What's Wrong With This Ad?

[bigbells]

@Von Vape;
Thanks for your efforts!

If it was me, I would not imply any illegality or libel on the part of the newspaper. The newspaper is not responsible for determining whether an advertiser is making a false statement. The newspaper sells ad space to the advertiser, and the advertiser creates the ad.

I think of how many times I've seen an ad for a medical product on TV, followed by an ad for a legal firm that's soliciting people who might have been injured by that very same medical product.

Pointing out the incorrect info in the ad is great, but you catch more flies with honey than with vinegar. I'd object to the ad, yes, and to its placement, but I'd do this wanting to educate rather than attack the newspaper personnel.

 

[tj99959]

Thanks for caring enough to be doing something about the add, but IMO you are missing the point altogether. vaping is all about HARM REDUCTION, not harm elimination. (stress that point) Us trying to say that flavorings don't have any possible hazards is just as misleading as the add's portrayal of the hazard.
You need to state specific facts about the flavorings that do present a hazard & at what concentrations those hazards exist.
There is nothing wrong with saying that flavorings containing diacetyl should be avoided.
After all, the great thing about vaping is that when we do discover a problem, we are able to find ways to eliminate the problem.

No different than the dreaded DG that the FDA found in e-liquids in 2009 that they made such a fuss about. We figured out that it came from cellulose dust (paper packaging materials stored in the mixing lab) It was an easy fix! All we needed to do was keep the cardboard boxes out of the lab.
The funny thing is, as a result of our findings, the entire packaging industry has made "adjustments".

 

[crxess]

Pointing out the incorrect info in the ad is great, but you catch more flies with honey than with vinegar. I'd object to the ad, yes, and to its placement, but I'd do this wanting to educate rather than attack the newspaper personnel.

Advertising is for Product Promotion and to the Best interest of the Seller to Show good Faith. This is Not good Faith. TV Advertising is Sold in Time Slots for Cost efficiency tailored to audience. This is the Only reason you see Back to Back opposing Adds - Time Slotting.

You catch more Flies with Horse Manure than Honey.

 

[Von Vape]

Some REALLY EXCELLENT feed back! Thank you ALL! It's time for a complete re-write now. One that still addresses the outrageous shock value for the sake of striking fear and loathing into the hearts and minds of the viewer but also extols the virtues & benefits of vaping while not demonizing smokers.

As @Janet H & @crxess both pointed out, a large percentage of "us" are reformed/reforming smokers. The real issue is that the non-profit organizations, supposedly dedicated to Public Health and getting smokers OFF of tobacco, are so fervently against a product that not only works better than any so far to accomplish that but is AT LEAST 95% SAFER and far more enjoyable.

I'll be avoiding a lengthy science lesson since the general public would likely not understand it anyway (and, as has been pointed out, it's fairly easy to get caught up in a misrepresentation, destroying the entire argument.) not to mention that I personally haven't been involved with the science of vaping long enough to state the FACTS off of the top of my head.

I'll post the re-write as soon as possible. Thank you ALL, again!

Von Vape

 

[Danousa]

It would be interesting to look at the side effects of Nic-gum, Chantix vs. Vaping as well. I guess that would be another essay as well.

 

[Von Vape]

It would be interesting to look at the side effects of Nic-gum, Chantix vs. Vaping as well. I guess that would be another essay as well.

Yes it would and yes it is.
"Possible side effects are homicidal & suicidal tendencies along with severe depression!"
Great! I quit smoking! I also just killed a bunch of people and now I'm gonna shoot myself in the head!
COMPLETE SATIRE folks............ Please remain calm.
The American Lung Associations response, "Hey, at least we got him off of tobacco!"
Will it ever end???

 

[Von Vape]

Here's the rewrite;

At First, I Just Rolled My Eyes!

When I saw this ad:
(Insert Ad Here)

Then I realized I have a responsibility to my fellow man. For the life of me, and the lives of millions of other smokers and former smokers, I cannot understand why non-profit organizations such as Alaska Family Health Services, Breathe Free Mat-Su & the Alaska Tobacco Quit Line would post such an outrageous and deceitful ad, demonizing vaping.

I, along with a majority of the population, have lost friends and loved ones to smoking related illnesses & cancer. I, myself, smoked for over 40 years and was able to quit instantly and completely, thanks to modern vapor devices and the myriad of wonderful flavors available. The patches didn’t work, the gum didn’t work and cold-turkey DIDN’T WORK. Modern vapor devices & e-liquids DID. So why would organizations whose job it is to promote Public Health and help people get OFF of tobacco want to frighten people into believing that something that DOES work is dangerous?

