“How Gullible Are We?”
A freshman at Eagle Rock Junior High won
first prize at the Greater Idaho Falls Science
Fair, April 26, 00. He was attempting to show
how conditioned we have become to the
alarmists practicing junk science and spreading
fear of everything in our environment.
In his project he urged people to sign a petition
demanding strict control or total elimination of
the chemical “dihydrogen monoxide.” And for
plenty of good reasons, since:
1. it can cause excessive sweating and
vomiting;
2. it is a major component in acid rain;
3. it can cause severe burns in its gaseous
state;
4. accidental inhalation can kill you;
5. it contributes to erosion;
6. it decreases effectiveness of automobile
brakes;
7. it has been found in tumors of terminal
cancer patients.
The student asked 50 people if they supported
a ban of the chemical. Forty-three said yes, six
were undecided, and only one knew that the
chemical was WATER. The title of his prize winning
project was, “How Gullible Are We?”
The conclusion is pretty obvious.
Timur Sümer 