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Wi-Fi Allergy a PR Stunt

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on from the hope-he-made-his-buck dept.

ADiamond writes "There is no Wi-Fi allergy. The English DJ claiming a Wi-Fi sensitivity, chronicled earlier, was a PR stunt to promote his new album. It would appear that the stunt was highly successful, appearing in multiple high-profile media outlets like The Sun, The Telegraph, and Fox News. The article at Ars goes on to discuss the evidence, or lack-thereof, of electromagnetic spectrum sensitivity."

174 comments

  1. It's Times Like These ... by eldavojohn · · Score: 5, Insightful

    ... I wish downloading an artists album without paying actually did do the artist physical/economic harm. Here's to hoping that later in life he suffers from an actual ailment while everyone ignores him.

    --
    My work here is dung.
    1. Re:It's Times Like These ... by Bemopolis · · Score: 1

      If you want to hurt him, then just make sure that when you bittorrent his album that your computer is connected wirelessly, since he's allergic to...DOH!

      --
      "I guess the moral of the story is, don't paint your airship with rocket fuel." -- Addison Bain
    2. Re:It's Times Like These ... by Mashiki · · Score: 4, Interesting

      He already has it. It's called Asshole disease. In rare cases, it cause a loss in popularity, being socially ostracized, and attempts to win back old friends as society turns their back on you for being a douchebag.

      --
      Om, nomnomnom...
    3. Re:It's Times Like These ... by JCSoRocks · · Score: 2, Interesting

      meh. The media spends so much time propagating garbage and so little doing background research I enjoy seeing them get owned like this. If you're a little guy trying to get noticed, I see no real harm in using their stupidity to your advantage. Guerrilla marketing ftw!

      --
      You are using English. Please learn the difference between loose and lose; they're, there, and their; your and you're.
    4. Re:It's Times Like These ... by orkybash · · Score: 1

      Oh it does, if you believe the RIAA's legal theories...

    5. Re:It's Times Like These ... by Smidge204 · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Not to worry, if we use a high enough signal power I'm sure we can get a reaction of some kind.

      A few megawatts should just about do it.
      =Smidge=

    6. Re:It's Times Like These ... by impaledsunset · · Score: 1

      He got his cheap publicity in a way that we most don't agree with. So, the best we can do is ignore him from now on.

      But how are the artists that currently have the biggest chunk of the publicity cake any better? OK, some of them might be, but most aren't. And he's just some asshole. Too many assholes around, why care about this one? Even wishing him bad things you're caring too much. So don't wish him anything, instead go and download and/or *buy* music from artists that deserve it more than he does.

      That said, I can't believe I'm reading this. When I read that he lied that he had an Wi-Fi allergy as a PR stunt I certainly felt I've read the most dumbest thing in my life. His "stunt" isn't even interesting. I mean, he got his coverage, got his 5 minutes of fame, and now when we know what it's about, it just sounds... stupid. Is it just me, or this sound like a rediculous way to get attention?

    7. Re:It's Times Like These ... by Joce640k · · Score: 2, Interesting

      I wonder if they'll publish the retraction of the story tomorrow, with similarly big headlines. They usually do ... right?

      --
      No sig today...
    8. Re:It's Times Like These ... by sortius_nod · · Score: 1

      mmmm... roast pork.

    9. Re:It's Times Like These ... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Grammar Hitler, is that you?

    10. Re:It's Times Like These ... by Nethead · · Score: 1

      If you're a little guy trying to get noticed, I see no real harm in using their stupidity to your advantage.

      Makes perfect sense coming from an Christan. It's how your cult was founded Mr. J.C. so rocks.

      --
      -- I have a private email server in my basement.
    11. Re:It's Times Like These ... by Mozk · · Score: 1

      How does one end a word with a preposition?

      --
      No existe.
    12. Re:It's Times Like These ... by bmecoli · · Score: 0

      A wolf attack, perhaps?

    13. Re:It's Times Like These ... by rtb61 · · Score: 1

      More accurately that person lied about a personal condition in order to profit and then wants more fame by public announcing the deceit and proclaiming that based upon their lack of intellect, that 'all' people are unaffected by electro magnetic radiation, why, because this uninformed liar says so.

      Here is an interesting example to review http://www.abc.net.au/http/sfist/cellrad.htm this is a wonderful example of how lies survive and grow based upon greed. It would appear that corporations will absolutely not fund any research that might have negative affects on their bottom line, unless whoops, research they hoped would assist in sales does the opposite, then the pretend it doesn't exist.

      So cook away people and just think about the noble sacrifice you make to promote other peoples profit margins. So light up that smoke, drink that alcohol, eat junk food, live on a cell phone, wireless broadcast you existence, a soak up all those wonderful chemicals released into your environment, you'll be fine, no really, believe it because how can anything that generates a profit for the rich be bad for you. ;D.

      --
      Chaos - everything, everywhere, everywhen
    14. Re:It's Times Like These ... by Trails · · Score: 1

      You mean roast long pig...

    15. Re:It's Times Like These ... by Dan541 · · Score: 1

      What's more concerning is that people actually gave him their attention. When I heard that "Allergic to wireless signals" I just dismissed it. Humans are stupid creatures, why pay attention to one who makes absurd claims?

      --
      An SQL query goes to a bar, walks up to a table and asks, "Mind if I join you?"
    16. Re:It's Times Like These ... by kumanopuusan · · Score: 1

      He's a Christian because he likes tequila? That's a bit of a non-sequitur.

      --
      Use of the words "good", "bad" or "evil" is almost invariably the result of oversimplification.
    17. Re:It's Times Like These ... by the_womble · · Score: 1

      That is why you should rely on reliable news sources written by journalists who check their facts, not random blogs......

      Opps, I got that the wrong way round.

    18. Re:It's Times Like These ... by ColaMan · · Score: 1

      So cook away people and just think about the noble sacrifice you make to promote other peoples profit margins.

      Ah yes, the Evil Corporation. Don't forget that I get something in return as well from using these things - normally a lot of added convenience or usefulness.

      It's very convenient to have quick food, instant network/telecoms access, a cold beer after work and the smooth refreshing taste of a good cigarette (well, personally I'll pass on the last one). Whether its worth the risks involved with each one is a decision that only the individual can make.

      --

      You are in a twisty maze of processor lines, all alike.
      There is a lot of hype here.
    19. Re:It's Times Like These ... by TheVelvetFlamebait · · Score: 1

      That sounds like one of those newfangled phoney-baloney diseases. He should get a real man's disease.

      --
      You know, there is a difference between trolling and pointing out the flaws in your reasoning. Just saying.
    20. Re:It's Times Like These ... by Mashiki · · Score: 1

      Well asshole disease, and anal-retentive speaking disorder are semi-related to each other. The only cure is to pull their head out of their ass and beat with a clue bat. However in this day and age, we do have a few new ones including douchwaffle disease, shit speakers syndrome, and meme disorder.

      The last one is particularly vicious, and comes from people who use memes which are 8 months to 3 years out of date, and need to be beat to death with a large spongy bat.

