Anyone else here have a hard time watching mythbusters?
ConKbot of Doom, Thu Feb 21 2008, 09:25PMI can watch mythbusters just fine, I just don't make it very pleasant for others, I find their science not quite scientific enough...
Their testing of propane cylinders to see if they could make them explode, involved firearms of increasing power to find what would penetrate, unfortunately their idea of a step was 9mm to 30-06 armor piercing. Not exactly a small step.
On the episode about the exploding pants they were nitrating denim, and they just showed a quick swipe of the cloth though the solution, and then wondered why it didn't explode when they held a lighter up to it. Later when they tried to nitrate a whole pair of jeans into guncotton, they had a 1 gallon glass container full of the acids and just threw the pair of jeans in. Whole time I was thinking "they aren't gonna just do that are they? They have to know better..." But they did, and sure enough tons of lovely red fumes and cracked glass from the heat.
I haven't done any nitrations myself, but on every site referring how to, they always caution to keep the quantities small or risk a runaway... even the some of the crappy and pretty shady looking sites mention the need to cool larger batches.
Also, the episode on the salami rocket motor. where the meter they used to measure impulse would only measure peak, and then half way though the experiment they decide to throw on a different nozzle(Nice scientific method... *sigh*) which was blowing off on every trial, undoubtedly hitting the meter and causing a high peak...
Future weapons gets me going to but I can usually bite my tongue on that for the most part. Anyone else feel similar?
Re: Anyone else here have a hard time watching mythbusters?
Coronafix, Thu Feb 21 2008, 09:39PM
Yes!! Mythbusters used to do my head in, they're idea of "scientific testing" is laughable at best.
Now, I just don't watch TV, but if I do catch it at the odd time, I realize that it's just a bit of fluff
and not to take it seriously. We can be too serious sometimes.
Coronafix, Thu Feb 21 2008, 09:39PM
Yes!! Mythbusters used to do my head in, they're idea of "scientific testing" is laughable at best.
Now, I just don't watch TV, but if I do catch it at the odd time, I realize that it's just a bit of fluff
and not to take it seriously. We can be too serious sometimes.
Re: Anyone else here have a hard time watching mythbusters?
Kizmo, Thu Feb 21 2008, 10:27PM
Its just television entertainment and it should be viewed like one.
I think part of this 'problem' is that they must do tens and tens of experiments and that means quite many hours of raw video material. And when someone (guy who maybe doesn't know a thing about science) cuts them and makes hour long episode, there will be continuity errors. Many shows suffer from this, like TopGear. I personally don't mind or even notice most of these things but i know they are present.
Kizmo, Thu Feb 21 2008, 10:27PM
Its just television entertainment and it should be viewed like one.
I think part of this 'problem' is that they must do tens and tens of experiments and that means quite many hours of raw video material. And when someone (guy who maybe doesn't know a thing about science) cuts them and makes hour long episode, there will be continuity errors. Many shows suffer from this, like TopGear. I personally don't mind or even notice most of these things but i know they are present.
Re: Anyone else here have a hard time watching mythbusters?
Ragnarok, Thu Feb 21 2008, 11:49PM
Yes, I can seldom watch such a programme like that without adding my own commentary - a lot of the time I'm actually seriously annoyed at the people for making basic errors.
Also, as you mentioned, their "steps" in experiments are very large. It goes from reasonable parameters to just ridiculous in one go:
"Oh, 100 grams of such explosive didn't work. Lets add several kilos and try again."
Nor can I watch a film without seeing continuity errors, plot holes or mistakes they've made.
I'm just that kind of person.
Ragnarok, Thu Feb 21 2008, 11:49PM
Yes, I can seldom watch such a programme like that without adding my own commentary - a lot of the time I'm actually seriously annoyed at the people for making basic errors.
Also, as you mentioned, their "steps" in experiments are very large. It goes from reasonable parameters to just ridiculous in one go:
"Oh, 100 grams of such explosive didn't work. Lets add several kilos and try again."
Nor can I watch a film without seeing continuity errors, plot holes or mistakes they've made.
I'm just that kind of person.
Re: Anyone else here have a hard time watching mythbusters?
Hazmatt_(The Underdog), Fri Feb 22 2008, 04:06AM
You guys do know they take viewer mail. Just send in your gripes!
Hazmatt_(The Underdog), Fri Feb 22 2008, 04:06AM
You guys do know they take viewer mail. Just send in your gripes!
Re: Anyone else here have a hard time watching mythbusters?
rp181, Fri Feb 22 2008, 04:09AM
I think they dont care about the scientif process as much, there more intrested in making it interesting for the majority of people.
rp181, Fri Feb 22 2008, 04:09AM
I think they dont care about the scientif process as much, there more intrested in making it interesting for the majority of people.
Re: Anyone else here have a hard time watching mythbusters?
Backyard Skunkworks, Fri Feb 22 2008, 06:35AM
Well the Mythbusters do manage to screw up a fair amount of stuff, however it never really effects the overall outcome of most stories. They might get something totally wrong (like saying 6mA is fatal or risking thier lives with nitric acid) however it always seems to turn out the same regardless. I do think they are FAR less then scientific at times however atleast they try and hit the mark a fair amount. Overall I'd say we should be glad that theres a show thats even SOMEWHAT scientific on TV these days. Cut Adam and Jamie some slack, they do a damn good job of making science interesting!
