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I'm aware. I don't expect to be able to change your point of view on this particular issue, so I'm just making my point for any interested third parties. I'll

by yew 14y ago

I'm aware. I don't expect to be able to change your point of view on this particular issue, so I'm just making my point for any interested third parties. I'll also make the further point that chemistry sets aren't actually that dangerous (and never were). 'More dangerous than chemistry sets' is a largely meaningless statistic.

tptacek 14y ago
Just so we're clear: I think most parents are unreasonably afraid of chemistry sets. I agree with you on that. But --- bear with me here --- that's also a reason why we don't have to crack down on companies marketing chemistry sets.
- yew 14y ago
  I understand what you're saying. I just think that the benefit of over-protectiveness (no need for heavy-handed regulation to prevent some deaths) isn't enough to counteract the lost benefit from, for example widespread comfort with chemistry and chemicals. The level of risk-aversion is too high. As an aside, I don't see much effective difference between a legal crackdown and one caused by fixing the social context.
  - tptacek 14y ago
    You're saying they're being heavy-handed, but to be clear, all they are saying is that you can't market rare earth magnets as a "consumer product intended or marketed by the manufacturer primarily as a manipulative or construction desk toy for general entertainment, such as puzzle working, sculpture, mental stimulation, or stress relief". They're not banning magnets; they're banning one specific marketing of them.
    - yew 14y ago
      Which, again, I think is problematic. I'm hardly going to worry about being able to purchase magnets for engineering applications. 'Some degree of danger reduction' just doesn't qualify as a catch-all justification for regulatory action. At least not with me.
  - anothermachine 14y ago
    Chemistry sets vanished due to anti-terrahrism BS, not safety concerns. And in the magnet case, larger magnets are plenty fun while still being much safer.

by yew 14y ago

tptacek 14y ago

Just so we're clear: I think most parents are unreasonably afraid of chemistry sets. I agree with you on that. But --- bear with me here --- that's also a reason why we don't have to crack down on companies marketing chemistry sets.

yew 14y ago
I understand what you're saying. I just think that the benefit of over-protectiveness (no need for heavy-handed regulation to prevent some deaths) isn't enough to counteract the lost benefit from, for example widespread comfort with chemistry and chemicals. The level of risk-aversion is too high. As an aside, I don't see much effective difference between a legal crackdown and one caused by fixing the social context.
- tptacek 14y ago
  You're saying they're being heavy-handed, but to be clear, all they are saying is that you can't market rare earth magnets as a "consumer product intended or marketed by the manufacturer primarily as a manipulative or construction desk toy for general entertainment, such as puzzle working, sculpture, mental stimulation, or stress relief". They're not banning magnets; they're banning one specific marketing of them.
  - yew 14y ago
    Which, again, I think is problematic. I'm hardly going to worry about being able to purchase magnets for engineering applications. 'Some degree of danger reduction' just doesn't qualify as a catch-all justification for regulatory action. At least not with me.
- anothermachine 14y ago
  Chemistry sets vanished due to anti-terrahrism BS, not safety concerns. And in the magnet case, larger magnets are plenty fun while still being much safer.