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Mobile phone safety (irresponsible fear mongering)
I really have no idea how to respond to bullshit of this magnitude. The entire article is published in the Opinion section of SMH, which gives them deniability for any kind of accurate reporting, and the man writing it fails to cite any actual scientific research instead citing other newspapers reporting of scientific research.
Meaning of course, he's completely immune to criticism because every response will be "well that's just what I read".
The numbers cited are of course complete crap. The rule I've heard is any study which finds an approximate doubling of risk in lieu of an actual causal link can essentially have it's results chalked up to the statistical method and there is no figure in there which is any larger then double or any more related to some tangible, measurable property. An increase in behavioral issues? Really? Over the last 10 years where we've had the most spectacular broadening of the criteria for behavioral disorders?
Or how about simply the fact that for every study which can find some risk associated with mobile phones, there is another which fails to find anything at all?
I don't really know what to say to this, other than "lol smh". Australian media has always been about as bad as American media in terms of pandering to baby boomers who are scared of anything cultural or technological introduced after the 60's.
If you really want to beat your head against the wall, try reading the Opinions section of that shithouse MX paper they give away for free at city train stations.
I think my basic frustration is that I have no idea how to react to this - it's been written in such a way as the paper and the author have complete deniability if they get called on their bullshit. It's not only fear mongering, it's fully considered fear mongering. They know it's crap.
Letter to the editor time? Do they have a section where they publish reader commentary? I'm sure you could get your voice heard there.
I'd love some legit research into this. I mean, it's not implausible for the sheer volume of wireless communications in our society to affect our brains.
I'd love some legit research into this. I mean, it's not implausible for the sheer volume of wireless communications in our society to affect our brains.
There has been legit research into this. The evidence supporting a mobile phone - cancer link is very very very weak.
Feral on
every person who doesn't like an acquired taste always seems to think everyone who likes it is faking it. it should be an official fallacy.
I'd love some legit research into this. I mean, it's not implausible for the sheer volume of wireless communications in our society to affect our brains.
There has been legit research into this. The evidence supporting a mobile phone - cancer link is very very very weak.
Excellent. My weak will shall consider the case closed, and I will now hold my phone even closer to my head.
I guess we also have the media to blame. "Cell phones pretty much okay," isn't a very invigorating headline.
I'd love some legit research into this. I mean, it's not implausible for the sheer volume of wireless communications in our society to affect our brains.
There has been legit research into this. The evidence supporting a mobile phone - cancer link is very very very weak.
Excellent. My weak will shall consider the case closed, and I will now hold my phone even closer to my head.
I guess we also have the media to blame. "Cell phones pretty much okay," isn't a very invigorating headline.
What about "Cell Phones Super Awesome. Found to Cure Cancer and Enlarge Your Penis!"
Cell phones are very dangerous, but it's more people talking on them while driving than radiation. I saw someone texting - Texting! - while driving a few days ago. I assume they were texting, I don't think many phones require two thumbs to navigate the contact list.
Cell phones are very dangerous, but it's more people talking on them while driving than radiation. I saw someone texting - Texting! - while driving a few days ago. I assume they were texting, I don't think many phones require two thumbs to navigate the contact list.
And it needs to be said that the danger comes from the cognitive distraction, not from the use of the hands. If losing the use of one hand crippled your ability to drive so much, then everybody who drives a stick-shift would be fucked.
Hands-free kits do not reduce the danger in any significant way.
Feral on
every person who doesn't like an acquired taste always seems to think everyone who likes it is faking it. it should be an official fallacy.
Cell phones are very dangerous, but it's more people talking on them while driving than radiation. I saw someone texting - Texting! - while driving a few days ago. I assume they were texting, I don't think many phones require two thumbs to navigate the contact list.
And it needs to be said that the danger comes from the cognitive distraction, not from the use of the hands. If losing the use of one hand crippled your ability to drive so much, then everybody who drives a stick-shift would be fucked.
Hands-free kits do not reduce the danger in any significant way.
I've tried telling this to so many people, but they never get it. People will be scared of things and act "responsibly" right up to the point where it really requires some sort of sacrifice from them.
Cell phones are very dangerous, but it's more people talking on them while driving than radiation. I saw someone texting - Texting! - while driving a few days ago. I assume they were texting, I don't think many phones require two thumbs to navigate the contact list.
And it needs to be said that the danger comes from the cognitive distraction, not from the use of the hands. If losing the use of one hand crippled your ability to drive so much, then everybody who drives a stick-shift would be fucked.
Hands-free kits do not reduce the danger in any significant way.
To be fair, the only real danger is in you paying more attention to the conversation than the road rather than vice versa. Whenever I'm driving the other guy is going to have to repeat themselves more than a few times, because fuck you I'm behind a goddamn truck going 40.
True, talking on a cell phone is probably no more dangerous than talking to anyone. Dialing or finding someone's number or such is bad. Those people swerve. I seen em. It's skeery.
Posts
If you really want to beat your head against the wall, try reading the Opinions section of that shithouse MX paper they give away for free at city train stations.
Letter to the editor time? Do they have a section where they publish reader commentary? I'm sure you could get your voice heard there.
Or you can start your own newspaper.
That second idea is substantially more difficult to pull off than the first.
But it provides awesome payoffs.
Bah
There has been legit research into this. The evidence supporting a mobile phone - cancer link is very very very weak.
the "no true scotch man" fallacy.
http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-wellbeing/health-news/warning-using-a-mobile-phone-while-pregnant-can-seriously-damage-your-baby-830352.html
Slightly better journalism.
I guess we also have the media to blame. "Cell phones pretty much okay," isn't a very invigorating headline.
What about "Cell Phones Super Awesome. Found to Cure Cancer and Enlarge Your Penis!"
"Cell phone radiation is radio to Jesus"
"Godzilla slain by cell phone"
And it needs to be said that the danger comes from the cognitive distraction, not from the use of the hands. If losing the use of one hand crippled your ability to drive so much, then everybody who drives a stick-shift would be fucked.
Hands-free kits do not reduce the danger in any significant way.
the "no true scotch man" fallacy.
It is fucking retarded
I've tried telling this to so many people, but they never get it. People will be scared of things and act "responsibly" right up to the point where it really requires some sort of sacrifice from them.
To be fair, the only real danger is in you paying more attention to the conversation than the road rather than vice versa. Whenever I'm driving the other guy is going to have to repeat themselves more than a few times, because fuck you I'm behind a goddamn truck going 40.