Vaping with the smokers

[serenity21899]

Today, I had to attend a graduation party. I have been vaping for about 6 months, and this was the first time I have had to go vape outdoors with the smokers.

I had to explain several times "what that was" I was vaping. I have a ProVari, and it's size gains instant attention. I patiently explained how it worked, and that they make cigalikes, too. And where to buy them in the area. I knew the people I was talking to, so at least everyone was nice about it. I dreaded this based on the experiences others have had that I have read about here.

But I found cigarette smoke does not bother me, but it doesn't make me want to smoke, either. So, at least I am making progress. I tried it myself the first time to appease my husband, but it worked and I haven't smoked since.

No real point here beyond sharing my experience, and a reminder that people are not bad, just uninformed on the whole concept.

 

[Ken_A]

I'm sure that if you got defensive, it would have been an unpleasant experience. You did very well!

 

[Baditude]

I've been in several situations such as this. None of them have gone poorly. Most people are simply curious and ask questions about how does it work, is it smoke, does it have nicotine, what are the ingredients of the liquid, how much does it cost, how difficult was it to switch from cigarettes to e-cigarettes, etc.

I'm generally toting a Provari and pyrex cartotank, so the references of it looking like a .... usually come up lightheartedly. I'm always curious to wonder how they even know what one of those look like. When they ask how much my Provari costs, they generally have a jaw-drop moment.

I then explain that a Provari is a high end e-cig and that most vapors use a much smaller and less expensive device. I also tell them that it had cost me about what I spent for a months worth of cigarettes, and that I am now spending about 1/3 on vaping than I did on cigarettes. (Not completely true, but only because vaping has also become a hobby and I've become a collector of sorts.)

Just a couple of weeks ago I attended a graduation cook-out party for my 18 year old daughter which I helped sponser with my ex-wife. About 75 friends and family attended. My ex is remarried and she and her current husband are both police officers. He had never seen my vaping setup before. I had all of my mods set out on a table so that any smokers who wished to sample them could try them out.

My ex's husband made a comment about them looking like illegal devices. I gave him the standard explanation. I told him that since he is a cop he should be able to recognize the difference between what is legal and what is not, and that his fellow officers need to know this too as e-cigarettes are becoming more and more common and popular. I even offered to give his district staff an educational inservice on e-cigarettes so that they would not be harrassing vapors unnecessarily.

 

[jwark]

Several people at work constantly refer to it as an e-..... It was funny at first but it gets old after hearing it 10 times every day. Never had anyone react negatively to it they just want to make fun of it.

 

[cLOUDDEAD]

I vape with the smokers on break at work.....it doesnt bother me either nor do I crave a cig.... I actually converted 2 smokers into vaping....which I'm really happy about.

 

[Crash Moses]

Had a similar experience just this morning. A co-worker and myself had just gone through security at Tampa International and stopped by one of the outdoor smoking lounges to put our kits together (we could have done it inside but I like to advertise).

It was quite crowded so I knelt on the deck and methodically took out my gear...pulled out my batteries...pulled out my Provari...pulled out my tank...pulled out my juice...filled the tank...put the battery in the Provari...screwed the tank on...and then noticed it had gotten really quiet. I looked up and everyone was just staring at me. It must have looked like I was putting a bomb together. Priceless.

So I smiled and took a vape. That's when the questions came. For the next twenty minutes I gave an impromptu class on vaping. It was a lot of fun and had some great conversations with people. The price subject came up and my co-worker and I pulled out some of our cheaper vaping solutions (some V2 cig-a-likes and my trusty Sigelei #8) to demonstrate.

I always carry my PV with me even if I'm not in an area I can vape...somebody is going to ask me what it is.

 

[BigBaby]

I am on the same page and in a smoky bar right now. You would be hard pressed to get me to smoke a cig but the smoke doesn't really bother me. And the free smokes camel girls (lookin good) just walked in. No thanks. But about 6 people have asked me so far.

 

[serenity21899]

I've been in several situations such as this. None of them have gone poorly. Most people are simply curious and ask questions about how does it work, is it smoke, does it have nicotine, what are the ingredients of the liquid, how much does it cost, how difficult was it to switch from cigarettes to e-cigarettes, etc.

I'm generally toting a Provari and pyrex cartotank, so the references of it looking like a .... usually come up lightheartedly. I'm always curious to wonder how they even know what one of those look like. When they ask how much my Provari costs, they generally have a jaw-drop moment.

I then explain that a Provari is a high end e-cig and that most vapors use a much smaller and less expensive device. I also tell them that it had cost me about what I spent for a months worth of cigarettes, and that I am now spending about 1/3 on vaping than I did on cigarettes. (Not completely true, but only because vaping has also become a hobby and I've become a collector of sorts.)

Just a couple of weeks ago I attended a graduation cook-out party for my 18 year old daughter which I helped sponser with my ex-wife. About 75 friends and family attended. My ex is remarried and she and her current husband are both police officers. He had never seen my vaping setup before. I had all of my mods set out on a table so that any smokers who wished to sample them could try them out.

