Why E-Cigarette has a stigma....

[zyglrox]

@zyglrox

If that is you in your avatar, you appear to be fairly young.
And if your join date represents when you started vaping, you are fairly new to the scene.

But I've definitely noticed that you are intelligent, and have a good handle on things.

PLEASE POST MORE.

Oh I'm a youngin alright. I'm only 22. And yes I am new to the scene. Loving it already!

And no worries, this guy's not going anywhere.

 

[RosaJ]

How about: A personal vaporizer is a second generation electronic cigarette.

 

[Tjloa]

How about: A personal vaporizer is a second generation electronic cigarette.

The thought is to get rid of the word Cigarette dont want any negatice conintation. But thanks for your input

 

[tenshi]

I think the 'damage' has been done and they will forever be known as e-cigarettes. Non-users & the media are going to keep referring to them as such and dig the hole deeper.

For simplicity I still introduce people to my gear as an e-cigarette. You say vaporizer and they think its for an illegal substance (9/10 ask me if thats what I'm doing).

That's been my experience as well. When I say "Oh, it's an electronic cigarette." I emphasize electronic and I get "Ohhhs" and "Ahhhs". The majority people I've run into think it's great. I've found the ex-smokers that "quit cold turkey" seemed a lot more closed minded about it. To those, I just shrug and vape away.

 

[NeilSwift]

The thought is to get rid of the word Cigarette dont want any negatice conintation. But thanks for your input

Unfortunately we are too late.

By all accounts a PV is a nicotine delivery device and nicotine will always be associated with smoking. Early devices were, for that very reason, made to look like cigarettes.

 

[Tjloa]

 

[Rocketpunk]

If they ask, I just tell 'em it's an "e-cig". I don't care about the stigma. I smoked for 15 years and didn't care. Why care now?

P.S., so I don't come across as a dbag here, I don't stick my nose up in the air and act haughty. I just tell 'em what it is and keep vaping. I honestly haven't gotten any weird reactions other than, "What is that?" and "What'choo smokin'?"

"An e-cig," and that's pretty much the end of the conversation.

EDIT:Tjloa, I like your avatar. I'm a HUGE Batman fanatic.

 

[GreekLion]

people know the term electronic cigarette, from my experience the term ecig comes off a little smug to people who dont know.

calling it anything but an electronic cigarette will get people to give you 'that look.'

as far as the practice itself, its still new. look at hybrid cars. in the beginning, the general perception was that they were smug and for people on a high horse. since the price of gas has changed, the market and perception has begun to shift.

the big change will happen as the market changes and as tobacco laws become more strict. believe it or not, laws are getting stricter every year even now.

i dont think the electronic cigarette will replace an actual cigarette. as smoking dies out, i think the ecig community and demand will peak and gradually diminish and we will all wear white and drive flying cars.

 

[wv2win]

Hmmmmm

Today i learned the term: Nicotine Inhalation Device. NID

I just call mine "my vaporizer". I leave out the word "personal". If someone assumes it's for asthma, so be it.

I don't like the term e cig either.

I agree. I refer to it as a personal vaporizer or just vaporizer. I actually had a guy at a car repair shop look at my Vamo and state: "that's a personal vaporizer, right?". The more we as vapers refer to it as anything other than e-cig, the better positioned we are to slowly but steadily change perceptions.

 

[Tjloa]

people know the term electronic cigarette, from my experience the term ecig comes off a little smug to people who dont know.

calling it anything but an electronic cigarette will get people to give you 'that look.'

We already get more then that look with the word cigarette attached to it. We get fear and lothing etc..... we also get people who are curious. But i would personally prefer that look with the chance to educate then have to over come the fear and lothing.

If they ask, I just tell 'em it's an "e-cig". I don't care about the stigma. I smoked for 15 years and didn't care. Why care now?

We need to care about that because ultimitly if we dont we wont have this outlet nor will others to quit cigs.

 

[Katdarling]

I tell people it's a space age device used to kill the demons that live inside me. Funny....I never really have the chance to explain much more after I say that. They just back away slowly...

My favorite post of the week.

You're in good company, Scoop!

 

[Rocketpunk]

We need to care about that because ultimitly if we dont we wont have this outlet nor will others to quit cigs.

I totally get what you're saying, and I agree.

But me, personally? If someone asks me what it is, I tell them it's an e-cigarette because their brain will process and accept it quicker than "vaporizer" or "PV". I mean, it is what it is.

People have seen Stephen Dorff and Blu ads enough to know what an e-cig is. I think the cat's out of the bag as far as vaping is concerned. Knowledge about it seems to be growing exponentially on a daily basis. People are spreading the Good News.

Now if they are curious and ask, "Does it work?" and "How does it work?", I explain it to them to the best of my ability. At that point they are free to form their own judgements.

