ConsumerReports (supposedly) wants to hear from vapers...

[The Cloud Minder]

Someone brought this to my attention earlier this evening: https://stori.es/share/ecigstories (This link does in fact go back to the Consumers Union, aka Consumer Reports)

From the tone of the questionnaire and their past article history, I'm wondering if they're hoping for fail or even horror stories. Needless to say, it would be sweet irony if they ended up swimming in success stories instead. Keep in mind, Consumers Union is the advocacy arm of Consumer Reports. Depending on their current view of vaping, we might could earn another positive voice for our side with enough success stories. On the other hand, they may simply be trolling for negatives to advocate against vaping with. Only you can decide if it's worth putting yourself out there. Personally, I'm tired of being alluded to as a figment of someone's imagination because I found it easy to quit smoking via e-cigarettes almost 5 years ago while no other method worked.

So, ... they are not planning on reviewing mods and attys?

 

[juicynoos]

Submitted with simple consumer style responses, although I wrote vapor,"not smoke", I think 6 times and avoided any extravagance in the comment section other than the obvious positive's and other truth's. I didn't want to paint myself as militant, radical or a winging Pom-just an average Joe who quit cigarettes

 

[NC Dripper]

I submitted my reply. I made sure I referred to it as vaping and vaporizer instead of ecigarette. I think that term hurts our case more than anything.

 

[StormFinch]

But to play the other side right now we have a post asking what do you say to people who say your still smoking.
So their not the only ones constantly making this assumption. And the only way to get a voice heard is to actually say something.
I say take the test

Then flood the comment box with your truth they may be willing to change if they get enough positive information. Too many times we complain about noone listening then walk away when some wants to hear what we say...........

Thrash beat me to the punch.

I'm still debating with myself whether I should respond or not. Just the disagreement in this thread reminds me that even we as a group cannot agree on vaping. We have differing opinions on whether we should even allow ourselves to be seen vaping for fear it may offend others. There are long discussion on whether vaping is safe/bad or not. And now we even have disagreement on whether we should even share our stories about how vaping got us off cigs. If we can't even come to a general consensus on the virtues and future of vaping within our own group, how in the hell are those of us who see vaping as our savior from that demon smoking ever going to convince society as a whole. Winning over our peers is challenge enough.

All you can do is what's right in your own mind and heart.

So, ... they are not planning on reviewing Mods and attys?

Lol let's hope not since they are still using the mistaken "smoking" term.

 

[The Cloud Minder]

...

Lol let's hope not since they are still using the mistaken "smoking" term.

I don't know, I think I'd rather see their approach to it rather than countless anecdotal errors that the Magma delivers more flavor than the Veritas. At least it would be helpful to compare things like fixed/adjustable/floating connector - fires down to 0.6/0.5/0.2 ohms all in a chart.

 

[Rickajho]

Your right I havent as I cant remember the last time I even looked at their mag or site maybe a washing machine in the 90's so im willing to retract my stance.

But to play the other side right now we have a post asking what do you say to people who say your still smoking.
So their not the only ones constantly making this assumption. And the only way to get a voice heard is to actually say something.
I say take the test

Then flood the comment box with your truth they may be willing to change if they get enough positive information. Too many times we complain about noone listening then walk away when some wants to hear what we say...........




Doesnt exactly sound biased to me, so quit complaining no one has our back if you wont even share your positive outcome vaping

But it is biased. Having had a subscription of at least 10 years I get to see if they have anything to say about e-cigs every month and it has been far from unbiased. The fact that they have had anything to say at all - with zero research findings or even citations - surprised me. The fact that their "new, better" format to the magazine has gone down the path of more glitz, less facts makes CR something other than what you experienced in the 1990's. It's not a complaint - it's the reality of where the magazine is at on this subject. How they got to this place would be an interesting question to have answered. Expecting them to do something objective with the replies to this story thing - good luck with that. It won't be "90% of our respondents have reported no negative problems" it will be "10% of our respondents reported dangerous side effects."

 

[stevegmu]

I clicked the box saying my Fastech box mod clone blew up or caught fire...

