# "How could anybody be &@#$\*ing STUPID enough to buy that and breathe?" products **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 22, 2008, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-anybody-be-ing-stupid-enough-to-buy-that-and-breathe-products/438651 "2008-02-22T00:56:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2008, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-anybody-be-ing-stupid-enough-to-buy-that-and-breathe-products/438651/101 "2008-02-25T01:57:34Z")
Bottled water. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2008, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-anybody-be-ing-stupid-enough-to-buy-that-and-breathe-products/438651/102 "2008-02-25T02:01:55Z")
[QUOTE=Tuckerfan] Actually, I can think of some, uh, “interesting” uses for those. 😉 [/QUOTE] It’d leave you all sticky in awkward places. Don’t ask me how I know this. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2008, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-anybody-be-ing-stupid-enough-to-buy-that-and-breathe-products/438651/103 "2008-02-25T02:04:58Z")
[QUOTE=Sunspace] It’d leave you all sticky in awkward places. Don’t ask me how I know this. [/QUOTE] You didn’t lick it off afterwards? ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2008, 11:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-anybody-be-ing-stupid-enough-to-buy-that-and-breathe-products/438651/104 "2008-02-25T11:49:06Z")
I have to confess, I have for years wanted to buy [Alex Chiu’s eternal life device](http://www.geocities.com/pathways2eden/immortality-device.html) I dunno why, it just amuses me. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2008, 11:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-anybody-be-ing-stupid-enough-to-buy-that-and-breathe-products/438651/105 "2008-02-25T11:56:33Z")
[QUOTE=DigitalC] [I win](http://www.dumbphotos.com/images/Products/rewinder.jpg). I’m hoping this one is a joke though. [/QUOTE] I believe that is a toy spin art machine and that the logo/legend is fake. ETA: oops. No, it looks to be real, but a gag gift. ---
**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:** [February 25, 2008, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-anybody-be-ing-stupid-enough-to-buy-that-and-breathe-products/438651/106 "2008-02-25T16:41:27Z")
[QUOTE=DigitalC] [I win](http://www.dumbphotos.com/images/Products/rewinder.jpg). I’m hoping this one is a joke though. [/QUOTE] I seem to recall an old thread here wherin a poster related joking with the cashier about the “BE KIND - REWIND” labels they found affixed to DVDs at Blockbuster, who argued that DVDs _could_ and should be rewound. (“You know the ‘back-arrows’ button on the remote? That rewinds it.”) I guess it was pruned, I can’t find it. ---
**Author:** ![Anne\_Neville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Anne\_Neville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anne_Neville)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2008, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-anybody-be-ing-stupid-enough-to-buy-that-and-breathe-products/438651/107 "2008-02-25T17:10:46Z")
[QUOTE=Baldwin] therapeutic magnets [/QUOTE] My landlord when I was in grad school sold therapeutic magnet insoles for a while. He also had a clothes dryer that had a door that didn’t want to stay shut, so the dryer would stop every few minutes. Putting a magnetic insole on the dryer door fixed that problem. I wished I had some in my last apartment, where I had a very full freezer that didn’t seem to want to stay closed. They work great, but for some reason they’re not marketed for what they’re really good for… ---
**Author:** ![Mosier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ea924/32.png) [@Mosier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mosier)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2008, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-anybody-be-ing-stupid-enough-to-buy-that-and-breathe-products/438651/108 "2008-02-25T17:37:42Z")
[QUOTE=Crafter\_Man] Bottled water. [/QUOTE] I disagree. ---
**Author:** ![catsix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e19b73/32.png) [@catsix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/catsix)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2008, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-anybody-be-ing-stupid-enough-to-buy-that-and-breathe-products/438651/109 "2008-02-25T19:25:54Z")
> [@](#): > > **Bosda Di’Chi of Tricor** said: > It’s a stick of caruba wax, & nothing else! And it’s a good thing, since one of the chemicals they claim as an active ingredient is the [carcinogenic compound potassium dichromate](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potassium_dichromate). ---
**Author:** ![Maui\_Lion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ea666f/32.png) [@Maui\_Lion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maui_Lion)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2008, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-anybody-be-ing-stupid-enough-to-buy-that-and-breathe-products/438651/110 "2008-02-25T20:15:38Z")
[QUOTE=trupa] And the deodorant crystals… [/QUOTE] Actually, I myself also use the Crystal Stick product, [as seen here.](http://www.thecrystal.com/) My mom actually bought it for me one day years ago when I developed an itchy reaction to antiperspirants/deodorants. It doesn’t stop me from sweating, but it does stop me from smelling. The only stuff I’ve found so far that I can wear is the Crystal Stick and the Arm & Hammer brand of antiperspirant/deodorant, as long as it’s unscented. I think whatever they use in the industry to scent the products is what gave me the rash situation. ---
**Author:** ![Mrs\_Johnson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7cd45c/32.png) [@Mrs\_Johnson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mrs_Johnson)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2008, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-anybody-be-ing-stupid-enough-to-buy-that-and-breathe-products/438651/111 "2008-02-25T21:13:11Z")
[QUOTE=Justin Credible] Remember those ab-thingies that you strapped on your gut and they sent out little electric shocks to stimulate the abdominal muscles? The ones that would give you a ripped six-pack with no sit-ups? The ones that Bruce Lee supposedly used? Yeah, they don’t do shit. Yes, I bought one many years ago. :smack: Luckily, it was pretty cheap. I tried using it for a while to see if anything would come of it. Unsurprisingly, nothing did, except regret. [/QUOTE] I’ve used one of those. I’ll say that I felt a little sore the day after using it. However, I only weighed about 95lbs to begin with so there wasn’t much between the _ab-thingy_ and the muscles. I’d say it’s possible for it to work for toning if you’re already stick-thin (and really don’t need the toning anyway), but not if you have a layer of fat. I didn’t pay for it. ---
