The American Media Did a "STELLAR" Job Demonizing Vaping - CONGRATS!

[UncLeJunkLe]

I always wanted to make this thread. Here I go, 'cuz I've had it up to "here"..........

I'm a member of a lot of different forums that aren't vaping (or even smoking) related. And let me tell you, people freakin' HAAAAAAAAAAAAATE vapers.

It's seems like out in the real world it's not nearly as bad because people aren't anonymous. But on the non-vaping internet, it's totally different. Smokers and non-smokers alike believe and parrot all the stupid lies the media has spread over the years...all of them. They did a great job at brainwashing (as they always do).

On occasion, when it fits, I'll either mention that I'm a vaper or, if someone brings up being a smoker and having to/wanting to quit, I'll throw a suggestion their way to consider switching to vaping and hooooly COW you would think that I mentioned the most terrible thing a person could ever mention, ever!

People will attack with all the usual lies...

• That 'll kill ya! What're you stupid?!
• Those batteries blow up ALL.THE.TIME! Are you crazy?!
• Didn't you hear about all those people dying from vaping! (referring to "EVALI" and black market cartridges....LAST YEAR).
  
• That's just as bad as smoking, probably worse! You better quit NOW!
  
• Didn't you hear? That stuff has antifreeze in it, stupid!

...on and on and on. And it's no use arguing, their minds are set and it's all "facts" because why would the media lie? Right? And after all, it looks like smoke, so it's gotta be at least just as bad, right?

Meanwhile here at ECF we're vapin' away, some of 10+ years, most of us probably at least 5 years, without issues at all. Many of us even with stories of how vaping either saved our lives or improved them greatly (with some doctors even agreeing ins some cases).

But you can't tell them that. NO SIREE! THEY KNOW the truth! You're just an idiot who knows nothing and inhales poison! They heard it on the news, the talk shows, social media, blah, blah, blah. That makes them experts!

They would probably be a lot more open to me talking about and suggesting illicit drug use than [GASP] vaping nicotine

It's a real shame and I just don't see this changing because it's not just misinformation, it really is brainwashing.

So I gotta hand it to ya, American Media,
you did a GREAT..JOB! Congratulations!
You earned every dollar you made from it, I'm sure, you losers.

Well, that's the end of my rant.

Thank you, and have a happy 2021

VAPE 'EM WHILE YA GOT 'EM

 

[zoiDman]

Amazing How the Premise of this Movie Rings True (Truer?) 45 Years Later.



Happy New Year Uncle.

 

[borno]

Most people are so gullible it's scary. No discernment in the masses. I see people walking in the woods with masks on (and driving alone) absolutely nutz.

 

[ppeeble]

I've deleted 'friends' on Facebook (yes, i use Facebook because i'm old) when they've posted the usual media bollix. I don't respond, just delete them and move on....
It's scary how human beings will latch on to any old tosh if it suits their agenda. Loud and ignorant is the norm nowadays.
On the plus side, knowing how much propaganda is being spread about vaping has made me question everything else that gets pedalled as 'facts' in general.

 

[UncLeJunkLe]

I've deleted 'friends' on Facebook (yes, i use Facebook because i'm old) when they've posted the usual media bollix. I don't respond, just delete them and move on....
It's scary how human beings will latch on to any old tosh if it suits their agenda. Loud and ignorant is the norm nowadays.
On the plus side, knowing how much propaganda is being spread about vaping has made me question everything else that gets pedalled as 'facts' in general.

Yes, I'm sure social media 2.0 and beyond is full of the same brainwashed fools. But I don't do social media 2.0. I'm still stuck on social media 1.0 (forums) and that's where I like it.

 

[tj99959]

Handwriting was on the wall when I started vaping. (2010) So why am I not surprised?!?
We have known for a long time as to what was going to happen. So becoming SELF RELIANT has been our only viable option all along.

The big question I have to ask is WHY haven't so many figured it out YET?!??

 

[Skeebo]

I know it's quite the morbid thought... but how many of us would not be here today if we were still smoking? Sadly, that doesn't seem to matter to the naysayers. I moved to another state recently and had to switch doctors. I noted on the paperwork that I was a nicotine user... The doctor asked if I smoked. When I told her no that I vaped she told me, "good, it is so much safer that cigarettes".

 

[Ed Brown]

Never argue with stupid people. They will drag you down to their level and beat you with their experience. - Mark Twain

 

[somdcomputerguy]

I'm still stuck on social media 1.0 (forums) and that's where I like it.

I, apprehensively, use FB and Messanger (misspelling intended) because most of my family and friends (IRL ) do. I miss a lot the days when I ran a bulletin board (RBBS-PC - Wikipedia) that had only one phone line and modem.

 

[smacuser]

5G.

