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The Hong Kong police raise a banner warning of "tear smoke" when they're about to fire, and this is a much less confusing name for the stuff than tear gas. A c
by idlewords 7y ago
The Hong Kong police raise a banner warning of "tear smoke" when they're about to fire, and this is a much less confusing name for the stuff than tear gas.
A cartridge of something hot and smoking skitters at your feet. You can throw it back, or douse it with water, or immerse it in water, but you'll burn your hand if you don't have gloves on. The smoke is a powerful irritant that feels like someone blew pepper into your eyes and nose. If the residue gets on your skin and clothes, you can tear gas yourself later by accident. Goggles and a particulate filter mask protect against it.
That's really all you need to know about tear gas.
- kweks 7y agoI have experienced several riots (Hong Kong 2019, Hong Kong 2013, Istanbul 2013, Paris 2019..) where gas was deployed. Your comments are pithy and correct. What is interesting is observing theearning curve of the protest participants, who rapidly learn and adapt, but always seem initially underprepared.
- WildGreenLeave 7y agoYou sparked my interest here :-) Why have you experienced so many different riots? Are you a reporter, a protestor or something else?
- kweks 7y agoRight place at the wrong time, mainly. The Istanbul protests were the exception, as I knew several people and wanted to see the situation personally. What is true is that Life Goes On. Even in Istanbul or Paris with the huge protests, if you're not in that specific part of town at that specific moment, you wouldn't even know it was happening. Hotels in HK are wildly cheap at the moment.. it's the time to visit a tourist free city and witness (for better or for worse) history in motion
- idlewords 7y agoI agree that it's an excellent time to visit Hong Kong if you do not mind the risk of travel disruption (airport delays or trouble getting around on public transit). This is not a violent society even now, and travelers are not at risk in my opinion.
- xkcd-sucks 7y agoWhat is food availability and price like? Are fewer mainlanders coming over right now?
- petre 7y agoCould one maybe use a hockey stick to throw it back at the police? Fire extinguisher foam to defuse it?
- owenmarshall 7y agoProtestors have thrown them back, but typically the police don protective goggles & masks before they deploy the gas so it may not be the most effective thing. There was also a video going around of a protestor in HK placing a traffic cone over the canister and dousing it with water to defuse. It looked to do the trick. Lots of protestors have the belief that a handkerchief soaked in vinegar will have some type of "neutralization action" against the gas when worn tightly around the face - watch protest videos and you'll see this in action. I have no idea if the vinegar has any actual effect on the chemical or if a wet barrier just keeps it from being easily inhaled.
- idlewords 7y agoThere's great photos out there of a Hong Konger using a tennis or badminton racket to hit it back. I don't believe the foam would work because the burning bit has its own oxidizer. I've seen fire extinguishers used to create a smokescreen and to make floors slippery, but water is enough for the tear gas cartridges (and people here really seem to prefer to throw them back).