Berkeley, stop the pseudoscience

[nsaspook]

http://www.berkeleyside.com/2015/05/13/berkeley-passes-cellphone-right-to-know-law/

How about spending time and money on talking and texting while driving, something that's really dangerous.

 

[phinds]

http://www.berkeleyside.com/2015/05/13/berkeley-passes-cellphone-right-to-know-law/

How about spending time and money on talking and texting while driving, something that's really dangerous.

Now, now. It's good that we have something harmless for aging hippies to amuse themselves with

 

[wabbit]

Look, phone! Must draft law. Better now.

 

[Vanadium 50]

It's also illegal to bring radioactive material into Berkeley. Even one disintigration. Oh, and tritium exit signs are mandated.

 

[wabbit]

It's also illegal to bring radioactive material into Berkeley. Even one disintigration. Oh, and tritium exit signs are mandated.

Problem solved, then - no computing device, phone included, must be allowed in the area.

 

[nsaspook]

I guess one more won't matter, California is swamped in a sea of junk generic warning signs to fend off attacking lawyers.
http://www.wlf.org/upload/07-27-07halko.pdf

 

[wabbit]

Oh my, this sounds really dangerous - they should close off that place to children at least.

 

[russ_watters]

Warning: Viewing this post will result in radiation exposure.

 

[nsaspook]

Warning: Viewing this post will result in radiation exposure.

Just typing that message in California causes exposure.

 

[mheslep]

It's also illegal to bring radioactive material into Berkeley. Even one disintigration. Oh, and tritium exit signs are mandated.

Off with their heads.

 

[mheslep]

I thought Berkeley was occupied with policing its borders: insuring USMC recruiters were kept out, and insuring illegal immigrants were kept in, free of harassment. How do they find the time.

 

[OCR]

Annex One... It is almost identical to Earth, except that there is no night--sunlight is constant.

 

[StevieTNZ]

That picture is so disturbing.

 

[zoobyshoe]

I found this old paper online last night:

https://www.aarst.org/proceedings/1990/1990_09_Startling_Radon_Risk_Comparisons.pdf

The point of it was to compare the dangers of radon gas to other dangers in a way that would get people's attention so they would radon-proof their homes. As it says, people are scared of nuclear power plants, but apathetic about radon. The author is not sure why, but wanted to put some ideas out about how to make people more frightened of radon, simply because the evidence is that it kills thousands a year.

I think what's going on is that conspiracy theorists thrive on denial of the conspiracy by "authorities" and they lose interest when the announcement of danger is forthright and insistent. The thrill, for them, is in uncovering secrets someone is trying hard to hide. They don't get worked up about the dangers of radon because no one is trying to hide them, but the whole cell phone denial of danger has that sweet smell of "cover-up" that is so alluring.

 

[russ_watters]

I found this old paper online last night:

https://www.aarst.org/proceedings/1990/1990_09_Startling_Radon_Risk_Comparisons.pdf

The point of it was to compare the dangers of radon gas to other dangers in a way that would get people's attention so they would radon-proof their homes. As it says, people are scared of nuclear power plants, but apathetic about radon. The author is not sure why, but wanted to put some ideas out about how to make people more frightened of radon, simply because the evidence is that it kills thousands a year.

I think what's going on is that conspiracy theorists thrive on denial of the conspiracy by "authorities" and they lose interest when the announcement of danger is forthright and insistent. The thrill, for them, is in uncovering secrets someone is trying hard to hide. They don't get worked up about the dangers of radon because no one is trying to hide them, but the whole cell phone denial of danger has that sweet smell of "cover-up" that is so alluring.

I think it is simpler than that: with radon, there is no one to blame, so no one to benefit from covering-up the danger. That explains the lack of conspiracy theory.

The "why people don't care" issue is broader and while it is probably partly the above, it is also likely just the fact that radon is a silent/latent danger.

 

[mheslep]

I'm inclined toward Don Quixote syndrome as a motivation: nobly saving the world against the powers that be (ego gratification). If there are no windmills to conjure as dragons to slay (faux evil products), no ego gratification. Without dragons the Don might be forced to confront an absence of productive activity, i.e. actually designing or building phones, businesses, and, well, we can't have that. Unfortunately Berkeley has turned the tale on its head, embraced the crazy and put the Don in charge of the kingdom.

 

[wabbit]

You are being unfair to the Ingenious Gentleman here, his quest may have been fanciful but it was nobly inspired : )

 

[mheslep]

Aye