CBC VideoJournalist wants to do a story on Vaping

[JayTheVapingGuy]

Hey,

so i was going around to try to set up a meet for the HRM vape group... ended up in a lively discussion with a guy who thought my story was interesting and thought it was interesting that we have embraced a healthier alternative to smoking that HC was doing its games with...

after going through my usual spiel about what E-cigs are and how great i feel and blah blah blah... we went outside (cause he wanted a real smoke) and then he told me that he's an off duty VideoJournalist for CBC and that, if i was interested, he would love to do a story on this... he said that if i wasn't interested, he would pretend that he'd not heard my words and carry on..

his interest was mainly about E-cigs and Health Canada playing games...

So, from you more experienced vapers, what do you think i should do...?

should i go forward with this and if so, what should i present to this guy...he's already stated that he will only present the information that i bring forward from that point forward (since he didn't give me any indication prior to the discussion)

I would dearly love to bring vaping to light and show it in a positive light but since that would make me a defacto "representative" of the vaping community, i want to hear from all of you and recieve information from all of you.

if we do go forward with the interview i want to have as much information on hand as i can and be able to honestly answer his questions as best as i can... I do believe that what we are doing is a good thing and a healthier alternative to smoking... not an NRT but a true alternative, cause i plan to vape for the rest of my life...

so... anything and everything... if you have links to the studies showing that nicotine is nonharmful, if you have links to the studies that show vaping is non/less harmful than smoking... please add it..

If you think i should run for the hills... please, say so and give me information as to why doing the interview is a bad idea in your opinion...

i want the full bore of information from right across the board... also, vendors... what would you like to have said... do you want your information passed on or used or would you rather i not disclose where and what i get from whom?

Cheers,
JayTheVapingGuy

 

[heXy]

Do it, you have an awesome camera presence, and know your stuff. I've watched all your JC reviews and have made purchases based on them.

As for information, I'd just say stick to what you know and let everyone know of the huge and ever growing selection they have to choose from.

I can't find any links that state outright that nicotine in itself is healthy. It's still a toxin, but it's the ONLY toxin you're taking in when vaping (should you choose). And if you can already get patches and gum etc (which are straight nicotine and carriers), then the addiction is well recognized, and the use of nicotine on it's own is not considered life threatening.

 

[mwa102464]

It may be a good idea to contact the CASAA Org and speak with them possibly first to see what you can really do to help get some things out they may want to get out there on this and just for some good advice and to really help the vaping community as much as you possibly can

 

[NoizMaker]

This is an awesome idea! I am glad to hear about this, I don't have advice as I am not privy to the best info in the circumstance but WTG!

 

[JayTheVapingGuy]

thats a great idea... i'll contact them tonight and see what they can give me and what they would suggest i talk about... i'm not going to lie for or about anything... if there is a 'negative' side of vaping, then fine, but i won't lie and cover up or pretend i don't know about it...

thats about the biggest risk with this, this guy might take the whole video and turn it on its head and make it anti vape... its a risk but i think its worth it.

 

[heXy]

Lying on television? My oh my, who would do such a thing lol ;P

I agree though, turning a blind eye to risks will be extremely bad. But there are approx 3996 less chemicals when vaping. Which is a huge difference for health.

My mother works for Canada Colors and Chemicals; she pulled the MSDS forms on PG and VG and both are considered non carcinogenic and non cancer causing. The employees aren't even regulated to wear respiratory gear when handling the them.

PG however, is a known irritant...

 

[smokum]

If your not comfortable "spearheading" then take the information that you "know", or can gather, and portray yourself as what you are....... a new PV user who upon your own research is confident that you have chosen a very much safer alternative considering the alternative.

As above, CASAA would be a very good source for the most recent up to date findings, but for a more Canadian oriented theme of what's what regarding the import and purchasing issues I'd contact vendors for base facts on the "market" side of things, and contact Hawt, Rachel, and Blondie (reeeeally sorry if I misspelled those eek), for issues on the consumer side since they appear to be quite organized with info to somehow miraculously pull it out of thin air when needed, lolol.....

Best wishes on a "positive" spin.... we're overdue I would think, and/or just speak with them honestly and don't be afraid to say "I don't know, but........" within your comfort level.

Would be interesting if the interview was "onsite" at your planned vapers meet (also free advertising for the place of choice), as long as the participants were comfortable with their presence and could deem before hand if they wished to speak publicly or not.

Congrats on making the contact !! The opportunity is there..... but in the end really, its going to be up to the news chief whether it even makes it to air.

VapeOn,
Greg

 

[Lil-Stewie]

thats about the biggest risk with this, this guy might take the whole video and turn it on its head and make it anti vape.

And-or bring the wrath of HC down on our Canadian suppliers

 

[Switched]

I thought of the meet as well as a great opportunity, but then... I am not sure if it would have some negative spins at this time as little Stewie mentioned. e.g vaping in a public enclosed area. I know all about the "it's not smoking" but... folks still see smoke.

However, I firmly believe you should go for it. It can't hurt any more than the harm that has been done by the antis anyway. The good side of this. It seems you have a fed up smoker that is willing to take the plunge. By all means lets catch him. Then perhaps a follow up at one of the meets, at a later date.

Vaping in HRM is slowly coming out of the closet. Folks are informed. They all pretty much know what we are doing. I believe acceptance through exposure is the way to go. Little baby steps. I have the odd merchant shake their heads when they might see what they thought was smoke but then don't smell anything, nothing in my hands, and that idiot over there just placed a lit cigarette in is shirt pocket

 

[mwa102464]

I would make the reporter sign an exclusive agreement that you get to approve the story as well, since your giving him the interview you should be able to do this, it's not an uncommon thing and this would protect you and the community.! This way he can't spin anything on you and your interview or against vaping, you can also tell him you want to make it a positive thing.