Too bad they didn't use cesium on episode 100, that might have given a nicer bang.
A ton more screw ups of theirs would come to mind if it wernt 1am...
And don't get me started on the Hydroflouric acid in the tub scene on Breaking Bad episode #2, why they didn't opt for the more believeable Sodium or Potassium hydroxide is beyond me...
Backyard Skunkworks, Fri Feb 22 2008, 06:35AM
Well the Mythbusters do manage to screw up a fair amount of stuff, however it never really effects the overall outcome of most stories. They might get something totally wrong (like saying 6mA is fatal or risking thier lives with nitric acid) however it always seems to turn out the same regardless. I do think they are FAR less then scientific at times however atleast they try and hit the mark a fair amount. Overall I'd say we should be glad that theres a show thats even SOMEWHAT scientific on TV these days. Cut Adam and Jamie some slack, they do a damn good job of making science interesting!
Too bad they didn't use cesium on episode 100, that might have given a nicer bang.
A ton more screw ups of theirs would come to mind if it wernt 1am...
And don't get me started on the Hydroflouric acid in the tub scene on Breaking Bad episode #2, why they didn't opt for the more believeable Sodium or Potassium hydroxide is beyond me...
Re: Anyone else here have a hard time watching mythbusters?
Wolfram, Fri Feb 22 2008, 07:16AM
Cesium is not as spectacular as most people seem to think:
Wolfram, Fri Feb 22 2008, 07:16AM
Backyard Skunkworks wrote ...
Too bad they didn't use cesium on episode 100, that might have given a nicer bang.
Too bad they didn't use cesium on episode 100, that might have given a nicer bang.
Cesium is not as spectacular as most people seem to think:
Re: Anyone else here have a hard time watching mythbusters?
Tesladownunder, Fri Feb 22 2008, 10:54AM
Just a little word from the other side...
Nothing appeals less to Joe Public than a dry reproduction of a scientific experiment by a man in a white coat in which some small thing gets done and a nice graph is generated.
The whole theatrical process is why MythBusters is successful. I've only ever watched 2 or 3 episodes myself but the formula is there.
Ask a simple question, throw in an element of danger and unpredictability and have things go wrong. Have some charismatic crazy personalities. Have a big bang ending that answers the question. Have some real science but don't let it get in the way of the fun.
I have been considering just how to adopt some of these principles to my stuff. My first proposal to Discovery USA from Creative Differences was rejected for some of those reasons.
I was a bit taken aback by some of the safety aspects - but people probably say the same about mine. Some of the science was dodgy too - as it was on a couple of mine due to the narrators assumptions which I didn't have control over.
TDU
Tesladownunder, Fri Feb 22 2008, 10:54AM
Just a little word from the other side...
Nothing appeals less to Joe Public than a dry reproduction of a scientific experiment by a man in a white coat in which some small thing gets done and a nice graph is generated.
The whole theatrical process is why MythBusters is successful. I've only ever watched 2 or 3 episodes myself but the formula is there.
Ask a simple question, throw in an element of danger and unpredictability and have things go wrong. Have some charismatic crazy personalities. Have a big bang ending that answers the question. Have some real science but don't let it get in the way of the fun.
I have been considering just how to adopt some of these principles to my stuff. My first proposal to Discovery USA from Creative Differences was rejected for some of those reasons.
I was a bit taken aback by some of the safety aspects - but people probably say the same about mine. Some of the science was dodgy too - as it was on a couple of mine due to the narrators assumptions which I didn't have control over.
TDU
Re: Anyone else here have a hard time watching mythbusters?
HV Enthusiast, Fri Feb 22 2008, 11:01AM
Who cares about the science . . .
I only watch for one reason - Kari
HV Enthusiast, Fri Feb 22 2008, 11:01AM
Who cares about the science . . .
I only watch for one reason - Kari
Re: Anyone else here have a hard time watching mythbusters?
Coronafix, Fri Feb 22 2008, 02:15PM
She's the redhead, right? Who can go past a redhead.
The problem I have is their stamp of approval or disapproval on a myth.
The science is by no means credible enough to be able to prove or disprove anything.
Other than that, it's wholly entertaining when they blow up something big
like a concrete mixer.
Coronafix, Fri Feb 22 2008, 02:15PM
EastVoltResearch wrote ...
Who cares about the science . . .
I only watch for one reason - Kari
Who cares about the science . . .
I only watch for one reason - Kari
She's the redhead, right? Who can go past a redhead.
The problem I have is their stamp of approval or disapproval on a myth.
The science is by no means credible enough to be able to prove or disprove anything.
Other than that, it's wholly entertaining when they blow up something big
like a concrete mixer.
Re: Anyone else here have a hard time watching mythbusters?
Mates, Fri Feb 22 2008, 03:17PM
For example: I will never understand why they never tried an ice bullet made of dry ice (forzen CO2 or some other gass)...
Otherwise it belongs to the better type of TV entertainment (according to my scale)...
And yeah, Kari is hot chick
Mates, Fri Feb 22 2008, 03:17PM
For example: I will never understand why they never tried an ice bullet made of dry ice (forzen CO2 or some other gass)...
