How many forum members does it take to change a light bulb?

[skywise]

Q:
How many forum members does it takes to change a light bulb?

A:
* 1 to change the light bulb and to post that the light bulb has been changed

* 14 to share similar experiences of changing light bulbs and how the light bulb could have been changed differently

* 7 to caution about the dangers of changing light bulbs

* 1 to move it to the Lighting section

* 2 to argue then move it to the Electricals section

* 7 to point out spelling/grammar errors in posts about changing light bulbs

* 5 to flame the spell checkers

* 3 to correct spelling/grammar flames

* 6 to argue over whether it's "lightbulb" or "light bulb" ... another 6 to condemn those 6 as stupid

* 2 industry professionals to inform the group that the proper term is "lamp"

* 15 know-it-alls who claim they were in the industry, and that "light bulb" is perfectly correct

* 19 to post that this forum is not about light bulbs and to please take this discussion to a lightbulb forum

* 11 to defend the posting to this forum saying that we all use light bulbs and therefore the posts are relevant to this forum

* 36 to debate which method of changing light bulbs is superior, where to buy the best light bulbs, what brand of light bulbs work best for this technique and what brands are faulty

* 7 to post URL's where one can see examples of different light bulbs

* 4 to post that the URL's were posted incorrectly and then post the corrected URL's

* 3 to post about links they found from the URL's that are relevant to this group which makes light bulbs relevant to this group

* 13 to link all posts to date, quote them in their entirety including all headers and signatures, and add "Me too"

* 5 to post to the group that they will no longer post because they cannot handle the light bulb controversy

* 4 to say "didn't we go through this already a short time ago?"

* 13 to say "do a Google search on light bulbs before posting questions about light bulbs"

* 1 forum lurker to respond to the original post 6 months from now and start it all over again.

 

[Monique]

lol, I hope you didn't post it out of frustration

 

[ShawnD]

Nope, it's an old joke from years ago. As true now as it was when it was conceived.

It doesn't hold true on most forums due to a lack of members, but it certainly holds true on Anandtech.

 

[jimmy p]

I call the forum lurker position!

 

[Evo]

Skywise, that's hysterical!

 

[motai]

This is a physics forum, and not a lightbulb (light bulb) forum. Please move it to the appropriate forum (or the lighting section).

 

[russ_watters]

This is a physics forum, and not a lightbulb (light bulb) forum. Please move it to the appropriate forum (or the lighting section).

Lightbulbs may only be changed from the electrical engineering section of the forums and under the supervision of an engineering mentor.

 

[Imparcticle]

lol, very funny. Its like a physicsforums horoscope. Skywise, you forgot to mention someone who would argue about the exact definition of a light bulb vs. lightbulb vs.lamp.

 

[Hurkyl]

Darn it, you stole my cue.

 

[zoobyshoe]

The notion that a light bulb can be "changed" (changed into what?) is tantamount either to alchemy or magic, and belongs either in Theory Development or Skepticism and Debunking. Either way, there is no number of PF members who will be able to accomplish such a "change".

 

[selfAdjoint]

Since a light bulb is the common symbol for an idea, it can be changed by changing one's mind. How many PF posters do that?

 

[motai]

Perhaps the "change" is within the person. If that is the case, then it belongs in the Metaphysics and Epistemology forum.

 

[Robert Zaleski]

This project is going nowhere, it requires an Environmental Impact Report.

 

[tribdog]

the high efficiency of an LED/fiber optic combination negates the need for a wasteful, heat generating "light bulb"

I invented a solar powered light bulb.

 

[hypnagogue]

Perhaps the "change" is within the person. If that is the case, then it belongs in the Metaphysics and Epistemology forum.

You are implying a faulty Cartesian Theater model here. Daniel Dennett has clearly shown that the mind is nothing above and beyond the brain. Therefore any posts regarding the changing of light bulbs involves the changing of one's systematic pattern of neural activation in the frontal and inferior temporal lobes, and thus any posts on the matter belong in the Biology forum.

 

[DarkAnt]

wow...just wow

 

[Tsu]

Skywise, that's just a riot!