 

[JayTheVapingGuy]

thanks for that bit of info MWA... i'll keep in mind the contract thing when chatting with him.

i also just sent an email to the CASAA website people... hopefully they'll get back to me in the next day or two...

I'd love to be able to have a chat with him and then possibly let him see us 'responsibly' vaping in public in a public venue...

cheers,

Jay

 

[mwa102464]

Yup no problem, might as well protect yourself as much as possible if your going to do it (right) I know I would, you wanna come off looking like the good guy here as much as possible, and not let some reporter flip it around and make you look bad or put a NEG spin on it, I would at the minimum make sure you get to approve it.!

 

[labradorlost]

Make sure you arm yourself with some unbiased information from reputable sources. You can access many science and health journals with a Library card from your local Library websites database. I believe you can find a article at physorg.com concerning ecigs, for example. I would research the toxicity, whims labels etc.. PG and VG, daily uses and applications, allergies, their flash points, as well you should have some of the hardware information, such as the temperature atomizers function at. The subject about Nicotine...Well I think thats a tricky situation. It really is a battle against Government and corporate interest... But we do know, other smokeless tobacco products do not give very efficient nicotine dosages , such as snuss and chew. Nicotine gum when chewed improperly has made me sick many of a time.

Wow thanks for putting yourself out there, good luck

 

[Can_supplier]

And-or bring the wrath of HC down on our Canadian suppliers

Please just be vague about where you get your product and methods you use... Both on and off the record, reporters tend to put what is off the record on the record, and whoever gets their website on the news is dead..

Beyond that, I'd go for it. Don't spend time researching anything, and don't try to be an expert i.e. knowledgeable about all points of view such as the opposition. The value would be the perspective from the average user. People can relate to someone like much better than an expert spouting off facts and numbers. Use yourself as your advantage.

 

[girlsaint]

Jay if the guy wants a range of stories, there are a few of us here in the maritimes that would be willing to tell our stories, some on-camera, some off.

You could play up the harm reduction scenario, for me, having had 2 heart attacks and still not able to quit smoking, this alternative is certainly safer for me than smoking, yet HC seems to have the opinion that if I am incapable of quitting smoking, I deserve to die.
The fact that I have not smoked a cigarette since I started this still amazes me, and my mindset that it is not a quit smoking device, but an alternative to smoking has made it an easy transition.

I guess as long as Health Canada and the Canadian Government decide to be the "Nanny State" and try to tell us what is good and bad for us, I will have to be a law-breaker because it is literally saving my life.

 

[Kams Cats]

Maybe after you take on HC you can go after CP?

 

[mwa102464]

Casaa has answered your post !!!!

 

[kanadiankat]

Hey Jay - best thing with Journalists is to google the guy and see what types of stories he writes and what his slant is. It's also VERY worthwhile to ask him if he could tell you - in advance - what types of questions he's planning to ask (so you can be prepared).

Feel free to provide him links to research on ecigs so that he can inject some background.

Go for it.

Have fun!

 

[Can_supplier]

I still wouldn’t take the harm reduction angle, from a facts and figures expert point of view. Unless you are the expert it’s hearsay and people see through that. Your personal testimonial is the value here.

You are going to get maybe a 30 second clip on the news, or whatever program.

Spend the 30 seconds talking like a medical expert about harm reduction, that opens the door for them to put a rebuttal from an established expert, with the usual line, its untested ect ect. You vs expert, on medical facts expert wins hands down. Don’t let it go there, unless you bring an army of Doctors and the Pope to back you up.

Spend the 30 seconds explaining how it affects you, you don’t smell anymore, you can breathe again, the cough you had for the 20 years you smoked is gone, you are saving money, and not exposing your kids to second hand smoke. What rebuttal can any expert come up with to that? You should spend more money to harm your kids while you gasp for breath? You win, you neutralized the expert, and all there is to do is be yourself and tell your story.

Cover all your bases, they can and I bet they will try and make you look foolish on facts, but if you play the likeable real average guy, with the “I’m not an expert, but I can tell you what I know from my experience, this has worked for me, heck the only other option was a sure death from cigarettes, plus I don’t feel nearly as dependent on this product as I did with cigarettes”, you’ve acknowledged and addressed the bullet they are going to shot at you to discredit you and recovered with a fact that cannot be argued, because it’s your experince.

You know you are not going to be the only point of view on this one. Only time that happens in the media is when its backed with a truckload of cash, or a government agenda.

 

[Anaconda]

I think this is Fantastick!!! I agree 100% with the above post. You can't go in there saying that you know all, or that your research with the experts has proven this a safe product or a perfect solution to quit smoking.

If you go in with your personal story, that means something. No one is an expert about you but YOU. I would be happy to personally testify about my experience if you need the extra support, PM me.

The reality is this forum..... How many hundreds, even thousands of people who have tried a PV have found the transistion virtualy seemless? I didn't have to "try to quit" I just did. It's the very first time that I didn't have to make an effort to stop smoking. When I hear stories of people who picked up their very first PV, and stopped smoking after 20+ years on analogs, it's motivating. If anything maybe we can help a handfull of other "smokers" take the first step. This is a matter of life or death to most people, if you can save 1 life for your 30 seconds on TV, you have done an amazing thing!

GO FOR IT! You've got lots of support here and if you protect yourself by aproving the final cut, then all should be ok.

Good luck, and keep us updated. Let us know when it will air, I'd love to PVR it! I'm in NB, so I'd love to know.