      --
      Om, nomnomnom...
    21. Re:It's Times Like These ... by TheVelvetFlamebait · · Score: 1

      The last one is particularly vicious, and comes from people who use memes which are 8 months to 3 years out of date, and need to be beat to death with a large spongy bat.

      Psst! Your sig is showing! ;)

      --
      You know, there is a difference between trolling and pointing out the flaws in your reasoning. Just saying.
    22. Re:It's Times Like These ... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Hard-on

    23. Re:It's Times Like These ... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      more about 1.19 jiggawatts

    24. Re:It's Times Like These ... by Jake+Griffin · · Score: 1

      Where did he end a (I'm assuming you meant) sentence with a preposition? He ended a sentence with a prepositional phrase, but not with a preposition...

      --
      SIG FAULT: Post index out of bounds.
    25. Re:It's Times Like These ... by badpazzword · · Score: 1

      No, they use those stories in more FUD documentaries (like BBC's one about wifi) that are then retracted when the damage is done.

      That would stop other media companies (like RAI) from broadcasting them presenting them as authoritative stuff from oh-my-the-BBC... right?

      --
      When ideas fail, words become very handy.
  2. would suck if someone somewhere was actually by weirdo557 · · Score: 0

    would suck if someone out there in some remote place actually was sensitive to radio-waves. then with people pulling crap like this nobody would ever find them and be able to study them.

    1. Re:would suck if someone somewhere was actually by adolf · · Score: 3, Insightful

      It's attitudes like that which keep people reclusive when actually do experience strange things (whether medical, mental, metaphysical -- whatever strange means today).

      Some people are attention-whores, for sure. And some of those people make stuff up. The rest of the world, though - they'd probably rather keep their strangeness to themselves, than to be studied like a lab rat.

      You're talking about human beings, not creatures which we need to find in order to "be able to study them."

      --
      Kid-proof tablet..
    2. Re:would suck if someone somewhere was actually by 91degrees · · Score: 1, Insightful

      People do suffer from this affliction. The fact that it's actually a mental problem doesn't actually make it less of an affliction. Mental issues cause real world problems in much the same way as physical ones.

    3. Re:would suck if someone somewhere was actually by sexconker · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Except they don't suffer from "this" affliction.
      If they can't pass a double blind test, then the affliction doesn't exist.

    4. Re:would suck if someone somewhere was actually by MightyMartian · · Score: 1

      You're talking about human beings, not creatures which we need to find in order to "be able to study them."

      Excuse me, but you could quiet it down a little. I'm trying to study some of the other subjects in the test tube, and you're causing quite a ruckus.

      --
      The world's burning. Moped Jesus spotted on I50. Details at 11.
    5. Re:would suck if someone somewhere was actually by Denihil · · Score: 1

      People's unfounded fear and mistrust of wifi/bluetooth/microwaves/cellphones manifesting itself as an affliction generates MUCH LESS sympathy (from me, at least) than from a actual physical health problem generated from external forces. It's like a placebo effect, except people believing this....this crap hurts the companies who make these devices. This stuff is like neo-luddite propaganda. Personally if i owned a small wireless manufacturing company, i'd love to sue the crap out of this guy for slander. Yes, i probably couldn't do that, but it would feel oh so nice...

      --
      WÌÌfÍ--ÍSÌÒÍ...Í...ÌHÌÍfÍÍÍ--ÍÍÍ
    6. Re:would suck if someone somewhere was actually by Volante3192 · · Score: 1

      No, they suffer from hypochondria. Not some wireless allergy.

      And since it's a mental issue, might I suggest a cure of a lobotomy?

    7. Re:would suck if someone somewhere was actually by PitaBred · · Score: 1

      They suffer from a delusional, psychosomatic illness that needs treatment. Electrosensitivity itself is no more an illness than feeling pain from loud thoughts is.

      --
      My blog. Good stuff (when I remember to update it). Read it.
    8. Re:would suck if someone somewhere was actually by Ironchew · · Score: 1

      If they can't pass a double blind test, then the affliction doesn't exist.

      Do not look into MASER with remaining eye?

    9. Re:would suck if someone somewhere was actually by Dan541 · · Score: 1

      You're talking about human beings, not creatures which we need to find in order to "be able to study them."

      Perhaps we should stop "studying" cancer patients then.

      If someone was sensitive to radio waves they would suffer immensely in today's society, don't you think we should find out why?

      --
      An SQL query goes to a bar, walks up to a table and asks, "Mind if I join you?"
    10. Re:would suck if someone somewhere was actually by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I disagree. First of all the tests did not take into account the possibility of something very subtle. In some cases, exposure to RF energy can cause creation in an organism after a while of modified proteins that can cause allergic reactions eventually. This is not a fast on-off kind of thing, and so testing that looks for quick reactions will miss it entirely. The allergic reactions take awhile to develop. A double-blind test whose parameters don't allow for long exposure will not induce the reaction. This is not as simple as blindfolding someone and asking them if they can sense whether the room lights are on or off.
      People can be sensitive to various types of energy, There is a disorder - I had it strongly as a kid - where the skin is sensitive to UV in ways normal people aren't. For example, I was awfully sensitive to UV from fluorescent lights in school and my skin would burn after hours of it but I did not tan from it. Something else was at play there. I was also sensitive to sunlight and avoided being outdoors a lot because it was painful. In a related aspect, I have always been highly allergic to synthetic clothing fibers and must wear only 100% cotton. So clearly my immune system is messed up. And people with lupus can have a special photosensitivity, so this kind of thing is demonstrably real and recognized.
      There is a town in Arizona to which people with E/M sensitivity have moved. Some live in modified homes to shield themselves from RF and some went to DC power to avoid AC lines. I don't think they are all hypochondriacs.
      People like this hoaxer douchebag do the genuinely afflicted a real disservice.

    11. Re:would suck if someone somewhere was actually by Bakkster · · Score: 1

      Except they don't suffer from "this" affliction. If they can't pass a double blind test, then the affliction doesn't exist.

      They suffer from an affliction, it's just psychosomatic. Of course a double-blind study wouldn't pick up any actual sensitivity, because they don't have one. Instead, they do feel physical effects whenever they think they should. That's still a real affliction, the cause is just different.

      It still should be treated, but it's by breaking that psychosomatic link. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychosomatic_medicine

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    12. Re:would suck if someone somewhere was actually by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You know, it took an awful long time for 'germ theory' to pass a double blind test.

    13. Re:would suck if someone somewhere was actually by adolf · · Score: 1

      Are there any queers in the theater tonight?
      Get them up against the wall!
      There's one in the spotlight, he don't look right to me,
      Get him up against the wall!
      That one looks Jewish!
      And that one's a coon!
      Who let all of this riff-raff into the room?
      There's one smoking a joint,
      And another with spots!
      If I had my way,
      I'd have all of you shot!

      --Pink Floyd, In the Flesh

      --
      Kid-proof tablet..
    14. Re:would suck if someone somewhere was actually by sexconker · · Score: 1

      Or you know, by putting them in a double blind trial, and then when they fail, take them to your office to discuss the results.

      See, you got about 50% right. Like you were guessing. Half the time you said you felt symptoms there was nothing to cause it. Half the time you felt nothing there were 20 routers running.

