Column: Battle brewing over electronic cigarettes

[mpetva]

Column: Battle brewing over electronic cigarettes | CJOnline.com

 

[e-pipeman]

Something of an opinion piece full of words like "might" and "may". It draws no real conclusions. The italicised by-line and its anti-nicotine statement are presumably just there to protect the author/publisher. It seems pretty clear that the author, an ex-smoker, has never vaped. What a great basis on which to write about e-cigs! Bottom line: a flimsy, inconsequential item.

 

[LaceyUnderall]

I think this is a great opinion piece... The unassuming author thought there was "rule breaking" (heaven forbid) going on then upon further investigation realized that not only could they not smell smoke... but the vaper using the ecig had not smoked an analog. It also posed the vaper as a responsible smoker who does not participate in his habit around his children, even with the absence of smoke.

It leaves the reader with the ability to go and do more research instead of telling the reader what they should or shouldn't think.

Smokers might actually read this and go to inform themselves... giving the ecig a try and possibly becoming an informed vaper and that's what we need.

 

[dionymnia]

I'm glad my home state of Kansas is representin' in the battle! This was a very fair op piece - the author doesn't automatically assume a position either way, and he doesn't just parrot back FDA claims or create a fear-based argument. I'm glad to see KS taking a balanced approach. I don't find it to be a flimsy piece at all - the writer's just talking about something he noticed, and honestly he doesn't have a lot of background information on yet. And that's exactly what most people in the mainstream are. It's better than a fire-and-brimstone piece that will immediately draw fire without people being able to think about the issue without taking a side.

Lacey, I like your comment there and I encourage others to follow that example. I've seen some comments on pieces where commenters immediately assume that they have to be defensive and over-the-top with arguments supporting the ecig. Instead, we should be posting comments that are supportive, encouraging, and well-mannered. As Lacey said, smokers might read the comments to get an idea of what others think, and we don't want them to feel like they're being zealously proselytized to, or even attacked (god forbid).

 

[lotus14]

I thought it was a good opinion piece overall. I do think that if the author wanted to quote the USA Today article regarding how the FDA found "carcinogens in testing," he should have done a little more research and found someone to quote regarding the levels of carcinogens found to provide balance.

One thing he got exactly right - there is a battle brewing...

 

[frankie1]

I liked that article as well. Too many times we come off as warriors for the cause and actually alienate people. This piece presented simple facts without judgement either way. That gives the reader to opportunity to learn more about it or simply not feel pushed into taking one side or the other.