 

[skywise]

wwow is right. I'm happy to see this was so thoroughly enjoyed.

 

[quantumdude]

Let's not forget the 932 crackpots who will argue till the end that everything being taught in schools about lightbulbs is false, and the last and only Bastion of Truth of All Things Lightbulbical is to be found on their personal geocities website, because the referees of establishment lightbulb research journals keep supressing their obviously true ideas.

 

[Moonbear]

Well, since JimmyP has been sleeping on the job, I'll take over the role of the former lurker who resurrects the thread. See, this is what happens when someone creates a "best of" thread and brings these funny ones to the attention of former lurkers

Oh, and since we're also missing links to sites with pictures of light bulbs, I felt I needed to help with that too

http://www.bulbcollector.com/light_bulb.html

 

[franznietzsche]

You all fail to realize the truth, there is no "bulb", only "light".

For this, you all face eternal torment from being touced by hot "bulbs" that you so erroneously believe in. Heathens.

Ps: And if it weren't for your "bulb" establishment suppressing my oblviously true ideas, i wouldn't ahve had to bring this up in mixed company...



...Heathens.

 

[The Bob]

You have all gone mad.

Nice work Skywise.

The Bob (2004 ©)

P.S. This should be in the 'I don't know where this thread should go' section. :shy:

 

[BobG]

Well, since JimmyP has been sleeping on the job, I'll take over the role of the former lurker who resurrects the thread. See, this is what happens when someone creates a "best of" thread and brings these funny ones to the attention of former lurkers

Oh, and since we're also missing links to sites with pictures of light bulbs, I felt I needed to help with that too

http://www.bulbcollector.com/light_bulb.html

I think one has to consider the biased opinion spouted by this website before deciding how much credence to give it.

In the pre-1900 section, there were 4 Buckeye bulbs and not a single Cornhusker bulb?! Give me a break. At least the Buckeye lamps all received a rating of 0.00 - (Now watch Gokul go and rectify that )

By the way, the Aerolux Cosmos lamp in the neon glow lights is pretty cool - well deserving of its 9.50 rating.

 

[Moonbear]

I think one has to consider the biased opinion spouted by this website before deciding how much credence to give it.

What evidence do you have that they are biased? Just because they don't support your opinions on light bulbs doesn't automatically mean they are biased. This is a reputable light bulb site, not one of your crackpot sites arguing the existence of Cornhusker bulbs.

 

[Gokul43201]

I think one has to consider the biased opinion spouted by this website before deciding how much credence to give it.

In the pre-1900 section, there were 4 Buckeye bulbs and not a single Cornhusker bulb?! Give me a break. At least the Buckeye lamps all received a rating of 0.00 - (Now watch Gokul go and rectify that )

By the way, the Aerolux Cosmos lamp in the neon glow lights is pretty cool - well deserving of its 9.50 rating.

Funny ! I've heard the husker bulbs were stuck in the dark ages until some westerner came by to enlighten them.

 

[BobG]

What evidence do you have that they are biased? Just because they don't support your opinions on light bulbs doesn't automatically mean they are biased. This is a reputable light bulb site, not one of your crackpot sites arguing the existence of Cornhusker bulbs.

I take all the bad things I said about them back.

What a cool site. If you go back to the home page, they have a section for old radio vacuum tubes, X-ray tubes, and so on.

They even have their own forum. A priceless discussion: http://www.bulbcollector.com/ubb/Forum10/HTML/000415.html

 

[Gokul43201]

I take all the bad things I said about them back.

What a cool site. If you go back to the home page, they have a section for old radio vacuum tubes, X-ray tubes, and so on.

They even have their own forum. A priceless discussion: http://www.bulbcollector.com/ubb/Forum10/HTML/000415.html

Hey, that discussion is priceless ! Especially the picture with the little black arrow...that's something, eh !

 

[Moonbear]

I take all the bad things I said about them back.

What a cool site. If you go back to the home page, they have a section for old radio vacuum tubes, X-ray tubes, and so on.

