What would YOU tell a reporter?

[MlrGrl]

Much of this thread sounds just sore and grumpy. That will win over no one.

I think it was more just people venting a little...of course, coming out shooting from the hip is no way to approach something like this.....

Then know that fair and balanced means the reporter will find a medical person to quote. You might not like those quotes. Too bad. You have no say in what that person says. It's called balance. The reporter will almost certainly mention the WHO statement. It's a fact and an important one. And the reporter will update the FDA and the suit. Again, that's not for you to censor or criticize. It's covering all sides, being fair to all sides of the issue, balancing a single viewpoint with a counter one, if one exists.

I'd be very, VERY disappointed if those facts aren't mentioned, especially since they are valid, legitimate concerns. BOTH sides need to be presented so that the viewer can have at least an idea if they want to continue looking into this subject.

(Personal note: Yes, I was a reporter for 45 years, a good one, a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize one year. Yes, stomping on the press irritates me no end. 'nuff said.)

Congrats! Sorry you didn't win...I've stumbled upon many of your posts over the past 2 weeks and you are a very clear writer; very easy to understand. I like that.
And I'm sorry if you thought anyone was stomping. Like I mentioned earlier; there's good and bad in everything; just like there are good, 'get the word out' e-cig users and 'in your face I'm not smoking" users.....

 

[VelvetVisions]

Gep...I agree completely on your comment about reformed smokers coming back because of the e-cig. My husband is the perfect example. We both quit smoking some years back, he stayed a non-smoker and I started again, no surprise there. He really didn't like me smoking but has been very supportive of the e-cig, even helping me to explain it to others when asked. He will; however, not even try mine. I tried, to get him to try mine, just to see how it worked and tasted and he refused. He didn't want to run the risk of becoming addicted again. A little extreme in my opinion, but I respected his choice. I really don't see those that worked hard to kick the habit returning. It is not to say that there won't be any, but even if some do, I still don't see the issue. There are many closet smokers out there that might come out for something like this.

MlrGrl.... I'll be seeing you on Monday, I also live in the Milwaukee area. If you need any help with your reporter, let me know, I'll do what I can.

 

[MlrGrl]

Gep...I agree completely on your comment about reformed smokers coming back because of the e-cig. My husband is the perfect example. We both quit smoking some years back, he stayed a non-smoker and I started again, no surprise there. He really didn't like me smoking but has been very supportive of the e-cig, even helping me to explain it to others when asked. He will; however, not even try mine. I tried, to get him to try mine, just to see how it worked and tasted and he refused. He didn't want to run the risk of becoming addicted again. .

I have a friend that quit for the first time ever in Feburary, using the drug de'jour. She's been doing great, but it's still hard for her on girls night out; it's not the nic she's missing, it's the action of smoking with the rest of us. I called her when I first tried my e-cig & told her that next time we go out, I'll bring some new 0 nic carts for her to use when that oral fixation becomes over bearing. She flat out refuses - even though I told her she would NOT be getting any nicotine. She says part of her non smoking plan was she had to rearrange the triggers in her life and learn to accept those she can't change (like out with the girls). Just like your husband, she says she doesn't want to do anything that could trigger her to a relapse.
Ya'll are exactly right: for those who have totally kicked the habit already, they are NOT going to want to do anything to jepordize their success and they will not be picking up the e-cig. If they did -I'd bet it's a 0 nic cart.

MlrGrl.... I'll be seeing you on Monday, I also live in the Milwaukee area. If you need any help with your reporter, let me know, I'll do what I can.

GREAT!! I'm so excited! It seems like it's going to be a nice sized group!

Thank you so much for your offer! I'm more of a behind the camera type of girl, so it makes me feel better to have a couple of names to give her!

 

[entropic]

I'd say "I did not have sexual relations with that woman/e-cig"

 

[J W in Texas]

With repsect to the e-cig--I disagree that the press will ever give our devices a fair shake----Sun

I will agree with you on that Sun. Many people forget who the advertisers are for our media of today. tobacco companies saw the writing on the wall many years ago and began branching out into other companies, like the beloved food companies that are marketed as so wholesome and all American tradition. Those snack crackers we all love so much, or that Mac & Cheese in the box. They pay the bills for our news today. I guess many also forget the other top advertisers are, you guessed it, pharmaceuticals. How many times do we have to see so many commercials for our happy pills, including all the side-effect warnings that they say so fast and with a slightly lower volume/tone of voice, before we remember who is running things in the background?