**Author:** ![Apocalypso](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@Apocalypso](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apocalypso)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2008, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-anybody-be-ing-stupid-enough-to-buy-that-and-breathe-products/438651/112 "2008-02-26T00:06:28Z")
[Neuticles](http://www.neuticles.com) Sure, your dog won’t even notice the difference! ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Dave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/46a35a/32.png) [@Great\_Dave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Dave)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2008, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-anybody-be-ing-stupid-enough-to-buy-that-and-breathe-products/438651/113 "2008-02-26T20:38:43Z")
> [@pullet](#): > > [Quote= Interrobang!?] > > The ROM exercise machine that gives you “a complete non-impact cardio, resistance- and flexibility workout” in just 4 minutes a day! And it costs just $14,615! > > Those guys have had an ad in every issue of The Atlantic I’ve gotten in the last 5 years, so apparently people will buy something that patently stupid. > > (You can find out more at fastexercise dot com – I won’t link directly because there’s at least one pop-up at work.) I know someone who owns one The frustrating thing is, you can’t do more than 4 minutes at a time because the motion is too strange. With such short exertion, your cardiovascular system and muscles never improve. I’ve wasted money on exercise equipment, but the stuff I buy is effective if you use it. [/quote] How the heck does one use it? I’ve seen the ads plenty of times over the last 10+ years, but can’t figure it out. And anyone who thinks that 4 minutes of exercise will be enough for a cardio workout probably ain’t the sharpest tool in the shed. ---
**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2008, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-anybody-be-ing-stupid-enough-to-buy-that-and-breathe-products/438651/114 "2008-02-26T20:49:42Z")
And just why haven’t a group of us come up with something like this and made a fortune? Yes, people are stupid. But why haven’t we profited from it? ---
**Author:** ![cwthree](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9de0a6/32.png) [@cwthree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cwthree)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2008, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-anybody-be-ing-stupid-enough-to-buy-that-and-breathe-products/438651/115 "2008-02-26T21:01:07Z")
[QUOTE=Apocalypso] [Neuticles](http://www.neuticles.com) Sure, your dog won’t even notice the difference! [/QUOTE] Yeesh. Save some money, get one of those plastic bull scrota, and hang it below the beast’s tail. I recommend the small size if realism is what you’re after. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2008, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-anybody-be-ing-stupid-enough-to-buy-that-and-breathe-products/438651/116 "2008-02-26T21:28:16Z")
[QUOTE=Interrobang!?] The ROM exercise machine that gives you “a complete non-impact cardio, resistance- and flexibility workout” in just 4 minutes a day! And it costs just $14,615! [/QUOTE] Smithsonian advertises it too. [Here’s a pic of the machine](http://img.alibaba.com/photo/11761701/ROM_Exercise_Machine.jpg) I have to admit I’d LOVE to try one just to see what happens in those four minutes. However, if it really worked then doctors would be raving and somebody would have figured a way to produce it for $1000. ---
**Author:** ![Silver\_Tyger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/fbc32d/32.png) [@Silver\_Tyger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silver_Tyger)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2008, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-anybody-be-ing-stupid-enough-to-buy-that-and-breathe-products/438651/117 "2008-02-26T22:23:14Z")
[QUOTE=Apocalypso] [Neuticles](http://www.neuticles.com) Sure, your dog won’t even notice the difference! [/QUOTE] My mom’s boss did that for his dog. It was more for the owner’s benefit than the dog’s. Even his vet thought he was weird. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2008, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-anybody-be-ing-stupid-enough-to-buy-that-and-breathe-products/438651/118 "2008-02-26T23:00:37Z")
[QUOTE=Antinor01] And just why haven’t a group of us come up with something like this and made a fortune? Yes, people are stupid. But why haven’t we profited from it? [/QUOTE] Totally agree! I have said many times: Americans have too damn much money. I don’t object to it, I just want to cash in on it. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2008, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-anybody-be-ing-stupid-enough-to-buy-that-and-breathe-products/438651/119 "2008-02-26T23:27:47Z")
[QUOTE=BlueKangaroo] I think I may have seen them in the grocery store, assuming they sell them their. I thought it was just a deodorant (not antiperspirant) for people with metal allergies. Funky. [/QUOTE] Heh. I see what you did there. That’s clever. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2008, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-anybody-be-ing-stupid-enough-to-buy-that-and-breathe-products/438651/120 "2008-02-26T23:38:45Z")
[QUOTE=Silver Tyger Girl] My mom’s boss did that for his dog. It was more for the owner’s benefit than the dog’s. Even his vet thought he was weird. [/QUOTE] Only his ball dresser knows for sure. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-anybody-be-ing-stupid-enough-to-buy-that-and-breathe-products/438651.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-anybody-be-ing-stupid-enough-to-buy-that-and-breathe-products/438651.md?page=7)