They even have their own forum. A priceless discussion: http://www.bulbcollector.com/ubb/Forum10/HTML/000415.html

Oh, geez, I'm sorry guys, I didn't foresee the danger of introducing a slide rule collector to a light bulb collecting site. I'll have to be more careful in the future about introducing PFers to dangerous habits.

That discussion forum borders on frightening! This gives me an idea (now I need a light bulb icon!)...the way to solve the problem of over-full landfills. It's not about just convincing people to recycle, we have to tap into these kooky collectors and just start convincing them they need to broaden their collection. Before long, they'll be fishing almost everything out of the trash, and storing it in their basements. It's not a permanent solution, eventually they'll run out of basement space, but it might buy some time while they pre-sort everything for us as we find ways to recycle it for better uses.

I'm glad that link amuses you. It's certainly better than the bizarre graphics on the first light bulb site I googled...unless they meant headlights , I don't know how those pictures related to light bulbs.

 

[Smurf]

Stay On Topic!

I think the last few posters have been getting off topic, this is a discussion about how many forumers it takes to screw in a light bulb, please stick to the topic.

P.S. Existence is spelled with two Es, no A!

 

[Moonbear]

Smurf, if you're going to pick on spelling, then at least get your grammar correct. "Forumers"...puhleeeze! Now we're inventing words.

And we're not off-topic. How can we discuss how many forum members it takes to change a light bulb unless we've clearly defined what a light bulb is, where to find them, which type we are talking about, is it better than other types available, etc? Afterall, the methods used for changing a light bulb will depend on the type of light bulb involved. You obviously haven't take enough light bulb classes to fully understand this question if you don't see how many options there are in light bulbs. Please go back to your Light Bulb courses before you tell the Light Bulb experts how to address the question properly.

(P.S.-Thanks, we needed a spelling policeman and a topic reminder...glad you stepped up to the plate.)

Hmm...how does this affect the count, when some of us are taking on multiple roles...the same person complaining about spelling and reminding us to stay on topic? We'll have to take a more accurate count at the end of the thread.

 

[motai]

All of this seems oddly familiar...

Didn't we just go through this a short time ago?

 

[BobG]

You should turn off the circuit breaker before changing the light bulb/lightbulb/lamp/electrical_glowing_thingy just to be safe. Especially if you break the light bulb in the socket and have to use a raw potato to get the base of the bulb out.

 

[BobG]

I take all the bad things I said about them back.

What a cool site. If you go back to the home page, they have a section for old radio vacuum tubes, X-ray tubes, and so on.

They even have their own forum. A priceless discussion: http://bulbcollector.com/forum/index.php?topic=563.0

Edit: Link updated to new location (You can't actually edit an eight month old post).

Edit: You can't change a light bulb unless it's UL certified.

 

[Evo]

You should turn off the circuit breaker before changing the light bulb/lightbulb/lamp/electrical_glowing_thingy just to be safe. Especially if you break the light bulb in the socket and have to use a raw potato to get the base of the bulb out.

Raw potatoes are dangerous because they're wet. I use a wadded up old sock, works fine. (except for the times I've had to use needle nose pliers)

 

[Gale]

hey, i just changed a lightbulb... man it was so awesome. i like, turned it, and it came out... i burned my fingers at first though, cause it was still hot from being turned on. Also, it was very hard, because once the light was out, i couldn't see any more because it was dark. i also dropped the dead light bulb and broke it on the floor, but i didn't really worry, since i couldn't see where the glass shards were anyway. then i forgot to turn off the switch, so when the bulb was screwed in a little, it nearly blinded me. But, the bulb was changed! woooot

 

[Moonbear]

hey, i just changed a lightbulb... man it was so awesome. i like, turned it, and it came out... i burned my fingers at first though, cause it was still hot from being turned on. Also, it was very hard, because once the light was out, i couldn't see any more because it was dark. i also dropped the dead light bulb and broke it on the floor, but i didn't really worry, since i couldn't see where the glass shards were anyway. then i forgot to turn off the switch, so when the bulb was screwed in a little, it nearly blinded me. But, the bulb was changed! woooot

