Thank you, Lacey. Collectively, our stories mean something to all of us. If a red flag were to be raised against e-smoking by users, we would have seen that flag by now. I think this practice is safe in the short-term, and will continue to enjoy it .. and to read others' stories.
I have read a lot of the posts/debates/arguments on here and find it impossible to agree with everybody, that's why I like the idea of forums as they give everyone a chance to share their opinions and even throw in a few facts. I don't agree with everything that Bob says but I would defend to the hilt his right to say it. He also talks a lot of common sense!
Although vapers might be biased they have all found what they believe to be a safer (not proven safe but safer) alternative to the crap they used to inhale. No red flag has been waved as yet and the anti arguments are getting weaker by the day. As it has already been mentioned, long term is a long time and we might well see some horror headlines regarding the long term damage caused by the licensed NRT products such as gum, inhalers, patches and liquids. We all make choices every day and many are based on the old 'educated guess' method, or at worst choosing the lesser of 2 evils. Do we stop using cars because we know that they can be dangerous by polluting the atmosphere and our lungs? Do we close down chemical factories for the same reason? Do we ban cows from farting because of the methane? No, we try to make the best of progress and we are also selfish in that we want our creature comforts. Hopefully we find ways to do it as safely as possible, maybe not guaranteed safe but as safe as possible. We take risks every day but we also try to minimise them and manage them. Vapers should be applauded for taking a responsible stance and not polluting the atmosphere, for reducing the chances of them taking up valuable time and space in hospital wards, for taking responsibility in their own hands and doing something positive. The quicker we can polarise ourselves from tobacco smoking the better as there is still a certain stigma that is trying to cling to us like dog poo on our shoes. Smoking tobacco is one of the most disgusting habits that anyone can have, there I said it!
There are some members of this forum who seem to regularly chastise others for saying the wrong things, such as 'we mustn't claim it helps people to quit smoking' - well I'm sorry but it bloody well does! How many of you have stopped smoking tobacco since you started vaping? I'm not sure how to set up a poll but I'm sure that one of you good people could do it using that very question, 'How many of you have stopped smoking tobacco since you started vaping?'. Instead of us being almost apologetic or secretive or furtive over our clean habit and instead of trying to be so politically correct that we become totally impotent, let's stand up and tell everybody that what we do is better and healthier than smoking tobacco and that we have given up smoking tobacco because of it.
Praise the Lord and pass the ammunition!!
Amen.
Jimi.
). Quit the analogues completely in May 2008 and have never looked back.
