# we Have A New Freak On The Board, & Is He A Dilly! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 21, 2004, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-have-a-new-freak-on-the-board-is-he-a-dilly/270445 "2004-10-21T17:44:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2004, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-have-a-new-freak-on-the-board-is-he-a-dilly/270445/1 "2004-10-21T17:44:04Z")
Meet **phybre**. He thinks that ionizing radiation is _good for you!_ :eek: :eek: :eek: > **[Uranium in false teeth unhealthy?](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=282090)** > > In this article, Cecil says: I’m afraid I must contest this. It was not until 1958 that low amounts of ionizing radiation were considered dangerous. 1958 was the year that the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation... And everybody in the world, except him & a few fringe thinkers, is _ **wrong wrong wrong!** _ ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2004, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-have-a-new-freak-on-the-board-is-he-a-dilly/270445/2 "2004-10-21T17:50:25Z")
He may or may not be a complete dingbat, but I rather enjoy his style of writing. “I now wield my cluestick.” Heh. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2004, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-have-a-new-freak-on-the-board-is-he-a-dilly/270445/3 "2004-10-21T17:55:48Z")
Wow. At least he isn’t of the “my post is my cite” mentality. Close, but he does have some cites to offer (I don’t know how good they are, but still) ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2004, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-have-a-new-freak-on-the-board-is-he-a-dilly/270445/4 "2004-10-21T17:59:32Z")
WHEE! Lookit him rant, Ma! :smack: 😃 :wally ---
**Author:** ![vanilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/f19dbf/32.png) [@vanilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vanilla)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2004, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-have-a-new-freak-on-the-board-is-he-a-dilly/270445/5 "2004-10-21T18:00:19Z")
fiber. what makes you poop. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Who\_me\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/958977/32.png) [@Who\_me\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Who_me_1)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2004, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-have-a-new-freak-on-the-board-is-he-a-dilly/270445/6 "2004-10-21T18:13:07Z")
> [@Bosda Di'Chi of Tricor](#): > > WHEE! > > Lookit him rant, Ma! :smack: 😃 :wally Actually it appears to be you that’s doing the ranting… He’s corrected you several times and I’ve yet to see a cite from you backing your statements… ---
**Author:** ![Giraffe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giraffe/32/129_2.png) [@Giraffe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giraffe)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2004, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-have-a-new-freak-on-the-board-is-he-a-dilly/270445/7 "2004-10-21T18:39:31Z")
Yeah, I’m afraid I’m not seeing it. He may or may not be wrong, but he’s arguing his position well. Time will tell if he’s a nut. Even if he is, we could use more nuts who actually try to argue their case and use facts. ---
**Author:** ![LibrarySpy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f9ae1b/32.png) [@LibrarySpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LibrarySpy)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2004, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-have-a-new-freak-on-the-board-is-he-a-dilly/270445/8 "2004-10-21T18:51:24Z")
He’s posting long arguments, and cites, and discussing his points rationally. You’re using multiple colors, insulting smilies, large font sizes, and making fun of his name. And _you’re_ pitting him? ---
**Author:** ![Neurotik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/91b2a8/32.png) [@Neurotik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neurotik)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2004, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-have-a-new-freak-on-the-board-is-he-a-dilly/270445/9 "2004-10-21T18:55:43Z")
No, **Bosda** , actually you are having your ass handed to you in that debate. I dunno if he’s correct or not, but he’s got cites stating why he believes Cecil to be in error. Your only cite has been a Cecil column, when it is Cecil’s knowledge of nuclear physics that **phybre** is disputing. As usual, you are doing your typical bang up job of making arguments, not presenting cites and then getting belligerent when people disagree with you. Given my previous encounters with you, I’m betting that he’s right and you’re wrong - since you usually are. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Ashtar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ea924/32.png) [@Lord\_Ashtar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Ashtar)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2004, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-have-a-new-freak-on-the-board-is-he-a-dilly/270445/10 "2004-10-21T19:20:14Z")
> [@Rysler](#): > > He’s posting long arguments, and cites, and discussing his points rationally. > > You’re using multiple colors, insulting smilies, large font sizes, and making fun of his name. > > And _you’re_ pitting him? I must admit, I laughed at this. Long and loud. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2004, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-have-a-new-freak-on-the-board-is-he-a-dilly/270445/11 "2004-10-21T19:23:13Z")
Disclaimer: I don’t know dick about radiation. But I know a fallacious argument when I see one. To wit, in relation to the number of countries regulating radiation exposure: > [@phybre](#): > > They all don’t take the opposite view from mine. For example, every member nation of the UN agrees with me, considering that my main source in the parent post is a UN study. I responded: > [@](#): > > Hate to burst your bubble, but reports by UN component agencies do not mean that all UN members approve of its contents. In fact, I am unaware of the General Assembly ever unanimously voting to affirm the findings of a scientific investigation. Dickless **phybre** responds: “The things you are unaware of could probably fill volumes.” He’s a militant freak, and a jerk to boot. I can’t wait until his trial membership is over. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2004, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-have-a-new-freak-on-the-board-is-he-a-dilly/270445/12 "2004-10-21T19:29:31Z")