Oh, yeah, it's a bad idea to change lightbulbs while barefoot. I did that once...I was barefoot and climbed up on a chair to change a bulb (ladders are too much trouble). The old bulb slipped and smashed in an extraordinarily spectacular crash onto the edge of the fireplace hearth. There was glass EVERYWHERE and I was surrounded. I had to figure out how to get down without stepping in glass, so wound up leaping to a sofa what was still clean, then from the sofa to another chair, until I could reach a pair of slippers that were near the chair (see, it's a good thing I never learned to keep my slippers in the bedroom where they belong). I managed to not cut myself, but for a moment I thought it was going to be inevitable. That took forever to clean up too. I kept finding bits of glass for a week...every day I was vacuuming again, and still finding more glass. You'd have thought I'd dropped a plate glass window from all the glass around.

 

[Evo]

Since I'm sick, I'm reading the classics. This made my lungs hurt.

 

[Hurkyl]

Ah, so you're the lurker. Almost a year past due, though.

 

[Lisa!]

Q.How many forum members does it take to change a light bulb?

A. None! Because they don't need any light other tan their monitor while posting at PF.

 

[twisting_edge]

Q.How many forum members does it take to change a light bulb?

A. None! Because they don't need any light other tan their monitor while posting at PF.

That was my answer:

None: Both CRTs and flatscreens are self-illuminating.

(I'm one of the "me too"s.)

 

[jim mcnamara]

Are there "me threes" as well?

 

[radou]

Q.How many forum members does it take to change a light bulb?

A. No PF members except the members of the notorious sisterhood know how to change light bulbs. It is a secret never to be revealed.

 

[Artman]

It has come to the attention of the PhysicForums Electricians Union Steward of PF brotherhood Local 1234.5^6 that there has been discussion of the changing of Lightbulbs/Light bulbs/Lamps/electrical_glowing_thingys without the use of union labor.

If the matter is not satisfactorily adjusted the steward shall submit the grievance in writing to the Office of the appropriate Director within ten (10) working days. The grievance shall be taken up at a grievance meeting between the Director (or his designated representative) and the grievant, the steward and/or the Union's Business Manager (or his representative.)

If a satisfactory settlement cannot be reached, and the Union wishes to process the grievance further, the grievance shall be presented in writing to the Director of Employee/Labor Relations. The Director of Employee/Labor Relations (or his designated representative) shall answer the grievance in writing within fifteen (15) working days after a final hearing, except in cases of termination, which will be answered within five (5) working days. If a suitable settlement still cannot be reached,the Union wishes to process the grievance further, the Union may institute arbitration proceedings.

Either party may request the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service or the American Arbitration Association to submit a list of seven (7) arbitrators from which the parties may jointly make such selections. If the parties fail to agree on the selection of an arbitrator from this list, each party shall alternately strike one name each until but one (1) name remains and the person so named shall be the arbitrator.

The arbitrator shall have no authority to add to, subtract from, or in any way modify the provisions of this Agreement.

The decision of the arbitrator made in compliance with the foregoing shall be final, shall be in writing, shall include the reasons for such findings and the conclusion, and shall be rendered within thirty (30) calendar days following the date of the last hearing conducted by the arbitrator unless an extension of such period is agreed to by the electrical thingy changer and the Union.

Each party shall be responsible for one-half (1/2) of the expenses and the fees of the arbitrator designated under this Article VIII, as well as any expenses for the services of a court reporter and for copies of transcripts going to the arbitrator. Each party shall bear the full cost of its own copy of the transcript.

Until such time as a settlement can be determined, changing of Lightbulbs/Light bulbs/Lamps/electrical_glowing_thingys shall not be conducted, whether those changes be physical or metaphysical.

 

[Office_Shredder]

I take all the bad things I said about them back.

What a cool site. If you go back to the home page, they have a section for old radio vacuum tubes, X-ray tubes, and so on.

They even have their own forum. A priceless discussion: http://bulbcollector.com/forum/index.php?topic=563.0

Edit: Link updated to new location (You can't actually edit an eight month old post).

