# Why does Nedry say "no menthol" when Dodgson shows him the shaving cream can (Jurassic Park) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 22, 2013, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-nedry-say-no-menthol-when-dodgson-shows-him-the-shaving-cream-can-jurassic-park/666906 "2013-08-22T20:17:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![PSXer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/48db29/32.png) [@PSXer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PSXer)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2013, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-nedry-say-no-menthol-when-dodgson-shows-him-the-shaving-cream-can-jurassic-park/666906/1 "2013-08-22T20:17:00Z")
I don’t get it ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2013, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-nedry-say-no-menthol-when-dodgson-shows-him-the-shaving-cream-can-jurassic-park/666906/2 "2013-08-22T20:20:46Z")
It’s “like, wow, this has everything. Doesn’t it come in menthol?” ---
**Author:** ![armedmonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@armedmonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/armedmonkey)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2013, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-nedry-say-no-menthol-when-dodgson-shows-him-the-shaving-cream-can-jurassic-park/666906/3 "2013-08-22T20:28:28Z")
Some shaving creams add menthol as a local anesthetic to soothe the skin. However, some people’s skin reacts badly to the menthol and it has the opposite effect, which is why shaving cream can be bought with or without. Nedry’s “no menthol” joke is funny because he’s not going to be shaving with it anyway. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2013, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-nedry-say-no-menthol-when-dodgson-shows-him-the-shaving-cream-can-jurassic-park/666906/4 "2013-08-22T20:51:29Z")
First day of class (college), I was reading names. Got to the D’s and spied a familiar name. So I just _had_ to yell _ **"Dodgson! We got Dodgson here!"** _ Half the class laughed, half stared blankly. Which set the pattern for the whole semester. ---
**Author:** ![PSXer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/48db29/32.png) [@PSXer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PSXer)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2013, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-nedry-say-no-menthol-when-dodgson-shows-him-the-shaving-cream-can-jurassic-park/666906/5 "2013-08-22T20:53:53Z")
yeah I too know the pain of Jurassic Park reference gone unnoticed. How can people be so ignorant of pop culture? ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2013, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-nedry-say-no-menthol-when-dodgson-shows-him-the-shaving-cream-can-jurassic-park/666906/6 "2013-08-22T20:58:56Z")
> [@digs](#): > > First day of class (college), I was reading names. Got to the D’s and spied a familiar name. So I just _had_ to yell _ **“Dodgson! We got Dodgson here!”** _ > > Half the class laughed, half stared blankly. Which set the pattern for the whole semester. College freshman had not been born yet when _Jurassic Park_ came out, as painful as that fact is. ---
**Author:** ![aNewLeaf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ac91a4/32.png) [@aNewLeaf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aNewLeaf)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2013, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-nedry-say-no-menthol-when-dodgson-shows-him-the-shaving-cream-can-jurassic-park/666906/7 "2013-08-22T20:58:59Z")
Jurassic Park is like 30 years old. Might as well be making references to Hogan’s Heroes. ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2013, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-nedry-say-no-menthol-when-dodgson-shows-him-the-shaving-cream-can-jurassic-park/666906/8 "2013-08-22T21:03:35Z")
> [@aNewLeaf](#): > > Jurassic Park is like 30 years old. It’s actually not quite 20. 23 if you’re referring to the book, instead of the movie. ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2013, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-nedry-say-no-menthol-when-dodgson-shows-him-the-shaving-cream-can-jurassic-park/666906/9 "2013-08-22T21:05:10Z")
nm ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2013, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-nedry-say-no-menthol-when-dodgson-shows-him-the-shaving-cream-can-jurassic-park/666906/10 "2013-08-22T21:25:32Z")
> [@Kamino\_Neko](#): > > It’s actually not quite 20. 23 if you’re referring to the book, instead of the movie. It’s quite 20. 20 exactly, actually. June 11, 1993. ---
**Author:** ![california\_jobcase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@california\_jobcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/california_jobcase)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2013, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-nedry-say-no-menthol-when-dodgson-shows-him-the-shaving-cream-can-jurassic-park/666906/11 "2013-08-22T21:29:50Z")
The shaving cream can is Barbasol brand. Barbasol Menthol shaving cream was always what I used back when I shaved. Anyway, it’s a smartass remark on Nedry’s part and a little product placement extension for Barbasol (Barbasol makes menthol, too!). ---
