It does seem that we are Constantly Fight an Uphill Media Battle.
the average person is "burnt out" on media stories.
They are also burnt out on reading stuff on the internet, flyers that arrive in their purchases and mailboxes, etc.
Localized regional interest and advocacy groups i.e. people reaching out to people on an up close and personal basis is what works.
Many of us live in communities where there aren't vape stores, and people have never seen, or even held, an ecig. They don't even know anyone who has one. There are also a ton of people who don't use computers. At all. All they've seen is a Blu cig commercial on TV and received the above-noted literature and flyers (which is often unwelcome).
When you form localized advocacy groups you are able to reach out, network, make contacts and get mentors. For instnace, a vaper gets pulled over by law enforcement and asked to empty their stuff, how much better to have a local attorney who vapes or is pro vaping, willing to do some pro bono work, and is even perhaps on a first name basis with the LEO?
How about I bring my doctor who fully supports my vaping, and has all my medical profiles to show why, and I invite him to the advocacy group's meeting to speak? He's delivered every baby from here to the next 4 counties, everyone loves the guy (rides horses, works in cowboy boots, runs cattle, just like a lot of my neighbors in this region do).
I could go on but ya'll get where i"m going. Large centralized bases simply cannot accomplish these things ( and that does not take away from what they do WELL. )
I bring my vapes to the potluck dinners at the firehouse, I have converted several people, even the woman who fits my eye glasses.
Everything works better from grassroots (small) on up, IMHO.
(And if only vapers would quit clouding the issues with illogical statement and reasonings like "even water is dangerous if you drink too much" or "obesity has more health problems than vaping" or "its my Constitutional right to vape" we would be better off. It makes us look like folks who can't use logic, or even stay on topic, and hurts us a great deal IMHO. )
Knowing your adversaries is always important, and when I look at Dr. Margaret Hamburg's resume, I know what were' up against. Doesnt' matter if you like her or not, there is no denying she has a good education and an impressive list of accomplishments:
Meet Margaret A. Hamburg, M.D., Commissioner of Food and Drugs
If anyone thinks they can toss comments (or any other SOUND BYTES) contrasting obesity and water with regard to ecigs safety to her in an actual courtroom or conference, think again! Just sayin'......
And by the way, forming small advocacy groups teaches you a whole lot about networking, and getting results, and also gives you access to making valuable contacts and connections......with people who can help you. It also teaches your "group" how to pursue results driven outcomes and what works and what doesn't. You can't possibly know these things unless you've done it, hands on. Experience trumps reading any day of the week.
