I was just digging through some old post drafts, and found this at MetaFilter:
I just mixed bleach / vinegar / salt / and liquid dish detergent in hopes of creating a super weed killer. I mixed the stuff in a fairly well-ventilated room, and then sprayed it on some weeds outside. Now I just read about chlorine gas resulting from the mixture of bleach and chlorine, and I’m suddenly feeling light-headed (hypochondriac). Am I going to die?
I’m kind of curious if the whole post was meant in jest, or if they were serious. If they were serious… well, they’ve got me puzzled; hopefully not many people think along similar lines as him/her. As others in the MetaFilter thread pointed out, MetaFilter is not 911 or the Poison Control Center. If you’ve done something that you think might be dangerous or fatal, particularly if it involves poisonous gases, probably the last thing you need to be doing is hopping on MetaFilter and writing a post. Okay, well, maybe the last thing would be to stand in the room where you mixed the stuff and inhale deeply, but you get the point.
The post makes me wonder about how often people turn to the internet when perhaps another approach would be more practical or effective. I know I’ve caught myself bending over backwards trying to find a local phone number via Google, when I’ve got a phonebook 20 feet away in a drawer. I’ve also – yes, I’m ashamed! – poked around on amazon.com, trying to find publishing information or some such about a book that is on my shelf upstairs in my room. Admittedly, I usually do that when I’m downstairs, but still, it’d probably be faster to just walk upstairs and yank the book off the shelf. But alas, turning to the internet for information is such a strong habit, it’s hard to break.
I haven’t, however, turned to the internet for emergency help. If my house catches fire, I won’t be posting to MetaFilter, asking what the best course of action is. 
That’s taking things a bit too far.
Also, a comment from the thread I linked to:
Dear Metafilter, I think I may be dying. Can you tell me if
Heh.
Comments 2
That is hilarious! I really hope the first one was a joke. But I’d believe it if it wasn’t. I’d never do anything that stupid. Though there was this one time I probably should’ve gotten off the computer….
I was playing an online game (Ultima Online), just chatting with people, and suddenly (that’s how it usually happens) there was an earthquake! I guess I should’ve moved to a safe spot or something, but instead I stayed in my shaking desk chair and typed “OMG I’M IN AN EARTHQUAKE!!!!!!!1111″. But it turned out to be a pretty small one, so no damage.
Posted 22 Mar 2008 at 11:26 am ¶LearningNerd: Yeah, I’d believe it if it were true, too, despite how dumb it would be.
However, after reading your earthquake story, I’m not sure you have much room to talk.
I’ve been addicted to World of Warcraft (multiple times), but if there was an earthquake – even if it was during a 25 man raid! – I think I’d get out.
Oh well. We all do less-than-genius things at one time or another.
Posted 24 Mar 2008 at 12:11 pm ¶Post a Comment