Very interesting - Went to a Smoking Cessation Seminar today

[BLUwazoo]

Well, I had been looking forward to this. This smoking cessation seminar advertised that they would be talking about research on e-cigs and I was very curious to hear what they would say. Lots of people there were expressing an interest in this topic, specifically.

The long and the short of it was, the BS was running incredibly thick in there. I was prepared to hear the official government "party line" and hear some questionable research studies discussed. But there was a lot of just plain misleading and non-factual information presented. I tried to correct some of the more egregious examples, but finally gave up in the face of an overwhelming onslaught of false information. I was also somewhat surprised at the open hostility that came out (directed at myself) when I explained that I had succeeded in quitting smoking by vaping after failing completely when I tried every single other strategy that they discussed (patches, gum, Welbutrin, Chantix, etc...). I even passed around a couple of my pen-style vaporizers around for people to look at. (I had approached the facilitators during a break and got their permission to share my story and pass them around.) But it was clear that some people were just barely able to contain their fury at the fact that I would dare to come in and defend this hideous practice. And I probably supervise more substance abuse specialists and other treatment professionals than anybody else in the room.

Anyway, it was very eye opening. Not to mention quite disturbing.

 

[Susan~S]

I too find it very disturbing. What was the age distribution of the people who were so upset about the use of e-cigs?

 

[hurricanegirl100]

It's just mindblowing, the number of people that close their minds to a new idea based on no research and no personal experience. Like you, I tried the patch, Zyban, nicotine lozenges and slugging it out cold turkey to quit smoking. None of it worked for more than a few months.

10/28/2011 - walked into a Speedwayto get gas, and instead of buying my customary (and daily!) pack of Marlboro Smooths, I bought a disposable e-cigarette. That day was the last time I ever smoked an analog.

Let the ANTZ wallow in their ignorance. You can't save people that don't wanna be saved. But GOOD FOR YOU! for trying. Kudos, Susan!

 

[BLUwazoo]

Well, the three presenters ranged in age from a guy well into retirement age to a young lady who was probably in her mid-20's (but had been certified by the Mayo Clinic to do smoking cessation training).

 

[BLUwazoo]

Let the ANTZ wallow in their ignorance. You can't save people that don't wanna be saved. But GOOD FOR YOU! for trying. Kudos, Susan!

Thank you very much Susan. I think what shocked me is that these were all treatment professionals here. They should have had a good enough understanding of the scientific method not to start with an open mind and let the data reveal what it reveals. Very disappointed in the lack of scientific literacy.

 

[Zanderist]

Don't know how this would fit in, but I wonder if the same people today against electronic/electric cigarettes, would be the same people that would be against the car when it first came out.

 

[Harlen]

Fear of the new. Fear of not knowing . Needing what they know .

 

[Robino1]

Well, the three presenters ranged in age from a guy well into retirement age to a young lady who was probably in her mid-20's (but had been certified by the Mayo Clinic to do smoking cessation training).

This explains the why. The Mayo Clinic is totally against E-cigs. Unreasonably so. I have to believe that they are partnered, somehow, with Big Pharma.

 

[BLUwazoo]

This explains the why. The Mayo Clinic is totally against E-cigs. Unreasonably so. I have to believe that they are partnered, somehow, with Big Pharma.

Good point, Robino. That might very well explain the slanted presentation from the presenters. But it still wouldn't explain the flaming hostility and animosity from the attendees.

 

[TheJakeBailey]

So what were they pushing instead? Patch,chantix, etc?

 

[Rickajho]

Where was this held? Was it at work or in a more public arena?

ETA: If what you witnessed has anything to do with this => http://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/mayo-clinic-experts-what-should-you-know-about-e-cigarettes-26c7a6/?_ga=1.149639158.1327986987.1415411804 well, that would explain a lot.

 

[Smann245]

They sure do mention regulation and federal agencies a lot in that link. They can pound sand.

 

[BLUwazoo]

So what were they pushing instead? Patch,chantix, etc?

All the above, really. They had a lengthy session on all the NRT's (Nicotine Replacement Therapy) and how to use them effectively. Then they had a somewhat shorter session on "Behavioral Interventions" which was little more than a primer on Motivational Interviewing. (It was hard for me to stay awake for that part, considering I've trained hundreds of people on that over the years and I'm a much better presenter.) Then, on the open discussion part, almost the only thing that anybody wanted to talk about was "e-cigs" and then that always turned into an opportunity for the presenters to emphasize how dangerous they were.

 

[BLUwazoo]

One of the biggest logical disconnects that I witnessed was the overwhelming amount of hatred toward Big Tobacco. But the problem is that they would then sweep the whole vaping movement in with Big Tobacco, despite my attempts to point out that the kind of vaporizers that I was showing them were NOT put out by any of the BT companies. Then, they would bemoan the fact that these devices are "totally unregulated" and that it was like the "Wild West" out there in this industry. But then nobody could make the logical connection that it would be very easy to regulate these kinds of devises out of existence, and then all you would accomplish is to hand it all over to the Great Satan, Big Tobacco.

 

[BLUwazoo]

In short, if the seminar had been on "logical thinking" pretty much the entire class would have failed the final exam.

 

[Rickb119]

Every propaganda campaign has it's useful idiots.

 

[1nitewriter]

In short, if the seminar had been on "logical thinking" pretty much the entire class would have failed the final exam.

LOL I teach graduate critical thinking and logic classes online. Most of my students come in totally unable to think critically. They never question any "authority" until I make them do it.

 

[BLUwazoo]

Every propaganda campaign has it's useful idiots.

LOL I teach graduate critical thinking and logic classes online. Most of my students come in totally unable to think critically. They never question any "authority" until I make them do it.

Ha, ha! Yeah. I think you guys pretty much nailed it!

 

[Steamix]

Don't expect too much from these 'seminars'.

More often than not, they'e flimsily disguised sales pitches for the BP crap that would have even more abysmal 'success' rate without these pep talks and 'behavior modification' .

And the ladies and gents 'working' the audience know of couse on which side their bread is buttered on and dutifully spread the gospel according to BP.

Don't want discourage anyone attending one. Whatever works for you is fine by me.
But reciprocating isn't in the ANTZs book. Like leaving us be with what works for us.

And they can chew my ear off - a few silent puffs on my first mod did more convincing than all their sermons together.

And that is what truly scares them - vaping is so d... efficient that it makes ANTZ and their 'cause' obsolete.And they know it.
To some extent I pity them...

 

[BLUwazoo]

Don't expect too much from these 'seminars'.

More often than not, they'e flimsily disguised sales pitches for the BP crap that would have even more abysmal 'success' rate without these pep talks and 'behavior modification' .

And the ladies and gents 'working' the audience know of couse on which side their bread is buttered on and dutifully spread the gospel according to BP.

Don't want discourage anyone attending one. Whatever works for you is fine by me.
But reciprocating isn't in the ANTZs book. Like leaving us be with what works for us.

And they can chew my ear off - a few silent puffs on my first mod did more convincing than all their sermons together.

And that is what truly scares them - vaping is so d... efficient that it makes ANTZ and their 'cause' obsolete.And they know it.
To some extent I pity them...

You speak the "True True" Steamix. Fortunately, my company paid for the seminar, and it was worth going to, at least from the perspective of learning what the "mainstream" opinion is on the subject. I'm just really disappointed and frustrated that there is still such an uphill battle to be fought in this arena.