Edit: You can't change a light bulb unless it's UL certified.

http://bulbcollector.com/forum/index.php?topic=801.0

This is bull****. One thread on that forum was about WWI French floodlights... nobody even bothered to warn the poster that the floodlights are lit with mustard gas, and they were originally used to kill German troops as they exposed their positions!

The light bulb industry has been hiding this fact for too long. Studies show that all three people who have never been exposed to a light bulb nor communicated with someone who has have a 100% success rate at not developing niccotine addictions, regardless of whether they smoke or not. The government must stop protecting Big Bulb and start protecting the people!

 

[Artman]

http://bulbcollector.com/forum/index.php?topic=801.0

This is bull****. One thread on that forum was about WWI French floodlights... nobody even bothered to warn the poster that the floodlights are lit with mustard gas, and they were originally used to kill German troops as they exposed their positions!

The light bulb industry has been hiding this fact for too long. Studies show that all three people who have never been exposed to a light bulb nor communicated with someone who has have a 100% success rate at not developing niccotine addictions, regardless of whether they smoke or not. The government must stop protecting Big Bulb and start protecting the people!

As this post illustrates, the handling of Lightbulbs/Light bulbs/Lamps/electrical_glowing_thingys without the use of experienced union labor can result in great harm or even death.

We will fight this as long as it takes.


PhysicForums Electricians Union Steward of PF brotherhood Local 1234.5^6

 

[BobG]

http://bulbcollector.com/forum/index.php?topic=801.0

This is bull****. One thread on that forum was about WWI French floodlights... nobody even bothered to warn the poster that the floodlights are lit with mustard gas, and they were originally used to kill German troops as they exposed their positions!

The light bulb industry has been hiding this fact for too long. Studies show that all three people who have never been exposed to a light bulb nor communicated with someone who has have a 100% success rate at not developing niccotine addictions, regardless of whether they smoke or not. The government must stop protecting Big Bulb and start protecting the people!

I'm curious about the methodology of the survey. Presumably, the three had to be studied by someone and the surveyors must not have ever come in contact with a light bulb, correct? But the surveyors couldn't be part of the survey, because, while they had never personally experienced a light bulb, they had come into contact with someone who had? Still, either the surveyors had to know what a light bulb was, which meant the survey was possibly corrupted by surveyor bias about the subject, or, the surveyor did not know what a light bulb was and there is no way to verify the surveyor even conducted the survey correctly.

It seems to me it would take at least 27 surveyors to survey the three individuals. One group of three that had no awareness of light bulbs, but had been in contact with individuals who might know what a light bulb was even if they had never experienced one themselves;
a group of three surveyors that had no awareness of light bulbs, but had been in contact with individuals who had been in contact with light bulbs, but had never seen a lit lightbulb; a group of three that had no awareness of light bulbs, but had been in contact with individuals who had actually seen a light bulb in action; a group of three that knew what a light bulb was, but had never seen one and knew no one that had ever seen a light bulb; a group of three that knew what a light bulb was, but had never seen one, but did no someone who had seen a lightbulb; a group of three that knew what a light bulb was, and knew someone who had seen a lightbulb in action; a group of three that knew what a lightbulb was, and knew someone who had had a bright light shined in their eyes; a group of three that knew what a lightbulb was and knew someone who had been killed by a lightbulb; and a group of three that had personally been killed by a lightbulb. That way results could be cross referenced to eliminate variations caused by the surveyors.

 

[Office_Shredder]

and a group of three that had personally been killed by a lightbulb

Any group of three will do it for you! We're all slowly being poisoned, and the economic stranglehold Big Bulb holds over us keeps anyone from stopping it! You must all move to Kazakhstan, as I have, to survive the upcoming epidemic!

 

[Hurkyl]

I, for one, welcome our new light bulb overlords.

 

[Gokul43201]

Is it just me or is it still dark in here?

 

[Artman]

Is it just me or is it still dark in here?

Yeah, it's pretty dim. I think maybe it is you.