New Technology = New Lingo

I’ve started to use the e-cigarettes in an attempt to stop my use of tobacco.  I thought the switch would be fairly easy since I get the nicotine without all the other harmful ingredients.  And basically it is fairly easy…right now.  From about 2 packs of cigarettes a day, I’m down to less than 10 daily.  And my goal is to cut out one cigarette a day until I get to zero.

But as with any new technology, you have to learn the lingo.  And e-cigarette users definitely have their own lingo.  You no longer “smoke”, you “vape.”  For some reason when I think of “vape”, a picture of Marlene Dietrich, with her inimitable accent, comes to mind, telling me, “I want to be alone, I’m vaping.”  The other picture in my mind is Lisa asking Oliver of “Green Acres” fame, if Oliver is, “out in the barn “vaping”.

Is “vaping” the only new word?  Not by a long shot.  Here are a few of the new words that e-cigarette users have to learn.  “Atomizer”, which heats smoke juice into vapor.  “Cart,” is what holds the smoke juice.  “Drip”, is a way to add smoke juice to a cart.  “E-liquid,” is another name for the smoke juice.  “PG,” is the ingredient in the smoke juice that produces vapor.  “VG,” carries flavor and creates vapor.  Got it?  Okay.  Here is your next quiz.  This was written by an individual who reviews e-liquid flavors.

“I found that at around 3.7v and below, the chocolate flavor is more pronounced with my sweet spot ending up around 3.9v to 4.3v.  While at 4.3v and higher, the mint flavor becomes more dominant.  This is with the use of a tank, if dripping the scale would slide to the left around .04 volts”.  (By Tuc on Jan 1, 2012)

I have absolutely no idea what this guy is saying.  It’s difficult to understand whether he likes a certain flavor of e-liquid or not.  And there are a dizzying array of e-liquid flavors on the market.

You can vape Blackberry Limoncello or Peanut Butter Cup.  Root Beer Float sounds interesting.  Perhaps Strawberry Cheesecake is more to your liking?  It’s truly amazing the flavors you can “vape.” 

It took me some time to learn new lingo, such as “tweet”, and “hashtag”.  It will take time to learn the new “vaping” lingo as well.  But I'd rather learn new lingo than continue my old habit.