I usually stay out of "anecdotal" postings. But the though of anyone who understands enough science to boil an egg thinking that WD-40 sprayed on a knee would make it stop squeaking is proof that people will fall for anything. The easiest way to relay this info is a FOF story. For some odd reason, if you tell someone something directly they may not believe it, but if you tell them that you heard it from an unnamed person,who got it from another unnamed person, who worked for someone who......., then it becomes absolute gospel. Go figure?
I also get a ton of emails from folks (usually my mother-in -law, but also other smiths) with all sorts of urban legends about things like the info and list that started this thread. It rarely takes more than a quick check to prove it an Internet hoax.
What possible thrill can someone get from spending hours to days creating a fake site ( using a slight spelling error, like "Wd-40") to connect to a realistic , but totally fictitious website. Some of the info is potentially harmful or fatal. Maybe this is what they do to kill the monotony in the caves in AFG and PKS.
Final point:
About 15 years ago some local DJs were bored and created an April 1st story about a local landfill that had been converted into a recreational park ( affectionately called , "Mount Trashmore") being the site of an impending volcanic eruption. It created a huge panic, even though it was April fools day, and the plausability of a 80 foot tall pile of garbage erupting in a Pinatubo size explosion, while located in a sand bed coastal town made no sense. Proof that it is easier to get people to believe in pure crap than good sense.
That is why people still die from HIV, lung cancer, and participating in stupid activities....because someone would rather believe it is safe (with no facts at all to back that idea up) than to believe it will kill them ( with lots of facts and millions of dead people for proof). If it was just kids, I could see it ( they all think they are imortal), but 30 year old professionals ignore this stuff. It escapes me? ( not really) This is not a Tai vs Kevin - I like butterflies/I like numbers/can't we all get along - thing. No intelligent lawmaker can believe that people aren't dying from these things, yet the Government will do nothing because of the lobbyists,the money, and the worry about offending or inconviencing someone.
Poeple still do these things even though there is complete proof that it quite likely will kill them. If Obama wants to do something about the medical problems and financial problems in America, he should start withbanning tobacco,having a major Sex Ed program ( yes, tell those third graders that if they go around sticking their D**ks in peoples butts , or not wearing a condom they might die). I wish he would, and if he though it had a chance in He!! of getting passed, he would probably try it, but people would rather believe what they want to than do something the don't want to.
Enough rant.
Don't even get me started on the #1 cause of death to young black males. Bill Cosby is taking care of that.
Stacy
