FIGHT THE FDA with FreeToVape

[amoret]

I really tried not to respond but........... Why do you want to tailor your emails to your representatives interests and attitudes. THEY REPRESENT YOU. You need to tell them what you want them to do.

BTW, as a retired Navy Chief, I don't see any problem with a group that "wraps themselves in our flag"

to
Of course they represent me -- and a whole lot of other people. What on earth is wrong with me emphasizing the effect on small businesses in one letter and emphasizing the health issues in another. Everyone responds better to some things than to others, and I choose to use that information. And I live in a small state where I actually know their interests and positions.

And I respect our flag a great deal. I respect it enough that I prefer that it not be used as an advertising graphic.

 

[joesquid]

Not trying to be confrontational, (is that a word).....but maybe I missed some other post. Didn't see nothing you said about small business or health issues. Who was wraqpping themselves in the flag anyway? I did the FTV survey and might have missed it but don't remeber anything out of line.

Oh, ND isn't a small state but it is one I'd love to visit!

 

[amoret]

Oh, ND isn't a small state but it is one I'd love to visit!

ND still has a small population. And if you don't know someone personally you at least know their cousin or neighbor. The best description I ever read was that the whole state is one Main Street. That's changed some with the energy boom, but not a lot.

 

[joesquid]

And that's exactly what I like about it. Kinda like the west side of Va.

 

[DebiK]

I almost did it, but then got an odd feeling about it. I decided to hold off on it and wait to see what the next call to action is.

 

[patkin]

To the FTV-action nay sayers I ask this: How many members, active/supporting or otherwise, here at ECF? How many members does CASAA have active/supporting or otherwise? How many folks do you guess watch the 8 or 9 youtube channels currently supporting VTF-action whether subscribed to them or not? Which would you rather see happen.... Only CASAA members submitting comments to the FDA or those plus all the rest? And, btw, the intent of FTV was a paper-delivery avalanche just letting the FDA know the density of popular concern. No other intent was ever put forth to my recollection.

One comment: Wild speculations, paranoia and fracturing have already occurred which I had hoped wouldn't happen... Example: FTV site-owner is in Canada... and btw, so what on that? Last I knew, youtube/the internet and vaping is world-wide. My IP search says Easton, Maryland btw. Attempting to follow whatever reasoning was behind that concern, does it mean that if/when the time comes for legal action, Canadian money is no good? I'll take all Justin Beiber wants to give for the cause. Just one, single, example of why I find some of the reasoning I'm seeing beyond my comprehension but, so be it. Whatever floats yer boat. Just take action the way or in the multiple ways your conscience dictates. Just do something for the cause. For some, that might even mean not submitting any comments to the FDA and just waiting to write a check when the law suits start.

 

[DC2]

To the FTV-action nay sayers I ask this: How many members, active/supporting or otherwise, here at ECF? How many members does CASAA have active/supporting or otherwise? How many folks do you guess watch the 8 or 9 youtube channels currently supporting VTF-action whether subscribed to them or not? Which would you rather see happen.... Only CASAA members submitting comments to the FDA or those plus all the rest? And, btw, the intent of FTV was a paper-delivery avalanche just letting the FDA know the density of popular concern. No other intent was ever put forth to my recollection.

One comment: Wild speculations, paranoia and fracturing have already occurred which I had hoped wouldn't happen... Example: FTV site-owner is in Canada... and btw, so what on that? Last I knew, youtube/the internet and vaping is world-wide. My IP search says Easton, Maryland btw. Attempting to follow whatever reasoning was behind that concern, does it mean that if/when the time comes for legal action, Canadian money is no good? I'll take all Justin Beiber wants to give for the cause. Just one, single, example of why I find some of the reasoning I'm seeing beyond my comprehension but, so be it. Whatever floats yer boat. Just take action the way or in the multiple ways your conscience dictates. Just do something for the cause. For some, that might even mean not submitting any comments to the FDA and just waiting to write a check when the law suits start.

I think most of the naysayers concerns have been alleviated at this point.

 

[spacekitty]

All of you folks' time would be better spent by helping out with CASAA's "Call to Action" re: the FDA!!

