When the topic of vaping is brought up, the first thing that comes to mind, for many, is guys in beanies, bragging about “blowing fat clouds” and being part of the “Vape Nation.” The entire tobacco vaporizer subculture is stigmatized in such a way the people who do utilize vaporizers prefer to keep it hidden from everyone. People who vape, or vapers, suffer from the same problem that plagues all sorts which groups: stereotyping. The rowdy minority of vaporizers define the hobby itself. The difference with vaping, though, is it can legitimately help better someone’s life. 

It should be more accepted among the general population than it is now, because in the long run, the use of vaporizers is doing society a massive favor. Let me explain. Vaping might be simply a pastime for some, but its most useful purpose is to help smokers wean themselves off nicotine. For example, an article from Independent UK states, “Vaping has helped almost 20,000 people stop smoking.”
When buying vape juice, one can choose the nicotine concentration, which is the single greatest feature vaping offers. This allows smokers to start out at relatively high concentrations, then slowly move their way down until they are using juice with minimal amounts of nicotine, or even none at all.

The wealth of flavors offered also helps create a much more appealing taste than that of standard tobacco. Instead of inhaling smoke, vapers inhale vaporized liquid, which is probably healthier. Then of course, the tar associated with smoking is nonexistent with vaping. Overall, while vaping might still be quite harmful, it is much better for you than smoking a cigarette and it might have a higher success rate in helping people quit nicotine than other alternatives. Considering the negative public stance on smoking, one would think vaping would be taken as a sign a person is choosing a healthier alternative for themselves and others around them. However, vapers are not usually viewed positively.

The very first comment on the Independent UK article I quoted above, said about vaping, “but... you look like a complete tool doing it.” It is this very attitude that turns people away from vaping. People do not want to be associated with 14 year olds blowing smoke rings, and they fear judgment from their friends and family. This is why the attitude towards the issue should change; we should be encouraging smokers to vape, not ostracizing them for it. If our air has to be filled with something, I would prefer it be nice smelling vapor as opposed to smoke and I would also prefer if cigarette butts did not cover the parking lot of every establishment in Starkville.

As long as people are not walking around areas congested with people blowing massive clouds of vapor in our faces, what point is there in calling vapers losers? Our generation is doing a pretty good job not smoking in the first place, but for those of us who make the wrong choice, the best way out of it nicotine addiction—vaping—deserves to be treated like a legitimate alternative rather than a joke.