      It's all in your head. Stop being retarded.
      Look, we have 100 routers running right here in this very room. Right in that closet. Open it up, if you dare.

    15. Re:would suck if someone somewhere was actually by Bakkster · · Score: 1

      Sounds like a reasonable and rational treatment. I'm sure that the medical community is glad that you mentioned this, as they never thought of it. Let's skip the trials, as nothing could possibly go wrong with technique. /sarcasm

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      Write your representatives! Repeal the 2nd Law of Thermodynamics!
    16. Re:would suck if someone somewhere was actually by sexconker · · Score: 1

      My post includes the trials part.

    17. Re:would suck if someone somewhere was actually by Bakkster · · Score: 1

      You imply that failing the trial study and being told they are imagining their symptoms is the treatment. To prove that such a treatment technique would work (and not cause an all new, worse psychological condition) would require its own trial and verification.

      Perhaps this is already a treatment method (IANAD), but it seems that such a treatment would need to be used carefully to prevent causing depression. And, if it doesn't solve the problem, the patient will just have an even worse psychosomatic reaction in your office when you tell them about the 100 routers on them right now, possibly opening yourself up to a malpractice charge.

      Let's leave the treatment ideas to the specialists.

      --
      Write your representatives! Repeal the 2nd Law of Thermodynamics!
    18. Re:would suck if someone somewhere was actually by sexconker · · Score: 1

      Yes.
      The trial is doing the treatment, then hauling their ass off to the looney bin when they break down in anxiety, or giving them a pat on the back and saying "you're cured" when they realize they've been morons all along.

  3. We know. by Monkeedude1212 · · Score: 3, Funny

    If you read the comments below the LAST article you would know that you didn't need to inform us.

  4. Couldn't someone have tested this disorder sooner? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    I mean how hard is it to get one of the people, put them in a room, and have them tell you whether or not you plugged in a router?

  5. Oh, very fning funny by geekoid · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Now this story will linger as 'common knowledge' for years and rational people will have to cnstantly explain it was a PR stunt.

    Well done jackass, you've made the world a worse place.

    --
    The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
    1. Re:Oh, very fning funny by hymy · · Score: 1

      The "jackass" tag is more than deserved, but I wonder... Who's the bigger jackass? Him or the people claiming the same allergy?? The world is getting more rotten by the minute, it seems.

    2. Re:Oh, very fning funny by therocketdog · · Score: 1

      When a new illness or condition is announced/"discovered", there will always be people wanting to jump on the sympathy bandwagon attention-seeking. It's human nature, regrettably.

    3. Re:Oh, very fning funny by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      If that's all it takes to dismiss 'electrosensitivity' completely, did you consider that the case may be weak as hell?

      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrosensitivity
      ""The symptoms described by 'electromagnetic hypersensitivity' sufferers can be severe and are sometimes disabling. However, it has proved difficult to show under blind conditions that exposure to electromagnetic fields can trigger these symptoms. This suggests that 'electromagnetic hypersensitivity' is unrelated to the presence of electromagnetic fields, although more research into this phenomenon is required.""

      Oh oh, I can sense the aura emanating from people, except it doesn't always work when they are completely covered in something which makes me unable to see whether there's a dummy there instead and while karma-destroying people in lab coats are watching.

    4. Re:Oh, very fning funny by Seumas · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Both, plus the news outlets covering it. Everyone knows "wi-fi allergy" has already been disproved, which means there is no story. They might as well be running news articles and segments about how some guy claims to have gotten aids from a hug. UNLESS, they're covering it with the same "what a moron" treatment they would give that "woman claims daughter got pregnant from swimming pool" moron. But of course, they didn't. They sensationalized it because that's easier than spending three minutes googling the truth. Most of today's "journalists" can sucking cuck a fock, as far as I care.

    5. Re:Oh, very fning funny by geekoid · · Score: 3, Insightful

      He's feeding into a belief. Anyone claiming to ahve this problem while knowing it's not possible is a much bigger jack-ass then people who ignorantly think this can be true.

      Of course, the biggest jack asses are the one where you show all the studies and the still refuse to change there minds.
      Did I say jackass? I meant moron.

      --
      The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
    6. Re:Oh, very fning funny by sorak · · Score: 2, Funny

      Now this story will linger as 'common knowledge' for years and rational people will have to cnstantly explain it was a PR stunt.

      Well done jackass, you've made the world a worse place.

      Didn't he do that by deciding to become a DJ?

    7. Re:Oh, very fning funny by Thaelon · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Quick, put it on Snopes.com.

      It's the best we can do for now.

      --

      Question everything

    8. Re:Oh, very fning funny by DNS-and-BIND · · Score: 1

      Congratulations, you just described "The DaVinci Code".

      --
      Shutting down free speech with violence isn't fighting fascism. It IS fascism!
    9. Re:Oh, very fning funny by hedwards · · Score: 1

      WiFi, I'm not sure many people claim that, but as somebody that's been completely unable to enter the TV section of department stores for quite some time due to a similar sensitivity, I think it's incredibly arrogant to suggest that people aren't affected by electromagnetic radiation. In some parts of the world there's even a newer version of ECT that uses electromagnets to induce a similar affect.

  6. But I have a real allergy by Anonymusing · · Score: 5, Funny

    I'm allergic to PR stunts. You have no idea how miserable they make life. I am dizzy all the time, and can't stop sneezing. And the rashes. And the boils. I may be going blind, as well.

    By the way, I have a new album coming out, called "Craposensitive".

    --
    Liberal? Conservative? Compare perspectives at Left-Right
    1. Re:But I have a real allergy by mcgrew · · Score: 1

      I may be going blind, as well.

      That's not the PR stunts. "Can I do it until I need glasses?"

      --
      Free Martian Whores!
    2. Re:But I have a real allergy by j-stroy · · Score: 1

      But the stunts are so cunning.

    3. Re:But I have a real allergy by radtea · · Score: 1

      I'm allergic to PR stunts.

      It's an interesting question as to why no one would take this seriously, no matter how brain-dead stupid they are, but legions of the very same morons take equally idiotic claims of "wifi allergy" seriously.

      It isn't like everyone loves PR people and hates wifi, so it isn't as simple as that (the affect of how much people like something is dramatic--ask people about post-op pain and there answer will tell you how much they like their surgeon, and nothing else.)

      Wifi is relatively new, while PR stunts are ancient, which helps a bit, although cell phones and other forms of electromagnetic radiation have been around for long enough that it's clear to all but the completely vacuous that they have no negative effect on human health compared to their enormous positive effects.

      So why do the anti-empirical morons insist on taking things like wifi allergy seriously, and not PR-stunt allergy?

      And more importantly, how can we come up with something that a) only certifiably intelligent people suffer from and b) would result in massive class-action lawsuits against assholes like the clown who perpetrated this?

      --
      Blasphemy is a human right. Blasphemophobia kills.
    4. Re:But I have a real allergy by m.ducharme · · Score: 1, Interesting

      So why do the anti-empirical morons insist on taking things like wifi allergy seriously, and not PR-stunt allergy?