Do I proselytize to complete strangers on the street? No. Do I talk about it with my smoking friends? Yes. But I don't judge them or call them out.

I guess I'm just lazy. I'm not an instigator, I'm not a political person. I guess I'm the poor masses. ;-) I just want to vape in peace. There are other vapers out there who are much more apt and capable of dealing with the political issues concerning vaping than myself. I defer to them.

 

[Thepinfamily]

I agree that we need to separate ourselves from anything and everything "cigarette". The further the better. We will never train the world to use PV instead of ecig if we don't train ourselves first. I think the place to start would be right here with ourselves. This forum in a huge driving force and a centrail hub for the PV community. If this site would get behind the "movement" it would have a chance. If it won't then the phrase will certainly stick forever. Change the name to P-V-Forum.com. Censor the words "cig" and "cigarette" just like curse words. Stick a yellow notice at the top of every page for a few months. Something explaining what is trying to be accomplished. If this forum got behind the movement to separate ourselves from cigarettes it would have a fighting chance. We don't need the word to have a conversation, we use analog most of the time anyways.
The only problem I see is with businesses advertising. They want people to get the impression it's extremely similar to analogs. They may be resistant to the change but I'm all for it.

 

[Rocketpunk]

If we try to distance ourselves from cigarettes and establish our own little vaping beachhead, how will future smokers ever discover vaping on their own?

Cigalikes exist for a reason. Smokers often want something that looks, feels, and "tastes" like a real cigarette. Trying to make it into something it isn't may be harming smokers who would potentially look into vaping. We cannot make this an exclusive club. We need to help other smokers quit smoking.

A smoker may quit smoking because they found something that looks like a cigarette and is called an "e-cig". It's just something they may need to jump the hurdle.

To make vaping an exclusive club with "defined" terms only shuts out a lot of people who could otherwise be saved from smoking.

 

[Tail11]

I've had people ask me what my device is (I do not use cigalikes any longer). Some ask me if it's a water pipe because they know I used to smoke. As soon as I say e-cigarette, they understand. I live in a blue collar town and saying PV or anything but e-cigarette, they simply don't understand what the device is. I don't like to say e-cigarette, but it is commonplace in our language now. Because of it's very negative stigma, I would love to get rid of the "cigarette" name out of our devices. I expect it will be an uphill battle for the general public to recognize a name other than e-cigarette. That doesn't mean that we simply should give up.

 

[Talyon]

As much as I agree the term ecig is not a good image, it is what the masses use whether their smokers or otherwise. One prob I see in trying to change it would be when new people look for help they search ecig and that brings them here, this is where we want them to come for help, support and alike. I'm not so sure PV or vaporizer etc well get them here I haven't tried a google to see so I might be wrong.

I always refer to my device as a Vaporizer. Then hope they don't think I'm gonna take over the human race, lol. Take me to your Leader!

 

[Rocketpunk]

A google search into "Vaporizer" will most definitely not lead you here.

Google "vaporizer" yourself. I'd share what pops up, but it would get taken down so quickly it would make Bruce Lee jealous.

 

[minimalsaint]

I tell people I have an overabundance of saliva and this handy little gadget is a specialized tool that eradicates the extra drool by turning it into steam. Without it, I would be a social pariah who leaves a trail of slobber in my wake.

But really.....
I never saw the need to hide any device I happen to be using- if someone asks if it is an electronic-cigarette, I say yes. If someone asks me, I tell them it is an advanced nicotine delivery system. I have also made it a point to vape in public as much as possible- the only way we are going to become more accepted is to stop "stealthing" and acting like we are doing something wrong in public.
I once confronted a vaper in public with a vamo because he had it tucked under his coat and was giving every passerby the "shifty" look whenever he took a drag. He was terrified when I approached asked what flavor he was vaping and immediately said "it's not drugs! It's nicotine!". I didn't say anything, just pulled out my PV and started to puff away while he attempted to resume his 007 operations. 10 minutes later, Mr. Police officer walks by and which one of us do you think he addresses? Yep. The one acting like he is doing something wrong. I watched from a short distance while he stammered and stuttered, trying his best to convince Mr. Officer that there was nothing illegal happening. It was painful to watch.

 

[noevilstar]

One of the first products I picked up (a month and a half ago) was from Bedford Slims. They refer to the Battery - Carto assembly as a "vapourette". The tag line underneath their logo is "Brooklyn's Vapourette Co.". Although I might have some criticisms of their product, the branding is swell.

So, my wife latched on to the "vapourette" moniker and has stuck with it. When ever we're out and I'm vaping she jumps in and starts the introduction with "It's a Vapourette". Also, she's French-Canadian, so her pronunciation is silky smooth.

 

[Rocketpunk]

The good thing to know is, neither of you were doing anything illegal. Poor 007. He'll learn, eventually.