Otherwise it belongs to the better type of TV entertainment (according to my scale)...
And yeah, Kari is hot chick
Re: Anyone else here have a hard time watching mythbusters?
Experimentonomen, Fri Feb 22 2008, 06:37PM
I dont like kari, she act too weird.
Experimentonomen, Fri Feb 22 2008, 06:37PM
I dont like kari, she act too weird.
Re: Anyone else here have a hard time watching mythbusters?
Chris Russell, Sat Feb 23 2008, 06:37AM
Interesting that this thread should come up. Jamie and Adam are going to be making an appearance at the University of Maine, and I have front row tickets to go see the "show." They're going to talk about their experiences on the show and possibly take some questions from the audience. They're also interested in getting ideas with regards to future myths to bust. If anyone has any ideas for questions to ask them or myths to bust, please let me know and I will try my best to pass them along. Note: no, I will not ask for Kari's phone number.
I personally enjoy the show a great deal. A lot of times the science is pretty laughable (the salami rocket was a perfect example, I remember shouting at the TV several times), and they come to some pretty incredible conclusions (talking to plants may help them grow? really? seriously?)... but I have to agree with TDU here. It's theatrics! Clearly the intent is to have fun and entertain first, and do science second. Nobody wants to see some people run some computer simulations, read some research papers, do a scale test, and then say "well, myth x clearly cannot be true, so no sense blowing anything up." If the science (or lack thereof) is that bad, just repeat to yourself "it's just a show, I should really just relax." Usually works for me.
Chris Russell, Sat Feb 23 2008, 06:37AM
Interesting that this thread should come up. Jamie and Adam are going to be making an appearance at the University of Maine, and I have front row tickets to go see the "show." They're going to talk about their experiences on the show and possibly take some questions from the audience. They're also interested in getting ideas with regards to future myths to bust. If anyone has any ideas for questions to ask them or myths to bust, please let me know and I will try my best to pass them along. Note: no, I will not ask for Kari's phone number.
I personally enjoy the show a great deal. A lot of times the science is pretty laughable (the salami rocket was a perfect example, I remember shouting at the TV several times), and they come to some pretty incredible conclusions (talking to plants may help them grow? really? seriously?)... but I have to agree with TDU here. It's theatrics! Clearly the intent is to have fun and entertain first, and do science second. Nobody wants to see some people run some computer simulations, read some research papers, do a scale test, and then say "well, myth x clearly cannot be true, so no sense blowing anything up." If the science (or lack thereof) is that bad, just repeat to yourself "it's just a show, I should really just relax." Usually works for me.
Re: Anyone else here have a hard time watching mythbusters?
Hazmatt_(The Underdog), Sat Feb 23 2008, 08:06AM
Hey Chris, maybe you can suggest the myth of resonant rise and see what they come up with. They'd probably try to find the world's biggest available Tesla Coil and make a show of prodding it, which would be fun to watch! heheheh.
Hazmatt_(The Underdog), Sat Feb 23 2008, 08:06AM
Hey Chris, maybe you can suggest the myth of resonant rise and see what they come up with. They'd probably try to find the world's biggest available Tesla Coil and make a show of prodding it, which would be fun to watch! heheheh.
Re: Anyone else here have a hard time watching mythbusters?
Chris Russell, Sat Feb 23 2008, 08:27AM
Well, kidding aside, a high voltage myth would be great fun, I just can't think of one offhand. Maybe they could play around with Tesla's non-Hertzian power transfer. Build two identical Tesla coils and see if they can transfer more energy than would be expected over various distances.
I know Dave Marshall and I would like for them to try tackling long delayed echoes on HF, but they probably won't take that one on.
Any other thoughts?
Chris Russell, Sat Feb 23 2008, 08:27AM
Well, kidding aside, a high voltage myth would be great fun, I just can't think of one offhand. Maybe they could play around with Tesla's non-Hertzian power transfer. Build two identical Tesla coils and see if they can transfer more energy than would be expected over various distances.
I know Dave Marshall and I would like for them to try tackling long delayed echoes on HF, but they probably won't take that one on.
Any other thoughts?
Re: Anyone else here have a hard time watching mythbusters?
Tesladownunder, Sat Feb 23 2008, 08:36AM
OK with Joe Public hat on the biggest HV myth is that "lightning never strikes twice" in the same spot.
Set up the show with a 2MV Marx. Sparks onto a flat plane and record where they hit by scorch marks or video. Also set up a diaorama and set things alight like trees.
Hit a plane, car etc
Nice theater, big sparks, fire and action.
And I'd enjoy watching it too...
TDU
Tesladownunder, Sat Feb 23 2008, 08:36AM
OK with Joe Public hat on the biggest HV myth is that "lightning never strikes twice" in the same spot.
Set up the show with a 2MV Marx. Sparks onto a flat plane and record where they hit by scorch marks or video. Also set up a diaorama and set things alight like trees.
Hit a plane, car etc
Nice theater, big sparks, fire and action.
And I'd enjoy watching it too...
TDU
Re: Anyone else here have a hard time watching mythbusters?
Bjørn, Sat Feb 23 2008, 11:15AM
Lack of science does not have to be a problem. It is pretending to do science that is a problem. Most members of this forum knows that pretending to do science is pseudo science.
