"You didn't really quit"

[stillalive]

I'm sure I'll get reemed for this, but...

YOU DID NOT REALLY QUIT!

You just gave up one crutch for another.

Don't get me wrong, I'm proud of you too. I'm a vaper too. I love e-cigs, vaping, and understand fully how much better vaping is than smoking.

But the ugly truth that no one here wants to admit, is that not doing either, is better.

Like I said, don't get me wrong; I'm proud of you too, and hope you continue doing what ever it takes to not smoke another analog ever again. Just don't kid yourself... you didn't "really" quit. None of us have.

just my

So the people who chew nicotine gum and don't smoke analogs didn't really quit either? Not doing either might be better, but so what? If someone's quality of life is diminished without nicotine but they can get it without smoking, they still quit smoking. Most doctors seem pretty thrilled if someone vapes or chews the gum for the rest of their life instead of trying and failing to quit smoking cold turkey.

 

[Surf Monkey]

I disagree. There's a qualitative difference between smoking analogues and using a PV. As I pointed out before, you absorb a lot less nicotine with a PV and we've seen many people report that their dependence on the device is far less intense than their dependence on cigarettes. Many people ween themselves off of nicotine altogether with a PV in a very short period of time. Others like myself find that we can go for very long periods of time without using a PV, continuing to vape out of habit more than out of dependence. Quitting cigarettes for an e-cig is not a case of swapping one crutch for another, it's a means to 1) vastly reduce the risk associated with nicotine use and 2) fully break psychological and physical dependence on the substance if the user so chooses.

And even more simply: vaping is NOT smoking. If you quit setting fire to leaves and inhaling the smoke that results, you've quit smoking. Period. Full stop. Diminishing that accomplishment by admonishing others that they haven't really quit is highly counter productive IMO.

I'm sure I'll get reemed for this, but...

YOU DID NOT REALLY QUIT!

You just gave up one crutch for another.

Don't get me wrong, I'm proud of you too. I'm a vaper too. I love e-cigs, vaping, and understand fully how much better vaping is than smoking.

But the ugly truth that no one here wants to admit, is that not doing either, is better.

Like I said, don't get me wrong; I'm proud of you too, and hope you continue doing what ever it takes to not smoke another analog ever again. Just don't kid yourself... you didn't "really" quit. None of us have.

just my

 

[popeye79]

I agree with almost everything you guys are saying. And yes, vaping IS a million times better. And no, maybe there's not actual smoke.

But it's still a crutch. For those of us who are still vaping, who want to continue vaping, because we enjoy it.. because we're addicted to nicotine.. because with out them, we'd go right back to analogs... it's a crutch.

That doesn't have to be a "bad" thing. I dont see it that way. I'm just calling it how I see it. We didn't "quit" anyting.. we just traded one really bad thing for one not so bad thing.

I really don't want anyone to get the wrong idea here.. I love vaping, and FDA willing, will continue to for many years to come. I encourage all "smokers" to switch. But I'm really not "quiting" my 15 year long habbit, am I?

 

[Surf Monkey]

Well, I think that typing "you haven't quit" in caps and then using the word "crutch" has an effect of minimizing the accomplishment in a potentially damaging way, whether you intend that to be the result or not. It seems to me that we're one big support group and part of the responsibility of the members is to be sensitive to the language they use when addressing people who have recently quit.

Just sayin'.

 

[popeye79]

Alright, I'll give you that. OP.. I'm sorry if I in anyway took away from your pride of no longer inhaling nasty chemicals, tar, and god knows what. As I said earlier.. it is an accomplishment. and I am proud for you.

I just dont like it when people say they "quit". And some people, I've seen it, not saying it's anyone here, but some people, get all high and mighty around analog smokers.

Maybe your tomatoe is my toemauto.. I just don't see it as "quiting". I see it as an amazingly wonderful alternative.

 

[94_FLSTN]

No need to suffer the opinion of fools. What you have quit is exposing yourself (and others around you) to over 4000 chemical compounds that are created by burning a cigarette, many of which are toxic and/or carcinogenic. Carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, hydrogen cyanide and ammonia are all present in cigarette smoke. Forty-three known carcinogens are in mainstream smoke, sidestream smoke, or both. So, yes, you've definitely quit smoking.

There is no evidence to link nicotine to cancer, although there are some problems with increased heart rate and blood pressure. Of the MSDS sheets that I've read for USP PG and USP VG, the only negatives are that "inhalation of mist may be irritating to respiratory tract" (i.e. TH and that "if more than several mouthfuls are ingested, abdominal discomfort and ........ may occur."

 

[Al Capwn]

Ask them when they're going to quit the equally addictive but equally harmless caffine. When they say "what?", simply tell them that they are addicted to caffine but don't think about it, challenge them to go without any caffine for two weeks but make sure you warn them to expect headaches, irritability, lack of concentration, drowsiness, insomnia and stomach aches.

Unless you get one of the 5% that don't drink caffine, the chances are they won't take up the challenge and will walk off thinking they are the one with a problem .

 

[Hypnophone]

Yeah, I get the "you haven't really quit" too from friends. As far as I'm concerned, I have quit.
I understand Popeye's point. It's valid(great Popeye pic).
My non-smoker friends ask me when I'll be giving up the PVs (they let me vape in their homes).
I tell 'em that I don't plan on it for the near future, it just tastes too damn good, and it don't stink the house up.
Yes, it's a crutch, but it's a much healthier crutch.
I have quit cigarettes. Not one since 12-01-10. Yeah, popeye, I said quit.
Traded one jones for another.
Vape on, Conroe!

