# Portland's "no on fluoride" morons **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [April 23, 2013, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/portlands-no-on-fluoride-morons/656532 "2013-04-23T20:17:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2013, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/portlands-no-on-fluoride-morons/656532/61 "2013-05-22T20:04:10Z")
> [@AngelSoft](#): > > As much as I hate the fact the bill didn’t make it through, I’m glad that damn radio ad will finally get off the air. I’ve never heard such an annoying ad. This woman talks as if she is absolutely and utterly APPALLED at what they’re trying to do. At one point she says something like: > > “And two hundred…TWO HUNDRED doctors agree it’s not good” “Yes, we’ve got backing from doctors of Philosophy, English PhDs, doctors of chiropractic, naturopaths, a podiatrist, a proctologist, rug doctors, lawn doctors…and one embarassed dentist who asks that we not use his name.” ---
**Author:** ![Kimballkid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b5a626/32.png) [@Kimballkid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimballkid)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2013, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/portlands-no-on-fluoride-morons/656532/62 "2013-05-22T20:27:53Z")
Must be that elusive 5th dentist of ‘4 out of 5 dentists agree’ fame. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2013, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/portlands-no-on-fluoride-morons/656532/63 "2013-05-22T20:35:21Z")
> [@AngelSoft](#): > > As much as I hate the fact the bill didn’t make it through, I’m glad that damn radio ad will finally get off the air. I’ve never heard such an annoying ad. This woman talks as if she is absolutely and utterly APPALLED at what they’re trying to do. At one point she says something like: > > “And two hundred…TWO HUNDRED doctors agree it’s not good” > > Ok, 200 doctors? How many doctors are there in the entire Portland metro? More than 200, I’m sure. Much more. It was just, overall, a ridiculous commercial and I’m glad to see it gone. > > Edit: Found it online to listen to. Embedded in the article. > [Is Loren Parks getting involved in Portland's fluoride campaign? Portland City Hall Roundup - oregonlive.com](http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2013/05/is_loren_parks_getting_involve.html) On the other hand, the AMA backs fluoridation, and I’d like the names of the local doctors who were against it, to make sure mine isn’t one of them. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2013, 10:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/portlands-no-on-fluoride-morons/656532/64 "2013-05-23T10:41:19Z")
> [@Kimballkid](#): > > Must be that elusive 5th dentist of ‘4 out of 5 dentists agree’ fame. He just _knows_ that the other four are shills for Big Trident. ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2013, 11:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/portlands-no-on-fluoride-morons/656532/65 "2013-05-23T11:14:20Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > It’s part of the phenomenon of crank magnetism …But if its all park of crank magnetism, wouldn’t that mean that Stupidity can neither be created nor destroyed, it merely changes form? Well, that Would explain Facebook… Possible Corollary: …and if Work is accomplished via application of Energy, whats accomplished by application of Stupidity? Congress…!? ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2013, 11:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/portlands-no-on-fluoride-morons/656532/66 "2013-05-23T11:20:34Z")
> [@Kimballkid](#): > > Must be that elusive 5th dentist of ‘4 out of 5 dentists agree’ fame. Four out of five doctors recommend Kools. ---
**Author:** ![Kimballkid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b5a626/32.png) [@Kimballkid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimballkid)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2013, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/portlands-no-on-fluoride-morons/656532/67 "2013-05-23T15:52:19Z")
So the fifth one is not Kool. UnKool, Anti-Kool? ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2013, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/portlands-no-on-fluoride-morons/656532/68 "2013-05-23T16:10:39Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Can’t say I’m too surprised. While Portland is generally a great place to live, they’re heavily into things like crystals, candles, etc. There was even a business in my 'hood that advertised its owner as the “Rune Woman”. :rolleyes: Hell, my own daughter just posted something on FB about “essential oils” that claim to cure all manner of things. I thought I raised her better than that, but I guess unicorns persist, even at age 40. Facebook told me yesterday that some combination of unprocessed honey and cinnamon will cure every disease. Big Pharma is suppressing the information. I’m pissed at my girlfriend. She heads clinical research studies at a Big Pharma company. I can understand not letting the public know so they can make more money. But you would think she would give me a hint. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2013, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/portlands-no-on-fluoride-morons/656532/69 "2013-05-23T20:58:24Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > “Yes, we’ve got backing from doctors of Philosophy, English PhDs, doctors of chiropractic, naturopaths, a podiatrist, a proctologist, rug doctors, lawn doctors…and one embarassed dentist who asks that we not use his name.” You know, it’s a little surprising any dentists support water fluoridation; you think they’d want all the extra business. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2013, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/portlands-no-on-fluoride-morons/656532/70 "2013-05-23T20:59:28Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > Facebook told me yesterday that some combination of unprocessed honey and cinnamon will cure every disease. Big Pharma is suppressing the information. I’m pissed at my girlfriend. She heads clinical research studies at a Big Pharma company. I can understand not letting the public know so they can make more money. But you would think she would give me a hint. Cinnamon makes excellent oatmeal raisin cookies, and honey is awesome in tea. I think I’ve got my bases covered. