The Dangers of Dihydrogen Monoxide

[Anfauglir]

Read the following and then vote please.  I am interested in people's initial responses to the details given below, so please vote before reading any subsequent posts.  Many thanks.

Dihydrogen monoxide is colorless, odorless, tasteless, and kills uncounted thousands of people every year. Most of these deaths are caused by accidental inhalation of DHMO, but the dangers of dihydrogen monoxide do not end there. Prolonged exposure to its solid form causes severe tissue damage. Symptoms of DHMO ingestion can include excessive sweating and urination, and possibly a bloated feeling, nausea, vomiting and body electrolyte imbalance. For those who have become dependent, DHMO withdrawal means certain death.

Dihydrogen monoxide:

•      is also known as hydroxl acid, and is the major component of acid rain.
•      contributes to the "greenhouse effect."
•      may cause severe burns.
•      contributes to the erosion of our natural landscape.
•      accelerates corrosion and rusting of many metals.
•      may cause electrical failures and decreased effectiveness of automobile brakes.
•      has been found in excised tumors of terminal cancer patients.

Quantities of dihydrogen monoxide have been found in almost every stream, lake, and reservoir in America today. But the pollution is global, and the contaminant has even been found in Antarctic ice.  Despite the danger, dihydrogen monoxide is often used:

•      as an industrial solvent and coolant.
•      in nuclear power plants.
•      in the production of styrofoam.
•      as a fire retardant.
•      in many forms of cruel animal research.
•      in the distribution of pesticides. Even after washing, produce remains contaminated by this chemical.
•      as an additive in certain "junk-foods" and other food products.

The American government has refused to ban the production, distribution, or use of this damaging chemical due to its "importance to the economic health of this nation."

[Anfauglir]

Just to re-iterate, I'm after initial thoughts on this, so please vote before reading further.  Thanks!

[Nick]

Back under the bed I go.  I might as well live there.  Shit, that stuff is prob there also.

Am I voting YES I want it looked into or NO I want it banned or what?

[Anfauglir]

The responses are "Yes, I want it banned", "No, I don't want it banned".

Actually, under the bed will probably be safe.  Don't go in the bathroom though.

[Irish]

I voted "Yes" just because.  I know what DHMO is.

[One Above All]

You forgot to mention that 100% of people who've tried dihydrogen monoxide within their life time have died, not to mention the fact that they also became addicted to it.

[ParkingPlaces]

I know what it is too.

You forgot to mention that it is commonly found in every home and workplace. And that it is commonly used to torture terror suspects. That last bit will keep rethuglicans from wanting to ban it.

But the problem is, I've used it and I love the stuff. I don't know for sure if I want to give it up. Banning would probably open up a whole new illegal substance cartel.

[screwtape]

I don't think we need any more gummint regulation.  We have enough clean air and water.  In fact, we have too much of it.  We need to let businesses get down to business and quit bothering them with these burdensome regulations.  This is just more of Obama's stalinist naziish totalitarian dictatorship. And GUNS!

Morans.

[Seppuku]

The problem is, I already knew what Dihydrogen Monoxide is. I voted 'yes' as a joke vote, but I realise that if I didn't know what it was then I would likely have hit 'yes' anyway, perhaps after having asked, "what is dihydrogen monoxide", but if pushed, I would more likely have said yes because I'd be shooting in the dark and only have the information presented to me and I'd have to make an assumption based on that. At no point is it explicitly stated that it's a dangerous material. It's a great demonstration of how you can play on language for the purpose of propaganda and in all fairness, I think many would fool for it, but it does demonstrate how language can be used to manipulate and why it's important to know the subject matter before nodding along and fooling for the proganda, be a little more sceptical and look at things from both sides, do your research before making the decision. If you don't, you're potentially a fool and screwing yourself and others over.

[Dante]

I knew what it was, but only after hearing about these 2 guys.

http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2013/04/03/radio-hosts-back-on-air-after-suspension-for-dihydrogen-monoxide-april-fools-joke-thats-h20/

[Noman Peopled]

It's also the main component of *shudder* people.

Yeah, I learned long ago not to vote on anything without any knowledge of the subject, and especially not when asked to do so by people eagerly trying to get my signature.
And I'm old enough to know this one, even if I couldn't parse the chemical nomenclature.

[Traveler]

I only voted yes because of the admonition to vote on initial impression, and I was voting in the spirit of the opening post where only yes and no were allowed. In real life, I always research before voting or signing petitions or whatever.

