doesn't really matter all that much, in the end I've substituted one thing for the other so in a sense she does have a valid point.

now of course we all know that vaping is much healthier and is the lesser of the evils, but thinking you've really truly "quit smoking" while you are vaping away nicotine is kinda not 100% correct and I think that is the point she was stuck on... I tell people I quit smoking but I vape instead, if the conversation get's down to it then I'll freely admit that yes I am still "smoking" in a sense, of course not in the literal sense as it's not smoking it's vaping, but to many this is just a play on semantics, but I'm now smoking in a much better way and a much healthier alternative... to many the act of "smoking" involves being addicted to nicotine and having to puff throughout the day because you are addicted to it. there is the literal term smoking and then the figurative action of smoking, we are not literally smoking but in a figurative sense then yes we still are. when you look at smoking as an action and an addiction then in a sense vaping is smoking, just without the smoke

my advice is don't really worry about what anyone else thinks, do what you feel is best for you, some will see it and think it's great that you're doing something healthier but many won't, quitting is quitting, not substituting one thing for the other... sorry to say I think she does have a valid point but in the end it doesn't even matter, the only one that needs to be happy with your accomplishments is you, but if it helps I'll say that I'm proud of you for sticking to your harm reduction and doing what's best for you and I'd encourage anyone who would listen that vaping is much better than smoking, it's not really the same but don't be so surprised that many will just not see it this way...

 

[Towmotor]

Turbo I think your view is skewed and you are a little harsh on yourself. You and I are not addicted to smoking anymore. We may still be addicted to nicotine but not to smoking. Some may think that is splitting hairs, but I dont agree.