      Well, because if I don't take is wifi allergy seriously, then why should he take my fibromyalgia seriously? Or your chronic pain disorder? What I think is happening is that there are two main effects at work here. One is a result of a kind of "post-scientific" thinking, the same kind of thinking that drives the New Age movement, basically the idea that nobody is wrong, everyone has their own opinion about the world, and that opinion is valid. If you subscribe to this school of thought, one of the rigours of it is that you have to assume each person is capable of creating a truth. And one of the benefits of course is that you can believe whatever you want and others like you will eat all your bullshit up with a smile. A lot of the ills of our society can be tracked to this kind of reasoning.

      The other problem is our society's consistent inability to treat mental illness as an illness and not as a moral failing. Most of the mysterious illnesses of our society, from wifi allergies to "travelling" pain, to fibromyalgia and chronic pain disorder, are all manifestations of dysthemia and depression. People simply refuse to acknowledge that they're depressed, because of the moral stigma attaching to mental illness, and so the illness manifests itself in other ways.

      Calling all these people stupid, however, is just counter-productive and innaccurate. Many of these people aren't stupid in the intellectual sense, even if they lack self-knowledge. Many people here at slashdot, though not stupid, also fail at self-knowledge. Our society simply doesn't encourage self-knowledge, in part because of that moral stigma attaching to mental illness, psychotherapy, or really anything to do with the workings of our emotions. These people are reacting to an illness the only way they know how, because they've never been taught better.

      --
      Rule of Slashdot #0: You and people like you are not representative of the larger population. - A.C.
    5. Re:But I have a real allergy by Hurricane78 · · Score: 1

      You lucky lucky bastard! I have an allergy allergy. I get sick from people claiming they have allergies that will never ever be healable. (While I know for a fact that they are and have seen many allergies heal.)

      And the believers only hung me the right way up yesterday!

      --
      Any sufficiently advanced intelligence is indistinguishable from stupidity.
    6. Re:But I have a real allergy by FrankSchwab · · Score: 1

      Most of the mysterious illnesses of our society, from wifi allergies to "travelling" pain, to fibromyalgia and chronic pain disorder, are all manifestations of dysthemia and depression.

      Source?

      --
      And the worms ate into his brain.
    7. Re:But I have a real allergy by BorgCopyeditor · · Score: 4, Informative

      Most of the mysterious illnesses of our society, from wifi allergies to "travelling" pain, to fibromyalgia and chronic pain disorder, are all manifestations of dysthemia and depression.

      Source?

      Rectal extraction.

      --
      Shop as usual. And avoid panic buying.
    8. Re:But I have a real allergy by martas · · Score: 1

      I'm allergic to allergies.

      Incidentally, I'm related to Godel. And Escher. But not Bach.

      (not really).

      --
      weinersmith
    9. Re:But I have a real allergy by m.ducharme · · Score: 1

      Experience reading through hundreds of medical files, and reports, and other shit I'm not going to reproduce for you. If you're interested, look up the definitions of Chronic Pain Disorder, and start from there.

      --
      Rule of Slashdot #0: You and people like you are not representative of the larger population. - A.C.
    10. Re:But I have a real allergy by smartbei · · Score: 1

      Informative? More like Too Much Information...

  7. Just shows, by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    the media plays people and the people that listen typically don't know about the electromagnetic spectrum.

    Don't believe me? Ask all the people that thought he was for real and ask them what devices use the same part of the electromagnetic spectrum as Wifi. They'll probably say green.

    1. Re:Just shows, by Dan541 · · Score: 1

      No, it's yellow.

      --
      An SQL query goes to a bar, walks up to a table and asks, "Mind if I join you?"
  8. Really? by MBGMorden · · Score: 0, Redundant

    I think everyone here knew very well that the was no such thing as a "WiFi Allergy". That it doesn't exist doesn't mean that the claim was a PR stunt though. He could just be a gullible hypochondriac.

    --
    "People who think they know everything are very annoying to those of us who do."-Mark Twain
  9. Should be classified as fraud by syousef · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Misleading and deceiving people for notoriety and financial gain. How the fuck is this not fraud?

    --
    These posts express my own personal views, not those of my employer
    1. Re:Should be classified as fraud by ivan_w · · Score: 1

      Are you talking about politicians ?

      --Ivan

      (ok.. that one was easy..)

    2. Re:Should be classified as fraud by CannonballHead · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Hmm. So if I have ads on my blog and I post "misleading and deceptive" blog posts that are "fun to read" or "sensational" (sounds like the mass media), is that fraud? Or how about advertising that implies "If you drink this, you'll get a girl like the one in this ad!"? ...

      Summary: I don't see this as being particularly any worse than most publicity. Heh, for that matter, all of Hollywood is misleading and deceptive for the sake of financial gain

    3. Re:Should be classified as fraud by cathars1s · · Score: 1

      Because fraud has a very different definition from "lying" in the legal system.

    4. Re:Should be classified as fraud by Darkness404 · · Score: 1

      Its only fraud if he had people give money (such as, help me build a new wi-fi proof house because I have this condition) simply blogging about fictional events is not fraud.

      --
      Taxation is legalized theft, no more, no less.
    5. Re:Should be classified as fraud by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Obtaining Services (PR) by deception?

      S11 Fraud Act 2006,
      Theft Act 1978

      Maybe - IANAL etc.

    6. Re:Should be classified as fraud by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Nope, fraud can also be obtaining services or goods for free (when there should have been a charge) or reduced payment - for example, if I board a train after waving an expired ticket at the person on the ticket barrier.

      One could argue that in this case, national press publicity was obtained for free by making false statements, but how successful this would be in court is debatable.

    7. Re:Should be classified as fraud by Darkness404 · · Score: 1

      But there are loads of written fiction masquerading as truth. That I wouldn't call fraud. Just look at The Da Vinci Code, which despite loads of inaccuracies Dan Brown claims is at least mostly true.

      --
      Taxation is legalized theft, no more, no less.
    8. Re:Should be classified as fraud by JumpDrive · · Score: 1

      If you haven't noticed, the US has legalized this to protect our financial institutions.

    9. Re:Should be classified as fraud by Hurricane78 · · Score: 1

      How is this fraud?? What exactly did he *take* from you? What did it hurt you?
      I can claim I got three buttocks all year long. So what? If you decide to pick it up and run with the story, the shame is on you.

      This one needs two people. The one stating the bullshit, and the one believing in it. ;)

      --
      Any sufficiently advanced intelligence is indistinguishable from stupidity.
    10. Re:Should be classified as fraud by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Misleading and deceiving people for notoriety and financial gain. How the fuck is this not fraud?

      Fraud? My god you are a fucking dumbass.

    11. Re:Should be classified as fraud by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      So do you want to go buy his album now so you can join a class action law suit against him later? You'll have to argue that his PR stunt was the reason you bought the album, which will make you look pretty dumb...

    12. Re:Should be classified as fraud by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Summary: I don't see this as being particularly any worse than most publicity. Heh, for that matter, all of Hollywood is misleading and deceptive for the sake of financial gain

      Yep, much of that is fraud and should be prosecuted. A pity truth-in-advertising laws aren't actually enforced.