[Anfauglir]

I know its an old one, but it appeared in my inbox again the other day and I was prompted to post it.  Anyone here want to admit to voting a genuine "yes"?

[LoriPinkAngel]

I admit to extreme blondness and genuine cognitive loss from all my migraine meds but doesn't DHMO = H2O ??
I can think of 4 people off the top of my head who absolutely would vote to ban this without hesitation.
These same people are always sending me hysterical emails about Jane Fonda the Communist Sympathiser or Michelle & Barack saying the  Pledge of Allegience with their left hand over their hearts or my favorite - If anyone tries to rob you at the ATM put your PIN in backwards and it will automatically call the police!!!  I always respond with the Snopes article which disproves whatever crap they are trying to feed me.
See, I don't believe everything.

[Mrjason]

I know its an old one, but it appeared in my inbox again the other day and I was prompted to post it.  Anyone here want to admit to voting a genuine "yes"?

Yeah, you got me.

I read your post and to my shame made a snap decision without engaging brain. 

[screwtape]

These same people are always sending me hysterical emails ...

I have one of those in my life too.  Screwtape Sr.  He thinks our president is a Kenyan, islamist, socialist, fascist Manchurian Candidate hell bent on destroying the country.  He didn't always used to be that way.  Or maybe he was and I just got mature enough to see it.  I dunno.  I don't remember him saying crazy shit like that when I was a kid.

[Anfauglir]

These same people are always sending me hysterical emails ...

I have one of those in my life too.....He thinks our president is a Kenyan, islamist, socialist, fascist Manchurian Candidate hell bent on destroying the country. 

Yaaargh!  Wayne flashback!!!

[screwtape]

yeah.  Wayne and Screwtape Sr would get along famously. Except Sr is not religious.  As long as they just griped about Obama, they'd be fine.

[Mooby]

Old joke is old.

Funny thing is the joke fails because DHMO is not the right name to use.  DHMO uses the standard for nonmetal-nonmetal bonding, but that's not really accurate because H⁺ acts as both a metal and nonmental, and it doesn't bond as H⁺ + H⁺ + O^2-; it bonds as H⁺ and OH^-.

Because of the H⁺ we should name it as an acid, which would make it hydroxyl oxide.  However, because of the OH^-, we should name it as a base, which would make it hydrogen hydroxide.

Of course, it's neither an acid nor a base, which is why scientists use a special name for it: water.

[sun_king]

About 15 years too late for this, too many email forwards floating around, all element of surprise long since gone. We remain gullible as ever, just that this particular trap is too well known. Just like the Nigerian emails.

It should also be mentioned that Dihydrogen Monoxide is the preferred weapon of mass destruction for many incompetent gods in several belief systems.

[Seppuku]

This reminds me of another joke.

A man went to a restaurant with a scientist friend, the waiter walked over to them and asked "what will you be drinking?" The scientist, being a smart arse said, "I'll have some H2O". His friend, trying to not sound stupid said, "I'll have some H20 too."
The friend was later admitted to hospital to have his stomach pumped.

[Jag]

It should also be mentioned that Dihydrogen Monoxide is the preferred weapon of mass destruction for many incompetent gods in several belief systems.

It melts wicked witches in Oz too.

[Azdgari]

This reminds me of another joke.

A man went to a restaurant with a scientist friend, the waiter walked over to them and asked "what will you be drinking?" The scientist, being a smart arse said, "I'll have some H2O". His friend, trying to not sound stupid said, "I'll have some H20 too."
The friend was later admitted to hospital to have his stomach pumped.

When I was a kid we had two brown, unmarked bottles in the fridge.  One was the aloe sap.  The other was hydrogen peroxide.  Let's just say that was one sunburn I'll never forget.

[LoriPinkAngel]

He thinks our president is a Kenyan, islamist, socialist, fascist Manchurian Candidate hell bent on destroying the country. 

I've often wondered if Obama had the same parents, much paler skin, straighter hair, kept the nickname Barry, but everything else is the same. (oh, better have a white wife)  would so many people revile him so?

[LoriPinkAngel]

It should also be mentioned that Dihydrogen Monoxide is the preferred weapon of mass destruction for many incompetent gods in several belief systems.

It melts wicked witches in Oz too.

Hey, that was my sister, have some respect.

[Jag]

^Holy crap, are we related?

[Bereft_of_Faith]

I voted 'no', but as an alternative, we should try switching to scotch.