Navigating an Increasingly Political "Vapescape"

There has been plenty written about the faux experiments put on by a group of PhDs out of Portland State University. The conditions under which the experiment was performed, and the results, were rather far from real-world scenarios. They were performed by researchers who failed to report on all variables, or even assess that there were more variables.

From ecigarette-research.com:

“According to the Reddit post and author’s email, the atomizer had a resistance of 2.1 Ohms. This means that at 3.3 volts, the energy delivery was about 5.5 watts and at 5 volts it was 12 watts. It is more than obvious that the findings of very high levels of formaldehyde are a result of overheating. Lack of experience on e-cigarettes and no contact with vapers can result in such erroneous and unrealistic results, which can create confusion and misinformation both in the scientific community and among users and potential users of e-cigarettes. Finally, it is extremely important that every study evaluating vapor chemistry from e-cigarettes should mention in detail the equipment used.”

The technical point has been argued, so we’re not going to continue to beat on that. What we’d like to talk about in this blog is navigating the political landscape surrounding vaping, and how you (from average Joe to advanced vaper) should be prepared to handle the debate and help to share knowledge with others.

For those uninterested in the politics, there’s no reason you should push yourself into the conversation. It’s your vice, and you’re welcome to share your opinion or withhold from discussion. Don’t let someone push you otherwise.

For those of you, however, who are would like to participate in the debate and would like to continue to inform others about the reality of vaping, read on!

Whether liberal or conservative, your personal politics should not play into your discussion with others about vaping. Instead, let the values of vaping play to the political audience you’re communicating with. Whether discussing the job creation brought on by the industry boom or the positive viewpoint some vapers may have of e-cigarettes in regards to health and well-being, there is a talking point that appeals to just about any position on the political spectrum. Just make sure your talking points stay pro-vape!

Along the road on this new and exciting journey, you may also find yourself agreeing with media you often think wrong, and disagreeing with media you may often think correct. For example, if you’re a CNN support and notice that CNN is speaking of the latest studies in a positive light, you’re welcome to disagree with what they discern as “truth.” Conversely, if you do not often agree with the media produced by FOX News, but see that they are accurately supporting vaping with facts, while dispelling vaping rumors and myths, you’re welcome to accept their reporting and use it to support your vaping discussions.

Take mind that media politics don’t just occur at the higher levels. Many of the conversations start at the local level. Plenty of hype comes from your local TV station or newspaper looking for the shock story of the day. When you see reporting like this is when you’re most valuable as an educated vaper. Find ways to share in your local news conversation, logging onto social media to discuss vaping matters further with a broader audience. Be polite and be concise to ensure you are well-received by others in your communications. Don’t be afraid to disagree with local outlets you may otherwise agree with. Just because they get it wrong sometimes, doesn’t mean they’re always wrong, and as an informed citizen regarding the subject matter it is not unreasonable for you to participate in a newsworthy conversation.

What, where, and with whom you chose to discuss and/or not discuss vaping politics is up to you. All you need do is stay truthful in your support of vaping, and take the political conversation for face value.

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!

2015 is now here, and with a New Year comes some New Year resolutions. Some folks are going to want to lose weight, others are going to want to save money, and for many, there’s the pledge to quit using tobacco.

As with all of our communications, we can’t market our products as a smoking cessation device because at this time they’re considered only recreational, much like the tobacco many folks currently consume. Regardless of the nicotine e-liquids can provide to tobacco users who crave the chemical, or that there is a very similar fulfillment of oral fixation provided by the physical motions of vaping, we have not read conclusive scientific evidence to say that e-cigarettes help people quit smoking. We can only hope that there is some on the way.

What can help you quit smoking in 2015, though, is becoming part of a larger anti-tobacco community. This we know for a fact, that an important part of ridding your life of tobacco is having people there to help you in that fight. Having folks to talk to and share your stresses with is something we see help users of all kinds reduce their dependencies on drugs (and make no mistake, nicotine and other chemicals are drugs). Much like people who are addicted to and abuse other substances, tobacco users need support systems in place to ensure that, when they decide to quit, they can stay on the right track.

In 2015, stay on the right track with us. Whether or not you’d like to involve vaping in your resolution to quit using tobacco isn’t as much a concern to us as you quitting tobacco. If all that takes is having some honest, caring, and concerned individuals to talk to, then our doors are always open to you.

-The Vape Shop