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Recent discussions about Radon and Swine flu made me think about how odd it is the way our society seems to love to get involved in trendy goofball panics. I am not sure why that is but it sure is funny in an odd way, more than in a humor way. We love to get all wacked out about things that are really a relatively small threat or no threat at all and then overreact massively and spend millions or billions studying, banning, or combating what turns out to be a insignificant threat.
My favorite example was the whole y2k scare. Our society spent hundreds of million if not billions trying to deal with the whole y2k issue. Everyone thought that every computer in the world would shut down, cars would not run, phones would not function, society would break down. People bought generators, guns, food, water, etc. Laws were passed. People hired expensive specialists to resolve the problem. Then when the date arrived: Nothing happened.
Some of my other favorites are bird flu, swine flu, mad cow disease and all of the other incurable diseases that were guaranteed to wipe out human existence.
Asbestos was another one. Yes it has its dangers, but not at the level that the hype indicated. Asbestos causes problems for people who breathe clouds of the dust for years on end. there is no record of anyone being injured or getting sick because asbestos was wrapped around their pipes, encased in their walls, or bonded into flooring material or shingles. However we did use a lot of very useful and durable (and fire resistant) products. How many people died because of the lack of fire resistant asbestos materials in their homes? Unknown. How many died because of asbestos materials used in their house? None identified, ever.
Eggs are a favorite as well. First health nuts promoted drinking a raw egg with wheat germ for breakfast. Then eggs were bad for you. Then they were not bad for you. Then only uncooked eggs were bad for you (no more wheat germ shakes), you were warned to store eggs in the refrigerator, even though in Europe they are kept in a regular cabinet and refrigeration is not considered necessary (of course everyone in Europe died and we forgot to notice).
DDT is another great panic. We eat DDT every day. However people panic over it if they think that they are anywhere near DDT. It was only ever found to be harmful to birds. I am glad that we protected the birds, but at the cost of thousands of lives lost to malaria that could have been controlled, was it worth it?
I can think of several other popular panics that fizzled. Included in things that were going to destroy the world or otherwise kill people are freon, cow farts, riding in cars with red interiors, lead paint, cell phones (brain tumors), mold in your house, Soviets, and just about every kind of food that there is: pork, fat, reduced fat products, carbohydrates, fish, beef, sugar, corn syrup, . . . .
"Everything gives you cancer. There's no cure, there's no answer" (Joe Jackson).
Some of these things actually had some level of threat to them, but it was always massively over hyped. Why do we love to panic over things that turn out to be nothing, or at least no where near the level of risk that is hyped?
Can anyone think of other bizarre or funny examples?
Recent discussions about Radon and Swine flu made me think about how odd it is the way our society seems to love to get involved in trendy goofball panics. I am not sure why that is but it sure is funny in an odd way, more than in a humor way. We love to get all wacked out about things that are really a relatively small threat or no threat at all and then overreact massively and spend millions or billions studying, banning, or combating what turns out to be a insignificant threat.
My favorite example was the whole y2k scare. Our society spent hundreds of million if not billions trying to deal with the whole y2k issue. Everyone thought that every computer in the world would shut down, cars would not run, phones would not function, society would break down. People bought generators, guns, food, water, etc. Laws were passed. People hired expensive specialists to resolve the problem. Then when the date arrived: Nothing happened.
Some of my other favorites are bird flu, swine flu, mad cow disease and all of the other incurable diseases that were guaranteed to wipe out human existence.
Asbestos was another one. Yes it has its dangers, but not at the level that the hype indicated. Asbestos causes problems for people who breathe clouds of the dust for years on end. there is no record of anyone being injured or getting sick because asbestos was wrapped around their pipes, encased in their walls, or bonded into flooring material or shingles. However we did use a lot of very useful and durable (and fire resistant) products. How many people died because of the lack of fire resistant asbestos materials in their homes? Unknown. How many died because of asbestos materials used in their house? None identified, ever.
Eggs are a favorite as well. First health nuts promoted drinking a raw egg with wheat germ for breakfast. Then eggs were bad for you. Then they were not bad for you. Then only uncooked eggs were bad for you (no more wheat germ shakes), you were warned to store eggs in the refrigerator, even though in Europe they are kept in a regular cabinet and refrigeration is not considered necessary (of course everyone in Europe died and we forgot to notice).