The ad is so outrageous, I have to address it.

First, let’s look at the Haz-Mat suit. OSHA does require Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in Food & Beverage Flavoring Manufacturing facilities but not to the extent of the nuke suit pictured. That is a stock photo pulled from shutterstock. Here’s the link if you’d care to check it yourself.

http://www.shutterstock.com/s/nuclear+suit/search.html?page=1&inline=203944375

Take note that the non-profits or their ad agency choose the most dramatic haz-mat photo possible, if you do visit the page. Note also the Radioactive Material Placard, just out of focus, in the background. I seriously doubt that the manufacture of Food & Beverage Flavorings involves the use of Radioactive Material. A basic respirator and jump suit are all that’s required. The flavors used in e-liquids are the same flavors produced for the food & beverage industry, the flavors you & I consume every day. The manufacturing process is completely different in concentration of, and temperature range to create the food flavoring compounds than the e- liquid or your morning Danish is heated to. In short, its apples to oranges, just a couple of the many wonderful e-liquid flavors, BTW.

The pretty pink & baby blue e-juice bottle labeled, Bubble Gum, is another obvious attempt to imply that the vapor industry is marketing their product to children. That is not the case. As an adult over 50, I enjoy bubble gum, cotton candy, pies, ice creams and many other junk foods. I was unaware that there is an age limit on enjoying delicious things. As a vaper, I can also tell you that the wide variety of delicious flavors has helped curb my junk food consumption, allowing me to shed a few unwanted, extra pounds. There are also laws already in place to prevent minors from purchasing vapor products, the same as tobacco products. This is another subliminal message meant to tug at your heart strings, to protect the children!

The question still remains, why would organizations that are tasked with getting people OFF of tobacco and protecting/improving Public Health, be so dead set on demonizing a product that has saved or at the very least, extended the life expectancy of millions of tobacco users? A product that is the only Smoking Cessation product that actually WORKS. A product found by the Royal College of Physicians in Great Britain (The same people who were the first to link lung cancer to tobacco smoking.) to be AT LEAST 95% SAFER than smoking. It makes no sense, right?

Actually, cents, as in dollars & cents, is what it boils down to. A healthy population is not good for the economy, in the eyes of our government, health care system, big pharmaceutical and non-profit organizations. Billions of dollars in taxes, donations and salaries will evaporate if current smokers discover that modern vapor products DO work and that they ARE safe. If non vapers realize they are being lied to and scared into believing, simply so the industries and organizations listed above can protect their status quo. You ARE being lied to!

A Billion Lives are at stake! Don’t be scared into believing the lies. Please think for yourselves and of your fellow man. Vaping SAVES lives!
---------------------------------------(Exactly 700 words)---------------------------------------------------------------
Special thanks to @Qew for researching the nuke suit photo and providing the link.

Open once again for discussion & suggestions.

Thanks EVERYONE!
Von Vape

 

[mattiem]

Much much better Von Vape

 

[clnire]

I have been following this thread Von, but have had nothing to contribute better than any one else. I want to thank you for your dedication to this project and think your rewrite is excellent. Your honesty to ask openly for assistance is stellar and I think you have been given excellent feedback and research. I hope they publish your excellent work and eyes are opened. A Billion Lives are at stake, and we are part of that Billion.

 

[Qew]

Good work, Von Vape!

The only thing I wouldn't like to see in the article is a reprint of that dishonest ad. Is there some way to describe it instead of asking to have it inserted? I suppose if someone reading your article hadn't seen the ad they wouldn't know what you were referring to, but yikes, they would get a free reprint!

It would be better for the cause if an insert within the article was for A Billion Lives, even if it's just a little one like this:

Thanks for all the time and effort you have into this!

 

[medleypat]

Good job.

 

[Blossomer]

Great read!!

 

[Von Vape]

@Qew Glad you like the rewrite. glad everyone does actually, thank you all! But specifically, I only left it out of the rewrite and put (insert ad here) for the sake of not being redundant and reposting the same thing that appears in the OP.

Ya, I had the same thought about the free repost but it has to be there for reference, as you said. On the plus side, it's been downsized considerably and, hopefully, the readers will just pull up memory recognition. The non-profits will probably just run the same ad again anyway, they're not all that creative, ha, ha!

