AlexanderJ said:
. . . This is the kind of information we need to get out to the masses!
No kidding.
I was recently involved in an online argument about the ongoing e-cig bans, and I was absolutely horrified by the crazy things ordinary people believe about vaping. For example:
~ E-cig batteries frequently explode in people's faces, disfiguring them for life.
~ The people using e-cigs are primarily drug addicts.
~ There are many scientific studies proving that second-hand vapor is worse than tobacco smoke.
~ E-liquid manufactures try to "hook" children by adding sweet flavors and colorful labels . . . why else would they do it?
~ Doctors now believe that e-cigs are the new "gateway drug," eventually leading to narcotic addiction and death.
And I wasn't debating with idiots, either. These were well-educated, perfectly literate participants in a horse training discussion forum; the sort of people who generally respect science and shun quackery.
But the most unnerving part of the whole horrible debacle was the fact that no amount of evidence could shake these people, even when backed up by multiple studies and detailed reports. They were very adamant, and even angry about the whole thing. And the more research the pro-ecig faction posted, the angrier the antis became! It was as if they
wanted e-cigarettes to be proven deadly for some reason, and absolutely nothing could make them reconsider.
So anyway, yeah: I'd love to see studies like Dr D's more widely circulated, but I have to agree that, for some, it's not really about
reason. We need MORE than science to convince such people - but I honestly don't what that "more" might be.
