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Information Suppression

WarpedFactor

Member For 2 Years
This is going to be long...
I answer questions on the social media platform, Quora. I am not primarily involved in vaping there, but with the uproar in Michigan, and increased FDA scrutiny I have seen questions increasing. I have only answered a couple of them, and one of them just got deleted. I have a limited time to appeal, but I have no clue what "policy" I violated. I am going to copy my answer here, and invite anyone to please tell me what I got wrong...

Your answer to this question has been deleted by Quora Moderation.
Your answer was found to violate a policy on Quora

  • How dangerous will vaping have to be proven to be in order to see a federal ban?
Well, as another person pointed out, the vast majority of these cases appear to be non-standard, black market, formulations. These are usually mixed by individuals for whatever reasons. I suspect those involving THC would ignore any law, anyway, since safety and legality generally does not seem to be an issue for most who abuse drugs.

Edit:
After answering this question, I looked into the most recent claims of “vaping harm”. The most damaging information appears to be from nitrosamines production, that may cause damage to DNA, leading to cancer. Sounds pretty scary, huh? Nitrosamines are produced when the body breaks down nicotine. However, the study was conducted without reference to nitrosamines in smokers. The actual results show nitrosamines produced from Nicotine Replacement Therapy products are higher than that of vaping, though this is not pointed out in the study. Obviously, vaping without nicotine produces no nitrosamines. How does that compare to cigarette smoking? Cigarettes usually contain between 10 and 14 mg of nicotine per cigarette. Of course you don’t inhale all of that, but for example, I was smoking more than 60 cigarettes per day. The vape fluid I use contains 10 mg of nicotine per liter. It takes me over 6 months to use a liter of vape liquid.

As for the contention that heavy metals leach from the battery to the e-liquid, the e-liquid is in a completely separate, but attached container, from the battery. The only connection between the two is a contact, electrical connection. There is no contact between the battery and the e-liquid. They are separated by physical barriers. Heavy metals cannot migrate over an electrical connection.
End Edit

I saw a British study that purports vaping to be 97% safer than cigarettes, and the CDC did an occupational safety report on a vape shop, where vaping constanly occurred. The report is linked here, but the Conclusion was…

Employees were exposed to detectable levels of diacetyl and 2,3-pentanedione in the air while working in the vape shop. Although the measured concentrations were below all applicable OELs, to better protect the health of employees we recommend that the employer implement a policy prohibiting vaping in the work place with e-liquids that contain diacetyl and 2,3-pentanedione. The concentration of other vaping-related chemicals that we measured were also below their relevant OELs. Employees should be trained on proper chemical handling procedures and the need for consistent use of chemical protective nitrile gloves when handling liquids containing nicotine.

From here on, let’s get personal. I was a smoker for 50 years. I grew up in a tobacco growing region. I started smoking at 8, and was a confirmed smoker by 10. For the last 30 years that I smoked, I was a chain smoker, usually smoking 3 or more packs a day. For 5 years of that time, I called myself “quit”, though I constantly craved cigarettes, and sometimes would take a “guilty smoke”, probably at least 10 times a month. I tried patches, gums, lozenges, and even Chantix. Eventually, I fell off the wagon, and couldn’t get back on.

Now, I had quit because I truly felt I had to quit cigarettes, or quit breathing, but my health had improved enough, I was able to convince myself I was “bullet proof” again. That lasted for about 3 years. Eventually, I was hospitalized for critically low oxygen. My SpO2 level was 85%. Even then, I continued smoking, but started vaping to cut down my smoking. When I finally realized that my SpO2 levels weren’t going to rise much above 94%, and if I kept on smoking, I would soon need oxygen, I again quit smoking, but this time I was vaping. I never craved a cigarette again. Within 6 months my SpO2 levels were up to 97 - 98%, and I just could not stand to be around a cigarette. My health care provider flat told me that switching to vaping had probably saved my life.

If vaping became unavailable, would I start smoking again? I like to think not, but I know myself better than that.
 
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Smoky Blue

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You need to read up on their own policies and see.. good article you did, and I hate it was removed.
 

Bluenatic

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I've never ventured to that site, I'll have to check it out. Is it a very strict and heavily moderated place? It seems so for the info you provided to be removed. IMO what you wrote should be copied and pasted for all the uniformed and ignorant people out there who are or might not be looking for answers. I really appreciate your response and the fact it was deleted is upsetting. I would appeal for sure.
 

lordmage

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i would challenge it it should have been collapsed not deleted. i would remove your personal stories and keep it to cited sources and topic neutral while abiding by there be nice policy if the OP reported it then they might have removed it since it was a how can iot get banned type of question
 

WarpedFactor

Member For 2 Years
You need to read up on their own policies and see.. good article you did, and I hate it was removed.
Thanks. I have been in touch with the Space Admin about it. The answer was up for 2 days before it was linked to the Space. Within minutes of being linked to the Space, it was deleted. The Admin looked at it and found no reason it should have been deleted. He is going to contact the moderators. Quora moderation is not directly accessible to users. I am very active on Quora, and do not have a moderation history, with over a million views. Personally, with the uproar over Michigan, and FDA scrutiny, they may be watching the Space.

The reason I included my story was to let those who don't vape, or even smoke get some idea of the real issue, and what kind of impact regulation may have. Really, I have tried every other option to quit smoking. Patches gave me a rash, and nausea too, likely because I was still smoking, but they did nothing to abate the cravings. With the cravings, not only did I suffer, but they affected my temperment to the point that I was difficult to live with. My ex got to the point she was telling me to just start smoking again, which I eventually did.

With thousands of answers, more than a few of which I have used personal experience to illustrate the point or lend context, and I have not been moderated for it yet.
 
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Smoky Blue

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Thanks. I have been in touch with the Space Admin about it. The answer was up for 2 days before it was linked to the Space. Within minutes of being linked to the Space, it was deleted. The Admin looked at it and found no reason it should have been deleted. He is going to contact the moderators. Quora moderation is not directly accessible to users. I am very active on Quora, and do not have a moderation history, with over a million views. Personally, with the uproar over Michigan, and FDA scrutiny, they may be watching the Space.

The reason I included my story was to let those who don't vape, or even smoke get some idea of the real issue, and what kind of impact regulation may have. Really, I have tried every other option to quit smoking. Patches gave me a rash, and nausea too, likely because I was still smoking, but they did nothing to abate the cravings. With the cravings, not only did I suffer, but they affected my temperment to the point that I was difficult to live with. My ex got to the point she was telling me to just start smoking again, which I eventually did.


I do hope they get it all sorted out.. seems like maybe a mistake..
 

WarpedFactor

Member For 2 Years
**UPDATE**
Well the the good news is, my answer was restored. I must have correctly guessed that it was too sympathetic to vaping to suit them. I added a disclaimer. While it is a disclaimer, I took the opportunity push a little more in it...

**DISCLAIMER**
I am not a medical professional or a researcher in this field. I am a product, end user. I do not advocate that anyone, least of all, minors under the age of 21, consume vaping products. The choice to vape, or not to vape is an individual and personal choice for informed adults, just as smoking is. I offered my anecdote to lend context, and illustate that, in my opinion, without careful thought, regulation might do greater harm than good. Approximately 480,000 deaths are caused from smoking cigarettes in the US, each year.
 
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