The "Well its gotta be bad for you!" Mentality

[nyiddle]

I'm quite curious, because it seems like I'm seeing it more and more.. Are you a vaper who believes that vaping is bad for you, and do it anyway?

I've seen a lot of e-cigarette users (new and seasoned veterans alike) with this strange mentality that e-cigarettes are still bad for you, at least, bad in some way that can be equated to cigarettes. There's virtually NO evidence that proves this is true, and while we're still researching long-term effects, it's looking pretty likely that PG/VG/nic have no negative effects whatsoever. The flavorings kind of come into question, but that aside, why would you vape if you think it's bad for you?

So here's my questions to you self-hating (lol) vapers: What makes you believe vaping is bad for you? Is it just the general, "Nothing good comes free" sort of idea? Is it the fact that there's nicotine, therefore it must be bad? Is it the questionability of the flavorings? Battery safety? I don't really understand.

My concern is that it's spreading misconception. If even vapers are saying, "Well it's bad for me but .... it!" it makes us appear careless and turns people off to the vape community, among the major problem of "spreading misinformation" (something which occurs all too often in the vape community). So let's hear it, you self-abasing vapers.

(Written with a corn of pepper, should be taken with a grain of salt.)

 

[crxess]

Hmmmmmmm.......
Don't think I have ever thought Vaping is Bad for me.
As a 45yr+ ex-smoker, I'm glad there is a much safer alternative to keep me away from Tobacco.

Nothing is life is truly safe.
One could Choke on a penny
Drown in Jello
Sneeze and have an aneurism
Be paralyzed by a cough

The only safe bet in birth is eventually there will be death. Living the in-between is what counts.

 

[zoiDman]

...

So here's my questions to you self-hating (lol) vapers: What makes you believe vaping is bad for you? Is it just the general, "Nothing good comes free" sort of idea? Is it the fact that there's nicotine, therefore it must be bad? Is it the questionability of the flavorings? Battery safety? I don't really understand.

...

My Question to you would be How do you Define "Bad" in this Context?

Bad in the Context as compared to Not Vaping? Bad as compared to Smoking? Something in Between? Something completely different?

 

[skoony]

people have different opinions on the subject that vary
in degree's across the whole spectrum when it comes to
the safety of vaping.
all i have to say is with over 2000 studies along with what
modern toxicology can tell us vaping is estimated to be 98-99.8%
safer than smoking cigarettes, plus or minus 1%.
on a scale of relative risk this indicates a potential of harm
comparable to tap water. as far as long term study's are concerned
current science seems to indicate there will be no there,there.

regards
mike

 

[nyiddle]

My Question to you would be How do you Define "Bad" in this Context?

Bad in the Context as compared to Not Vaping? Bad as compared to Smoking? Something in Between? Something completely different?

Fair question, I've heard it expressed differently depending on the person. I've heard some vapers claim that it's bad as in, not as bad for you as smoking, but there has to be some inherent danger/safety risk. I've also heard a couple vapers claim that it's equally bad/potentially worse for you than cigarettes (although that is usually the opinion of non-vapers/non-smokers), insinuating that the unknowns (vaping may be bad for you) are far more dangerous than the knowns (cigarettes will cause cancer).

Of course, I asked them at the time, "Why wouldn't you go back to cigarettes?" And they gave me an answer along the lines of, "Well the flavorings and the convenience of being able to do it inside and the variability of nicotine levels etc..." which I don't have a problem with (I guess). I don't know if the couple had necessarily quit smoking in exchange for vaping, but it is being used as an alternative (in one way or another).

 

[caramel]

there has to be some inherent danger/safety risk.

That's ANTZ position after unsuccessfully trying to find a real scare. If people felt for it then the ANTZ reached their goal.

 

[zoiDman]

Fair question, I've heard it expressed differently depending on the person. I've heard some vapers claim that it's bad as in, not as bad for you as smoking, but there has to be some inherent danger/safety risk. I've also heard a couple vapers claim that it's equally bad/potentially worse for you than cigarettes (although that is usually the opinion of non-vapers/non-smokers), insinuating that the unknowns (vaping may be bad for you) are far more dangerous than the knowns (cigarettes will cause cancer).

Of course, I asked them at the time, "Why wouldn't you go back to cigarettes?" And they gave me an answer along the lines of, "Well the flavorings and the convenience of being able to do it inside and the variability of nicotine levels etc..." which I don't have a problem with (I guess). I don't know if the couple had necessarily quit smoking in exchange for vaping, but it is being used as an alternative (in one way or another).

I think that the More People you Ask, the More Diverse Answers you will get. Because there is No Singular definition for words like "Bad" or "Safe[er]".

Ask a PAD Smoker in their Late 50's with declining health because of Smoking and you may receive a Completely Different answer than a 21 year old who Smokes a Few Cigarettes a Day.

I don't View e-Cigarette Use as Harm Elimination. I view it as Harm Reduction. And compare it to if a Person Smokes. And Not if a Person has Never Smoked.

Because if there was no Smoking, and someone came to you and Said they had decided to Inhale Food Flavorings and Artificial Sweeteners ever waking hour of the day, You might look at that Somewhat Different.

People will tell you that e-Cigarettes are "Safer" than Smoking. I would be Hard Pressed to Disagree with this kinda of Blanket Statement. But can the Same Blanket Statement be used to say that Not Vaping is Safer than Vaping? I don't see why Not?

 

[The Cloud Minder]

I guess it's probably the fact that we didn't evolve to inhale glycerin, propolene glycol, etc. So like it can't be good.

 

[OlderNDirt]

I guess it's probably the fact that we didn't evolve to inhale glycerin, propolene glycol, etc. So like it can't be good.

Has evolution stopped?

