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The problem is that x-rays use ionizing radiation which is more dangerous. Some people could be more sensitive or in a more likely scenario they get a lot of x-

by suneilp 11y ago

The problem is that x-rays use ionizing radiation which is more dangerous. Some people could be more sensitive or in a more likely scenario they get a lot of x-rays and/or ct scans due to medical issues which requires them being very careful about spacing out scans and exposure to other sources. Then there is the possibility someone walks in between the van and target. At some point you have to stop the argument that this and that does x and y so z is ok. People are afraid of excessive radiation and the government isn't listening to people. One thing that infuriates me is that people making these arguments don't even know that x-rays (and cats) use ionizing radiation which is what carries real risks. Incidentally, MRIs do not use ionizing radiation so you can stay in there a "while". Thats how they can do so many cool studies using MRIs.

TeMPOraL 11y ago
The problem is people refuse to do the math, or to listen to people who did the math. All they hear is "that scary r-thing". At this point I think this link will beat Meditations on Moloch in the "most often posted in comments by this user" statistic, but once again I'm pointing to this helpful chart: https://xkcd.com/radiation/ https://xkcd.com/radiation/. > People are afraid of excessive radiation and the government isn't listening to people. People are afraid of a lot of things, and at this point I'm not sure how we should deal with it on a social level anymore. They are scared of radiation, therefore allow for lots of unnecessary deaths, destruction of the environment and even more radiation by refusing to replace coal plants with nuclear ones. They're also afraid of vaccines, microwaves and cell-phone EM radiation (how they were never afraid of radio waves in pre-cellphone era is beyond me, but maybe they initially were but got over it). That people are afraid of things that aren't dangerous doesn't mean we should stop doing that things. As for how to make people not afraid, I don't know anymore. Maybe we should just pay the advertising industry to fix that with propaganda?

by suneilp 11y ago

TeMPOraL 11y ago

The problem is people refuse to do the math, or to listen to people who did the math. All they hear is "that scary r-thing". At this point I think this link will beat Meditations on Moloch in the "most often posted in comments by this user" statistic, but once again I'm pointing to this helpful chart: https://xkcd.com/radiation/ https://xkcd.com/radiation/. > People are afraid of excessive radiation and the government isn't listening to people. People are afraid of a lot of things, and at this point I'm not sure how we should deal with it on a social level anymore. They are scared of radiation, therefore allow for lots of unnecessary deaths, destruction of the environment and even more radiation by refusing to replace coal plants with nuclear ones. They're also afraid of vaccines, microwaves and cell-phone EM radiation (how they were never afraid of radio waves in pre-cellphone era is beyond me, but maybe they initially were but got over it). That people are afraid of things that aren't dangerous doesn't mean we should stop doing that things. As for how to make people not afraid, I don't know anymore. Maybe we should just pay the advertising industry to fix that with propaganda?