I constantly support smokers in their persecution. I do this even though I do not smoke but only vape.
I have posted before to say I am a smoker who vapes, and as such, I feel for smokers AND vapers.
We must not get too smug - our time is coming!
Here is a comment in response to THIS that saddened me.
Quote :- I have to say that I get a little thrill of “told you so” with every new
anti-vaping story. Good on the vapers for taking on this vipers’ nest
at such an early stage – anything which gives Tobacco Control a bit of a
bloody nose has got to be a good thing – but I have to say that as far
as I’m concerned they’re on their own on this one. The moment I read
comments from newly-converted vapers extolling the holy virtues of
vaping and using derogatory terms for “filthy, stinky” smokers and
bragging about how they weren’t ever going to die from cancer (yeah,
right) or heart disease (yeah, right again), they lost any support from
me that they were ever likely to have had. And I know from countless
comments on here and elsewhere that I’m not alone in this feeling.
As we smokers know only too well, support from people outside
one’s own group is vital to stop persecution once it gets going – it
was ultimately the lack of such support at even the most basic level
which did for smokers five years ago. Vapers’ only hope for outside
support might have come from their ex-colleagues the smokers. They
certainly can’t bank on the support of non-smokers, non-vapers, drinkers
or non-obese people, because anti-vaping campaigns “don’t affect them,”
so basically they won’t give a sh*t. But by adopting the typical
ex-smoker-turned-anti-smoker attitude, vapers lost what outside support
they might have had, so ultimately they’re unlikely to make much headway
against a well-funded and media-savvy bunch like Tobacco Control,
because each and every argurment, counter-argument or disagreement can
be easily brushed aside as partisan and biased because: "You would say
that, wouldn't you - you're a Vaper!"
But if nothing else, it’s a welcome relief not to be the sole subject of Tobacco Control’s prejudice for at least a little while.
I asked that I could use this comment in this post and received this reply...
Quote - Feel free to use my comment on your blog, VP, but I would appreciate if
you’d point out that I do recognise – as SteveW points out above – that
not all vapers are anti-smokers and that many (possibly by virtue of
having been smokers themselves previously) are both understanding of the
unfairnesses loaded upon smokers and probably more aware than most
other – so far largely untouched - disapproved-of “lifestyle followers”
of the dangers of joining in with the bullies simply because those
bullies appear at the moment to be the “winning side,” which makes them
feel good.
I guess the real nub is that the anti-smoking-type
vapers are likely to end up alienating that much-needed “outside”
support which, ultimately, can only end up working against all vapers – including themselves - in the end.
As I have said before us vapers who have become co-persecutors should feel ashamed.....
It is sad when Vapers become Zealots but those are far and few between. Most of us have compassion for smokers. It took me 10 yrs and an electronic cigarette to be able to quit "smoking" but not nicotine, just the 4000 toxins contained in the tobacco analog cigarette.
ReplyDeleteLiz, this person is a sad person. They are probably as bitter in real life as they are about vaping. Best to move on.
Should the vapers who have become co-persecutors of smokers be any more ashamed than smokers who "get a little thrill" when smoke-free products are included in smoking bans?
ReplyDelete