The second problem is, who decides what is a myth? Is gravity a myth? That leads directly to the third problem.
If the presenter pretends to believe the myth even if he (and the viewers) knows the outcome then we have a problem. After that the presenter is stripped of credibility and is not able to convey serious information with the required authority.
"lightning never strikes twice" - Is this really a myth?
First of all it does not have to do with high voltage at all but with probability (math) and the human mind (psychology). It is a metaphor, not a myth. When people fail to understand the concept of a metaphor it becomes a misconception. Investigating it purely as a HV myth will only strengthen peoples misconceptions, I don't consider that to be a very commendable activity.
Even pretty dim people know that lightning has a tendency to strike the same objects repeatedly. You never see anyone climbing up a tower that has just been struck by lightning because they think they will be safer up there.
So what do we have then, a misconception that no one really believes in and that they have never bothered to think through. Clearly it will take more than the typical mythbuster formula to get away with it.
Now we arrive at the core, it takes talent, honesty and integrity to make something entertaining and of lasting value. Anyone here can blow up things, take sparks to their head or accidentally shoot themselves in the face and be a hit on youtube.
Bjørn, Sat Feb 23 2008, 11:15AM
Lack of science does not have to be a problem. It is pretending to do science that is a problem. Most members of this forum knows that pretending to do science is pseudo science.
The second problem is, who decides what is a myth? Is gravity a myth? That leads directly to the third problem.
If the presenter pretends to believe the myth even if he (and the viewers) knows the outcome then we have a problem. After that the presenter is stripped of credibility and is not able to convey serious information with the required authority.
"lightning never strikes twice" - Is this really a myth?
First of all it does not have to do with high voltage at all but with probability (math) and the human mind (psychology). It is a metaphor, not a myth. When people fail to understand the concept of a metaphor it becomes a misconception. Investigating it purely as a HV myth will only strengthen peoples misconceptions, I don't consider that to be a very commendable activity.
Even pretty dim people know that lightning has a tendency to strike the same objects repeatedly. You never see anyone climbing up a tower that has just been struck by lightning because they think they will be safer up there.
So what do we have then, a misconception that no one really believes in and that they have never bothered to think through. Clearly it will take more than the typical mythbuster formula to get away with it.
Now we arrive at the core, it takes talent, honesty and integrity to make something entertaining and of lasting value. Anyone here can blow up things, take sparks to their head or accidentally shoot themselves in the face and be a hit on youtube.
Re: Anyone else here have a hard time watching mythbusters?
Tesladownunder, Sat Feb 23 2008, 01:00PM
Not everyone sees entertainment as you do. Frankly, honesty and integrity have less to do with entertainment compared with talent, personality, hard work, good camera work and production and a successful formula. There are not many shows about clever Bankers out there regarless of talent, honest and integrity.
TDU
Tesladownunder, Sat Feb 23 2008, 01:00PM
Bjørn Bæverfjord wrote ...
.....Now we arrive at the core, it takes talent, honesty and integrity to make something entertaining and of lasting value. Anyone here can blow up things, take sparks to their head or accidentally shoot themselves in the face and be a hit on youtube.
Not sure whether I should rise to the bait on this one since it seems to be personally directed at me. Perhaps "anyone" can but I am the only one I know on this list that has taken sparks on my head. "Anyone" can blow things up, but I think I have the largest cap bank at 16kJ on the list. These are quite different to shooting oneself in the face. Success on YouTube may not be your aspiration but it is to some......Now we arrive at the core, it takes talent, honesty and integrity to make something entertaining and of lasting value. Anyone here can blow up things, take sparks to their head or accidentally shoot themselves in the face and be a hit on youtube.
Not everyone sees entertainment as you do. Frankly, honesty and integrity have less to do with entertainment compared with talent, personality, hard work, good camera work and production and a successful formula. There are not many shows about clever Bankers out there regarless of talent, honest and integrity.
TDU
Re: Anyone else here have a hard time watching mythbusters?
Bjørn, Sat Feb 23 2008, 02:08PM
Bjørn, Sat Feb 23 2008, 02:08PM
Not sure whether I should rise to the bait on this one since it seems to be personally directed at me. Perhaps "anyone" can but I am the only one I know on this list that has taken sparks on my head.There is at least one member that made a video about it before you did. It was a good example to use because it illustrates my point that skill is not required to make successful entertainment. It is enough to be extreme, first or very very stupid. Neither of those are going to do any good when there is even the weakest link to science.
Not everyone sees entertainment as you do. Frankly, honesty and integrity have less to do with entertainment compared with talent, personality, hard work, good camera work and production and a successful formula. There are not many shows about clever Bankers out there regarless of talent, honest and integrity.That is fine, but we are not talking about pure entertainment here, we are talking about something more. As soon as we start proving and disproving myths or presenting facts we don't have pure entertainment any more. That is where honesty and integrity comes in.
Re: Anyone else here have a hard time watching mythbusters?