    13. Re:Should be classified as fraud by syousef · · Score: 1

      how about advertising that implies "If you drink this, you'll get a girl like the one in this ad!"? ...

      Fuck yes. It's called false advertising. It use to be prosecuted more vigorously. Ever since society let that slip, advertising has become a synonym for lying.

      --
      These posts express my own personal views, not those of my employer
    14. Re:Should be classified as fraud by syousef · · Score: 1

      This one needs two people. The one stating the bullshit, and the one believing in it. ;)

      If I claim I own a bridge and that I'll sell it to you for a small fee, that also requires the other person to believe the bullshit, but it clearly is fraud. Fraud legislation is there to protect the weak/vulnerable/gullible too. If it wasn't it'd be the law of the jungle with the smartest person winning, and stupid people would have to resort to violence. You don't want to live ina world like that.

      --
      These posts express my own personal views, not those of my employer
    15. Re:Should be classified as fraud by countertrolling · · Score: 1

      ...stupid people would have to resort to violence.

      Yeah, really

      --
      For justice, we must go to Don Corleone
    16. Re:Should be classified as fraud by syousef · · Score: 1

      I'm sorry but I have no idea who you're labeling as stupid people. The Iraqis whose country has been turned upside down and who cling to tribal and religious divisiveness or the US who invaded a country they didn't understand would not easily be stabilized? Either way it's a poor example as I wasn't talking about war - I was talking about civil laws protecting both the brilliant and the not so smart.

      --
      These posts express my own personal views, not those of my employer
  10. No Alergy eh? by the_leander · · Score: 1

    Yeah that'll totally pacify thousands of idiots out there who'll be pointing to his claims for years to come in the same way they point out the MMR stuff now.

    --
    regards, the_leander
  11. I'm allergic to posting on /. by Hawthorne01 · · Score: 4, Funny

    Aaaaaaaaahhhhhh, It burns!!!!!!!!! (Buy my new album) Arrrrrrghhhhh, AgonyAgonyAgony!!!!!!!

    --
    "Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former."
    1. Re:I'm allergic to posting on /. by martas · · Score: 1

      I'm allergic to subliminal messages. I can't watch Fox News without going into anaphylactic shock.

      --
      weinersmith
  12. What, if any, action do we take? by BobMcD · · Score: 1

    Do we censor the news outlets that failed to do even the most basic fact checking? Put them on notice somehow?

    Do we boycott those sources? As groups or individuals?

    Do we just ignore it, as status quo, and bitch about it on slashdot?

    Now that we know, and people can prove we know, I wonder if we aren't supposed to take some kind of action.

    1. Re:What, if any, action do we take? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      I say we email the hell out of steve@subatomicuk.com, let us show this guy there is no wrath like that of /.

    2. Re:What, if any, action do we take? by davmoo · · Score: 1

      If we boycott the outlets that spread the story as news and real, we then would not be able to bitch about it on Slashdot...Slashdot was just as guilty of spreading the story as factual as anyone else.

      --
      I want a new quote. One that won't spill. One that don't cost too much. Or come in a pill.
    3. Re:What, if any, action do we take? by Hadlock · · Score: 2, Interesting

      I've noticed boing boing has had increasingly bad and misleading posts/articles lately, down to "what caused these waves in the snow" and other random BS. Whatever draws an audience, and the clicking of advertising links, I suppose. You don't see crappy articles like these in the NYT.

      --
      moox. for a new generation.
    4. Re:What, if any, action do we take? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I'm going farther and e-mail him from my neighbor wi-fi.

  13. If it's not the WiFi Allergy by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    If it's not the WiFi allergy, why do I have these 4 hour erections?

    1. Re:If it's not the WiFi Allergy by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      If it's not the WiFi allergy, why do I have these 4 hour erections?

      That blue pill Morpheus gave you? It has nothing to do with The Matrix...

  14. On the contrary by Eevee · · Score: 4, Interesting

    He's made the world a better place. Now anybody who claims to be suffering from this fake malady can be told to shut up with "Oh, that's a fake disease from an old PR stunt."

    You have to remember, people were already claiming to suffer from it; it's already in the 'common knowledge' bin. He's brought nothing new to the table as far as claims go.

    1. Re:On the contrary by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting

      I am of the opinion that douchebaggery is often an issue of intent, not the unintended result of one's actions.

      Having carefully considered his intent, I recommend he be beaten around the face with a claw hammer.

    2. Re:On the contrary by geekoid · · Score: 2, Insightful

      He added cement to the idea.
      All this stuff, Bigfoot, UFO's, Homeopathy, reiki, only gets stronger when something like this happens. When it is proven to be fake, or shown that there is no evidence, it doesn't get reported in mainstream and when it does it gets put on page 8.

      --
      The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
    3. Re:On the contrary by JuicyBrain · · Score: 1

      He's brought nothing new to the table

      You mean aside from bringing a new disk to the turntables ?

      Many people will agree, This story should never have been publicized. This man used the media's own lack of professionalism and thirst for sensationalism to his own gain. Good for him. They should be thanking him for having put their nose into their own shit and should remember the lesson they've just been taught.

  15. Oh, darn... by kiehlster · · Score: 1

    There goes my idea for a thesis.

  16. Amazing... by Foobar+of+Borg · · Score: 5, Funny

    It was reported by The Sun, The Telegraph, and Fox News. I'm surprised those bastions of journalistic integrity and careful, measured reporting didn't check their facts better before releasing these reports.

    --
    Similar to the upcoming US election results
    1. Re:Amazing... by JumpDrive · · Score: 1

      If anybody in the US doesn't know that Fox doesn't check information, they deserve to get pwnd.

    2. Re:Amazing... by MattXBlack · · Score: 1

      In fairness, the Telegraph (while a bit right-wing for my tastes) is usually a pretty high quality newspaper. It is certainly not down at the level of The Sun and Fox News.

  17. What?? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Is the name of the album called "Wi-fi Allergy"? Because otherwise the stunt didn't work.

  18. Tried before with success.. by Technician · · Score: 5, Informative

    The ban Dihydrogenmonoxide stunt also got the media messed up in a comical frenzy over bad science.

    This site is still up for your reading pleasure.
    http://www.dhmo.org/

    The environmental impact of the stuff is huge. It's found most everywhere.
    http://www.dhmo.org/environment.html

    For those who don't get the joke the punchline is here;

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dihydrogen_monoxide_hoax
    n 1989, Eric Lechner, Lars Norpchen and Matthew Kaufman circulated a Dihydrogen Monoxide contamination warning on the UC Santa Cruz Campus via photocopied fliers.[8] The concept originated one afternoon when Kaufman recalled a similar warning about "Hydrogen Hydroxide" that had been published in his mother's hometown paper, the Durand (Michigan) Express, and the three then worked to coin a term that "sounded more dangerous". Lechner typed up the original warning flier on Kaufman's computer, and a trip to the local photocopying center followed that night.

    --
    The truth shall set you free!
    1. Re:Tried before with success.. by ivan_w · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Awww.. come on !

