“Dihydrogen monoxide” joke gets DJs suspended • Hacker News Board

Re: “Dihydrogen monoxide” joke gets DJs suspended

#31

Post by DanBC » Sun, Apr 07, 2013, 1:03 PM UTC

cdavid wrote: post #29

mschuster91 wrote: post #2

As an European, all I can say is "Fuckin' stupid American rednecks". Jeez, do the US have at least A BIT chemistry lessons in their education system?

I would be surprised if the joke did not work as well in e.g. France. The only thing specific to the US compared to Europe is the influence of hard core christian on things like evolution. But for every other usual pseudo science crakery like astrology, magnetism, etc... there is little difference (see e.g. http://www.pseudo-sciences.org/spip.php?article1132 where a majority of French and American believe you can hea…

Yes.

The UK is going through measles outbreaks caused by the lies of Andrew Wakefield and an anti-science bias in the media.

  (http://tallguywrites.livejournal.com/148012.html)

Re: “Dihydrogen monoxide” joke gets DJs suspended

#32

Post by Yver » Sun, Apr 07, 2013, 1:05 PM UTC

mikecarroll wrote: post #19

The big issue here is not that "the public can't even understand a basic chemical formula"--it's that so many people are willing to take something they hear in a morning radio show at face value (and panickedly call up the local utility, rather than search online for verification).

What you are saying is that the problem is that people assume that radio shows fact-check their claims and don't actively try to deceive their audience.

Re: “Dihydrogen monoxide” joke gets DJs suspended

#33

Post by joshz » Sun, Apr 07, 2013, 1:06 PM UTC

jdavis703 wrote: post #15

chris_wot wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As an Australian, all I can say is "Stop being a racist European". Thanks.

Since when is American a race?

Race doesn't necessarily mean ethnicity.

Re: “Dihydrogen monoxide” joke gets DJs suspended

#34

Post by minos » Sun, Apr 07, 2013, 1:12 PM UTC

youngerdryas wrote: post #22

mschuster91 wrote: post #2

As an European, all I can say is "Fuckin' stupid American rednecks". Jeez, do the US have at least A BIT chemistry lessons in their education system?

If Europeans could just get over the chip on their shoulder maybe they could actually do something besides whine about Americans.

"As an European, all I can say is [...]". Not "As I officially represent all Europeans and their opinions on this topic [...]".

Re: “Dihydrogen monoxide” joke gets DJs suspended

#35

Post by lifeisstillgood » Sun, Apr 07, 2013, 1:13 PM UTC

Oh stop being so high and mighty. Chemophobia! Really?

H2O is probably the most widely known chemical formula - go out and ask twenty random people what it is and you will get 19 answers for water.

Ask those same 19 people what dihydrogen monoxide is at 8am on a Tuesday when they are trying to get kids dressed and out the door, then say "contaminated" and the answer will be "I don't know but it sounds nasty"

Yes it's true - half of the population is below average intelligence, but amazingly they still seem to hold down jobs, pay mortgages, drive complex journeys and raise children. And when a public policy issue crops up - don't play silly in jokes but use plain English (like water) and explain - the IPCC has succeeded there.

OpEd politics is like programmin puzzles - it appeals to people who like puzzles. If you don't get a kick out of puzzles you won't concentrate on them. And the latest political oped piece, education or science understanding will just seem to most people as vital to existence as fix buzz. But no one here has a convincing explanation or solution to say US education policy - and neither will the people who did not recognise dihydrogen monoxide - but I will bet dollars to doughnuts they can all tell the difference between a good and bad teacher and want their children to go to the school of the former.

A comment recently mentioned how poor the voter turnout was - but given a introspective and mostly deadlocked congress, apathy is a rational response. Even those below average intelligence can work that one out. Those who refuse apathy are above average I other ways, emotionally, optimistically and more.

Re: “Dihydrogen monoxide” joke gets DJs suspended

#36

Post by derekp7 » Sun, Apr 07, 2013, 1:17 PM UTC

mikecarroll wrote: post #19

The big issue here is not that "the public can't even understand a basic chemical formula"--it's that so many people are willing to take something they hear in a morning radio show at face value (and panickedly call up the local utility, rather than search online for verification).

Actually, the big issue here is that the radio station took disciplinary action against the DJs, instead of standing behind them. Usually the type of DJs that would do Apr 1 pranks are on the edgy side, and are hired for their edginess. So they were just doing their job. If I were in this station's listening area, I would be on the phone with their advertisers to let them know in no small way that I dis-approve of the action the station took.

Re: “Dihydrogen monoxide” joke gets DJs suspended

#37

Post by niggler » Sun, Apr 07, 2013, 1:18 PM UTC

Retro wrote: post #28

This was either planned or well handled by the radio station, announce a suspension to generate news and traffic to their website, get people talking about it on facebook, and the DJs were back on the air on Wednesday. It's almost more of a prank on news outlets which will repeat any non-story.

DJ got publicity, Ars got page views, and we get an opportunity to demonstrate basic chemistry competency. Everyone wins.

Re: “Dihydrogen monoxide” joke gets DJs suspended

#38

Post by youngerdryas » Sun, Apr 07, 2013, 1:20 PM UTC

minos wrote: post #34

youngerdryas wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If Europeans could just get over the chip on their shoulder maybe they could actually do something besides whine about Americans.

"As an European, all I can say is [...]". Not "As I officially represent all Europeans and their opinions on this topic [...]".

Of course, and there is quite a lot of good science coming out of Europe. I really should ignore blowhards.

Re: “Dihydrogen monoxide” joke gets DJs suspended

#39

Post by dasil003 » Sun, Apr 07, 2013, 1:21 PM UTC

derekp7 wrote: post #36

mikecarroll wrote: post #19

The big issue here is not that "the public can't even understand a basic chemical formula"--it's that so many people are willing to take something they hear in a morning radio show at face value (and panickedly call up the local utility, rather than search online for verification).

Actually, the big issue here is that the radio station took disciplinary action against the DJs, instead of standing behind them. Usually the type of DJs that would do Apr 1 pranks are on the edgy side, and are hired for their edginess. So they were just doing their job. If I were in this station's listening area, I would be on the phone with their advertisers to let them know in no small way that I dis-approve of th…

Broadcast radio is basically a consolidated hollowed out shell of its former self. Outside of public and college radio there is nothing interesting happening there at all.

Re: “Dihydrogen monoxide” joke gets DJs suspended

#40

Post by kiba » Sun, Apr 07, 2013, 1:24 PM UTC

What percentage of people recognize first glance off the bat what hydrogen monoxide is? Europeans versus Americans?

Instead of proclaiming Americans are a bunch of uneducated idiot, maybe one should find out the base rate for knowing basic chemistry fact like dihydrogen monoxide.