DDT is another great panic. We eat DDT every day. However people panic over it if they think that they are anywhere near DDT. It was only ever found to be harmful to birds. I am glad that we protected the birds, but at the cost of thousands of lives lost to malaria that could have been controlled, was it worth it?
I can think of several other popular panics that fizzled. Included in things that were going to destroy the world or otherwise kill people are freon, cow farts, riding in cars with red interiors, lead paint, cell phones (brain tumors), mold in your house, Soviets, and just about every kind of food that there is: pork, fat, reduced fat products, carbohydrates, fish, beef, sugar, corn syrup, . . . .
"Everything gives you cancer. There's no cure, there's no answer" (Joe Jackson).
Some of these things actually had some level of threat to them, but it was always massively over hyped. Why do we love to panic over things that turn out to be nothing, or at least no where near the level of risk that is hyped?
Can anyone think of other bizarre or funny examples?
While the Swine Flu has recently been "hyped" as a health concern with little actual visual effects radon has been a serious health concern for the last 25 years. EPA statistics verify 20,000 lung cancer deaths a year from the affects of radon in residential homes which is hardly "hype" or another threat that turned out to be "nothing". In the future you might wish to educate yourself before making uninformed statements.......I'm not sure where you live but I suspect most people, if informed, would find 20,000 deaths a year something to be concerned over ?
While the Swine Flu has recently been "hyped" as a health concern with little actual visual effects radon has been a serious health concern for the last 25 years. EPA statistics verify 20,000 lung cancer deaths a year from the affects of radon in residential homes which is hardly "hype" or another threat that turned out to be "nothing". In the future you might wish to educate yourself before making uninformed statements.......I'm not sure where you live but I suspect most people, if informed, would find 20,000 deaths a year something to be concerned over ?
Firstly, the EPA also lists "second hand smoke" as a leading cause of cancer, when there isn't any peer reviewed clinical research/testing to prove this, so their statement about radon can be considered suspect.
Their radon estimate statement is based on the research linked below, conducted using worst case scenarios among only 1, 027 women in Iowa.
Secondly, 20,000 out of 300 million? You've a better chance of hitting the lottery. The OP is correct as listing radon as an example of the Politics of Hysteria, something blown way out of proportion.
These things have only fizzled to the uninformed. If you choose to be uninformed, well then ignorance is bliss. (until you're dead from mercury poisoning)
Last edited by nevergoingback; 09-09-2009 at 06:53 PM..
These things have only fizzled to the uninformed. If you choose to be uninformed, well then ignorance is bliss. (until you're dead from mercury poisoning)
Please read the OP. The OP is speaking about the bandwagon panics people tend to engage in, mercury included.
All federal departments in most western Nations responsible for food safety have an "accepted level" of everything from mercury to fecal matter to bug parts.
Even the most dangerous poisons known to man can be found on your grocery shelves in minute quantities.
I don't thnik teh swine flu is anyhting like a panic;its more like preparing for a hurricane season in the topics;makes sense to preapre. Now thing sw like Y@K are pretty much panic with some pople and other things like 2012'global warming;the next ice age. much less things to worry/prepare for because you can do liitle if true.
Please read the OP. The OP is speaking about the bandwagon panics people tend to engage in, mercury included.
All federal departments in most western Nations responsible for food safety have an "accepted level" of everything from mercury to fecal matter to bug parts.
Even the most dangerous poisons known to man can be found on your grocery shelves in minute quantities.
Whatever you say. 2000 plus post in two months? LOL.
Mercury is no goofball trendy panic, I feel sorry for you if you think otherwise.
Yeah I know they have "accepted levels". Trust the govt? You must be crazy. Thats like trusting in corporations, maybe worse.
Why would the govt say its OK to inject yourself with 200 times over what they recommend. A: they are lying, one way or another.
Its all about money, from corn syrup to vaccinations
I read about the country's first "Internet Addiction Clinic" opening soon. So I guess it won't be long before huge numbers of people start using that as an excuse for poor performance at work, rocky relationships, murder sprees, etc.
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