> [@Bosda Di'Chi of Tricor](#): > > WHEE! > > Lookit him rant, Ma! :smack: 😃 :wally Sorry. For the moment, it’s you ranting and him being calm. You may not get the results from this Pitting that you wanted. ---
**Author:** ![Chairman\_Pow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/838e76/32.png) [@Chairman\_Pow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chairman_Pow)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2004, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-have-a-new-freak-on-the-board-is-he-a-dilly/270445/13 "2004-10-21T19:37:26Z")
If you pit someone, aren’t you supposed to link to the pit thread? I thought it was just good manners. At any rate, I really hope that “I now wield my cluestick” becomes common parlance. It could be great. ---
**Author:** ![Ghanima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Ghanima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ghanima)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2004, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-have-a-new-freak-on-the-board-is-he-a-dilly/270445/14 "2004-10-21T19:47:54Z")
**Ravenman** , just because he tossed a tiny insult your way while explaining his point doesn’t make it any less true. I think he’s doing a damn good job of defending his position. And he’s making you guys look like big crybabies. I for one welcome our newbie overlords. ---
**Author:** ![OtakuLoki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ac8455/32.png) [@OtakuLoki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OtakuLoki)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2004, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-have-a-new-freak-on-the-board-is-he-a-dilly/270445/15 "2004-10-21T20:11:29Z")
I’ve been saying for years that radiation is good for you, I can even prove it, if I could get funding for the health study. It prevents Alzheimer’s Disease. Give me a population of about 1000 subjects, and I’ll expose about half of them to 500 REM dose, and leave the other half unexposed. I guarantee that in the unexposed population there will be far more incidents of Alzheimer’s Disease 30-40 years later. 😉 (Tongue very firmly in cheek) Seriously, he’s not saying that large acute doses are good for people, only that the no-threshold model of radiation damage is wrong, and that there seem to be some health benefits to low level ionizing radiation. Mind you, the moment he starts advocating trips to those mines that are open now as ‘health spas’ to allow people to flood themselves with radon and radon decay daughters, I’ll be a bit more skeptical. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2004, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-have-a-new-freak-on-the-board-is-he-a-dilly/270445/16 "2004-10-21T20:28:38Z")
> [@Ghanima](#): > > **Ravenman** , just because he tossed a tiny insult your way while explaining his point doesn’t make it any less true. I don’t care about his point. As I said before, I don’t know squat about the science in this area, and I don’t care. But holding his own in a debate doesn’t give him license to be a jerk. ---
**Author:** ![Finagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@Finagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finagle)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2004, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-have-a-new-freak-on-the-board-is-he-a-dilly/270445/17 "2004-10-21T20:32:20Z")
I’m thinking that the rhetorical technique of starting a Pit thread about a new poster who is thrashing you in a debate is not particularly effective. ---
**Author:** ![InvidiousCourgette](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e47c2d/32.png) [@InvidiousCourgette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/InvidiousCourgette)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2004, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-have-a-new-freak-on-the-board-is-he-a-dilly/270445/18 "2004-10-21T20:37:06Z")
If it was a boxing match, and I was the referee, I think I would have stopped the fight by now. As I read it **Bosda** , he is handing you your ass with that clusestick of his. ---
**Author:** ![Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac8455/32.png) [@Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bippy_the_Beardless)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2004, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-have-a-new-freak-on-the-board-is-he-a-dilly/270445/19 "2004-10-21T20:42:04Z")
**phibre** is not being a Jerk. He may well be completely and utterly wrong, but he is arguing well and defending his position in a decent though slightly abbrasive manner. **Bosda** you realy look worse than **phibre** in the linked thread. I hope you don’t frighten away what seems to be a promising guest from becoming a member. ---
**Author:** ![gobear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8dc957/32.png) [@gobear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gobear)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2004, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-have-a-new-freak-on-the-board-is-he-a-dilly/270445/20 "2004-10-21T20:49:38Z")
This is a lame pitting. Bosda, it wpould do more for your credibility if you responded with reason and cites to support your assertions instead of throwing a hissy fit. **Phybre** verges on the edge of crankdom (cites from 1928 and 1909?), but he’s not necessarily wrong. Hormesis is an apparently real phenomenon that has been demonstrated to occur in some studies, but it is still highly controversial and not yet widely accepted by the medical community. The argument seems to be that low doses of ionizing radiation set off repair systems in cells, thus acting as a sort of prophylactic against carcinogens and thus lowering one’s chances of cancer. Here’s a link to a _Scientific American_ [article](http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?articleID=00019A70-0C1C-1F41-B0B980A841890000) that gives a brief overview that is comprehensible to non-scientists. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-have-a-new-freak-on-the-board-is-he-a-dilly/270445.md?page=2)