Fighting talk
Wednesday, November 18, 2015 at 11:21 Plenty of positive reactions here and on Facebook in response to Pat Nurse's article, 'Life and times of a dedicated smoker', which I posted on Friday.
It wasn't universal, though. One response, delivered via Twitter by an ex-smoking vaper, was a curt and dismissive "Not interested".
This was because Pat had posted some disparaging comments elsewhere about a certain body that is fiercely opposed to excessive anti-vaping regulations but is invisible and mute when it comes to anti-tobacco legislation.
Thankfully not all vapers are as myopic or as sensitive to views that, frankly, mirror their own anger and frustration.
In particular I warmly recommend 'Them and Us' by Paul Barnes on his Facts Do Matter blog. It was written not in response to Pat's article but in reaction to a couple of posts about last week's E-Cigarette Summit in London.
One was written by me (Why I'm not attending today's E-Cigarette Summit), the other was posted by Action on Consumer Choice (One cheer for the E-Cigarette Summit).
In his article Paul recalls meeting me at Vapefest and one or two things I said. He covers a fair bit of ground and finishes by writing:
Many vapers are openly supportive of smokers and do as much as they can to preserve the freedom of choice. I myself have responded to the various consultations on smoking ban extensions as an opponent of them. Back when the public place smoking ban was enacted I was silent, because I didn’t know how to respond. Back then I was one of "them". A sheeple.
Now I’m one of "us" I abhor what has been done to smokers. I fucking well lived through it. My primary goal, as a vaper, is to preserve choice. The choice for smokers to switch if they wish. The choice for vapers to use their devices. The choice for smokers to carry on smoking if they wish. I’ll work with smokers and their representative groups, if they’ll work with me.
Offer happily accepted, Paul. Ditto any other vapers who wish to join our 2016 campaign against outdoor smoking bans which, sooner or later, will embrace vaping too.
Naturally the offer of support is reciprocated. Like Paul, Forest believes in choice for all consumers and we will never put politics before principle.
Anyway, thanks to Paul, Liam Bryan and Jessica Harding (all from Vapers In Power) who have demonstrated that while they advocate vaping as an alternative to smoking they are prepared to support smokers' rights as well.
H/T also to David Dorn who broadcasts an Internet TV channel called Vapour Trails TV. David is a wildly enthusiastic and knowledgeable advocate of e-cigarettes. He too has not lost sight of his roots and understands, I think, the anger and hurt that Pat Nurse expressed in her article and elsewhere.
Talking of whom, Pat emailed me after I published her article last week:
I know how you feel about my strong and often, these days anyway, insulting language. But before you judge me too harshly, remember I am as I have been made.
Anti-smokers can call me smelly and ugly or a child abuser and I'll respond by calling them thugs. They can say I'm killing people and I'm selfish or a pathetic addict, and I will be sure to call them mental cases or some other strong insult back.
Basically I give what I get. If I have become nasty it's because over the last ten years or so I have had a lot of hate thrown at me as if it is some kind of right these days.
It isn't good PR, I grant you, but then why not? Being polite doesn't work, asking to be heard doesn't work, asking simply just to be left alone without some new harassment doesn't work. Signing petitions and campaigning doesn't work.
So, if throwing insults takes them even a little out of their comfort zone of feeling they are helping to save me and people like me who wish they'd just F off, then I'm at least doing all that I feel can be done.
Anyway, I'll let this issue lie for a while because I know it gets boring banging the same drum.
In the meantime, a suggestion for David Dorn. Why not invite Pat to take part in an edition of Vapour Trails? You could introduce her to a selection of e-cig devices and juices, and she could tell you why she prefers smoking (assuming you can't convince her otherwise).
I'd watch that – I'd even take part, if asked!
Reader Comments (3)
I have been publicly posting about my stance recently with regard to smoking / vaping. This has led to some interesting discussions. (See my fb page... Robert Innes, or Vapers Network, or Friends of Forest) I have hundreds of vaping fb friends and not a single negative comment.
The issue is choice.
I hope Mr Dorn takes you up on this and that Pat would be happy to participate.
I would. I've been silent for a few days due to just being busy with work and then getting a cold. it's not like me to start a fight and then not engage in the battle so sorry for having a go and then dicking off.
I've tried ecigs. I don't like them. There is no start nor end to the things. They give me a sore throat. They are unsatisfactory. I prefer organic tobacco - and I do grow my own - I don't smoke for nicotine. I smoke because I like smoke and the taste of tobacco - preferably light shag of virginia blend.
Angry?? Hell Yeah!