My ex's husband made a comment about them looking like illegal devices. I gave him the standard explanation. I told him that since he is a cop he should be able to recognize the difference between what is legal and what is not, and that his fellow officers need to know this too as e-cigarettes are becoming more and more common and popular. I even offered to give his district staff an educational inservice on e-cigarettes so that they would not be harrassing vapors unnecessarily.

I remember hanging out in the vape shop the first time with my Blu thinking anything above an Ego kinda reminded my of a .....

I had a non-smoker ask me how much my ProVari and Fluid Flask cost. When I told her, she said it doesn't matter what it cost, you quit smoking, I thought that was really cool, She would like her husband to quit. He got the basic info and the ECF info if he is interested, And I am building him a website for his woodworking business in exchange for a mod stand. So you never know what will happen to the people you speak with,

I think the cop story is really cool. There have been a few stories on the forum about run-ins with officers who did not know what a ecig is, Telling them about it allows them to not jump to conclusions,

 

[ennagizer]

I love using my PV with smokers. Everyone seems to be very curious about it and seem to really enjoy when I take it apart and show how it works. It takes the mystery away. I also love saying things like "Today I have a lovely vanilla blend specially imported and aged. It was opened this morning and is currently at its peak flavor. It is to die for" and I take a nice long vape and say "Ahhhhhhh"

 

[Alfro]

way to go! spread the goodness

 

[Leonem]

I don't remember where I heard it. It could have been a video or a comment from someone long ago. Anyway someone once said "It looks like you are roaching on a pipe bomb". So now when people ask me what I'm doing a say "Roaching on a pipe bomb..." and then tell them what it actually is. I do get annoyed by the "Whatcha got in there??? CRACK WEED HASH ..../ some other drug"....its so old...

I work around a bunch of curious smokers and have for years. Converted so many. I always suggest an ego pass through with a carto tank to start. Cheap, simple, works good and can charge anywhere.Then people start showing up with sb's and all kinds of crazy stuff. "lookie what I got" and pulling out paper or a calculator and saying "look how much I was spending".. Makes me happy.

 

[KerryK]

Truthfully I keep the PV and big mods at home and take my sticks or twists, not because I care but they are just too heavy for my pockets.

I really hate heavy pockets....

An added benefit has been showing sticks to smokers, converted 2 at work....now we da vape team!

 

[brock957]

"Vapes With Smokers" it's my Indian name. Soon to be a movie staring Kevin Costner.

 

[cocacola31173]

I went outside with the smokers at breaktime at the last place I worked. They tried their best to get me to try it in the break room but I can only imagine what those biddies would say in the breakroom if I tried that LOL!

 

[cmknight]

I vape everywhere here in China, and I always have people asking me if it really helped me quit smoking. A lot of people recognize it for what it is, but few people will buy. Oddly enough, it's treated like an import here and the price is roughly the same as what they would cost in the States, so it's seen as too expensive. Even for the cheap eGo batteries. A shame, really, since China has roughly 300 million smokers.

 

[AgentAnia]

I also love saying things like "Today I have a lovely vanilla blend specially imported and aged. It was opened this morning and is currently at its peak flavor. It is to die for" and I take a nice long vape and say "Ahhhhhhh"

Love it! Piques the interest of the foodies and wine snobs.

 

[Hippieangst]

I teach college English and didn't start vaping exclusively until the end of the semester, so I haven't been around my old smoking crew in a few weeks. I do wonder what kinds of reactions I'll get when campus gets to full swing.

 

[nevrdowhatheydo]

I still take my vape breaks outside when I'm at work because I like to people watch and sit out in the sun, so I'm always around smokers when I'm vaping. I pretty much only use my EPipeMods when I'm out of the house and people responses are overwhelmingly positive. I get the same questions that many of you have already mentioned but no one has ever been adversarial. People are generally just curious, as well as happy to see that it actually worked in getting me off the cancer sticks.

Also, though I don't like the smell of cig smoke since I started vaping, nor does it make me want a cig, I really don't mind being around smokers. I enjoy telling them about the joys of vaping.

 

[DeeDee1234]

I vape everywhere here in China, and I always have people asking me if it really helped me quit smoking. A lot of people recognize it for what it is, but few people will buy. Oddly enough, it's treated like an import here and the price is roughly the same as what they would cost in the States, so it's seen as too expensive. Even for the cheap eGo batteries. A shame, really, since China has roughly 300 million smokers.

How much are cigarettes in china? I would have thought more people in china were vaping

 

[CookingWithGuns]

I still take my vape breaks outside when I'm at work because I like to people watch and sit out in the sun, so I'm always around smokers when I'm vaping. I pretty much only use my EPipeMods when I'm out of the house and people responses are overwhelmingly positive. I get the same questions that many of you have already mentioned but no one has ever been adversarial. People are generally just curious, as well as happy to see that it actually worked in getting me off the cancer sticks.

Also, though I don't like the smell of cig smoke since I started vaping, nor does it make me want a cig, I really don't mind being around smokers. I enjoy telling them about the joys of vaping.

I'll still do it around smokers because throughout my life (before, during, and after I was a smoker) that is where I always met the most interesting people. Smoking inside, especially at work, and it isn't really like a break which is what you need sometimes.