 

[vaper1960]

Yep... still happens all the time. Strangers warning me how dangerous vaping is (and yes... saying it's much worse than smoking) Funny thing is when I smoked, nobody seemed to care (as long as I didn't blow smoke towards them) And of course, the ultimate insult... a smoker telling me how bad vaping is. The media planted the seeds and they just keep growing. It's similar to MJ... someone kept claiming MJ has way more carcinogens than tobacco (don't know where they heard that) Hey... you want to get some really screwy looks from people just mention medicinal herbs or home remedies. Many people still believe too much vitamin C is super dangerous (and I don't mean crazy huge amounts... just anything over the "recommended daily" thing) yet our doctors try to "cure" everything with dangerous meds (with bad side effects) I'm so sick of those commercials that say "this will help clear your skin but you may die a slow horrible death" Most media (at least here in the US) is all about keeping us hypnotized and in fear. I'm so glad I read my news on the internet (and from different sources) so I choose what goes in my brain. My mother just stares at MSNBC for hours and believes everything they say is true and anything from any other source is "conspiracy nut" stuff. "Sheeple" are amazing... so brainwashed.

 

[vaper1960]

5G.

I think it (and what they will do with it) is evil. Oh, by the way... I don't wear a "tinfoil hat" (I have an aluminum wok lid... much more stylish )

 

[smacuser]

 

[UncLeJunkLe]

And of course, the ultimate insult... a smoker telling me how bad vaping is.

That happened to me a handful of times when I first started vaping. I would go to the smoker's section to vape. Now, I cant stand the smell of smoke so I find other places to vape alone. That kills 2 birds with one stone - no unbearable smoke and no insufferable smokers telling me vaping's bad/gonna kill me.

 

[NCC]

I've deleted 'friends' on Facebook (yes, i use Facebook because i'm old) when they've posted the usual media bollix. I don't respond, just delete them and move on....
It's scary how human beings will latch on to any old tosh if it suits their agenda. Loud and ignorant is the norm nowadays.
On the plus side, knowing how much propaganda is being spread about vaping has made me question everything else that gets pedalled as 'facts' in general.

At 67, I'm old enough to know Facebook is toxic and so, won't have anything to do with it other than to badmouth it.

Back on topic: I suggest the blame is misplaced somewhat. The media is, uh, the media...the messenger. The attacks originated from the higher forces that be. The various health organizations are (I suspect) influenced by mega-industries, including Big Pharma and Big Tobacco with their mega-lobbying dollars. Mass media's bottom line is the almighty ad dollar, which relies on their credibility. Citing a respected health organization would seem to add to that credibility, however twisted the report might be.

A story about exploding batteries, or any other spurious but sensational story about vaping is also red meat to media directors. Most media consumers are rubberneckers, and gullible as hell. Most never even consider they're consuming a product, not a service.

But I'm not one who runs around bashing media and screaming FAKE (gawd, I hate those people). Sadly, the only viable alternative is probably state-run media. Hard pass.

 

[vaper1960]

Back on topic: I suggest the blame is misplaced somewhat. The media is, uh, the media...the messenger. The attacks originated from the higher forces that be. The various health organizations are (I suspect) influenced by mega-industries, including Big Pharma and Big Tobacco with their mega-lobbying dollars. Mass media's bottom line is the almighty ad dollar, which relies on their credibility. Citing a respected health organization would seem to add to that credibility, however twisted the report might be.

I sort of agree but let me show an example that was totally the media's fault. This guy in Texas was being interviewed... he got the EVALI (sp?) condition and said it was from vaping... at least that's all you hear in the interview. Actually he said vaping T H C and they cut that part out. Someone had the video on YT where he was upset they did that and he also said he has never vaped regular e-liquid.

 

[vaper1960]

 

[NCC]

I sort of agree but let me show an example that was totally the media's fault. This guy in Texas was being interviewed... he got the EVALI (sp?) condition and said it was from vaping... at least that's all you hear in the interview. Actually he said vaping T H C and they cut that part out. Someone had the video on YT where he was upset they did that and he also said he has never vaped regular e-liquid.

Very few of the reports I witnessed mentioned vitamin E acetate, the fact that the liquid was not nicotine base, nor the fact that it was black market. This was precisely the kind of misinformation that would've made Big Tobacco very, very happy to have mishandled.

 

[evan le'garde]

What makes me laugh about televised news media is how they advocate the freedom of speech on one hand and with the other they don't allow any of their guests a word in edgeways. And if someone does manage to shoehorn a word in here or there then it just gets rejected. Seems to me the only people who are allowed the right to the freedom of speech is news media. According to them it is anyway !. I wouldn't mind so much if the "narrative" was actually interesting. But all it seems to consist of is news media tearing people down in front of national / international audiences. It got old real quick and bores the hell out of me, because it's just so predictable.

 

[vaper1960]

At least there were a few good guys out there (and the woman he is interviewing Michelle Minton is great!):