CASAA: Overview of CASAA's Action Plan Regarding Proposed FDA Regulations

CASAA: First Call to Action for FDA Proposed Regulations - Consumer Request for an Extension of Comment Period

CASAA: Second Call to Action for FDA Proposed Regulations - Consumer Comment on Paperwork Reduction Act


You can also follow their latest comments/suggestions on Facebook at:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/casaamembers/?ref=br_tf


And if you aren't already a member, please join... it's FREE!!

Thanks!!

 

[Vaslovik]

Personally I just don't think sending anything at all to the FDA is going to help any of us or make the slightest bit of difference. So you are far healthier now that you don't smoke and vape instead, "biggie wow" says the FDA "they must think we care about their health." It's all about the profits of their corporate handlers, and the FDA is a criminal organization. They could really give a flip about your health, or how much better vaping is than smoking, they already know that, but they have this agenda ya see, and the corporations they take their orders from are losing money to vaping. They can't have that.

 

[aikanae1]

I see the main value of FTV as delivering comments to Congress. They don't have the information they need unless we tell them. No one else is going to. I also don't think they realize how important and widespread vaping is - per the Economic Impact their information is from 2012 and that only tracks bt sales. No b&m's or oversea sales. They don't know we exist.

I think FTV also has the potential to reach non ECF / CASAA members. Not all vapers are as plugged in to this as "we" are. There are probably millions who haven't heard of CASAA or view it as something other than what it is for whatever reason. FTV side steps all this. I assume these reviewers also know their audience and what they will respond to. "We" need to reach a big audience right now.

Tablets, cellphones, FaceBook, Twitter, Wifi (talk about insecure) .. these are the 21st century. You are free to hold out - but don't discount something beyond your understanding of tech (Harkin holding up a "new fangled" usb charger as proof they are marketing to kids). Why was IP addresses and domains even brought up if they didn't have the experience to understand what they mean??? That kind of crap is what we're fighting so at least try not being part of the problem.

No one has said not to follow CASAA's CTA's or plans of actions. The one comment rumor is another one that took on a "life of it's own" that had nothing to do with reality. There was a strategic plan to wait until the end of the comment period to submit comments, but that's very different. It is also not possible for everyone to address all 99 FDA questions with links to studies and I doubt if most will attempt a 'substantive comment' to the FDA. Those that do are not going to be submitting via a web form anyway.

So what's the harm? Your representative gets 100-1000 papers about ecigs that he has never heard of? That he might become aware that tobacco companies aren't the only ones making 'those things' or that adults like flavors too, as in alcohol, lubricants, condoms and all sorts of adult products? I don't see that as harmful. I say it's about time.

The sad reality is that if CASAA represented all vapers, their numbers would be way over 100k. I suspect FTV might be picking up some of those that aren't tapped in, picking up some of the slack that exists for whatever reason. This has to be an inclusive effort or we've already lost.

 

[aikanae1]

Who said that anyone isn't following CASAA's CTA's?

All of you folks' time would be better spent by helping out with CASAA's "Call to Action" re: the FDA!!

CASAA: Overview of CASAA's Action Plan Regarding Proposed FDA Regulations

CASAA: First Call to Action for FDA Proposed Regulations - Consumer Request for an Extension of Comment Period

CASAA: Second Call to Action for FDA Proposed Regulations - Consumer Comment on Paperwork Reduction Act


You can also follow their latest comments/suggestions on Facebook at:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/casaamembers/?ref=br_tf


And if you aren't already a member, please join... it's FREE!!

Thanks!!

 

[Kryyptyk]

Wow, so much tinfoil hat in this thread.

First off, any server you connect with is going to cache your IP. Anyone with any real knowledge with access to said server could use that IP to unravel the threads of your history on the net, and delve deeper into your available online information piece by piece, not to mention launching a direct assault against your machine. If you think that a site like freetovape.org is nefarious for getting your name, email address, state and city, then you're definitely naive when it comes to net security. I could get all that and more in a matter of minutes, and wouldn't even have to bother with some bogus honeypot website.

As a matter of fact, if you were really that concerned about your information being secure, you probably wouldn't use a naked browser, like 90% of the general net public. You might use a proxy, VPN, TOR, TAILS, or some other things that I won't go into here. So if someone really wanted your basic dox, they wouldn't have far to look.

Freetovape.org was created by a friend of RIP Trippers, and conceptualized by many of the Youtube reviewers we watch daily. You trust these men and women to give you reviews on products you spend your hard earned money on, and then use every day, yet you don't trust them to create a secure blank form website?