**Author:** ![Frazzled](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frazzled/32/3368_2.png) [@Frazzled](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frazzled)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2013, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-nedry-say-no-menthol-when-dodgson-shows-him-the-shaving-cream-can-jurassic-park/666906/12 "2013-08-22T21:35:08Z")
I have a 23 year old coworker. The other day several of us were talking about this movie and she said “I’ve seen it, but the effects are pretty bad”. She was serious too and fully knows that that’s what the movie is known for. Since she never lived through movies from the 80’s she didn’t grasp just how big of a leap in effects JP was, nor was she aware of how it changed effects to this day. To her, it’s substandard. Kids… ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2013, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-nedry-say-no-menthol-when-dodgson-shows-him-the-shaving-cream-can-jurassic-park/666906/13 "2013-08-22T22:09:20Z")
> [@Frazzled](#): > > I have a 23 year old coworker. The other day several of us were talking about this movie and she said “I’ve seen it, but the effects are pretty bad”. She was serious too and fully knows that that’s what the movie is known for. Since she never lived through movies from the 80’s she didn’t grasp just how big of a leap in effects JP was, nor was she aware of how it changed effects to this day. To her, it’s substandard. Kids… I wonder what that coworker would say about 1933’s King Kong. “Not very colorful” or “terrible effects”? Jeez, I know it doesn’t match todays CGI, but _KK_ was truly cutting edge for it’s day, and the movie is still a fantastic thriller. Willis O’Brien was a genius, doing stop-motion for silent films even, and Ray Harryhausen says he’s the guy who inspired him to be a filmmaker. ---
**Author:** ![Frazzled](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frazzled/32/3368_2.png) [@Frazzled](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frazzled)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2013, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-nedry-say-no-menthol-when-dodgson-shows-him-the-shaving-cream-can-jurassic-park/666906/14 "2013-08-22T22:16:44Z")
> [@Baker](#): > > I wonder what that coworker would say about 1933’s King Kong. “Not very colorful” or “terrible effects”? Jeez, I know it doesn’t match todays CGI, but _KK_ was truly cutting edge for it’s day, and the movie is still a fantastic thriller. Willis O’Brien was a genius, doing stop-motion for silent films even, and Ray Harryhausen says he’s the guy who inspired him to be a filmmaker. She actually appreciates older movies, at least the classics that she’s seen. We always have fun when we discover key movies that she’s never seen, such as Silence of the Lambs. I think Jurassic Park falls into the “Uncanny Valley” for her. The effects are just good enough that they become distracting to her. If it was just a little older she’d not notice as much. ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2013, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-nedry-say-no-menthol-when-dodgson-shows-him-the-shaving-cream-can-jurassic-park/666906/15 "2013-08-22T22:19:45Z")
> [@aNewLeaf](#): > > Jurassic Park is like 30 years old. Might as well be making references to Hogan’s Heroes. I know NOTHink. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2013, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-nedry-say-no-menthol-when-dodgson-shows-him-the-shaving-cream-can-jurassic-park/666906/16 "2013-08-22T22:24:36Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > It’s quite 20. 20 exactly, actually. June 11, 1993. But that’s 30 in dinosaur years. ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2013, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-nedry-say-no-menthol-when-dodgson-shows-him-the-shaving-cream-can-jurassic-park/666906/17 "2013-08-22T22:28:23Z")
> [@PSXer](#): > > yeah I too know the pain of Jurassic Park reference gone unnoticed. How can people be so ignorant of pop culture? some of us actually prefer to care about things that are important. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2013, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-nedry-say-no-menthol-when-dodgson-shows-him-the-shaving-cream-can-jurassic-park/666906/18 "2013-08-22T22:39:31Z")
> [@jz78817](#): > > some of us actually prefer to care about things that are important. I’m sure you’re not being a prick. I’m sure what you mean is that you prefer to focus on _GalaxyQuest_ and _Goonies_ references. Both of which never fail to get an “All RIGHT!” from some of my college freshmen. So if the energy in the room is lagging, I’ll promise a treat: “this I swear… by Grabthar’s Hammer!”… I really should start a thread with pop culture references you were surprised that people got. A couple of students even got my Rat Race and Goodburger lines last semester… ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2013, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-nedry-say-no-menthol-when-dodgson-shows-him-the-shaving-cream-can-jurassic-park/666906/19 "2013-08-22T22:43:22Z")
Hey, college freshmen are nothing. A few weeks ago, I had a fifth grader who kept on catching 30- and 40-year-old references. Whenever we’d ask him “How do you know about that?”, he’d just shrug and say “Doesn’t everyone?”, or something similar. ---
**Author:** ![Unauthorized\_Cinnamon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/bc8723/32.png) [@Unauthorized\_Cinnamon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unauthorized_Cinnamon)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2013, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-nedry-say-no-menthol-when-dodgson-shows-him-the-shaving-cream-can-jurassic-park/666906/20 "2013-08-22T23:10:16Z")
> [@jz78817](#): > > some of us actually prefer to care about things that are important. Since I’m tipsy, why don’t I go with my unfettered gut reaction and give you twelve of these: :rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes: And for **digs** , since we just [del]indoctrinated our kids into[/del] watched this a few days ago: “We’ve got to get out of here before one of those things kills Guy!” [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-nedry-say-no-menthol-when-dodgson-shows-him-the-shaving-cream-can-jurassic-park/666906.md?page=2)