 

[Rickajho]

To people complaining about their stance. Has anyone actually read the articles? I just read 5 articles on their site, many are simply stating outside research and concerns about what we know today. 2 were referencing the cigalike product.and their concern with big tobacco owning them, which in my opinion is a very valid concern regarding our health.

November 2014 issue, The Best and Worst of 2014, page 39:

Worst New Thread to Kids

Manufacturers are marketing e-cigarettes in fruit and candy flavors but not making packages tamper-resistant, .leading to a sky-rocketing number of poisonings from concentrated liquid nicotine.

They place an illustration of a hypodermic syringe to the right of the "Threat to Kids" title for the factoid.

And a half page shot of a very colorful pink eGo battery with pink clearo on a bright green background, surrounded by candy. Sorry - it was only a half page color shot dedicated to e-cigs equal candy flavored children poisoners.

Zero factual information.

As soon as I can find a couple more issues I will give you more specific citations and quotations.

 

[Jen in North Pole AK]

I submitted a survey with my experience.
Started thinking it about afterwards and came to the conclusion that the results are going to be biased... in vapor's direction. The questions were for Vapors and Smokers and I don't know too many people who have tried vaping (even if they weren't successful quitting cigarettes) who will have negative things to say about vaping.

 

[StormFinch]

I submitted a survey with my experience.
Started thinking it about afterwards and came to the conclusion that the results are going to be biased... in vapor's direction. The questions were for Vapors and Smokers and I don't know too many people who have tried vaping (even if they weren't successful quitting cigarettes) who will have negative things to say about vaping.

There are a few; mainly those yelling that vaping doesn't work after trying some cheap gas station cigalike at 6 mg. Oh, and then there's the ones that get the typical stop smoking symptoms and think that the e-cigs are killing them.

 

[Thrasher]

So messed up


On so many levels

 

[kbf101998]

Submitted my positive comments.

And responded to the verification email.

 

[inspects]

Submitted....I explained very clearly the only product to stop me from smoking was vaping.

 

[inspects]

Millions should submit their experience helping them kick the coffin nails.

 

[inspects]

For whatever it is worth, I have submitted my story:

First off, we do not "smoke" an e-cigarette. It is vapor, not smoke.
I have successfully quit smoking by using an e-cigarette. I have been smoke free for 2 years and 4 months. In that time, I have felt my health improve. I no longer get my annual case of bronchitis, in fact, I have not had bronchitis in the 2 years I have been vaping.
My health has improved so much that I can now exercise and not get winded. I have dropped 10 pounds and regularly work out on the elliptical. I can do a mile under 8 minutes.

With the device that I use, I am able to tailor my nicotine to what I need. I started out at 24mg nicotine and am now down to 6mg nicotine. I would never use a prefilled proprietary closed system unit. That is just asking for failure as it doesn't work efficiently for someone desperate to remove themselves from traditional cigarettes.

Before getting my first kit, I read everything I could in regards to e-cigs. I practice safety and only use batteries and chargers that are made/recommended for my devices.

I do hope that you are fair in your assessment and are not swayed by the corporations that have a stake in keeping cigarette smoking alive. These companies/organizations rely on smokers to keep their funding. Think about how much money smokers bring to the table. Funds include: Taxes, health care costs (pharmaceuticals to treat problems), and all the three letter health organizations. If smoking related illnesses disappear, those organizations are no longer needed. They need smokers, despite what they say publicly.

If you would like more information, please visit CASAA.org.

I don't know if it is the right thing to do or not. I have to try though.

Just received an email to verify my email address. IF you do share your story, make sure you click on that verification. It lets them know you are an actual person.

I said the same thing, Robino....!

 

[salemgold]

Done and shared.

 

[umanbean]

StormFinch, thank you for sharing that link.

I titled mine:

Free at last!

My "testimonial":

The term "smoking" in reference to using a Personal Vaporizer is a misnomer, and misleading to anyone not familiar with how PVs work. The term "e-cigarette" is also misleading, since a Personal Vaporizer is NOT a cigarette. There is no burnt tobacco involved.