Pls.
/rant

 

[Buster282]

Do it! Fill it out! hit Submit!! I did it and its so easy. Really like that it sends your comments to all of your reps. and the FDA! So easy!

 

[chrisj3982]

Grimmgreen has a video on his YouTube channel too


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Fizzpop]

While the discussion of whether or not this is a smart thing to do politically is valid, the hand-wringing over "personal info" is a bit much. They are asking for no more than what is in the phone book. Trust me, amazon and facebook know far, far more about you.

 

[JMarca]

Wow, so much tinfoil hat in this thread.

First off, any server you connect with is going to cache your IP. Anyone with any real knowledge with access to said server could use that IP to unravel the threads of your history on the net, and delve deeper into your available online information piece by piece, not to mention launching a direct assault against your machine. If you think that a site like freetovape.org is nefarious for getting your name, email address, state and city, then you're definitely naive when it comes to net security. I could get all that and more in a matter of minutes, and wouldn't even have to bother with some bogus honeypot website.

As a matter of fact, if you were really that concerned about your information being secure, you probably wouldn't use a naked browser, like 90% of the general net public. You might use a proxy, VPN, TOR, TAILS, or some other things that I won't go into here. So if someone really wanted your basic dox, they wouldn't have far to look.

Freetovape.org was created by a friend of RIP Trippers, and conceptualized by many of the Youtube reviewers we watch daily. You trust these men and women to give you reviews on products you spend your hard earned money on, and then use every day, yet you don't trust them to create a secure blank form website?

Pls.
/rant

I didn't send a fax on their site but hear me out before you jump on the trust wagon.

My reason for not giving this particular approach a shot is two fold...

#1) Any website that collects personal information whether it's collected by Rip Trippers or Jesus himself these days (come on guys it's 2014) should be encrypted, if there is no https:// in the url bar do NOT give your personal info. Also the confirmation e-mail a friend got who did submit his info on there got a e-mail back to him from an smtp server with no password. Everything he submitted in that form was returned to his e-mail in plain text with open arms for anyone to see. Not good!

#2) The idea sounds great, it would be awesome if it wasn't for the execution. The server will auto e-fax all these applications to a lawmaker or congressman but they'll be recieveing 20,000 or god knows maybe 200,000 applications from the same server. As soon as the server starts getting spammed with all these e-faxes the first thing they'll do is ban that IP and it stops there. Spamming isn't the solution if anything it'll make quite a few people angry and they won't take you very seriously.

 

[Tbev]

+1

Sent from my Transformer TF101 using Tapatalk

 

[kristin]

CASAA isn't telling the community they cannot use the FTV website.

We do ask that if CASAA members do use it to submit a well-thought and informed comment and share the link to FTV, please ALSO do the CASAA Calls to Action and share a link to our plan overview: CASAA: Overview of CASAA's Action Plan Regarding Proposed FDA Regulations and each Call to Action. Doing one is not the same as doing the other.

CASAA is not affiliated with FTV, so cannot speak to any concerns expressed about the website, but as far as we are aware the organizers are considered by many to be respected members of the vaping community and have no ill intent.

 

[KODIAK (TM)]

While the discussion of whether or not this is a smart thing to do politically is valid,

How can it be a "stupid" thing to do... politically or otherwise?

Seriously. I've never seen so many people, all wanting the same thing be so wary of each other's motives. Who cares... as long as this canoe gets paddled in the same general direction?

 

[Kryyptyk]

I didn't send a fax on their site but hear me out before you jump on the trust wagon...

I agree with your second point, spamming may cause more problems. However, at this point in the game, doing little or nothing at all is more counterproductive. I'd rather hedge my bets and maximize my influence.

As for your first point, the website is indeed unencrypted, but the information being gathered doesn't necessarily have to be identifying. There are many ways to mitigate risk from using an unencrypted connection, such as:

- Using your initials or an alias instead of your full name.
- Using a throwaway email, or one that has been previously set up with bunk information.
- Adding or subtracting 1-3 years from your age to provide accurate age group data, but not specific age.
- Only inputting the bare minimum information, and not volunteering any identifying data.
- Utilizing user side privacy to guard your IP.

To be honest, if someone isn't using at least half of the above suggestions, then perhaps they shouldn't be on the net in the first place.