The fact there is a massive, concerted, deliberate, organized and very well funded effort to deny us (conscious adults) access to THR products also annoys me at mental and psychological level. However, it has been equally annoying for me the indifference (often dismissal) and unwillingness of “third parties”, not to get involved, but even resistance to be informed on the global public health rejection of THR. By “third parties” I mean folks outside the controversy: not tobacco controllers, not pro-THR academics and not consumers of THR products. Since many never smoked or quit smoking decades ago, reducing harm from tobacco is for them a “non-issue” that does not require taking any action. They have no patience for explanations, still believing that (somehow) Big Tobacco is behind THR, though they are sufficiently lucid to disbelief the absolutist crusading narrative of tobacco controllers and the WHO. This crowd also believes that acceptance or rejection of THR only concerns health professionals who are already are handling the issue, even if they admit that they might not be handling it efficiently, as they are aware that health bureaucracies can often be incompetent, corrupt and in bed with Big Pharma. Unfortunately, among the many controversial issues of the day (ie climate change, gender issues, identities, globalization) THR is perhaps the issue that gets more public Indifference and apathy.
Roberto, I think you’ve put your finger on something that’s psychologically corrosive in a very specific way.
Knowing the harm is real, preventable, and politically maintained, while being told it’s a “non-issue” is not just intellectually frustrating. It’s mentally exhausting. And I don’t think that aspect gets acknowledged nearly enough.
The fact there is a massive, concerted, deliberate, organized and very well funded effort to deny us (conscious adults) access to THR products also annoys me at mental and psychological level. However, it has been equally annoying for me the indifference (often dismissal) and unwillingness of “third parties”, not to get involved, but even resistance to be informed on the global public health rejection of THR. By “third parties” I mean folks outside the controversy: not tobacco controllers, not pro-THR academics and not consumers of THR products. Since many never smoked or quit smoking decades ago, reducing harm from tobacco is for them a “non-issue” that does not require taking any action. They have no patience for explanations, still believing that (somehow) Big Tobacco is behind THR, though they are sufficiently lucid to disbelief the absolutist crusading narrative of tobacco controllers and the WHO. This crowd also believes that acceptance or rejection of THR only concerns health professionals who are already are handling the issue, even if they admit that they might not be handling it efficiently, as they are aware that health bureaucracies can often be incompetent, corrupt and in bed with Big Pharma. Unfortunately, among the many controversial issues of the day (ie climate change, gender issues, identities, globalization) THR is perhaps the issue that gets more public Indifference and apathy.
Roberto, I think you’ve put your finger on something that’s psychologically corrosive in a very specific way.
Knowing the harm is real, preventable, and politically maintained, while being told it’s a “non-issue” is not just intellectually frustrating. It’s mentally exhausting. And I don’t think that aspect gets acknowledged nearly enough.
Thank you.
One day, one minute, one hour at a time. I hear you, more than you know. ♥♥♥
Soooper