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Miskatonic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.miskatonic/32/310_2.png) [@Mr.Miskatonic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Miskatonic)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2013, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/portlands-no-on-fluoride-morons/656532/71 "2013-05-23T21:05:50Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > You know, it’s a little surprising any dentists support water fluoridation; you think they’d want all the extra business. You’d think so, but when you realize that the major sufferers of non-fluoridated water are poor folks who cannot afford regular treatments and when the do finally manage to get to a dentist often have to be told they need expensive work that they cannot afford. I’d expect seeing an 8 year old girl with a need for multiple root canals and cannot even afford one at your bare-bones rate would get a bit demoralizing after a while. And also by that logic, why don’t dentists tell us to rinse our mouths out with sugar water. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Agnostic\_Pagan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c4cdca/32.png) [@Agnostic\_Pagan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Agnostic_Pagan)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2013, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/portlands-no-on-fluoride-morons/656532/72 "2013-05-24T01:28:40Z")
I found this [blog](http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/overthinking-it/2013/05/22/why-portland-is-wrong-about-water-fluoridation/) post interesting. I found the comments discouraging. I think the fundamental failure of our democratic experiment is the failure to properly teach the scientific method and critical thinking. The worst are the pseudo-scientists who use all the right words, but in all the wrong ways, and ‘critical thinkers’ who cherry pick evidence to support their conclusions and ignore any that may weaken it. I just don’t fucking know anymore. Half of humanity seems right on the cusp of a great awakening, and the other half seems determined to be the biggest dumb asses any culture has ever seen and bring down the entire ecosystem with it. I just watched a [video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BbLDKLQYrg8) by Neil deGrasse Tyson about the decline of the Islamic Golden Age, partly due to the works of Hamid Al-Ghazali. We seem determined to repeat history… Fuck… ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2013, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/portlands-no-on-fluoride-morons/656532/73 "2013-05-24T04:50:24Z")
How do you spot someone born/raised in Portland? Get them to smile and recommend they try out for the remake _Deliverance 2013_. ---
**Author:** ![JSexton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/96bed5/32.png) [@JSexton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JSexton)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2013, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/portlands-no-on-fluoride-morons/656532/74 "2013-05-24T05:16:10Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > The clear answer is: > > 1. Start the anti-chlorination campaign, since everyone is so keen on water purity. > 2. When the bill passes, leave town. > 3. After everyone dies of dysentery and hepatitis, move back and declare yourself King of Portland! And after that, we’ll start on the worst chemical, dihydrogen monoxide. Just breathing it is fatal! ---
**Author:** ![drewtwo99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@drewtwo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewtwo99)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2013, 6:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/portlands-no-on-fluoride-morons/656532/75 "2013-05-24T06:33:20Z")
> [@JSexton](#): > > And after that, we’ll start on the worst chemical, dihydrogen monoxide. Just breathing it is fatal! Just to be a pedantic asshole, because I’m in that sort of mood, the official chemical name for water is oxidane, not dihydrogen monoxide. ---
**Author:** ![Ruken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f475e1/32.png) [@Ruken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruken)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2013, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/portlands-no-on-fluoride-morons/656532/76 "2013-05-25T13:38:58Z")
> [@drewtwo99](#): > > Just to be a pedantic asshole, because I’m in that sort of mood, the official chemical name for water is oxidane, not dihydrogen monoxide. IUPAC-compliant != official. We don’t really do official. ---
**Author:** ![DHMO](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecc23a/32.png) [@DHMO](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DHMO)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2013, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/portlands-no-on-fluoride-morons/656532/77 "2013-05-25T16:06:15Z")
> [@drewtwo99](#): > > Just to be a pedantic asshole, because I’m in that sort of mood, the official chemical name for water is oxidane, not dihydrogen monoxide. Hey!… ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2013, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/portlands-no-on-fluoride-morons/656532/78 "2013-05-25T19:17:27Z")
> [@Mr.Miskatonic](#): > > You’d think so, but when you realize that the major sufferers of non-fluoridated water are poor folks who cannot afford regular treatments and when the do finally manage to get to a dentist often have to be told they need expensive work that they cannot afford. I’d expect seeing an 8 year old girl with a need for multiple root canals and cannot even afford one at your bare-bones rate would get a bit demoralizing after a while. > > And also by that logic, why don’t dentists tell us to rinse our mouths out with sugar water. 🙂 Good points. I was being facetious, of course - it’s a testament to how professional dentists are that they _don’t_ support taking fluoride out of water. ---
**Author:** ![svd678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/53a042/32.png) [@svd678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/svd678)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2013, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/portlands-no-on-fluoride-morons/656532/79 "2013-05-26T03:43:10Z")
This debate has been going on over 50 years! Isn’t there something called “invincible ignorance”? ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2013, 11:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/portlands-no-on-fluoride-morons/656532/80 "2013-05-26T11:32:48Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > The clear answer is: > 3) After everyone dies of dysentery and hepatitis, move back and declare yourself King of Portland! Oh, I’d rather be the Lord Protector! Well, Lady Protector, actually. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/portlands-no-on-fluoride-morons/656532.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/portlands-no-on-fluoride-morons/656532.md?page=5)