Dr. Drone, Sat Feb 23 2008, 06:02PM
Dr. Drone, Sat Feb 23 2008, 06:02PM
Re: Anyone else here have a hard time watching mythbusters?
teslacoolguy, Sat Feb 23 2008, 09:51PM
i feel the exact same way about life and i would LOVE to work with the mythbusters one day or at least meet them. On the other hand i do have some comments about the show and i usually end up yelling at the tv
and adding some of my comments but overall i like the show especally when they go full scale with explosives because they go all out and it always ends with a boom 
teslacoolguy, Sat Feb 23 2008, 09:51PM
i feel the exact same way about life and i would LOVE to work with the mythbusters one day or at least meet them. On the other hand i do have some comments about the show and i usually end up yelling at the tv
and adding some of my comments but overall i like the show especally when they go full scale with explosives because they go all out and it always ends with a boom Re: Anyone else here have a hard time watching mythbusters?
Michael W., Sun Feb 24 2008, 03:00AM
Its just a TV show, entertainment. Its fun to watch and just like anything, the more you over-complicate something simple; the less enjoyable it becomes! Watch and Enjoy!
Michael W., Sun Feb 24 2008, 03:00AM
Its just a TV show, entertainment. Its fun to watch and just like anything, the more you over-complicate something simple; the less enjoyable it becomes! Watch and Enjoy!
Re: Anyone else here have a hard time watching mythbusters?
HV Enthusiast, Sun Feb 24 2008, 04:30AM
Yeah, the show is simply entertainment. Its not meant to convey real science, just to entertain and bring in viewers.
HV Enthusiast, Sun Feb 24 2008, 04:30AM
Yeah, the show is simply entertainment. Its not meant to convey real science, just to entertain and bring in viewers.
Re: Anyone else here have a hard time watching mythbusters?
Hazmatt_(The Underdog), Sun Feb 24 2008, 04:36AM
I still say World's biggest Tesla Coil, and have them send us plane tickets so we can come out and help design the thing! HEHEHE.
But realistically, try to push them toward something that needs a big HV lab. I always love to see the big Marx towers, huge standoffs, HV equipment and arcs of course.
Hazmatt_(The Underdog), Sun Feb 24 2008, 04:36AM
I still say World's biggest Tesla Coil, and have them send us plane tickets so we can come out and help design the thing! HEHEHE.
But realistically, try to push them toward something that needs a big HV lab. I always love to see the big Marx towers, huge standoffs, HV equipment and arcs of course.
Re: Anyone else here have a hard time watching mythbusters?
Conundrum, Sun Feb 24 2008, 02:48PM
hmm what about the "mobile phones are dangerous during storms"myth?
Conundrum, Sun Feb 24 2008, 02:48PM
hmm what about the "mobile phones are dangerous during storms"myth?
Re: Anyone else here have a hard time watching mythbusters?
Chris Russell, Sun Feb 24 2008, 04:56PM
Not to detract from the topic at hand, but some shows don't even try. I was watching an episode of House ( ) last night. One of the characters experienced a remission in her cancer, so they thought it might be due to radiation in her home. So, someone goes over there with a Geiger counter, and starts checking the microwave! Worse, he checks all the appliances in the house, and they are *all* giving off chatters of radiation on the counter. He then says something along the lines of "all appliances give off some radiation."
I'm not sure which of the following errors are worse: a) implying on a medical show that exposure to radiation at home can cure cancer, b) implying that home appliances give off ionizing radiation, or implying that a Geiger counter can detect electromagnetic radiation, c) subtly implying that exposure to home appliances might help with cancer, d) reinforcing the common misconception that the microwave is the most likely suspect for radiation in the home.
Chris Russell, Sun Feb 24 2008, 04:56PM
Not to detract from the topic at hand, but some shows don't even try. I was watching an episode of House (
) last night. One of the characters experienced a remission in her cancer, so they thought it might be due to radiation in her home. So, someone goes over there with a Geiger counter, and starts checking the microwave! Worse, he checks all the appliances in the house, and they are *all* giving off chatters of radiation on the counter. He then says something along the lines of "all appliances give off some radiation."I'm not sure which of the following errors are worse: a) implying on a medical show that exposure to radiation at home can cure cancer, b) implying that home appliances give off ionizing radiation, or implying that a Geiger counter can detect electromagnetic radiation, c) subtly implying that exposure to home appliances might help with cancer, d) reinforcing the common misconception that the microwave is the most likely suspect for radiation in the home.
Re: Anyone else here have a hard time watching mythbusters?
Zum Beispiel, Sun Feb 24 2008, 05:18PM
I saw that one too. Didn't know whether to laugh or to cry.
I've never thought about the mythbusters as scientists. They are just two guys, blowing stuff up. Having said that, I have to admit that I've been caught yelling at the TV a couple of times.
Zum Beispiel, Sun Feb 24 2008, 05:18PM
I saw that one too. Didn't know whether to laugh or to cry.
I've never thought about the mythbusters as scientists. They are just two guys, blowing stuff up. Having said that, I have to admit that I've been caught yelling at the TV a couple of times.
Re: Anyone else here have a hard time watching mythbusters?
Bjørn, Sun Feb 24 2008, 05:58PM
I have watched a lot of mythbusters and they are not scientists. Some times they pretend and more often than not Discovery Channel present the show as a scientific program and/or documentary.
I have seen a few episodes of House too, including that one. Since it is medical drama (in presentation and labeling) it should hopefully generate a minimum of misconceptions. The problem is that when the same misconceptions are repeated over and over again then people start to believe in them in the end.