Von Vape

 

[evan le'garde]

The term "Big Tobacco" is an ambiguous term and only understood by those who lobby against "Big Tobacco Companies".

To everyone else it is nondescript and could mean absolutely anything Tobacco related.

The term "Big Tobacco companies" should have been used instead.

 

[MikeADore]

Nice job Von. If I was going to add anything, I think it would be to mention that The Royal College of Physicians in Great Britain, one of the most prestigious medical organizations on earth, did a study that found vaping is at least 95 percent less harmful than smoking cigarettes. In fact, they went so far as to suggest that physicians could prescribe e-cigarettes as an effective method to stop smoking.

I say I would consider adding this because I think this study is perhaps the most effective pro-vape argument that we have. The Royal college is not a bunch of dunder heads. They are dead serious about their business.

Again, nicely done.

 

[Debadoo]

I have begun reading this thread several times and always gotten sidetracked. I've finally gotten through it (all 3 pages) The rewrite is wonderful!! Just a few nit picks for your consideration.

majority of the population,

I would say much of the population unless you have read and can back up that it is majority.

I seriously doubt that the manufacture of Food & Beverage Flavorings involves the use of Radioactive Material.

I would find out if you can rather than seriously doubting. Maybe the place you told me about the other day could help in this???

As a vaper, I can also tell you that the wide variety of delicious flavors has helped curb my junk food consumption, allowing me to shed a few unwanted, extra pounds.

I would highlight this but put it in it's own statement effectively addressing the issue that kids and adults who don't smoke and don't vape might start vaping as not necessarily being a bad thing. I know a woman here on ECF who is a never smoker, and began vaping zero nic juice, then moved to 3mg nic juice and has stayed there. Vaping fruit and dessert flavors helped her shed over 100 pounds! You can quote that if you like. She and I are friends and she'd gladly back that up if needed. She lives in England where vaping isn't so vilified.

A product that is the only Smoking Cessation product that actually WORKS.

I'd change this a bit. Although chantrix, wellbutrin, patches etc do not have a good track record, some have managed to quit using them. So I'd say something like, vaping has a far better track record in helping smokers quit than any of the other NRTs out there such as Chantrix, patches etc.

If non vapers realize they are being lied to and scared into believing, simply so the industries and organizations listed above can protect their status quo.

where you have scared into believing, I'd insert "these lies" or something. You should state what they're being scared into believing, as it sounds a bit disjointed right there. I had to read it a couple times to get what you were saying.

just a few points to consider. Overall I love it!!! Much better than the first one!! I don't know about flavor manufacturing, but I know in clean rooms where they make juice, all they need to wear is a hooded thin white suit that covers their clothes and hair, maybe shoes.

 

[ScandaLeX]

Here's the rewrite;

At First, I Just Rolled My Eyes!

When I saw this ad:
(Insert Ad Here)

Then I realized I have a responsibility to my fellow man. For the life of me, and the lives of millions of other smokers and former smokers, I cannot understand why non-profit organizations such as Alaska Family Health Services, Breathe Free Mat-Su & the Alaska Tobacco Quit Line would post such an outrageous and deceitful ad, demonizing vaping.

I, along with a majority of the population, have lost friends and loved ones to smoking related illnesses & cancer. I, myself, smoked for over 40 years and was able to quit instantly and completely, thanks to modern vapor devices and the myriad of wonderful flavors available. The patches didn’t work, the gum didn’t work and cold-turkey DIDN’T WORK. Modern vapor devices & e-liquids DID. So why would organizations whose job it is to promote Public Health and help people get OFF of tobacco want to frighten people into believing that something that DOES work is dangerous?

The ad is so outrageous, I have to address it.

First, let’s look at the Haz-Mat suit. OSHA does require Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in Food & Beverage Flavoring Manufacturing facilities but not to the extent of the nuke suit pictured. That is a stock photo pulled from shutterstock. Here’s the link if you’d care to check it yourself.

http://www.shutterstock.com/s/nuclear+suit/search.html?page=1&inline=203944375

Take note that the non-profits or their ad agency choose the most dramatic haz-mat photo possible, if you do visit the page. Note also the Radioactive Material Placard, just out of focus, in the background. I seriously doubt that the manufacture of Food & Beverage Flavorings involves the use of Radioactive Material. A basic respirator and jump suit are all that’s required. The flavors used in e-liquids are the same flavors produced for the food & beverage industry, the flavors you & I consume every day. The manufacturing process is completely different in concentration of, and temperature range to create the food flavoring compounds than the e- liquid or your morning Danish is heated to. In short, its apples to oranges, just a couple of the many wonderful e-liquid flavors, BTW.

