Zogby Poll - Interesting Data

[WILDJC]

"A strong majority of Americans want to see electronic cigarettes regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (59%), but nearly half (47%) say the smokeless devices should be an option available to people trying to quit smoking, similar to patches, gum and lozenges currently on the market, and that number increases to 57% among those who have heard about ecigarettes prior to taking the poll."


Electronic cigarettes make their way to the U.S.

 

[DaMulta]

So nearly half wants them banned then?

 

[eric]

Regulation doesn't mean a ban.

 

[saintgadreel]

Correct, regulation wouldn't be a ban. However, the current activities of the FDA certainly appear that they just want the authority to regulate so that they CAN ban them. Now consider that 60% of the US doesn't even really know what the FDA regulates, nor how they go about doing so, and you start to see a problem with public perception. Of course that's pretty much the way they operate. Ignorance makes more money than knowledge, because an informed customer will go for the best product at the best price, with the best benefits. Healthy safe and cheap are therefore words the FDA despise....

 

[TropicalBob]

The poll seems quite accurate. Why must some continue to question why the FDA is taking the stance it is taking? Fact is, no one can simply bring a new, unapproved drug into America and start selling it. And that's what the FDA says has been done. This contention is being challenged in court, but no one on this forum is qualified to play "judge" on this matter. And no one is above the law either.

Some other points to bare in mind:

About a third of those polled (35%) say that because electronic cigarettes produce no smoke, they should be allowed in places where smoking is currently prohibited, while about half (46%) say they should not.

That shows popular support for banning e-smoking in public areas where smoking is not allowed. No surprise. Then there's this:

only one percent of those polled say they have used an ecigarette, but 16% overall say they would try one if they were given a chance, and 81% say they would not.

Eighty-one percent are not even interested in trying e-smoking, no matter the situation or condition. We get carried away in this forum with how enthusiastic we think the reception should be for what we've discovered. Our enthusiasm is not matched outside the forum scribblings. So don't wonder why the public doesn't rise up in arms over the FDA's position. The public just doesn't care about this at all.

We have failed miserably with the education needed on this. After the game is over is too late to plan game strategy.

 

[dragonpuff]

only one percent of those polled say they have used an ecigarette, but 16% overall say they would try one if they were given a chance, and 81% say they would not.

Keep in mind that only about 20% of the population smokes. If we weigh that against the 16% who said they would try them (assuming they are all smokers), and assume that about 20% of those who responded to the survey are smokers (proportionally accurate), then that means that about 80% of the smokers in the survey said they would try them. That's pretty high!

Also, in reference to the 59% who wants FDA regulation, that only means that these people wish for the FDA to make sure these products are safe, NOT necessarily to ban them. Most of these people don't know what the FDA has been up to lately in regards to this.

My favorite part, by FAR, is this:

nearly half (47%) say the smokeless devices should be an option available to people trying to quit smoking, similar to patches, gum and lozenges currently on the market, and that number increases to 57% among those who have heard about ecigarettes prior to taking the poll.

Remember, only 20% of the population smokes. That means the vast majority of people who say they should be available are non-smokers! That's a lot of people on our side!

Overall i say this is a very positive poll. It shows that true public opinion, minus all the BS we keep hearing from the government, media and ASH, is in support of us.

We can definitely use this to our campaigning advantage!!!

Thank you for posting this wild it gives me hope

 

[dragonpuff]

Have we all really become so disillusioned that all anyone can see is the negative?

 

[eric]

Not me! I'm incredibly positive.

 

[TropicalBob]

How anyone can possibly read that poll and find lots of support for e-smoking simply eludes me. Sorry. It's not negativity to read it objectively. We DO NOT have majority support, from either smokers or non-smokers. And the poll does not break down how each group feels about the questions asked.

It would seem logical that smokers would have the most positive attitude -- but as pointed out, smokers are only one-fifth of the population. And they're a disdained minority under withering attack.

You want a vote? You got it in Congress not long ago. We were under "harm reduction". The vote wasn't close. Also on Long Island. Also in California. Or look globally. Where's the support? Australia, Canada, Mexico ...

We have failed to educate and that failure is washing back over castles made of sand. I see no reason of rejoice in that poll.

 

[misterME]

How anyone can possibly read that poll and find lots of support for e-smoking simply eludes me. Sorry. It's not negativity to read it objectively. We DO NOT have majority support, from either smokers or non-smokers. And the poll does not break down how each group feels about the questions asked.

