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I know how this is going to make me come across so I want to make it clear from the beginning that I don’t have a problem with most drugs. I wouldn’t personally use them - both out of anxiety and out of my own need for control - but I would not judge someone for using them. I understand the appeal of weed, mushrooms, acid, and so on.
That being said, I find it genuinely disheartening how common vaping is around other people my age.
I guess I was pretty oblivious to it for a while since I lived a pretty isolated life and seldom spent time around other people my own age (simply because i lived in a small town and had hardly any friends). However, ever since moving to a bigger city and spending more time around people my own age, it’s pretty shocking to see just how widespread vaping is.
At least drugs like weed and psychedelics have some therapeutic benefits, with ongoing scientific debate around their safety. Even though I haven’t personally used them, I completely understand why somebody would, and may even consider experimenting with them in the future. i don’t think I’ve seen anyone, scientist or otherwise, speculate about the benefits of vaping, nor call its perceived dangerousness into question. It seems to be pretty much consensus that both cigarettes and vapes are terrible for your health.
I think that’s really what makes it so baffling to me. Like, you know this is bad for you. It’s not like you’re trying to quit in your late adulthood after believing it was safe your entire life, you’ve known since you were a kid that this stuff will fuck you up in the long-term. Honestly it doesn’t even look that fun to do, nor does it seem to have that much of a subculture built around it in the way that weed or ecstasy does. I just feel like it is such an easy habit to not pick up; the risk doesn’t justify the reward at all.
So why go out of your way to do it anyway? Is this just out of a compulsive need to go against the grain? It is the risk itself that excites you? Live fast die young I guess.
i know this seems like a weird and random rant, and the fact is I’m really not that bothered. They’re not trying to pressure me into it or anything, so I really can’t fault them for doing what they want. Regardless, it’s something that’s been bothering me, I wanted to vent it somewhere, and i figured this would be the best place. They’re lovely people overall and i know that saying any of this to them would absolutely be an asshole thing to do.
Idk, maybe i’m missing something; maybe vaping actually feels amazing to the person doing it, even if it’s not obvious to an outside observer. Maybe I’m just out of touch; vapers please feel free to educate me ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
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AtomicNebula
So, I don't vape or smoke or anything, I don't even drink alcohol lmap (similar reasons you do it seems based on what you said haha)
My best friend does vape though, and I can tell you what she told me! So, when she was out of her house, she tried to quit vaping. She said she KNOWS it's bad for her and she really doesn't want to do it. And she successfully quit while she was out of the house traveling for like a month. When she got back home though she started vaping again. Why? Because her dad vapes. Basically, she knows its bad for her and she does want to quit, but its REALLY hard to stop when people around you are vaping and they easily give you access to it (she's an adult and when she asks her dad if she can have some he says sure). She told me that she DOES like the feeling it gives her. She says it's a lightheaded feeling but it's gentle and not overwhelming. But she does want to quit because she does know its bad for her + she wants to be more in control of herself. What i think all this basically means is that its a social addiction for some people. Like you said, you see a lot of people vaping in some areas. Some of those people are enabling eachother. There's actually some VERY interesting videos about this on youtube. It's an interesting culture around vaping. it's super social. and I never wanna be part of it lmao. but its interesting to look into it as an outsider.
xxRebellious_Emmaxx
It's the nicotine, and as someone who grew up with a mother who's been smoking cigarettes since the 80s, I learned pretty early on how addictive nicotine is through those television PSAs about smoking as well as reading this one anti-smoking poster my elementary school had near one of the staircases that was from 2003 or so according to the date stamped on the bottom of it. It's apparently one of the most addictive and hard to wean off substances there is (which explains why so many smokers struggle to quit).
Dana Scully
I don't get it either -- I tried a vape once, hated it. When you inhale (as most do) it burns your throat and chest so bad. I was genuinely shocked because nobody warned me about it, and I was like, how tf do people do this repeatedly? Shit feels awful.
Now, I will say, I tried just pulling the vapor into my mouth and blowing it right back out again, like you would with a cigar or pipe tobacco. It was kind of relaxing, but I'd honestly rather just smoke an occasional cigar as they just have tobacco and not mystery chemical juice.
I think the appeal for most younger people is the flavors. It tastes like candy without the calories. Would I ever vape again? No, trying it once was enough for me.
jude
Lets say someone drinks soda, everyone knows that's bad for you, now replace soda with nicotine.
Mefisto Bebop
Nicotine is a stimulant, so you get some very mild benefits. Your heart rate will increase, and you'll get a lot of dopamine. A lot of people say it calms them. It's like a very masochistic relationship. The nicotine stresses you out the longer you go without it, then once you get it again all that stress you just built up is washed away with dopamine, creating that immediate relaxation feeling. The history of the tobacco industry is really interesting, I highly recommend watching some documentaries on how they got such a strong hold on the world. The absurdity of non smokers thinking they're being goody-two-shoes' for not seeing a point in poisoning yourself for little benefits is just a testament to how much of a hold big tobacco has on people.
The_WifeOfTheDead
As someone who vapes maybe once a year. I can say I don’t really LIKE it you know? I come from a family of smokers and I think I have the habit in my DNA somewhere.
Once I smoke or vape, I immediately regret it because it hurts my throat. It’s like having a sore throat without being sick, long term I think the people just get used to it. But yeah, I don’t really do it to “be cool” or because I enjoy it. It’s like people who drink alcohol don’t do it for the taste, it’s for the effects. But I don’t see a positive affect with cigs or vapes.
I come from a family of smokers as well (my mom and maternal great grandmother are/were smokers respectively), though it seems to skip a generation in between and I've been exposed to enough secondhand smoke throughout my life to never want to even think about picking up a cigarette or even an e-cigarette for that matter.
by xxRebellious_Emmaxx; ; Report
Koda&Kam
Mostly, I think half the reason why people use vapes are due to the fact they were actually made for you to quit. Vaping only become popular because it is often perceived as safer than smoking, allowing users to consume nicotine discreetly and frequently in places where cigarettes are prohibited.
But not to mention even kids I see, also use vapes, and actively talk about using them in public places. Since vapes popped off, the amount of appealing flavors, (such as mint, candy, and fruit.) makes vaping more enticing, especially to youth. People also use them since they’re mostly advertised, (Or from what I see.) to help keep down anxiety and other stressful conditions.
Mainly users switch from cigarettes thinking vaping is harmless, or at least 95% less harmful, which reduces their motivation to quit. While some suggest they are less harmful than combustible cigarettes. (They are still highly addictive and not safe.) This is also coming from a person who doesn’t vape, correct me if I’m wrong.
AmbitiousCat
honestly id rather wait until i move to the states and then smoke 420 instead of vaping right this instant
why would i wait until i move to the US? turkey is the fun police when it comes to drugs,weed is banned both for medical and recreational use