4 ms·

Was I the only one happy about Buckyballs being shut down? https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=S7Tka4NUmUo#t=10 https://www.youtube.com/watc

by pravda 12y ago

Was I the only one happy about Buckyballs being shut down? https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=S7Tka4NUmUo#t=10 https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=S7Tk... That guy was an uber-douche. I think the difference between the magnets and skateboards, bicycles, trampolines, etc. is that you can LOOK at those three and know that they are dangerous. The magnets are sneakier. It's about time Zen Magnets is getting shut down. We'll always be able to buy direct from China.

voltagex_ 12y ago
>It's about time Zen Magnets is getting shut down. We'll always be able to buy direct from China. Are you saying you'll buy from China because it's cheaper or that Zen Magnets somehow doesn't deserve to exist?
- pravda 12y ago
  I am saying, if you need round magnets for some technical use, you can always buy direct from China. http://www.dx.com/s/magnet+spheres http://www.dx.com/s/magnet+spheres It is better if it is more difficult to buy them. Kinda like hi-powered lasers. Would you want 500mW lasers being sold at the corner store?
  - voltagex_ 12y ago
    >It is better if it is more difficult to buy them. Kinda like hi-powered lasers. Would you want 500mW lasers being sold at the corner store? I get you now. I'm still not sure where I stand on the idea of "protecting people from themselves" (but in the case of lasers it seems to be "protecting people from idiots"). I think it would be a shame to see magnets become more regulated. It's only a few small steps from "Zen Magnets shut down" to "Customs seizing all tiny magnets in the mail" (I think Australia may be doing that now, though someone should correct me if I'm wrong) Edit: http://www.productsafety.gov.au/content/index.phtml/itemId/997715 http://www.productsafety.gov.au/content/index.phtml/itemId/9... (sigh)
    - pravda 12y ago
      Australia gets it right! There are plenty of uses for small high-powered magnets. So you can legally buy them. You just can't sell them as playthings. Australia only bans them if they: "are marketed by the supplier as, or supplied for use as any of the following: a toy, game or puzzle (including but not limited to an adult desk toy, an educational toy or game, a toy, game or puzzle for mental stimulation or stress relief)"
      - smsm42 12y ago
        That's a weird way of doing it right. So you can buy it if it says "very serious magnet spheres, definitely not a toy, thinking and relieving stress while touching them is absolutely prohibited!" then it's ok, but if it says "adult desk toy for mental stimulation" then it's banned, even though these are exactly the same things and in both cases the seller has zero control over how exactly they are used? Of course, makes sense.
  - smsm42 12y ago
    So you know anybody can buy it very easily on different site, and you still applaud shutting down responsible US companies taking all safety precautions including customer education, even though it would not affect availability of the thing you consider harmful in any meaningful way. I think now I see where War on Drugs comes from. They do the same useless thing all day long, at great cost and great harm to everybody involved, and still somehow believe they're doing good work, despite the evidence screaming in their faces for decades now.
tripzilch 12y ago
> The magnets are sneakier. > It's about time Zen Magnets is getting shut down. > We'll always be able to buy direct from China. What about Chinese kids? Do you believe they are smarter and more careful, or do you just not care about their safety as much?

by pravda 12y ago

voltagex_ 12y ago

>It's about time Zen Magnets is getting shut down. We'll always be able to buy direct from China. Are you saying you'll buy from China because it's cheaper or that Zen Magnets somehow doesn't deserve to exist?

pravda 12y ago
I am saying, if you need round magnets for some technical use, you can always buy direct from China. http://www.dx.com/s/magnet+spheres http://www.dx.com/s/magnet+spheres It is better if it is more difficult to buy them. Kinda like hi-powered lasers. Would you want 500mW lasers being sold at the corner store?
- voltagex_ 12y ago
  >It is better if it is more difficult to buy them. Kinda like hi-powered lasers. Would you want 500mW lasers being sold at the corner store? I get you now. I'm still not sure where I stand on the idea of "protecting people from themselves" (but in the case of lasers it seems to be "protecting people from idiots"). I think it would be a shame to see magnets become more regulated. It's only a few small steps from "Zen Magnets shut down" to "Customs seizing all tiny magnets in the mail" (I think Australia may be doing that now, though someone should correct me if I'm wrong) Edit: http://www.productsafety.gov.au/content/index.phtml/itemId/997715 http://www.productsafety.gov.au/content/index.phtml/itemId/9... (sigh)
  - pravda 12y ago
    Australia gets it right! There are plenty of uses for small high-powered magnets. So you can legally buy them. You just can't sell them as playthings. Australia only bans them if they: "are marketed by the supplier as, or supplied for use as any of the following: a toy, game or puzzle (including but not limited to an adult desk toy, an educational toy or game, a toy, game or puzzle for mental stimulation or stress relief)"
    - smsm42 12y ago
      That's a weird way of doing it right. So you can buy it if it says "very serious magnet spheres, definitely not a toy, thinking and relieving stress while touching them is absolutely prohibited!" then it's ok, but if it says "adult desk toy for mental stimulation" then it's banned, even though these are exactly the same things and in both cases the seller has zero control over how exactly they are used? Of course, makes sense.
- smsm42 12y ago
  So you know anybody can buy it very easily on different site, and you still applaud shutting down responsible US companies taking all safety precautions including customer education, even though it would not affect availability of the thing you consider harmful in any meaningful way. I think now I see where War on Drugs comes from. They do the same useless thing all day long, at great cost and great harm to everybody involved, and still somehow believe they're doing good work, despite the evidence screaming in their faces for decades now.

tripzilch 12y ago

> The magnets are sneakier. > It's about time Zen Magnets is getting shut down. > We'll always be able to buy direct from China. What about Chinese kids? Do you believe they are smarter and more careful, or do you just not care about their safety as much?