Is Wi-Fi safe?

Need_More_Money_2

peterbaker wrote: »

Well, take that Hyland character assassination for example - there was no work done to disprove anything Hyland said, just a high level refutation of his qualifications, his style, his own lack of research, his simple errors, his apparent misquotes of existing research conclusions...

And then there was the paper I (quite deservedly) got picked up on by superscraper which mentioned the ~18kHz but disclaimed any knowledge of 17.6Hz when it seems to me that 17.6Hz has been a known feature of TETRA from the outset, but isn't one that proponents wish to admit easily because of its proximity in the spectrum to the 16Hz warning given by the Stewart Report.

I haven't read the link you mentioned, but a good scientist should read any research critically, looking for flaws. I suspect that some do look harder for flaws in work that disagrees with their own views, but this is not what should happen.
The assasination you refer to may well be justified. In theory, a piece of research should only be published in a peer-reviewed journal if it is of good quality. The peer review process is supposed to pick up flaws and the article should be rejected. Unfortunately bad research does get published and this means you have to read everything critically. This is a difficult skill to learn. Without reading the link you mention I cannot say for certain, but it is likely that it is just a deserved criticism of bad work.

peterbaker wrote: »

Is that not the debate we are having here?

Indeed it is, along with what counts as good evidence

superscaper

peterbaker wrote: »

I believe he has an open mind and like so many of us less rigorously disciplined thinkers is perhaps too easily misinterpreted!

I only know Prince Charles from his tv exposure, but I am sure he would be flattered to hear from you superscraper if he faffs his nanotechnology as often as you suggest, and you offered to help him reform his ideas on it(seriously).

I don't think he has as an open mind as you think. He doesn't seem to accept ideas critically but sticks to what he thinks sounds right and doesn't accept anything else. He has called for a complete stop in all research into nanotechnology and genetically modified food, how can you reason with someone who won't even consider any kind of research into those subjects? I mean if he still believes in homeopathy then we're not talking about a logical mind willing to accept scientific evidence but has faith based opinions. You can't change someone's faith with science. And less of the sarcasm please ("I am sure he would be flattered to hear from you").

peterbaker

superscaper wrote: »

I don't think he has as an open mind as you think. He doesn't seem to accept ideas critically but sticks to what he thinks sounds right and doesn't accept anything else. He has called for a complete stop in all research into nanotechnology and genetically modified food, how can you reason with someone who won't even consider any kind of research into those subjects? I mean if he still believes in homeopathy then we're not talking about a logical mind willing to accept scientific evidence but has faith based opinions. You can't change someone's faith with science. And less of the sarcasm please ("I am sure he would be flattered to hear from you").

I think I understand Prince Charles' concern about GM. What we have seen of it in supermarkets is not good (I believe we have seen it in tomatoes especially, and grapes I think). I don't know if the law or retailers' code of conduct forbids it but either way my own view from tasting and trying these products is that some are already GM. In particular I am thinking of tomatoes which look good but with have oversized cores that actually taste like apples and grapes too which look good but seem far too big and where the eating quality is poor. Strawberries are another likely culprit I feel.

I base my judgement on what real produce tastes like - my father has grown all his own for 70 years (he's the exact same age as Prince Charles' mother!).

That someone 'still believes in homeopathy' is a sign of an open mind. Homeopathy is another example of belief in 'small things' having an effect. I believe that extremely dilute solutions of some extracts are expected by homeopathic practitioners to have effects. Well I am not sure about that (just as I am not sure about the 'smallness' of WiFi signals in the great scheme of things), but I do believe very-strongly in the use of natural based treatments such as garlic pills and fish oils and some other extracts as prescribed by experienced and learned biopractitioners alongside major but perhaps unexpectedly effective dietary interventions. I am lucky enough to KNOW of one important example of where that can sometimes succeed where years of normal medicine and intervention has failed. An open mind does not have to be a perfectly logical mind! It is easy for us to jump to incorrect conclusions about what people are saying.

For example, I meant not one ounce of sarcasm, superscraper! Truly! Because of our ups and downs with misunderstandings, I knew there was a small risk you might see it that way (a bigger risk if you think it is a completely daft suggestion of course!). I do genuinely believe that you of all people could get Prince Charles to listen to your concerns and improve his flawed view. I have nothing to tell him, but you do!

superscaper

There's a difference between small amounts and no amount. The dilutions in homeopathy are such that what you get (if they're diluting with water) is pure water, you're down to like a one in a million chance there's even a single molecule left of the original substance. The whole process of homeopathy would require water to have some kind of memory effect for it to even possibly work (beyond a placebo of course). But no such memory effect has ever been found and if it were then who knows what ghastly things could happen to you because the water once came into contact with cyanide or something. I think James Randi demonstrated the effectiveness of homeopathy best when being questioned in a congressional meeting on homeopathy and while answering proceeded to take 64 homeopathic sleeping tablets (something he fondly repeats at various events) and he somehow managed to stay completely awake and alert throughout!

But never mind my scepticism over how homeopathy could ever work, the fact that people want it put on the NHS without any efficacy testing at all is ridiculous. Could you imagine the uproar if the NHS starting spending money on drug prescriptions for drugs that were never even tested to see if they even worked.

As for GM food, you'd have to be a pretty hard person to be against it on principle. The Earth can only support 4 billion people with purely "organic" food. Speaking of which Norman Borlaug who is one of my heroes is sometimes credited with saving 1 billion lives, more than anyone else in history and has won the Nobel peace prize because of his work, which is food technology. I think everyone should definitely read up on him.

PS thought I may have been overreacting on the sarcasm thing

superscaper

And I apologise to everyone for more than once directing this thread way off topic.

Zahc

So is genetically modified wifi (known as 802.11gm) safe or not?
Still, I got to learn a few new words!



Zahc

Millionaire

some more recommendations and concerns

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/6602561.stm

Need_More_Money_2

Millionaire wrote: »

some more recommendations and concerns

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/6602561.stm

If people are concerned about WiFi then the slight increase in distance is a sensible suggestion. Although I thought the attennas were usually in the screen housing so would be much further away than the 2cm he suggests

Millionaire

Need_More_Money wrote: »

If people are concerned about WiFi then the slight increase in distance is a sensible suggestion. Although I thought the attennas were usually in the screen housing so would be much further away than the 2cm he suggests

Depends really, not every ones running new built in WiFi laptops with Screen antennas. Many have added it in to the card slots.

superscaper

Just noticed NMM's avatar, all hail his noodly appendage