Bjørn, Sun Feb 24 2008, 05:58PM
I have watched a lot of mythbusters and they are not scientists. Some times they pretend and more often than not Discovery Channel present the show as a scientific program and/or documentary.
I have seen a few episodes of House too, including that one. Since it is medical drama (in presentation and labeling) it should hopefully generate a minimum of misconceptions. The problem is that when the same misconceptions are repeated over and over again then people start to believe in them in the end.
Re: Anyone else here have a hard time watching mythbusters?
HV Enthusiast, Tue Feb 26 2008, 03:32AM
Did they say it was a Geiger counter? Or did it just look like a Geiger counter?
I ask, because we have lots of E-field and H-field sniffers which look very similar to Geiger counters, although they don't sound like Geiger counters.
HV Enthusiast, Tue Feb 26 2008, 03:32AM
wrote ...
One of the characters experienced a remission in her cancer, so they thought it might be due to radiation in her home. So, someone goes over there with a Geiger counter, and starts checking the microwave! Worse, he checks all the appliances in the house, and they are *all* giving off chatters of radiation on the counter. He then says something along the lines of "all appliances give off some radiation."
One of the characters experienced a remission in her cancer, so they thought it might be due to radiation in her home. So, someone goes over there with a Geiger counter, and starts checking the microwave! Worse, he checks all the appliances in the house, and they are *all* giving off chatters of radiation on the counter. He then says something along the lines of "all appliances give off some radiation."
Did they say it was a Geiger counter? Or did it just look like a Geiger counter?
I ask, because we have lots of E-field and H-field sniffers which look very similar to Geiger counters, although they don't sound like Geiger counters.
Re: Anyone else here have a hard time watching mythbusters?
Dave Marshall, Tue Feb 26 2008, 04:21PM
I'm definitely the "yelling at the TV" sort, though I do so with the full understanding that its just entertainment. Yelling is half the fun!
This sort of stuff is ubiquitous on TV any more. From those TAPS goofs on "Ghost Hunter" that claim a fuse box can "leak" EM radiation (no kidding, he claimed that electrical wiring should not have a measurable magnetic field around it), to House claiming that microwaves cause cancer/cure cancer/induce orgasms/whatever , to the mythbusters saying that talking to plants can help them grow.
Some of it is more laughable than others. That being said, the Mythbusters have gotten some pretty tough myths right over the years. I have to say that even *I* was scratching my head trying to reason my way through the Airplane on a Treadmill myth.
I'm with EVR on this one though. Kari makes it worth watching, even on the worst episodes :)
BTW, Tesladownunder, there are atleast 2 34KJ capacitor banks in the hands of 4HV members. You probably have some of the more spectacular results, but you aren't the biggest!
Dave
Dave Marshall, Tue Feb 26 2008, 04:21PM
I'm definitely the "yelling at the TV" sort, though I do so with the full understanding that its just entertainment. Yelling is half the fun!
This sort of stuff is ubiquitous on TV any more. From those TAPS goofs on "Ghost Hunter" that claim a fuse box can "leak" EM radiation (no kidding, he claimed that electrical wiring should not have a measurable magnetic field around it), to House claiming that microwaves cause cancer/cure cancer/induce orgasms/whatever , to the mythbusters saying that talking to plants can help them grow.
Some of it is more laughable than others. That being said, the Mythbusters have gotten some pretty tough myths right over the years. I have to say that even *I* was scratching my head trying to reason my way through the Airplane on a Treadmill myth.
I'm with EVR on this one though. Kari makes it worth watching, even on the worst episodes :)
BTW, Tesladownunder, there are atleast 2 34KJ capacitor banks in the hands of 4HV members. You probably have some of the more spectacular results, but you aren't the biggest!
Dave
Re: Anyone else here have a hard time watching mythbusters?
HV Enthusiast, Tue Feb 26 2008, 05:48PM
If you want real science, then check out that old Mr. Wizard show from Nickelodeon from the 1980's. Nothing super spectacular, but definitely a worthwhile show.
And yeah, definitely the reason i don't even like those blockbuster movies anymore - they are just so scientifically implausible. (i.e Armageddon, Day After, etc...)
At least movies like Alien, Pitch Black, etc... are somewhat believable, although they do have their scientific errors as well.
Of course, i can't seem to understand why the Star Trek Enterprise will jolt from a incoming phasor fire, yet will not budge an inch when accelerating from 0 to warp nine bazillion.
HV Enthusiast, Tue Feb 26 2008, 05:48PM
If you want real science, then check out that old Mr. Wizard show from Nickelodeon from the 1980's. Nothing super spectacular, but definitely a worthwhile show.
And yeah, definitely the reason i don't even like those blockbuster movies anymore - they are just so scientifically implausible. (i.e Armageddon, Day After, etc...)
At least movies like Alien, Pitch Black, etc... are somewhat believable, although they do have their scientific errors as well.
Of course, i can't seem to understand why the Star Trek Enterprise will jolt from a incoming phasor fire, yet will not budge an inch when accelerating from 0 to warp nine bazillion.