We all know this is true because we see it right in front of our faces on a daily basis. Now why would these companies allow content that would devastate their other financial arm to suffer major harm by giving anything but a doubtful-sounding account of these products? They certainly wouldn't pay for it with large amounts of advertising dollars. So, I think we're lucky to get ANY coverage at all, even if it is sometimes a little slanted against us.

And no offense is meant to TB but the state of much of our press today is not what it used to be. There are always exceptions and that is where people need to place their faith. I support the press with all my heart 'when it deserves it' even if I don't always agree with what is said.

 

[fishhd]

I would get the loved ones in your life to coment on how they feel about your not smoking.

 

[TropicalBob]

I agree that the down economy has forced negative changes in what we popularly call "the press." Veteran reporters have been fired (too expensive); projects have been shelved (for the same reason). Ownership has become more concentrated (NOT a good thing for anyone but the owner). There is too much "lazy" reporting without depth or fact-checking (same reason as the others).

But let me make one thing clear from personal experience: The advertising tail does not wag the editorial dog! Never in 45 years of attending daily news meetings where content is set for publication did I ever hear even one comment about how a particular story might impact an advertiser. It's just not a consideration among reporters and editors. "Influence" is a popular misconception -- and that's what it is. Pulling an ad to spite a publication would be like cutting off one's nose to spite one's face. Dumb.

Newspapers have eyeballs to sell. If you're a business, you want those eyeballs to see your message. So you buy space. There's a border around your message (called an ad). Your "say" stops at that border. Anytime it doesn't, you, the reader, are looking at a publication undeserving of your trust, money and time.

Understand that advertisers don't spend money on newspaper space or broadcast time because they like the publication or its publisher is a buddy. They spend money because that money makes them more money. No other reason. It's business. If ads were not profitable for advertisers, those advertisers would move their money elsewhere.

The bottom line is that more truth and fairness can be found in the mass media press than anywhere else. Certainly not in blogs. Certainly not on public forums. You would not ask old talkative Ed down the street to represent you in court 'cause he speaks well. You need a person specialized for the purpose. Same with news. Find trustworthy bylines. Believe them.

Sun: There have already been fair stories on e-cigs in the press. Many fair stories on e-cigs. Your idea of "bias" shows only that you are not and never will be a writer of fair and balanced content. You want puff pieces. You want to hear the cheer. That's not at all what a free press is about. You'll never find your perfect piece in any reputable news source. Stick with press releases on BusinessWire.

 

[shihab]

I would definitly check out the resource page at the ECA's website...

Resources | Electronic Cigarette Association

 

[Doc]

The thing that seems to keep getting lost is....IT IS NOT SMOKING!
People come up with all manner of utterly ridiculous nonsense, and expect their nonsense to dispel the HUGE fact that it is not smoking.

precisely. It doesn't even compare from a health perspective.

 

[usamare]

How about this mlrglr. With PV's we have to keep in mind that from a debate standpoint we're coming in from freaking Mars and declaring that an apple is no longer an apple. Despite its truth, that's a tough sell.

So an approach might be to point out some positive points, such as, switching from cigarettes to vaporizers is only a little more difficult to a smoker than switching from one brand of cigarette to another. Once that is done, and cigarettes are no longer required, vaporizers make it very easy to reduce and even eliminate the nicotine aspect.

Part of the success of this could be attributed to internet forums and the hardware technology of the vaporizers. Collecting parts and using the devices has a definite hobby-like quality, giving users a much more satisfying overall experience than cigarettes ever could.

Ultimately, users still have the habit of putting something to their mouth and inhaling, but it reaches a point where the substance that they're inhaling is nothing more than vaporized fruit juice. This is not burned fruit juice, it's just steam. Not at all the glaring health spectre that some parties try to equate it to, and infinitely preferable to the alternative.

Maybe that sort of explanation would be easier for the general populace to accept?

 

[Sun Vaporer]

Sun: There have already been fair stories on e-cigs in the press. Many fair stories on e-cigs. Your idea of "bias" shows only that you are not and never will be a writer of fair and balanced content. You want puff pieces. You want to hear the cheer. That's not at all what a free press is about. You'll never find your perfect piece in any reputable news source. Stick with press releases on BusinessWire.