      The dihydrogen monoxide/hydric acid/hydrane stunt was just *brilliant* !

      --Ivan

    2. Re:Tried before with success.. by Technician · · Score: 1

      Awww.. come on !

      The dihydrogen monoxide/hydric acid/hydrane stunt was just *brilliant* !

      And the press and some governments fell for it hook line and sinker.

      In March 2004, Aliso Viejo, California almost considered banning the use of foam containers at city-sponsored events because dihydrogen monoxide is part of their production. A paralegal had asked the city council to put it on the agenda; he later attributed it to poor research.[13] The law was pulled from the agenda before it could come to a vote, but not before the city received a raft of bad publicity.[4]

      Quote from the wikipedia linked above.

      --
      The truth shall set you free!
    3. Re:Tried before with success.. by mcgrew · · Score: 1

      Anybody at slashdot who doesn't know wht dihydrogen monoxide is should turn in his nerd card. Saturday Night Live had a skit about that very thing, back when the now Senator was a cast member. He played a Dow executive saying that chemistry always made life better, and drank some of the DHMO to show how good chemistry was.

      So Gilda Radner gave him a glass of H2SO4, and hilarity then ensued.

      --
      Free Martian Whores!
    4. Re:Tried before with success.. by mr_mischief · · Score: 1

      At least dihydrogen monoxide can be dangerous, unlike 2.4 Ghz low-power equipment. It's known to fill in low spaces and force out breathable air. People with more dihydrogen monoxide in their lungs than air tend can suffer brain damage and even death. An unconscious human can asphyxiate in even a shallow pool of this stuff. It's so common, in fact, that there's a special word for it. It's called "drowning".

    5. Re:Tried before with success.. by ivan_w · · Score: 1

      Hmm.. you are going to have to define what you mean by 'low power'.. (that is, low compared to what).

      Because, just like excessive or incorrect absorption of DHMO, excessive amount of EM radiation (including those in the proximity of 2.4GHz or "micro waves") can also have adverse effects !

      What's probably more important is the irradiance (W.m^-2) - since I guess focusing the entire power emitted by a source such as a Wifi appliance to a small surface could cause burns (although it's probably quite difficult to achieve).

      --Ivan

    6. Re:Tried before with success.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      My Lord. People are still thinking about, let alone POSTING ABOUT, this unfunny cliche. This is the type of thing that makes fringe-stupid people think they are smart. "Oh ha! I am smart enough to realize that it means water. Ha ha! Only an IDIOT would fall for this! I am so much smarter than everyone else!"

    7. Re:Tried before with success.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Fell for it, did you? Well, at least you're not bitter about it...

    8. Re:Tried before with success.. by dyingtolive · · Score: 1

      I think someone didn't get the joke.

      --
      Support the EFF and Creative Commons. The war is coming, and they're supporting you...
    9. Re:Tried before with success.. by Late+Adopter · · Score: 1

      Are you sure? I think the Photoelectric Effect works against you there... You have to get a photon to interact with the body, and the energy of any given 2.4 GHz photon is insufficient to ionize atoms because of Planck's Law. It doesn't matter how many photons are emitted.

    10. Re:Tried before with success.. by PitaBred · · Score: 1

      Little Johnny was a chemist
      Little Johnny is no more
      For what he thought was H2O
      Was H2SO4

      - Author unknown, but a very old poem

      --
      My blog. Good stuff (when I remember to update it). Read it.
    11. Re:Tried before with success.. by ivan_w · · Score: 1

      Of course it's not ionizing.. Each photon has way too little energy to do that !

      But unless the material either reflects or is transparent at this wavelength, some of the energy will be transferred to the material and eventually raise its temperature !

      Otherwise, how would a microwave oven work ?

      --Ivan

    12. Re:Tried before with success.. by hercubus · · Score: 1

      This site is still up for your reading pleasure. http://www.dhmo.org/

      I hope it stays up forever. I've sent this link to some skepticismically-impaired folk, listened to them get all excited, then pulled the rug out.

      They tend towards a lot of anger, but they do remember. Whenever the latest monosodium glutamate/sodium lauryl sulfate/random-scary-chemical-name baloney comes down the pike they either skip over me or I gently remind -- "So is this stuff as dangerous as dihydrogen monoxide?"

      I raise my glass to DHMO.org -- may they live forever!

      --
      -- How I want a drink, alcoholic of course, after the heavy lectures involving quantum mechanics.
    13. Re:Tried before with success.. by hedwards · · Score: 1

      This is different, somehow, from the actual people out there with very real sensitivities to EM radiation. Sure it's not an allergy, but people tend to misuse the term allergy when they mean sensitivity and the main reason to be skeptical of WiFi sensitivities is due to the low power of them.

    14. Re:Tried before with success.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Brute force of 1kW vs 100mW should do it.

  19. Did the DJ confirm ? by droopycom · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I mean, I would call this a stunt if the DJ did indeed acknowledge it, and said that he has no condition.

    But as of now, this article is just another opinion from a journalist that the the condition is BS, and might indeed have been used as a way to promote an album.

    There is nothing fundamentally wrong to promote an album based on what one believes. If the DJ really believes that he is electro-sensitive, then it makes perfect sense for him to promote an album called "electro-sensitive" by talking about his "disease" (even if everybody knows that the disease is only in his head).

    What's more scary is not that its used as a PR tool, but the fact that the media was so gullible to just pass it along....

  20. He fogot to mention the other papers by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    "appearing in multiple high-profile media outlets like The Sun, The Telegraph, and Fox News."

    It also appeared in other such high-profile media outlets let Weekly World News, The Enquirer and Pravda.

  21. Seems to me... by sporkenstien · · Score: 1

    This is a mutated Rickroll

  22. I'm going to download his album 10 times... by jolyonr · · Score: 4, Funny

    to hurt him even more!

    --


    Please read my Canon EOS tech blog at http://www.everyothershot.com
    1. Re:I'm going to download his album 10 times... by clone53421 · · Score: 3, Funny

      Jason Fox tried that once, IIRC.

      Something along the lines of:

      "What are you doing?"
      "Downloading and burning 10,000 copies of $paiges_favorite_cd."
      "You know, if people keep doing that eventually artists will quit making music."
      "That's what I'm hoping."

      --
      Alexander Peter Kristopeit bought his basement from his mommy for one dollar.
  23. Already happened to Kid Rock. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    http://www.theonion.com/content/node/28467

    Poor guy.

  24. Some legit studies have found effects by marcle · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Check out this link: http://www.aehf.com/articles/em_sensitive.html Double-blind study with repeatable results, showed some subjects were sensitive. Remember, the scientific method means that nothing is ever proven definitively; all we can do is hypothesize, experiment, lather, rinse, repeat.

    1. Re:Some legit studies have found effects by Rycross · · Score: 3, Interesting

      Its a fairly interesting study, I'll admit. However, after a brief reading of it, I noticed:
      1) The methodology doesn't say whether the generator is in view of the subject, and the phrasing suggests that it is. The generator could have had tells.
      2) Doesn't mention how the administrator was isolated from the subjects in the double-blind experiments.
      3) It states that a single-blind was first conducted, then goes on to say that the double-blind was conducted with "the same parameters."