I am 59 years old and smoked, on average, a pack of cigarettes per day since my teen years. Over the last 40+ years I tried to quit, and failed, many times using gum, patches, etc. On the other hand, I instantly and totally quit smoking tobacco cigarettes the first day I received my first Personal Vaporizer... 668 days, 13 hours, and 31 minutes ago. Yes, there's an app for that.

My physical and mental health have steadily improved over this time. Less joint pain, less fatigue, better muscle tone, better skin tone, better breathing... I could go on and on... plus, I don't smell like a filthy ashtray.

A few months after I successfully quit smoking, one Sunday afternoon my wife asked me to fix up a PV for her. She quit smoking cigarettes THAT DAY, hasn't touched a cigarette since, and tells me she hasn't even been tempted the least little bit. There is still an unopened pack of her former brand around here somewhere.

I rebuild my own heating coils and mix my own eliquid, so I know exactly what is in my PV, and what I am inhaling... as opposed to the thousands of unknown chemicals added to cigarette tobacco. I started with a nicotine level of 24mg/ml, shortly reduced that to 18, then 15, then 12. I'm now using 10mg/ml with the notion that I'll soon reduce that to ~8.

The part that surprises me most is that I can now socialize with smokers, and not be tempted in the least to have a cigarette. My urge to smoke has, well, gone up in smoke.

 

[Ken_A]

It's vape, not smoke!!!
It's vape, not smoke!!!
It's vape, not smoke!!!
It's vape, not smoke!!!
It's vape, not smoke!!!
say it with me...
It's vape, not smoke!!!
this is a rather biased survey, and I answered both of the drop-down questions with "other"

 

[Thrasher]

November 2014 issue, The Best and Worst of 2014, page 39:



They place an illustration of a hypodermic syringe to the right of the "Threat to Kids" title for the factoid.

And a half page shot of a very colorful pink eGo battery with pink clearo on a bright green background, surrounded by candy. Sorry - it was only a half page color shot dedicated to e-cigs equal candy flavored children poisoners.

Zero factual information.

As soon as I can find a couple more issues I will give you more specific citations and quotations.

bro!
Dont like it
Simple, then dont participate

Its almost like you would rather we dont even try to change peoples perceptions. Which is shocking to see from you. When did you start cashing checks from big tobacco?

I can remember when news media ran the same type of stories about flavored cigarettes targeting kids. Remember the outrage over joe camel?

And yea when the general public is only exposed to jolly rancher ecig a likes made by phillip morris they have a right to be concerned. There opinion is exactly related to what they see on every corner, in every gas station. And someone has to show them...we are not all 20 somethings with candy flavored hooka pens and thats not all that exists.
That article showing candy and syringes is exactly WHY we must stand and fight.

No one is forcing anything on you here.

Tomorrow they could make a fool of us all and say " See? Look at all these addicts" and ill have egg on my face.
But I go to bed knowing I at least tried, whats your excuse?


And you know I can think of other substances that were always thought of as harmful. That after years of public outcry are finally being accepted for their medical properties and abilities to help save lives. And it didnt happen cause someone went boohoo I dont like what fox news said last light.


nothing changes when you pick and choose your fights you cant win them all of them.

" I am not judged by the number of times I failed, but by the number of times I succeeded.
And the number of times I succeed are in direct proportion to the number of times I failed yet had the courage to keep trying"

 

[bigbells]

I also am a current long-time subscriber to Consumer Reports.

I am resigned to using the word "e-cigarette", feeling that it's the easiest way to describe my variable-watt box mod to someone who is not familiar with vaping.

When I responded to the survey, I filled out the comment section as follows, titling it "E-cigs saved my life":

I use an e-cigarette daily. Thanks to e-cigarettes, I have been smoke-free for over 2 years after smoking 50 cigarettes per day for the prior 44 years. My health and breathing are greatly improved and continue to improve.

The wording of your second question indicates either bias or ignorance on your part. E-cigarettes do not produce smoke. Since no one who uses an e-cigarette is smoking when they're using an e-cigarette, I had no choice but to answer "other".

If you are not already aware, nicotine is not a carcinogen.