It would seem logical that smokers would have the most positive attitude -- but as pointed out, smokers are only one-fifth of the population. And they're a disdained minority under withering attack.

You want a vote? You got it in Congress not long ago. We were under "harm reduction". The vote wasn't close. Also on Long Island. Also in California. Or look globally. Where's the support? Australia, Canada, Mexico ...

We have failed to educate and that failure is washing back over castles made of sand. I see no reason of rejoice in that poll.

I'm with you, Bob. I don't find that poll at all reassuring.

My biggest concern is that most people think vapers should be confined to smoking areas. That, in and of itself, shows how misinformed or uneducated the people responding to this poll are about our beloved e-cigarettes.

The poll doesn't give me hope. It depresses me to think that people are still prejudiced against e-cigs without bothering to get educated on it so they can make an informed decision. People hear "cigarettes" and automatically think "EVIL!!!"

And who can blame them? Most of the press around e-cigs is negative, with people quoting and taking at face value the FDA condemnation of the entire industry. Add to that groups like ASH, and AG's in some states trying to carve out a niche for themselves and going after e-cigs because it's an easy win.

Then look to our side of the street, and the only ones making noise are the noisy ones, and most of them come off looking like blowhards or buffoons.

So far, we have managed to lose the PR war, and lose it pretty decisively. Polls like this are just more evidence of that fact. The question now becomes how do we undo the damage that the blowhards and buffoons, along with unscrupulous e-cig vendors, have done to the e-cig reputation?

 

[dragonpuff]

How anyone can possibly read that poll and find lots of support for e-smoking simply eludes me. Sorry. It's not negativity to read it objectively. We DO NOT have majority support, from either smokers or non-smokers. And the poll does not break down how each group feels about the questions asked.

It would seem logical that smokers would have the most positive attitude -- but as pointed out, smokers are only one-fifth of the population. And they're a disdained minority under withering attack.

You want a vote? You got it in Congress not long ago. We were under "harm reduction". The vote wasn't close. Also on Long Island. Also in California. Or look globally. Where's the support? Australia, Canada, Mexico ...

We have failed to educate and that failure is washing back over castles made of sand. I see no reason of rejoice in that poll.

Tbob, i understand what you're saying. However, i must say that i DID read this objectively (as i normally do with anything statistical) and the raw numbers really are in our favor. Approximately half of those who voted on the poll support this as an aid for smokers; i can't help but see that positively. I would not have had such a positive attitude if it said only 20 or 30 percent.

"Majority support" is something i'm certain we will not have for a long time, and to hope for that is unrealistic. But half? That is quite promising considering the likelihood that most of those people don't even smoke.

As far as people being opposed to using these in public? That only speaks to the natural ignorance that people have about things like this until they are educated, which, as you pointed out, we have not been very good at so far.

Like i said, as far as public opinion goes i think we have people on our side. However, there is a huge difference between public opinion and politics. Will these people translate their sentiments into who they vote for? I don't think so. And even if they did, with how corrupt the government is it probably won't matter. That is where i have little hope.

 

[DC2]

Eighty-one percent are not even interested in trying e-smoking, no matter the situation or condition. We get carried away in this forum with how enthusiastic we think the reception should be for what we've discovered. Our enthusiasm is not matched outside the forum scribblings. So don't wonder why the public doesn't rise up in arms over the FDA's position. The public just doesn't care about this at all.

We have failed miserably with the education needed on this. After the game is over is too late to plan game strategy.

Fact.

I had a guy in a PF Chang restaurant come up to me with a BLU about a year ago.
I damn near laughed at the guy for suggesting that ridiculous thing could be of any benefit to me.

Fast forward to June of this year when my sister came into town for Father's Day.
She and her husband were both using NJoy NPros and after dinner they introduced me.

The strange thing is, if the BLU had looked more like a cigarette, I might have looked into it.
Now I know what a ......... I was at the time.

 

[DC2]

So far, we have managed to lose the PR war, and lose it pretty decisively. Polls like this are just more evidence of that fact. The question now becomes how do we undo the damage that the blowhards and buffoons, along with unscrupulous e-cig vendors, have done to the e-cig reputation?

Quoted for truth, unfortunately.

 

[DC2]

As far as people being opposed to using these in public? That only speaks to the natural ignorance that people have about things like this until they are educated, which, as you pointed out, we have not been very good at so far.

Quoted for truth, as there is reason to have hope still.