 

[Credo]

I kept one old lidded Crisco can with some butts and ashes in it on the back porch. When someone says the PV is just as bad as smoking...I go get that can, peel back the lid, and give'um a wiff...........

"Oh really? Forgot how I used to smell didn't ya?"

 

[ShannonA]

That's what I keep hearing from people when I share my good news. I quit smoking! I haven't had a tobacco cigarette (they don't know the usage of the word analog we use) in 8 weeks. But to them, it's no accomplishment. I didn't suffer enough, so it's not a big deal. I didn't chew nasty gum wear a patch, take pills to make me crazy or sweat out cold turkey, so it's not something you can even say congratulations about without it sounding half-hearted. Why can't you see that what I did was better? Why do you belittle my accomplishment? Why can't you be genuinely happy for me?

And even after all that, I feel so alive, so free. I'm not trapped anymore by cigarettes. No more planning my day around my smoke breaks. No more avoiding things at places that don't allow smoking. No more cologne baths. No more mint-chewing. I'm free. I'm not a slave anymore. So go ahead in your ignorance and think i'm no better off. I know what i've done and I feel damn proud of myself. If you can't share my joy, it's your loss.

Tell them you did better than quit you avoided lung cancer without quitting... doesn't get much better than that.

 

[taxicat]

'Morning All !

I have a question for Popeye.

You stated that ecigs are a 'crutch' and that we are 'still addicted to nicotine'. How about us that vape 0 nic juice?

Please note, I am not being sarcastic in my question to you. Would just like your thoughts.

 

[earthpig]

Technically even at zero. you have a habit, wether it is an addiction or an action.
Personally I see it as a major improvement, but understand if you inhale a foreign substance (other than air) you take on a slight risk.
It is "Harm Reduction"....Not "Harm Elimination", by classification.
Yes it's hundreds of times better, but still a considered harm, especially in the flavorings, above and beyond the nicotines harm (which is like caffeine, yet addictive )

Da Pig.

 

[taxicat]

Da Pig (love the name!),

Appreciate your response.

I do understand that there is always a risk on inhaling a foreign substance. That is a given.

Habit? Yes it is for me.

Addiction to nicotine? I believe this is no longer true for me.

I guess I just wanted Popeye's thoughts, since I believe he made a pretty broad statement.

Lake County? I am Kendall County born and bred!

 

[upStomp]

I actually have a bigger problem with using the term "slave" over "crutch". Is it a crutch? Maybe, but so is coffee, alcohol, sweets, and just about any hobby you can think of. It's what we do to keep us happy and, in more severe cases, functional. I do, however, think that vaping is far less "crutchy" than smoking.

The term "slave" implies that we're doing it against our will. I'd say that most of us were slaves to smoking in that we wanted to quit but felt we couldn't. I don't know many that want to quit vaping.

 

[Surf Monkey]

I just think it's really important to be careful with your words when interacting with someone who has recently quit. Telling them that they haven't really accomplished anything (which is exactly what you're doing when you say "you haven't really quit" or "vaping is just another crutch") is rude and discouraging. We should be doing everything we can to help each other, not running each other down. The bottom line here is that the medical evidence shows vaping is a MAJOR benefit to former smokers and there's absolutely no question that switching to a PV means you quit smoking. Congratulations to the OP and to everyone else who's taken the step. Don't let the nay sayers get you down. You've accomplished something amazing. Kicking cigarettes can be harder than kicking the hardest of illegal drugs. The fact that you're still ingesting some nicotine is inconsequential in comparison to the overall benefits of not sucking CO2, carbon, fine particulate and a host of chemical additives into your lungs. Plus, once you break the habit of smoking analogues it's vastly easier to break the nicotine addiction once and for all, as the experience of our members shows over and over again.

 

[DC2]

I actually have a bigger problem with using the term "slave" over "crutch". Is it a crutch? Maybe, but so is coffee, alcohol, sweets, and just about any hobby you can think of. It's what we do to keep us happy and, in more severe cases, functional. I do, however, think that vaping is far less "crutchy" than smoking.

Everybody has a crutch, or multiple crutches... EVERYBODY.... without exception.

If you don't have a crutch of some kind, there is something very wrong with you.
Of course, that's impossible, because EVERYBODY has a crutch.

 

[TNT]

On the idea of a "crutch," if I broke my ankle, I suppose I could spend weeks or months hopping on one foot until the ankle healed. I not only wouldn't want to do that, I'm pretty sure I couldn't. And, even if I could, I suppose the stress of moving through the world hopping on my good foot would probably damage me in other ways.

 

[popeye79]

'Morning All !

I have a question for Popeye.

You stated that ecigs are a 'crutch' and that we are 'still addicted to nicotine'. How about us that vape 0 nic juice?

Please note, I am not being sarcastic in my question to you. Would just like your thoughts.

I agree with earthpig.

If you're vaping 0mg juice, then you're no longer addicted to nicotine. But you're still psychologically addicted smoking/vaping. Muscle memory has a bit to do with it as well. Oral fixation. What ever.

Otherwise you would just.. you know.. quit.

 

[taxicat]

Popeye,

Thanks for your response.

I like your comment regarding oral fixation/psychologically addicted. Absolutely true for me!

Quit at this time? Probably not today. Love my e-cig LOL !

Never know what tomorrow brings.....

taxicat

 

[earthpig]

And it's not a terrible thing to vape 0mg. It seems senseless if you are a non smoker, but it's a personal decision.
So if it doesn't drag you into the real smoking scene,,,,I see little issues with it. (it is kinda a cool setup)