 

[roxynoodle]

That's ANTZ position after unsuccessfully trying to find a real scare. If people felt for it then the ANTZ reached their goal.

Oh, its working for them. I'm guessing I'm not the only one here getting phone calls from concerned friends and family.

As of right now based on current studies, I believe its significantly safer than smoking, but I'm quite sure its not as safe as not vaping at all.

 

[bleedingkyo]

I guess it's probably the fact that we didn't evolve to inhale glycerin, propolene glycol, etc. So like it can't be good.

Thats sort of it for me. I've always considering inhaling anything to probably not be great, even breathing wall plug ins all day i've always thought is probably not particularly healthy. And yes most good things are bad for you and even healthy things in large quantities are bad. I wouldn't say I think its "bad" but I think its probably "not good" and I wouldn't be surprised if it did turn out to be bad in some way. But knowing something is bad and caring are two very, very different things

 

[bman1977]

Thats sort of it for me. I've always considering inhaling anything to probably not be great, even breathing wall plug ins all day i've always thought is probably not particularly healthy. And yes most good things are bad for you and even healthy things in large quantities are bad. I wouldn't say I think its "bad" but I think its probably "not good" and I wouldn't be surprised if it did turn out to be bad in some way. But knowing something is bad and caring are two very, very different things

+1 from me. Air is the only thing meant to go into our lungs. I think alot of people on here drink the Kool Aid in thinking its safe. Negative effects will come out on it. Just give it time. I do know I feel better and smell better since quitting cigarettes. Lesser of 2 evils I guess.

 

[Enoch777]

Haha great stuff here. I've never thought it was bad but I try to limit any variables so I know it's as healthy as it can get. As long as I can answer these items correctly then the thought never crosses my mind if it's bad for me or not:

~Does my juice have artificial colorings/flavorings? NO!
~Is my vape consistent, i.e. no burnt hits? YES!


Damn that list was shorter than I thought

I guess it's probably the fact that we didn't evolve to inhale glycerin, propolene glycol, etc. So like it can't be good.

I keep posting this link because it keeps becoming relevant. I especially love the part where it notes that VG is metabolized into H20 and C02. I guess the argument really comes down to flavorings and colorings. But like Bman already said, lesser of two evils FOR SURE.

At least we know there isn't a list with thousands of known carcinogens, mutagens, and nasty poison toxic CRAP. Yeah kind of puts things into perspective when you think about that, anything else is just semantics as far as I'm concerned.

 

[nyiddle]

~Does my juice have artificial colorings/flavorings? NO!

I've actually heard that natural flavorings are far more questionable than man-made artificial flavorings.

Diacetyl/diketones, after all, occur naturally.

 

[zoiDman]

BTW - Are All e-Cigarettes the Same? And are All e-Liquids made with the Same Ingredients and to the Same Standards?

Is a Person Vaping a 25% Flavored e-Liquid @ 70 Watts incurring the Same Potential Risk as say a person Vaping Unflavored @ 7 Watts?

 

[Enoch777]

Diacetyl/diketones, after all, occur naturally.

What juices have diacetyl, was it hot cinnamon (cinnamaldehyde) or the buttery stuff? At any rate none of my juices have that in it and I'm pretty sure all the reputable vendors stopped selling those lines. Or maybe not. I don't juice shop anymore.

And burning your juice is a problem too but really - only if you are doing it often. It can produce formaldehyde. Not quite as bad as smoking IMO but still not good hence why I check these items off my list before I continue vaping.

But seriously, burning your toast is about as bad as getting the once-in-a-blue-moon burnt hit. We all know it, vaping is vastly more healthy than smoking and that's well... ONE OF THE REASONS why we do it. Also cause it's *%#(*!@ amazing and so very very satisfying!

 

[The Cloud Minder]

Has evolution stopped?

Haven't you seen Idiocracy?

 

[nyiddle]

What juices have diacetyl, was it hot cinnamon (cinnamaldehyde) or the buttery stuff? At any rate none of my juices have that in it and I'm pretty sure all the reputable vendors stopped selling those lines. Or maybe not. I don't juice shop anymore.

Actually those are sort of two separate topics.

Diketones are present in MOST flavorings, natural and not. Diketones also occur naturally to give us flavors like vanilla (ie: when you eat ice cream), as well as buttery flavors like popcorn (hence the "popcorn lung" scare). I've even heard that there are trace amounts (granted, smaller than in a "custard cream" e-liquid) in fruit flavors! Most juice companies claim that they don't use things that have diketones present, but really there's no telling what they're using, and even if they THINK something is safe, there's no real telling that it actually is.

The cinnamon thing is entirely different, and involves the breaking down of certain flavorings into their base -aldehydes, which (as the name pretty much suggests) are terrible for you (and carcinogenic!)

I've heard some members go to unflavored VG/PG/nic, which honestly is too paranoid for me. Gotta have my fruity flavors. But yeah, back on topic: I try to stick to fruity flavors/flavors that I want to assume don't have diketones in them. There's no real telling right now I suppose, but eh.

As I read this thread/post more, I'm beginning to go back to the side of "we should probably be extremely wary of what we're putting into our bodies". The other part of me wants to rationalize it and say, "Nothing bad has happened yet."

 

[VHRB2014]

Trickle down defeatism.

Heard a bunch of it from the prez yesterday.

 

[bwh79]

The point isn't that it's not at all bad for you, the point is that it's (very probably) less bad for you than smoking. It's a "lesser of two evils" kind of thing.

Drinking battery acid is (very) bad for you. Drinking only pure, distilled water is much healthier. Drinking carbonated soda with high-fructose corn syrup is probably somewhere in between. Are you one of those people that believes carbonated soda is in any way bad for you, yet still continues to drink it?