Trying to help new vapers......problems!!!

[Scylla]

I was horrendously bunged up and dried out with decades of smoke and tar I had honestly told myself I must accept my fate because I couldn't even try to give up smoking. It was a true miracle that I felt a surge of hope when I read the eBay thread* about e-cigs, I was inspired to try them even though I had failed with or shunned all the other NRTs.

*I would so love to go thru that experience again - first notice the off-topic title amongst eBay problems and think "Ooh! whatever's this?!!!", then read thru the posts, sneering at myself for entertaining the thought that it might work for me then feeling my spirits lift with unfamiliar positivity, "You've got nothing to lose except money", I told myself, and the rest is history

I wonder if anyone knows what it's like to be a life-long negative thinker and suddenly feel positive?

In my case 50+ years of smoking like a train can't be wiped out in a trice, but very slowly my system is recovering.

Oh! I think I started this post intending to explain how I was willing to give e-cigs a try

scylla

[barneykew]

AS Katfish's OH it has been interesting to look at all the messages on this thread. Personally I had no wish to stop smoking and I certainly didn't have the willpower to do it. It was the ease that Katfish seemed to take to vaping that impressed me (I had been there when she had tried to go cold turkey) she did not twist my arm to try it, but I just thought why not, and yes after a minor hiccup I have had no problem, which has amazed me because I was a 30-40 a day man.

[Chrissie]

Graham, I couldn't agree more, the posts on this thread are so interesting. It's also so good to hear how well you Kat & others are doing.

Kat, I still reckon the main problem with some of your smoking friends/colleges is embarrassment mainly due to fear of failing yet again!

(((Scylla))) I so remember from that eBay thread, almost 2 & a half years ago, how fairly certain the e-cig wouldn't/couldn't work for you I so wish Chi still posted either here or on eBay - she was 100% certain the e-cig would be a waste of money as nothing could ever stop her smoking. She ended up buying one as a challenge & within a couple of days was 100% converted Been a couple of months since I've seen her post anywhere (hope she is OK) but I do know she went past the 2 year mark & no intention of going back to smoking

[Katfish]

Chrissie, you have it bang to rights!
I have never worried what people say to me, and have often been called er direct So I find it easy to try new ideas, without worrying about what other people may think of me.
It has also got me into trouble, as I open my mouth and put both feet in
I can see how people would be embarrassed by using something new in public :-[

[Pinhead]

My mate Geoff and I have just had our first 'long haul' conversion success. It has taken us 3 months to convert a work colleague from cigars to vaping. He has just bought his first e-cig and so far has binned the cigars.

I think the fear of failure, the wierdness of e-cig 'smoking' and the lack of knowledge all play a part. Don't push it with your friends and family... they will get there once they realise your success is for real.

Sean

[Chrissie]

Lol Kat, I know so well about opening my mouth & putting both feet in it

I really don't think it is initially so much about being embarrassed about using something new in public, though that could play a major part. I think the are embarrassed at the thought that the have failed with everything else they have tried.

[Katfish]

Yes, you are made to feel awful because you smoke, and worse because you can't stop, so you tend to lose confidence, and become unwilling to try anything new.
There was no-one more belligerent than me about smoking, but when I think seriously about it, I was embarrassed that I failed to stop too.
Thank goodness I was still able to try something new

[Chrissie]

Mar 17, 2011 21:25:26 GMT Katfish said:

Yes, you are made to feel awful because you smoke, and worse because you can't stop, so you tend to lose confidence, and become unwilling to try anything new.
There was no-one more belligerent than me about smoking, but when I think seriously about it, I was embarrassed that I failed to stop too.
Thank goodness I was still able to try something new

Spot on Kat Smokers have been made to feel like failures so as you say, end up losing confidence.

For me it is one of the best things about the e-cig, it's a brilliant alternative that can be used in any way that anyone wants. Every time someone just picks up their e-cig instead of a real one - it's one less harmful cigarette smoked.

[Scylla]

Mar 17, 2011 21:12:03 GMT Pinhead said:

It has taken us 3 months to convert a work colleague from cigars to vaping.

Heck! A uniformed, cigar-smoking branch of the criminal justice system that's not the police ??? Whatever can it be?

scylla

[lynwlt]

I have three friends who were really impressed with my lack of smoking and bought the gear. (I think I have more than three friends..)

One of those has not smoked since, and the other two are still smoking.

I guess, in the end, you have to to really want to give up the analogues.

For me, it wasn't ever about saving money, more about saving my health whilst I still had a chance to do so.

I knew from my first puff that it was going to work for me but it took me a couple of weeks to get the gear that worked.

Lynda

[Katfish]

Yes very true about the right gear :-[
I have just made a discovery about the friend who I have put off e-cigs.
When I bought my Tank I bought 2 extra attys with it (colour red) so that Graham and I didn't get confused (he loves the tobacco flavours and I DON'T)
Both red attys give off a horrid burning plastic flavour YUK!
I didn't know this and made up, what I thought would be a lovely vape, with one of the red attys.
I am more peeved that my friend was put off vaping, than I am for buying 2 extra attys that don't work >
This vaping lark, can have a steep and expensive learning curve, but OMG is it worth it? YES it bloody IS!!!!!!!!

[Scylla]

Aww {{{Kat}} don't let that stop you being a good fried and a happy vaper

scylla x

[Katfish]

Thank you Scylla
nothing will put me off vaping
I'm pleased to report that my Ma, who has smoked for 60 years, has high blood pressure and diabetis, is now puffing away on a BLACK tank and phoned me up this morning to tell me she had changed her cart and put her battery on charge! Whoop Whoop
On the subject of putting people off, we are all consumers on a budget and I think the worst possible thing for new vapers is to be out of pocket. We all need value for money and we all need very good instructions with e-cigs. Unfortunately the instuctions are not good for new vapers and need to be improved.
If I hadn't found this forum and you lovely people, I think I would still be a cougher
Hey I don't mind doing my 50 mile round trip to take Ma her filled carts for the week. She can't see to do them herself. She is 79 years old and is trying something new... RESPECT

[Chrissie]

Tons of respect to your Ma Kat

I do so agree re about the instructions folks get with their e-cigs should be better.

I also agree about trying to help folks find the cheapest e-cig that works the best for them And that is where I struggle. E.g. whether to recommend something like a DSE901/510 that is cheap, cheerful, works OK & isn't too much bigger than a real cig (that so many newbies ask for), or push for them to go for a larger longer lasting, better performing e-cig.

[Pinhead]

Having been one of those ciggie look-a-like seekers, I quickly saw the light! Now, my minimum recommendation is a Riva (or equal)... I try to put people off going for the smaller 510 etc.

Sean