The pretty pink & baby blue e-juice bottle labeled, Bubble Gum, is another obvious attempt to imply that the vapor industry is marketing their product to children. That is not the case. As an adult over 50, I enjoy bubble gum, cotton candy, pies, ice creams and many other junk foods. I was unaware that there is an age limit on enjoying delicious things. As a vaper, I can also tell you that the wide variety of delicious flavors has helped curb my junk food consumption, allowing me to shed a few unwanted, extra pounds. There are also laws already in place to prevent minors from purchasing vapor products, the same as tobacco products. This is another subliminal message meant to tug at your heart strings, to protect the children!

The question still remains, why would organizations that are tasked with getting people OFF of tobacco and protecting/improving Public Health, be so dead set on demonizing a product that has saved or at the very least, extended the life expectancy of millions of tobacco users? A product that is the only Smoking Cessation product that actually WORKS. A product found by the Royal College of Physicians in Great Britain (The same people who were the first to link lung cancer to tobacco smoking.) to be AT LEAST 95% SAFER than smoking. It makes no sense, right?

Actually, cents, as in dollars & cents, is what it boils down to. A healthy population is not good for the economy, in the eyes of our government, health care system, big pharmaceutical and non-profit organizations. Billions of dollars in taxes, donations and salaries will evaporate if current smokers discover that modern vapor products DO work and that they ARE safe. If non vapers realize they are being lied to and scared into believing, simply so the industries and organizations listed above can protect their status quo. You ARE being lied to!

A Billion Lives are at stake! Don’t be scared into believing the lies. Please think for yourselves and of your fellow man. Vaping SAVES lives!
---------------------------------------(Exactly 700 words)---------------------------------------------------------------
Special thanks to @Qew for researching the nuke suit photo and providing the link.

Open once again for discussion & suggestions.

Thanks EVERYONE!
Von Vape

This is great Von but I have a question or statement if you will. I read where someone suggested you write it so it can't be picked apart as false. To the best of my limited knowledge, I dont think you can say smoking cessation because vaping isn't officially classified as such. I hope someone with more knowledge on that chimes in.

 

[Debadoo]

This is great Von but I have a question or statement if you will. I read where someone suggested you write it so it can't be picked apart as false. To the best of my limited knowledge, I dont think you can say smoking cessation because vaping isn't officially classified as such. I hope someone with more knowledge on that chimes in.

excellent point! It's not classified as an NRT or smoking cessation device, but it still works far better for that purpose than any of the items that ARE classified that way!

Put something like that in, where I suggested another wording change about that.

 

[Von Vape]

Thanks for the input ScandaLeX. Thanks for your support also. It is a bit of a grey area, here in the U.S. it's not perceived as much as a smoking cessation device, though it IS far more successful as one than the other NRT's @Debadoo mentioned earlier. In Great Britain and in the Royal College's report, vaping is considered not only a smoking cessation product but is strongly recommended to be prescribed as such. If not for the FDA, it would be here as well. Sadly, in a little over a month, NO ONE in the U.S. will be able to make this claim, regardless of it's validity.
I see that @Debadoo just posted too so for the record, I'm sticking with the Royal College's findings , at least 95% SAFER, and my statement that it IS a smoking cessation product (even though it's not recognized as one in the U.S., one last time before I am "legally bound" not to. Take THAT FDA!!!

Thanks again everybody. Putting the finishing touches on it now and will post it if and when it gets published. Until then, keep those cards & letters rollin' in and feel free to use this thread to report any other print or billboard lies that we can all chip in on exposing. EXPOSE EVERY LIE, EVERYWHERE! Let TRUTH shine!

Vapers Unite!
Von Vape

 

[Debadoo]

I see that @Debadoo just posted too so for the record, I'm sticking with the Royal College's findings , at least 95% SAFER, and my statement that it IS a smoking cessation product (even though it's not recognized as one in the U.S., one last time before I am "legally bound" not to. Take THAT FDA!!!

Ok great!! I'd forgotten that you'd mentioned it was Rx'd in England for that purpose!