Taking shots at people really is not a flattering attribute. I have posted many news stories on the Forum and gave my opinion on them. I guess you are into censureship as well of peoples opinions. I posted one press release as they do have value believe it or not. For example, when a Company like Yahoo gives a press relesase that it will be laying off jobs--to me that is NEWS--and news that should be acted on--like selling their stock or if they work for Yahoo, finding a new postion. Or would you rather have people wait till it is reported by a Reporter in what you consider a viable source like the Wall Street Journal. So pleae do not tell me what my idea of bias is as IMO having a reporter not cover both sides of an issue to me is bias---maybe to you that is objective reporting--but not to me.
And I have yet to see one negitive report about the e-cig that can actually cite real evidence of its harm. PG is the medium already used in many inhalers approved by the the FDA--so is the debate here about vaping some flavor? Citing issues like children getting hooked on e-cigs is unrealistic specutlation--unless of course you are a child that is loaded with cash and has no parental supervision as hiding those battery charges is a little more difficult then sneaking a cigarette. So that is my take on it. Excuse me for sticking up for my belief in the e-cig-----Sun

 

[MlrGrl]

Thank you all so much for sharing your angles and what you feel is the most important message that needs to get out about the e-cigs and vaping.

I'm really excited to talk to my friend -- and share with her something amazing that's happened to me over the past 24 hours.

I started vaping one week ago today. What I have discovered, is after only one week, I'm ready and need to switch down to low nic & or no nic! I never would have believed it a week ago!! I had an assortment of nic levels, but since yesterday, the only ones that are doing the trick for me are either the low or no nic!! I'm soooo excited!!

When I ordered this, I had no intention of quitting anything; not analogs, not nic, not nuttin'. I figured if anything, it would help me at least cut down on the analogs.
In the past week, I've had 2 drags off an analog just to see if there was a differance - I couldn't really tell one, which caused me to die it out....why smoke all that crap in & stink when I could puff away on an e-cig??

Is this, and should this be marketed as, a quit smoking device?? Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Is an e-cig for everyone? Heck no; there's no way I'd even recommend it to one of my friends 'cause I know she couldn't handle the dripping, atomizers or the problems that come along with e-cigs. But, I do know that for those who want it, they should be allowed to vape when ever they want.

Thanks again everyone!!!

 

[LuckyCharm]

I'd also try to dispel the myth that theyre marketed to kids

Coming late to this thread, but I'd also point out that e-cigs are LESS likely to fall into kids' hands! Where do most kids get their first cigs? They steal them from Mom and Dad! Now, you might not notice if a few cigs or even a pack go missing once in a while, but you'd definitely miss your e-cig. And, if you keep the charger inaccessible, there's not much they can do with it anyway. Are kids likely to order them online? Not really. Where would they get all that money, and why would they spring for something like this when they can get someone to buy them a $5 pack of cigs at the gas station?

Just my $.02.

~~Cheryl

 

[MlrGrl]

Coming late to this thread, but I'd also point out that e-cigs are LESS likely to fall into kids' hands! Where do most kids get their first cigs? They steal them from Mom and Dad! Now, you might not notice if a few cigs or even a pack go missing once in a while, but you'd definitely miss your e-cig. And, if you keep the charger inaccessible, there's not much they can do with it anyway. Are kids likely to order them online? Not really. Where would they get all that money, and why would they spring for something like this when they can get someone to buy them a $5 pack of cigs at the gas station?

Just my $.02.

~~Cheryl

Excellent point!! I know I & my high school friends had sneaked more than our fair share from our parents! Had they had e-cigs...Hmm...that one would have been a little harder to dispose of....

Things are very different than when most of us were young - our parents smoked! Thinking back to the 70s, almost every parent I knew smoked....and I don't think any of those same people smoke today, including my own mom who quit 11 years ago.


Been pondering this for a few moments....and no; I can't think of one of the parents that we hung around with that still smoke. Actually, during my last trip 'home' last summer...there were only 2 smokers out of that whole clique and their kids - myself and one of the girls I grew up with.....

 

[calligal]

I'd like someone to tell of the benefits to nonsmoking family members and nonsmokers in general when comparing vapor to cigarette smoke.
Your story is excellent since you have quickly converted and have been able to cut the nicotine level down so low. As you are newly quit maybe there is another member of the forum who lives near you who as been at it longer and can add to the story and demonstrate that it is not just a passing fancy.
Maybe it is my poor tastebuds, but if a kid tried an e-cig for the candy flavors I think they would be disappointed. The flavor is there but it's not sugary sweet.
Be sure to bring a 0 nicotine fresh cartridge or two in case your reporter friend wants to try it and good luck.