      It would be nice to see these clarified and the results reproduced. If there were issues with the "double-blind" (either the administrator or the generator being observable), then the first run of the single blind, and subsequent weeding out of the test subjects, would select for those who would be able to recognize the tells.

      This particular paragraph gave me a bit of pause too:
      "In our experience, the patients' clinical responses could not always be reproduced completely, but the objective Iriscorder, EKG, and respirometer could be. However, the responses were definitely different from controls or placebo challenges. In our experience over the years, we have found partial reproduction of symptoms on repeat challenge to be as significant as total reproduction. Therefore, significant differences from controls in objective ineasurementa were deemed valid."

      There are some other questionable assumptions in the discussion section as well.

      Still, it would nice to see the experiment reproduced, since they did manage to obtain some interesting results that would be worthwhile investigating.

    2. Re:Some legit studies have found effects by LingNoi · · Score: 0

      If that's true then it's interesting however, I'd like to see the statistics on the likelihood that the subjects were able to guess correctly.

      In phase 3 there were 26 participants which had a 1 in 6 chance to guess correct from 336 attempts with the device turned on and only 60 with the device off. Only half the participants guessed that it was on 50% of the time. Without doing the numbers this sounds like damn lies and statistics. I'm not saying whoever produced the paper is lying, just that they haven't considered what the chances are of guessing correct.

      The paper also mentions that the device used for testing was in the room with the subject, this to me indicates that perhaps some subjects figured out when the machine actually was on. Either way without more papers that can replicate this papers results it's pretty meaningless.

  25. Old news and... by 1080bogus · · Score: 1

    this is linked to Ars Technica which I'm sure a lot of us already read (not all). Why link a story that's linked to a story that's linked to the actual article? I know not every site is perfect but 3 days later, come on!

  26. Trifecta by jafiwam · · Score: 2, Informative

    "appearing in multiple high-profile media outlets like The Sun, The Telegraph, and Fox News."

    Lol, that's the tard-trifecta right there man. I sure hope Bigfoot doesn't get angry about the coverage of him this crap displaced.

    1. Re:Trifecta by thetoadwarrior · · Score: 2, Informative

      Replace the Telegraph with the Daily Mail. That's a bigger retard magnet.

  27. Cellphone cancer risk by scorp1us · · Score: 1
    Ok, so not an allergy, but what about these cell-phone cancer studies? If confirmed, it would also confirm electromagnetic sensitivity, although not an allergy, but it still would be having adverse affects.

    I'll let you all debate the validity of those studies.

    --
    Slashdot's rate-of-post filter: Preventing you from posting too many great ideas at once.
    1. Re:Cellphone cancer risk by geekoid · · Score: 0

      Those studies suck. All of them.

      --
      The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
    2. Re:Cellphone cancer risk by gnupun · · Score: 2, Insightful
      The slashdot title for this story is highly misleading: it's trying to insinuate all people complaining of Wi-Fi allergy are phonies just because some greedy joker pulled a stunt.

      Let's look at the facts:
      • Sticking your head or any body part in a microwave oven will severely injure or kill you -- microwave energy is highly dangerous.
      • Overuse of cellphones is likely to cause brain cancer after several years of use. Cellphones emit the same microwave radiation as the microwave oven, only with much diluted power, so it takes more time than an oven to damage human tissue.
      • Wi-fi also uses microwave radiation, except it's not stuck close to your head. But it's always on, depending on where you live or work. Even though the power of the radiation reaching the human body is weaker than a cellphone stuck to the head, wi-fi is always on while the cellphone is not -- the cumulative effects of this exposure is yet unknown.

      Looking at these facts, it's very likely that Wi-fi (microwave radiation) may cause cancer or some sort of damage if human beings are continuously exposed to it for several decades.

    3. Re:Cellphone cancer risk by LingNoi · · Score: 0

      I'm looking for the facts, but all I see is you trolling about evil microwave death rays. That's about as much time i'm going to spend replying to your post.

  28. Not original music by T+Murphy · · Score: 1

    He'll get sued for copying the music on his album. Sonata Arctica already wrote the song Weballergy.

    --
    My webcomic
    1. Re:Not original music by justinlee37 · · Score: 1

      Covers are legal in copyright law (at least as I have heard, IANAL). You can keep someone from reproducing your song, but you can't stop them from memorizing the lyrics and playing it themselves.

  29. Hope he gets ball cancer by thetoadwarrior · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    I think ball cancer would be a suitable punishment for this.

  30. Re:Couldn't someone have tested this disorder soon by couchslug · · Score: 1

    "I mean how hard is it to get one of the people, put them in a room, and have them tell you whether or not you plugged in a router?"

    They might guess that if they can hear transformer hum.

    Either they do an accurate mental Nmap scan or I call bullshit.

    --
    "This post is an artistic work of fiction and falsehood. Only a fool would take anything posted here as fact."
  31. As I suspected! by kheldan · · Score: 1

    Can we sue him now, for all the profits he may get from this album of his? Or at least, can the news services sue him for fraud or something to that effect? People shouldn't be allowed to get away with crying wolf like this.

    --
    Are YOU using the TOOL, or is the TOOL using YOU? Think about it!
  32. Depends on your definition of legit by spun · · Score: 1

    Hmmm, a so called study, posted on the website of one of the guys who performed the study. Said website being a storefront selling dubious 'environmental' products. Color me skeptical.

    --
    - None can love freedom heartily, but good men; the rest love not freedom, but license. -- John Milton
  33. As Usual, the Summary is Lacking... by denmarkw00t · · Score: 1

    It would appear that the stunt was highly successful, appearing in multiple high-profile media outlets like The Sun, The Telegraph, Fox News and Slashdot

    Fix'd

    1. Re:As Usual, the Summary is Lacking... by maugle · · Score: 1

      I don't think it counts if almost every single comment for the article runs along the lines of "There is no such allergy. This man is an idiot."

    2. Re:As Usual, the Summary is Lacking... by denmarkw00t · · Score: 1

      Running the headlines means that Slashdot was reporting it as a "media outlet," and based on /.'s traffic, I would consider it "high-profile." I said nothing about how the general reading population regarded this alleged allergy.
       
        Said "stunt" is effective if it gets publicity - good or bad.

  34. Info by xmod2 · · Score: 1

    The PR stunt almost worked on me, until I found I was allergic to terrible music.

    A choice gem from a sidebar on The Sun's site by Carol Cooper, Sun Doctor:

    "Wi-fi waves are higher in frequency than mobile phones and are intense due to the amount of info they carry."

    Maybe the reason all these studies are failing to repeat results is because they're not transferring big enough files! One time I got between my computer and the router when I was sending a 10 GB file to the server and it almost knocked my on my arse.

  35. Ignorance On Parade by hyades1 · · Score: 1

    The fact that Fox News and The Sun got hosed in by this stunt comes as no surprise to me. News media by the morons and for the morons. But the Telegraph? They're normally a bit smarter than that.

    Still, the fact that the news media were so easily fooled serves to illustrate how little the mainstream media understand about science and technology.

