Okay, I just need to start this thread of by getting a few things out of the way. First off, I've been a huge supporter of vaping since before the damned Gamucci was released; in fact, I remember watching commercials for it, online, during classes in high school, where they had smokers trying it out (back when it was still a concept ecig). Also, the oldest receipt I have for an ecig is back in 2008, but that's for the third e-cig I ever bought. So yeah, I've been into this shit for a long time. I should also mention that I have a part-time job selling this stuff. I am not here to bash vaping, by any means.
Now, there's something that's been royally pissing me off since the inception of this product into the US market... Vaping, as far as we know, and scientifically speaking, is not necessarily a healthier alternative to smoking. On the contrary, many scientists, doctors, and health experts, will conclude that vaping is likely a healthier choice for smokers. What's getting me so annoyed is the amount of people using anecdotal evidence as "proof" of being safer, combined with evidence of relative safety that has been vaguely taken out of context from various studies of other applications. There have been no conclusive studies performed that are actually leading us believe that this is truly a healthier alternative to tobacco. End of story.
The attitude that surrounds this product (and, unfortunately, the entire culture) is nothing more than an all out sales pitch, whether the consumers realise it or not. When I go to the vapour shop I work at, and I listen to the sales pitch given by just about any of my coworkers, it's literally the exact same thing that just about any pro-vaper says; and, quite frankly, it's almost all based on anecdotal evidence. As a sceptic, a responsible employee, and as a consumer, this bugs the hell out of me. Vapour shop employees have a HUGE responsibility to the public, and nearly every single shop I've gone to tosses that responsibility out the window. The fact is, most vapers seem to blissfully ignore the fact that we don't even know what the actual health benefits are from vaping, if there are any. And no, anecdotal evidence is not as relevant as many purport it to be (scientifically and statistically speaking).
Look guys, I have dedicated a lot of money into vaping over the years. My first device was the DSE 901... which I'm betting most of you haven't the faintest idea of what it originally looked like. I've seen this industry grow into what it is today, and it's depressing. Does it mean I think we should stop vaping? Well, I'm writing this while using my Sigelei 150, and a Doge v2 with a sub .2 ohm build... So, I don't think that's remotely what I'm saying. What I am driving at is the fact that so many people are trying to convince others, and themselves, that this is safe, or has been proven to be safer than cigarettes. THIS IS FALSE. In fact, any statement outside of the "we don't know" kind should technically be considered false. The majority of statements surrounding the "safety" of vaping are based on many fallible arguments; arguments that originally were used as a reason for getting people to start looking at this scientifically.... and now it's used as speculative "proof". While no one ever says those words, that is exactly what is being implied; and it's disgusting.
Take this little rant however you guys want. I figured I'd post it, and share my side of this story. I've been lobbying for more research on these products for many years, and I've seen the same words go from a plea for more research change into a pro-vaping stance (based on safety). Is there anyone else who's been thinking about this stuff the same way as me? I'm sure there is.
But, c'est la vie. Figured I'd stir up the shit a little here, and see what happened.
Now, there's something that's been royally pissing me off since the inception of this product into the US market... Vaping, as far as we know, and scientifically speaking, is not necessarily a healthier alternative to smoking. On the contrary, many scientists, doctors, and health experts, will conclude that vaping is likely a healthier choice for smokers. What's getting me so annoyed is the amount of people using anecdotal evidence as "proof" of being safer, combined with evidence of relative safety that has been vaguely taken out of context from various studies of other applications. There have been no conclusive studies performed that are actually leading us believe that this is truly a healthier alternative to tobacco. End of story.
The attitude that surrounds this product (and, unfortunately, the entire culture) is nothing more than an all out sales pitch, whether the consumers realise it or not. When I go to the vapour shop I work at, and I listen to the sales pitch given by just about any of my coworkers, it's literally the exact same thing that just about any pro-vaper says; and, quite frankly, it's almost all based on anecdotal evidence. As a sceptic, a responsible employee, and as a consumer, this bugs the hell out of me. Vapour shop employees have a HUGE responsibility to the public, and nearly every single shop I've gone to tosses that responsibility out the window. The fact is, most vapers seem to blissfully ignore the fact that we don't even know what the actual health benefits are from vaping, if there are any. And no, anecdotal evidence is not as relevant as many purport it to be (scientifically and statistically speaking).
Look guys, I have dedicated a lot of money into vaping over the years. My first device was the DSE 901... which I'm betting most of you haven't the faintest idea of what it originally looked like. I've seen this industry grow into what it is today, and it's depressing. Does it mean I think we should stop vaping? Well, I'm writing this while using my Sigelei 150, and a Doge v2 with a sub .2 ohm build... So, I don't think that's remotely what I'm saying. What I am driving at is the fact that so many people are trying to convince others, and themselves, that this is safe, or has been proven to be safer than cigarettes. THIS IS FALSE. In fact, any statement outside of the "we don't know" kind should technically be considered false. The majority of statements surrounding the "safety" of vaping are based on many fallible arguments; arguments that originally were used as a reason for getting people to start looking at this scientifically.... and now it's used as speculative "proof". While no one ever says those words, that is exactly what is being implied; and it's disgusting.
Take this little rant however you guys want. I figured I'd post it, and share my side of this story. I've been lobbying for more research on these products for many years, and I've seen the same words go from a plea for more research change into a pro-vaping stance (based on safety). Is there anyone else who's been thinking about this stuff the same way as me? I'm sure there is.
But, c'est la vie. Figured I'd stir up the shit a little here, and see what happened.