Slashdot Mirror
The Nintendo 3DS, Headaches, and Bad Journalism
brumgrunt writes "A British paper is claiming that the Nintendo 3DS poses some kind of health risk. The claim sounds interesting, until you see how that conclusion was reached. 'On the 6th of April, the paper conducted a scientific experiment in which a 22-year-old member of the staff had his blood pressure and pulse taken after playing the 3DS in different situations – at rest, while walking, or while taking a ride in a car. The Sun came to the startling conclusion that the man’s pulse and blood pressure were higher while walking than while sitting down, yet concluded, apropos of nothing, “Children should not be left to play on it for hours.” The article neglects to point out that a raised blood pressure and pulse is perfectly normal, and you’re as likely to experience such a physical response while walking and reading a book as you are when playing the 3DS.'"
Pocket Gamer posted a humorous follow-up, using the Sun's own methods against it.
this just in. climbing stairs will raise your heartbeat and bloodpressure. Also just in. Breathing uses up calories.
There was nothing scientific and any idiot knows that because it has The Sun written across the top in big letters.
If it had been done by the Weekly World News instead of The Sun, the test subject would have been Bat Boy and the conclusion would have been that the 3DS helps Satan in escaping hell to take over South America or somesuch. And it would have been an hilarious read.
People who say "sheep" / "sheeple" instantly lose whatever point they were trying to make. Think of it like a wooly Godwin's law.
I recently did a similar study, using my girlfriend as my sample, to prove that 100% of humans have a vagina.
Fascinating. They also appear to be inflatable.
They say a little knowledge is a dangerous thing, but it's not one half so bad as a lot of ignorance. - Terry Pratchett