Re: Anyone else here have a hard time watching mythbusters?
teslacoolguy, Tue Feb 26 2008, 06:17PM
teslacoolguy, Tue Feb 26 2008, 06:17PM
If you want real science, then check out that old Mr. Wizard show from Nickelodeon from the 1980's. Nothing super spectacular, but definitely a worthwhile show.my uncle who also has built some coils used to watch that show and this one episode he was talking about had you hold a vacume cleaner up to a tv picturetube and it will demagnatize it so he tryed it and it left a big green spot were the vacume was. it was sooo funny how he told me and he even had a picture if it but yea i would love to watch that show myself.
Re: Anyone else here have a hard time watching mythbusters?
Noelle, Tue Feb 26 2008, 09:50PM
Mr Wizard was an awesome show, I used to watch it every morning at 5am before school when I was young.
Noelle, Tue Feb 26 2008, 09:50PM
Mr Wizard was an awesome show, I used to watch it every morning at 5am before school when I was young.
Re: Anyone else here have a hard time watching mythbusters?
Tesladownunder, Tue Feb 26 2008, 11:40PM
I have just completed my MOT charger for my cap bank along with remote metering, also extra busbar for intercap earthing. This will allow me to go to rated power of 16kJ. I have only ever gone to 5kJ or so before for a variety of reasons - too scared, too noisy for neighbours, inadequate charger. But I now have a trailer and a generator to take it away from home and I am getting bolder. Also have plans for lots of new effects.
Someone offered me 30kJ of new Maxwells for $5,000 a few days ago. Thought I should probably keep sending my kids to school rather than buying it though, sadly.
TDU
Tesladownunder, Tue Feb 26 2008, 11:40PM
Noelle wrote ...
Mr Wizard was an awesome show, I used to watch it every morning at 5am before school when I was young.
Noelle, a rare visit. 5am for school sounds pretty early. Of course, when I was young I would get up before I even went to bed...Mr Wizard was an awesome show, I used to watch it every morning at 5am before school when I was young.
Dave Marshall wrote ...
BTW, Tesladownunder, there are atleast 2 34KJ capacitor banks in the hands of 4HV members....
Is it a secret who has this arsenal or what they do with it?BTW, Tesladownunder, there are atleast 2 34KJ capacitor banks in the hands of 4HV members....
I have just completed my MOT charger for my cap bank along with remote metering, also extra busbar for intercap earthing. This will allow me to go to rated power of 16kJ. I have only ever gone to 5kJ or so before for a variety of reasons - too scared, too noisy for neighbours, inadequate charger. But I now have a trailer and a generator to take it away from home and I am getting bolder. Also have plans for lots of new effects.
Someone offered me 30kJ of new Maxwells for $5,000 a few days ago. Thought I should probably keep sending my kids to school rather than buying it though, sadly.
EastVoltResearch wrote ...
If you want real science, then check out that old Mr. Wizard show from Nickelodeon from the 1980's. Nothing super spectacular, but definitely a worthwhile show.
Assuming that formula is not viable these days due to it being not dynamic enough or flashy (or dare I say not appealing to a dumbed down modern audience) then what sort of show format would appeal to you (and your family, parents teenagers and non technical audience). Get some really good ideas forward and I might be able to pitch it to Creative Differences if it is something I could do or be involved in.If you want real science, then check out that old Mr. Wizard show from Nickelodeon from the 1980's. Nothing super spectacular, but definitely a worthwhile show.
TDU
Re: Anyone else here have a hard time watching mythbusters?
Noelle, Wed Feb 27 2008, 12:43AM
Once in a while I descend from my lofty heights to grace the masses with my presence.
School wasn't at 5am, it was at 8am. I just got up really early. Kids don't seem to need much sleep.
Noelle, Wed Feb 27 2008, 12:43AM
Tesladownunder wrote ...
Noelle, a rare visit. 5am for school sounds pretty early. Of course, when I was young I would get up before I even went to bed...
Noelle, a rare visit. 5am for school sounds pretty early. Of course, when I was young I would get up before I even went to bed...
Once in a while I descend from my lofty heights to grace the masses with my presence.
School wasn't at 5am, it was at 8am. I just got up really early. Kids don't seem to need much sleep.
Re: Anyone else here have a hard time watching mythbusters?
Chris Russell, Wed Feb 27 2008, 07:59AM
I can usually talk myself out of that by saying "oh, well, the inertial dampeners work on the warp drive/impulse engines because the direction of acceleration is known in advance, but not as well on weapons fire because it's not expected" or something to that effect. Not very good, but enough to shut up the critical part of my brain long enough to enjoy the show. What I don't get is why the control panels are always exploding or catching on fire. They really need to get some circuit breakers installed in that ship before OSHA finds out!
Never explicitly said, but I am certain it was a CDV-700 or something damn close. And they were definitely using the Geiger counter sound. Bringing it near light switches and wiring caused all sorts of clicking. Very silly stuff.
Chris Russell, Wed Feb 27 2008, 07:59AM
EastVoltResearch wrote ...
Of course, i can't seem to understand why the Star Trek Enterprise will jolt from a incoming phasor fire, yet will not budge an inch when accelerating from 0 to warp nine bazillion.
Of course, i can't seem to understand why the Star Trek Enterprise will jolt from a incoming phasor fire, yet will not budge an inch when accelerating from 0 to warp nine bazillion.
