# 1920's Style Death Ray? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 28, 2003, 7:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1920s-style-death-ray/198154 "2003-08-28T07:47:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![stick\_monkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@stick\_monkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stick_monkey)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2003, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1920s-style-death-ray/198154/41 "2003-08-29T14:21:08Z")
OMG **Baggins111** please put warning signs in your subject lines when you say something like that. “Warning: do not drink dr pepper while reading this post.” _goes to clean his shirt_ ---
**Author:** ![yosemite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/3ab097/32.png) [@yosemite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yosemite)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2003, 7:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1920s-style-death-ray/198154/42 "2003-08-30T07:38:24Z")
Well, this is new to me. I guess I am out of the loop with this “Death Ray” thing. Too bad I came in too late to have much fun with it while it was still popular. These trends are so fleeting. ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2003, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1920s-style-death-ray/198154/43 "2003-08-30T12:59:58Z")
Yeh, trends arond here are faster than a speeding death ray. ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2003, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1920s-style-death-ray/198154/44 "2003-08-30T13:43:30Z")
Okay, according to the original GQ thread, the 1920’s style “Death Ray” was invented by Nikola Tesla. After a long discussion with **Jonathan Chance** ’s daughter and the MPSIMS thread about the yellow cat that showed up at somebody’s house, I’m starting to see a pattern here. What Dopers are planning to go to Key West this winter? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Gastrointestinal\_Joseph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e274bd/32.png) [@Gastrointestinal\_Joseph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gastrointestinal_Joseph)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2003, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1920s-style-death-ray/198154/45 "2003-08-30T13:50:52Z")
This phrase is so gay. ---
**Author:** ![Gadfly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/aeb1de/32.png) [@Gadfly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gadfly)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2003, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1920s-style-death-ray/198154/46 "2003-08-30T14:01:13Z")
> [@](#): > > This phrase is so gay. How exactly are 1920’s style “Death Rays” homosexual? Please explain! ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2003, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1920s-style-death-ray/198154/47 "2003-08-30T14:37:57Z")
We’re talking the 1920’s here, when “gay” meant “happy.” They are 1920’s style “Happy Death Rays.” ---
**Author:** ![Lorenzo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4da419/32.png) [@Lorenzo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lorenzo)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2003, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1920s-style-death-ray/198154/48 "2003-08-30T15:32:49Z")
I believe 1920s-style “Death Ray” may be more gramatically correct. BWDIK? ---
**Author:** ![Sock\_Munkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Sock\_Munkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sock_Munkey)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2003, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1920s-style-death-ray/198154/49 "2003-08-30T15:55:21Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Baggins111 \* > \*\*Now we have the Pro- 1920’s-style “death ray” lobby and the Anti-1920’s-style “death ray” lobby. Next thing you know, we’ll be standing across the street from each other holding up signs that say things like "If 1920’s-style “death rays” are outlawed, then only outlaws will post about 1920’2-style “death rays,” and “1920’s-style “death rays” KILL threads!” There’ll be a lot of shouting and finger pointing. > > Or has it already started? > > Just wait. Before this is over, the admins will be doing background checks before you can post anything about a 1920’s-style “death ray.” \*\* Hey, the constitution clearly protects our right to bear 1920’s style death rays! what if the British decide to invade? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![wolf\_meister](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolf_meister/32/15202_2.png) [@wolf\_meister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolf_meister)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2003, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1920s-style-death-ray/198154/50 "2003-08-30T16:20:14Z")
Here’s a link showing that the French were doing Death Ray research as early as the 1890’s: [http://www.geocities.com/internet\_web\_surfer\_dude/raydemort.htm](http://www.geocities.com/internet_web_surfer_dude/raydemort.htm) ---
**Author:** ![ioioio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ioioio/32/316_2.png) [@ioioio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ioioio)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2003, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1920s-style-death-ray/198154/51 "2003-08-31T21:21:40Z")
There is something inherently funny about the phrase. Today a coworker was bitching about something, and I told him he ought to take his 1920’s style “Death Ray” to it. He spewed soda all over his P.C. And, as Letterman once said about his style of humor, “We take something and beat it to death. And then we beat it some more.” ---
