SMOKIN' TECH!

E-mail, e-commerce, e-shopping... even e-dating - we all know we're talking about the "electronic" versions of these things. What are a few "e-concepts" and their resultant "e-words" that are difficult to imagine ever actually existing? Thirty years ago, if you had told your grandmother that someday the notion of "e-sex" would be commonplace, do you think she would have believed you?

I was surprised this week when I walked past a retail kiosk for the "e-cigarette."

I certainly don't support or condone smoking. And I can't really wrap my head around how otherwise intelligent people can get hooked on such a thing. At a music festival recently, my wife and I were continually, jaw-droppingly stunned at how many teens and young adults smoke. It must have something to do with that wonderful youthful sense of invincibility, sometimes also referred to as stupidity. But look, people smoke. Bottom line, once addicted, it must be difficult as hell to quit.

The "Electronic Cigarette" provides nicotine in varying doses, a flameless and smokeless but "smoke-like" vapor - in short, the nearly complete smoking experience. From their website:

Containing state of the art micro-electronic technology this re-chargeable e-cigarette produces a real smoking experience without any of the deeply unpleasant side-effects of tobacco.

For any smoker wishing to reduce their intake of deadly substances, possibly become less annoying to non-smokers around them, and even ween themselves off of nicotine entirely, the e-cig seems like a good idea.

But bear in mind this product doesn't exist to eliminate nicotine addiction, or to eliminate the oral fixation associated with the act of handling and mouthing a cigarette. No, this product exists to sell you cartridges ongoing.

Be that as it may be, if people are going to smoke, they might as well do it in a less deadly manner, right? Especially so that the rest of us don't have to smell it, take in the poisons "second-hand," or see the butts lying around. And as ridiculous as they all look drawing poison deeply into their bodies puff after puff with postures and wincing expressions ranging from nonchalant to cavalier - won't it be hilarious to see them all puffing vapor from plastic tubes? We can chuckle on the inside while we solemnly acknowledge that, well, it's safer for everybody.

Let's keep our fingers crossed for "e-liquor."

www.smokingeverywhere.com - that URL should tell you what this product is really about. Let's hope a few smokers use it to help them quit.