Kids Chemistry Set = Terrorism

It appears that the days of the "Gilbert Chemistry Set" and others is gone. Why? Because of the fears of "terrorism." We have to stop these 8 year old terrorists!

When you take away curiosity, experimentation, and the perils of growing up, that "safe, secure, nurturing environment" becomes the breeding ground for rampant ignorance and a sad lack of imagination. Is there any wonder why the intellectual abilities of Americans continue to turn into mush?

Link from Slashdot...

http://12angrymen.wordpress.com/2007...chemistry-set/

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by mwfanelli2

It appears that the days of the "Gilbert Chemistry Set" and others is gone...

---

I always dreamed of getting a chemistry set for Christmas when I was a kid. Parents never let me. Too dangerous they said... :cryin:

The closest I came, and totally cool nonetheless, was a microscope/slide set with a light source underneath... :thumbsup:

BTW, I still have this weird idea of getting Pyrex labware to use for all my beverage glasses. Maybe someday... :D

Yeah, this is pretty extreme, but doesn't really surprise me....

Not just ignorance, but a presumption that nothing will hurt them for the rest of their lives.
Therefore when they have an accident because of their lack of learning, they sue someone.

With my father being a senior lecturer in organic chemistry, I had no problems :)
My mother used to to the luminol reaction for the kids in her primary school class (6-8 y/o) at halloween. Showing a few at a time, in the store cupboard because it was dark, she'd prick her finger and they'd be amazed at the drop of blood making the beaker light up !

I guess nowadays that would not be allowed.
Health and Safety, risk assessments, chemical precautions ... whatever happened to the wonder of learning ?

I loved my chemistry kit as a kid, I did all kinds of experiments that resulted in smoke billowing chemical reactions.

Now I'm not supporting the government's decision on this, but keep in mind ANYONE of any age could buy this. A 42 year old Terrorist could buy this and say "Oh, I am buying this for my son", when he is actually gonna make a very (very) small bomb with it. Maybe they should make it like Sudafed and control the buying?

That's just depressing. I thought *my* generation was sheltered....

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by MJS

I loved my chemistry kit as a kid, I did all kinds of experiments that resulted in smoke billowing chemical reactions.

---

Yeah, now you do it without the chemistry set....or the chemical reactions :rolleyes:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Tel

Now I'm not supporting the government's decision on this, but keep in mind ANYONE of any age could buy this. A 42 year old Terrorist could buy this and say "Oh, I am buying this for my son", when he is actually gonna make a very (very) small bomb with it. Maybe they should make it like Sudafed and control the buying?

---

Any adult with the least bit of chemistry training could mix up anything without the kit. What good would "behind the counter" do? A terrorist could buy it that way to.

Terrorism has already won with all the dumb knee-jerk reactions that Americans create for themselves and others. You can't live a life constantly afraid of everything.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by mwfanelli2

Any adult with the least bit of chemistry training could mix up anything without the kit. What good would "behind the counter" do? A terrorist could buy it that way to.

Terrorism has already won with all the dumb knee-jerk reactions that Americans create for themselves and others. You can't live a life constantly afraid of everything.

---

True. I mean I think there is a site where you can buy Uranium (or some sort of other dangerous chemical you can use for making bombs)! How wicked is that? I can't honestly say I don't want some.
But over the counter would prevent them from buying large amounts. Large enough amounts to make bombs.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Tel

Maybe they should make it like Sudafed and control the buying?

---

Well perhaps they should stop filling aerosols with butane ?
That's fuel for a fuel-air explosion.

Maybe stop filling cars with petrol ?
You can make that go bang too, as well as simple Molotov cocktails.

Oh and stop the sale of flour - flour mills have been known to explode.
Yet another FAE.

Stop the sale of diesel (fuel oil) and fertiliser
One of the IRA's favourites.

In the modern world, there's so much you can use to make weapons.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Tel

True. I mean I think there is a site where you can buy Uranium (or some sort of other dangerous chemical you can use for making bombs)! How wicked is that? I can't honestly say I don't want some.

---

One such place that sells uranium ore is United Nuclear. I know because we purchased some for use in our physics classes!

Uranium ore is, however, relatively harmless. Enrichment (getting rare U-235 out from the massive amounts of accompanying U-238) is the danger and that requires billions of dollars and years of work.

Diet Coke and Mentos.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by SmartWombat

Well perhaps they should stop filling aerosols with butane ?
That's fuel for a fuel-air explosion.

Maybe stop filling cars with petrol ?
You can make that go bang too, as well as simple Molotov cocktails.

Oh and stop the sale of flour - flour mills have been known to explode.
Yet another FAE.

Stop the sale of diesel (fuel oil) and fertiliser
One of the IRA's favourites.

In the modern world, there's so much you can use to make weapons.

---

Well I'm simply saying they seem so concerned with it, maybe they should bulk up security?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by SmartWombat

Well perhaps they should stop filling aerosols with butane ?
That's fuel for a fuel-air explosion.

Maybe stop filling cars with petrol ?
You can make that go bang too, as well as simple Molotov cocktails.

Oh and stop the sale of flour - flour mills have been known to explode.
Yet another FAE.

Stop the sale of diesel (fuel oil) and fertiliser
One of the IRA's favourites.

In the modern world, there's so much you can use to make weapons.

---

:thumbsup:

Gee and I used to shoot .22 pistols at 7yrs old. :D