**Author:** ![MonkeyMule](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc348/32.png) [@MonkeyMule](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MonkeyMule)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2003, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1920s-style-death-ray/198154/52 "2003-08-31T23:51:34Z")
Funniest thing about that thread, the guy who started it hasn’t posted since ---
**Author:** ![Laughing\_Lagomorph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/6bbea6/32.png) [@Laughing\_Lagomorph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Laughing_Lagomorph)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2003, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1920s-style-death-ray/198154/53 "2003-09-01T00:20:55Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by MonkeyMule \* > \*\*Funniest thing about that thread, the guy who started it hasn’t posted since \*\* Gee, I can’t imagine why not… 😃 ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2003, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1920s-style-death-ray/198154/54 "2003-09-01T02:52:57Z")
If someone would write a concise explanation of this, I’ll add it to the [Inside Jokes](http://fathom.org/teemingmillions/injokes.html) page over at the TMHP, with credit given. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2003, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1920s-style-death-ray/198154/55 "2003-09-01T03:18:13Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by OpalCat \* > \*\*If someone would write a concise explanation of this, I’ll add it to the [Inside Jokes](http://fathom.org/teemingmillions/injokes.html) page over at the TMHP, with credit given. \*\* Oh, that’s easy, I think. The thread which started this asked about scalar weapons, which are supposed weapons that can do all kinds of crazy things: Cause earthquakes, turn the atmosphere into a shield to block incoming nukes, be over the horizon radar, and whatnot. AFAIK, no one’s come up with any hard science to prove this stuff, so like the weapons in early science fiction stories, it’s all vaguely defined. So, **Dogface** says > [@](#): > > Ah, they’re 1920’s style “Death Rays”. And the board hiccups, causing a double post, which naturally inspires other Dopers to respond in kind, and with comments like > [@](#): > > Would anyone know when these “death rays” were developed? it begins to roll on with various posters creating references works which supposedly describe the things authored by folks like Dr. Calvin and Dr. Hobbes (a reference to the _Calvin & Hobbes_ comic strip, and it’s just gone on from there. I only hope it doesn’t get us slashdotted again. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2003, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1920s-style-death-ray/198154/56 "2003-09-01T03:40:35Z")
It also created [world wide panic](http://mdn.mainichi.co.jp/news/20030831p2a00m0dm004001c.html). ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2003, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1920s-style-death-ray/198154/57 "2003-09-01T05:24:47Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Tuckerfan \* > \*\*So, **Dogface** says > > > [@](#): > > > > Ah, they’re 1920’s style “Death Rays”. > > And the board hiccups, causing a **double** post, which naturally inspires other Dopers to respond in kind, and with comments likeit begins to roll on with various posters creating references works which supposedly describe the things authored by folks like Dr. Calvin and Dr. Hobbes (a reference to the _Calvin & Hobbes_ comic strip, and it’s just gone on from there. I only hope it doesn’t get us slashdotted again. \*\* [nitpick] **Tuckerfan** It was a double hiccup causing a Tripple post. [/nitpick] I get some of the blame for this. The thread started on the 4th. and by the 6th had gone a page and a half. It was on page two and dropping. Then on the 13th **Joel** posts a poll about the [Poll - Best unintentionally funny thread.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=204241&highlight) I posted a link and the rest as they say is history. ---
**Author:** ![Fugazi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f08c70/32.png) [@Fugazi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fugazi)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2003, 7:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1920s-style-death-ray/198154/58 "2003-09-01T07:59:29Z")
Jeez, I can’t believe this thread is still going on. Probably the longest running thread I ever started and it was just to ask a simple little question. I think it’s very interesting how these things get started by accident and just seem to take on a life of their own. ---
**Author:** ![pierre72](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b2d939/32.png) [@pierre72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pierre72)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2003, 10:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1920s-style-death-ray/198154/59 "2003-09-01T10:38:38Z")
See, I’m still running one of those 1915-style “Death Rays”. I was going to upgrade to a 1920’s style “Death Ray”, but then I heard that “Death Ray XP” was coming out, and… y’know. I know it nees a whole heap of memory, but I figure the investment will pay off. My whole family will be able to have seperate accounts on the “Death Ray”, and it’s a DOS-based “Death Ray”… I just think it’ll run better. “Death Ray XP: How Do You Want To Go Today?” ™ ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2003, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1920s-style-death-ray/198154/60 "2003-09-01T13:17:40Z")
Hey, don’t be seduced by the Death Ray XP – it’s riddled with bugs. I hear the backfires are horrendous. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1920s-style-death-ray/198154.md?page=2)