Chinese Lanterns are Killers : Stop Buying them

catkins

I work in a shop that sells them and I hate selling them to customers. I have, occasionally, tried to talk people out of buying them and have succeeded a few times when I explain the risk they are to wildlife.

I know I shouldn't be trying to talk people out of buying them and would probably get the sack if the Manager knew but my conscience will not let me just sell them

dealer_wins

I think they should be banned. They have been shown to be a danger in more ways than one.

Fireworks im not sure. I used to love them as a kid, but these days there seems to be more idiots causing trouble with them.

michaelvintner

George_Michael wrote: »

I agree that the Daily mail should be banned.

I too agree with this but here is the million dollar question. If almost everyone in the known universe hates the Daily Mail why does anyone buy it.

heretolearn_2

'My reference to fireworks was alluding to how many people have been harmed by fireworks and property damaged (when used responsibly or otherwise) in comparison to damage and injury caused by lanterns.'

I do see your point but generally if someone is hurt or property damaged due to fireworks, it's down to someone acting dangerously. It IS avoidable. Of course it still happens but the law is there to deal with the results. It's impossible to use these lanterns safely. The actual product is dangerous and not just the way some people use them.
Anything CAN be used dangerously. The difference is most things can also be used safely, so there's no need to ban them, otherwise we'd basically have to ban everything?

johnnyboyrebel

bingo_bango wrote: »

Smoking kills.....lets ban that too :think:

And cars, alcohol, cancer, red meat, idiots with guns, old age, reading the Daily Mail.......

Anyone know where this list ends?

Cbinese lanterns are a freakin known high risk so dont be so stupid.

Fags, beer etc are of course risk too but generally to the person taking them, chinese lanterns are a clear accident waiting to happen.

Jeff_Bridges_hair

I like them.

wary

michaelvintner wrote: »

I too agree with this but here is the million dollar question. If almost everyone in the known universe hates the Daily Mail why does anyone buy it.

I also agree that the Daily Mail is a disgusting rag. Can't shed any light on why anyone buys it though. Maybe it's a cheap alternative to bog paper?

wary

I used Chinese Lanterns for the first time at the end of last year and enjoyed setting them off. We did have one mishap in that one landed in next door’s bark patch, but thankfully took off again after 20 seconds without setting it ablaze!

Having read this thread, I agree that they are potentially dangerous. I also agree with the point already made, which is whilst many things can be dangerous if misused, these are dangerous when used as intended. One also has to take into account:
· They are purely a pleasure item
· The risk isn’t purely to oneself but to anyone within a large radius
· Although much less than 50-50, I can see that they would still represent a high enough risk to be considered unacceptable

All things considered, I don’t think I’ll be buying any more.

withabix

The most dangerous thing on a farm is usually the farmer.

Health and Safety? They've never heard of it.

heretolearn_2

oh ok, you're right, good argument. Let's just carry on setting fire to their haystacks then because lanterns look pwetty.