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I think they are saying that you, too, should be able to get your hands on liquid nitrogen as long as you know what you’re doing. If you have to jump through a

I think they are saying that you, too, should be able to get your hands on liquid nitrogen as long as you know what you’re doing. If you have to jump through a few hoops, well, that’s part of the process that demonstrates that you’re competent.

tptacek 8y ago
They're not really even hoops. We bought the dewar on Amazon, and we get it filled at a welding supply store. You just have to know what you're looking for. But I can't, like, go to Bed Bath & Beyond and get LN.
- smsm42 8y ago
  Was the question about Bed Bath & Beyond ? I think they were prohibited from selling magnets even on their own site, let alone Amazon or welding supplies store. They were sued to close the sale and recall the product, not to stop selling it to Bed Bath & Beyond. Do you really think the situation is in any way similar?
  - tptacek 8y ago
    I think the situation is basically identical. Retail availability wasn't really my point.
    - smsm42 8y ago
      Wait, so what was your point? You compare LN - seriously more risky, but available to you, and you think it's great - to magnets, much less dangerous, made not available to anyone, and argument it with "LN should not be available in retail", yet you claim your point is not about retail. And you claim LN being dangerous, but available, is the same as magnets being less dangerous, but completely banned. I must admit if there's a point there, beyond "I like this but don't like that, so the law should follow" it's not easily accessible.
      - tptacek 8y ago
        "Not available to anyone" is where you're losing me. CPSC didn't ban little magnets; it banned them when sold as part of an entertainment set. So to extend the analogy: I am fine if you have to go on Alibaba and order them directly from the manufacturer.
        smsm42 8y ago
        Wait, so it's not dangerous if the label says "magnets" but is dangerous if nothing changes but the label says "entertaining magnets"? Makes zero sense to me. Then again, people put "do not swallow" warnings on coat hangers now, so maybe that's what we've gotten to.
        iainmerrick 8y ago
        They are just talking about adding a little bit of friction to the process of buying something that’s useful but potentially dangerous. What is so difficult about that? Of course there will be tricky borderline cases, and arguably nonsensical outcomes. That’s true of pretty much every law. It doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a bad law.
- pvg 8y ago
  Of yeah? When I was 9 or so, I had access to dewars of LN and eventually ended up peeing in one to see what happens. It was fine. I've got you on the children, easy access and the Bed Bath & Beyond! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=osKzzED3ASA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=osKzzED3ASA

tptacek 8y ago

They're not really even hoops. We bought the dewar on Amazon, and we get it filled at a welding supply store. You just have to know what you're looking for. But I can't, like, go to Bed Bath & Beyond and get LN.

smsm42 8y ago
Was the question about Bed Bath & Beyond ? I think they were prohibited from selling magnets even on their own site, let alone Amazon or welding supplies store. They were sued to close the sale and recall the product, not to stop selling it to Bed Bath & Beyond. Do you really think the situation is in any way similar?
- tptacek 8y ago
  I think the situation is basically identical. Retail availability wasn't really my point.
  - smsm42 8y ago
    Wait, so what was your point? You compare LN - seriously more risky, but available to you, and you think it's great - to magnets, much less dangerous, made not available to anyone, and argument it with "LN should not be available in retail", yet you claim your point is not about retail. And you claim LN being dangerous, but available, is the same as magnets being less dangerous, but completely banned. I must admit if there's a point there, beyond "I like this but don't like that, so the law should follow" it's not easily accessible.
    - tptacek 8y ago
      "Not available to anyone" is where you're losing me. CPSC didn't ban little magnets; it banned them when sold as part of an entertainment set. So to extend the analogy: I am fine if you have to go on Alibaba and order them directly from the manufacturer.
      - smsm42 8y ago
        Wait, so it's not dangerous if the label says "magnets" but is dangerous if nothing changes but the label says "entertaining magnets"? Makes zero sense to me. Then again, people put "do not swallow" warnings on coat hangers now, so maybe that's what we've gotten to.
        iainmerrick 8y ago
        They are just talking about adding a little bit of friction to the process of buying something that’s useful but potentially dangerous. What is so difficult about that? Of course there will be tricky borderline cases, and arguably nonsensical outcomes. That’s true of pretty much every law. It doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a bad law.
pvg 8y ago
Of yeah? When I was 9 or so, I had access to dewars of LN and eventually ended up peeing in one to see what happens. It was fine. I've got you on the children, easy access and the Bed Bath & Beyond! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=osKzzED3ASA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=osKzzED3ASA