    --
    I've calculated my velocity with such exquisite precision that I have no idea where I am.
  36. Nice stunt.... by rickb928 · · Score: 1

    My wife's friends, who sell this medallion that supposedly shields you from EM radiation, especially WiFi and cell radiation, have been calling and emailing everyone they know quoting this incident and going on about how we M U S T H A V E T H I S P R O T E C T I O N .

    Pus. Can I beat this guy down? Please? Please?

    --
    deleting the extra space after periods so i can stay relevant, yeah.
    1. Re:Nice stunt.... by geekoid · · Score: 1

      Your wife needs new friends. She might want to consider some that can think.

      Also, challenge your wife's friend to email everyone back as say it was a PR stunt and she was wrong.
      That would be the ethical thing...not that she demonstrates any ethics.
      \

      --
      The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
    2. Re:Nice stunt.... by rickb928 · · Score: 0, Redundant

      Already did that. And that.

      --
      deleting the extra space after periods so i can stay relevant, yeah.
  37. I don't know about The Sun or The Telegraph but.. by kawabago · · Score: 1

    I don't know about the Sun or Telegraph but Fox News employs every idiot they can find!

  38. the best we can do is ignore him from now on. by Joce640k · · Score: 2, Insightful

    ...except the damage is done. The hippies and new-agers have already latched onto the story as yet more proof that WiFi is harmful and their neuroses are real.

    Stunts like this aren't 'harmless'. We should publicly flog him, not ignore him.

    --
    No sig today...
    1. Re:the best we can do is ignore him from now on. by Dan541 · · Score: 1

      I agree, his claims are going to open up a wave of lawsuits against wireless operators.

      Bring back the cat-O-nine-tails.

      Better yet people who make such claims should be removed from society "for their own protection".

      --
      An SQL query goes to a bar, walks up to a table and asks, "Mind if I join you?"
  39. DJ has not admitted hoax - misleading summary by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting

    How many more over-the-top summaries do slashdot feel the need to concoct? Nowhere in the article does it say that the UK DJ has admitted his wi-fi allergy is a PR stunt. It doesn't mention this in any other news sources either.

    It is a publicity stunt IN THE OPINION OF THE AUTHOR OF THE ARTICLE. Thanks for presenting somebody's opinion as fact in order to generate controversy, slashdot. Again.

  40. The cure is easy... by Joce640k · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Put them in a room with a black WiFi box and ask them to tell you when it's switched on, preferably with some other "sensitives" as witnesses and making sure there's no cheating by the weasel-faced skeptics.

    Having shown them what a real experiment is, give them one to take home so they can try for themselves whenever they have doubts.

    After enough dismal failures they should get the message that it's all in their head.

    --
    No sig today...
    1. Re:The cure is easy... by Chabo · · Score: 1

      The problem with that experiment is that most wifi devices make some kind of noise when turned on, and most devices supply at least some power to the antenna when turned on, even if wireless transmission is off.

      I can hear my router in a quiet room, even though it's fanless. Mostly due to the LEDs making noise.

      --
      Convert FLACs to a portable format with FlacSquisher
    2. Re:The cure is easy... by CyberDragon777 · · Score: 1

      Easy.

      The black box is actually just a piece of plastic with no electronics inside.

      The actual device is in the next room, aimed at the test room.

      --
      We both said a lot of things that you are going to regret.
    3. Re:The cure is easy... by Joce640k · · Score: 1

      Use your imagination. Let's see if you can figure out a way to make the experiment work...

      eg. put a cardboard box over it and completely unplug it from the wall. Put on some relaxing whale music so you can't hear the LEDs.

      Was that so difficult?

      --
      No sig today...
  41. Wow by PhunkySchtuff · · Score: 1

    Wow, what an amazing surprise that this psychosomatic illness turned out to be... fake!

    --
    Specialist Mac support for creative pros, Melbourne
  42. would be awesome...... by gintoki · · Score: 1

    if this caused people to spontaneously combust. Yeah.....wifi = the new death-ray. Then it would finally make sense for me to get a n-draft router.

  43. Duh. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Is there honestly anyone on the planet that *didn't* already know that?

  44. Re:I don't know about The Sun or The Telegraph but by Foobar+of+Borg · · Score: 1

    I don't know about the Sun or Telegraph but Fox News employs every idiot they can find!

    Well, when you hire Glen Beck, you've pretty much hit rock bottom. I mean, this guy makes Rush Limbaugh look intelligent and Ann Coulter look calm.

    --
    Similar to the upcoming US election results
  45. now im an idiot by GarretSidzaka · · Score: 0

    now i feel like a moron. i told a homie about this and i [i]assumed[/i] that slashdot was right.

    you can tell that asshole i won't even PIRATE his crappy album

    1. Re:now im an idiot by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      And now you should feel like an even bigger moron for referring to someone as "a homie"...

  46. Re:Couldn't someone have tested this disorder soon by Dan541 · · Score: 1

    Better yet tie them to the top of a cellphone tower for a week, if they survive then we know they were stupid and can then apply the death penalty. Sometimes Natural Selection needs a helping hand.

    --
    An SQL query goes to a bar, walks up to a table and asks, "Mind if I join you?"
  47. Re:Couldn't someone have tested this disorder soon by The+Archon+V2.0 · · Score: 1

    "I mean how hard is it to get one of the people, put them in a room, and have them tell you whether or not you plugged in a router?"

    They might guess that if they can hear transformer hum.

    Which is why a lot of these sorts of put-them-in-a-room tests (which have happened on occasion) deliberately play a humming or other "electrical" sound, desynched with the actual wireless signal (the source of which is often not even visible). If the person responds to the lights and sounds they see, then it's all fake or psychosomatic. If the person responds not to the lights and sounds but to the real wireless signal, then they've really got wireless sensitivity.

    So far, they've ALL responded to the lights and sounds.

  48. What a logic by SmallFurryCreature · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Putting your head in a boiling pot of water or in a working oven is dangerous as well. Ergo standing several feet away from it is going to kill you as well... NO.

    The microwave kills you because it cooks you. In fact, you will be CURED of any cancer because cooked cancer cells are just as dead as anything else that is cooked.

    Guns kill, so carrying a gun gives you cancer because cancer is caused by lead and since guns kill with lead... BAD LOGIC.

    --

    MMO Quests are like orgasms:

    You may solo them, I prefer them in a group.

  49. Re:Couldn't someone have tested this disorder soon by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    It's been done. The self-identified "electrosensitives" couldn't distinguish any better than chance whether or not a signal was present. Surprise.

    Lots more on nonsense like this at http://www.badscience.net/ for those who are ins

  50. Obligatory... by KingAlanI · · Score: 1

    http://xkcd.com/570/
    the alt text of this one is relevant here too...

    --
    I listen to both RIAA and non-RIAA stuff if I like the music, tangential business/politics nonwithstanding.
  51. eh by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    when i plug in my usb bluetooth adaptor i get a headache after a few minutes that goes away nearly instantly when pulled.

    think it might just be emitting some to-high-to-hear sound? (like bluetooth XD)