I can usually talk myself out of that by saying "oh, well, the inertial dampeners work on the warp drive/impulse engines because the direction of acceleration is known in advance, but not as well on weapons fire because it's not expected" or something to that effect. Not very good, but enough to shut up the critical part of my brain long enough to enjoy the show. What I don't get is why the control panels are always exploding or catching on fire. They really need to get some circuit breakers installed in that ship before OSHA finds out!
Did they say it was a Geiger counter? Or did it just look like a Geiger counter?
I ask, because we have lots of E-field and H-field sniffers which look very similar to Geiger counters, although they don't sound like Geiger counters.
Never explicitly said, but I am certain it was a CDV-700 or something damn close. And they were definitely using the Geiger counter sound. Bringing it near light switches and wiring caused all sorts of clicking. Very silly stuff.
Re: Anyone else here have a hard time watching mythbusters?
EDY19, Wed Feb 27 2008, 06:33PM
Just thought I would mention that I actually went to one of the demonstrations/talk sessions that the Mythbusters did in Traverse City, Michigan (My home town)-I actually got to personally meet both Adam and Jamie Although not everything (okay, probably less than half ) is not scientifically accurate, I think that we can all say that any explosion is fun to watch, and while the science may not be spectacular, it is good TV and it is fun to watch as long as you keep in mind it is 95% for entertainment value only. I always enjoy the part of the program where they try to replicate the myth, or go completely overboard, such as the episode when they filled a cement truck with high explosives. I don't think that anyone will disagree that the explosion was quite awesome!
EDY19, Wed Feb 27 2008, 06:33PM
Just thought I would mention that I actually went to one of the demonstrations/talk sessions that the Mythbusters did in Traverse City, Michigan (My home town)-I actually got to personally meet both Adam and Jamie
Although not everything (okay, probably less than half ) is not scientifically accurate, I think that we can all say that any explosion is fun to watch, and while the science may not be spectacular, it is good TV and it is fun to watch as long as you keep in mind it is 95% for entertainment value only. I always enjoy the part of the program where they try to replicate the myth, or go completely overboard, such as the episode when they filled a cement truck with high explosives. I don't think that anyone will disagree that the explosion was quite awesome! Re: Anyone else here have a hard time watching mythbusters?
Simon, Thu Feb 28 2008, 12:57AM
Pop media is full of inaccuracies. Most of the physics stuff doesn't bother me much (I don't yell, "That hollow earth idea is flawed! Gauss' theorem shows they should be weightless!") but I admit some romanticised computer stuff almost makes me cry ("OMG! The firewall is under attack! ... It can't take it much longer! ... Oh no! The firewall is down; they've got the technocore surrounded!")
That stuff aside, what really gets me is the pseudo-science. I think it's great that the Mythbusters team gets up and actually tests things out - and who cares if their secondary aim is just to blow things up? I just hate it when they misrepresent science. Even if they don't go all technical, they should at least try to be accurate so they don't give people the wrong idea.
Simon, Thu Feb 28 2008, 12:57AM
Pop media is full of inaccuracies. Most of the physics stuff doesn't bother me much (I don't yell, "That hollow earth idea is flawed! Gauss' theorem shows they should be weightless!") but I admit some romanticised computer stuff almost makes me cry ("OMG! The firewall is under attack! ... It can't take it much longer! ... Oh no! The firewall is down; they've got the technocore surrounded!")
That stuff aside, what really gets me is the pseudo-science. I think it's great that the Mythbusters team gets up and actually tests things out - and who cares if their secondary aim is just to blow things up? I just hate it when they misrepresent science. Even if they don't go all technical, they should at least try to be accurate so they don't give people the wrong idea.
Re: Anyone else here have a hard time watching mythbusters?
asabase, Thu Feb 28 2008, 01:10AM
Mythbusters isn't nearly as bad as the new show called "Smash Labs." At least with Mythbusters they do episodes to revisit myths the viewers complained they messed up.
asabase, Thu Feb 28 2008, 01:10AM
Mythbusters isn't nearly as bad as the new show called "Smash Labs." At least with Mythbusters they do episodes to revisit myths the viewers complained they messed up.
Re: Anyone else here have a hard time watching mythbusters?
Ragnarok, Mon Mar 03 2008, 10:54PM
Ah just ignore me. I'm a very silly person.
Ragnarok, Mon Mar 03 2008, 10:54PM
Chris Russell wrote ...
What I don't get is why the control panels are always exploding or catching on fire. They really need to get some circuit breakers installed in that ship before OSHA finds out!
Well, obviously the blue smoke in the future is much more potent and volatile stuff than they use now - and circuit breakers? They do, but they had to tape the switches down 'cos they kept tripping right at inconvenient moments in the middle of battles.What I don't get is why the control panels are always exploding or catching on fire. They really need to get some circuit breakers installed in that ship before OSHA finds out!
Ah just ignore me. I'm a very silly person.
Re: Anyone else here have a hard time watching mythbusters?
Backyard Skunkworks, Tue Mar 04 2008, 05:26AM
Smash lab is real disaster... half of the stuff they do is pointless and or unreasonable (stopping a run away truck with rockets, c'mon). While that episode with a better locomotive front seemed somewhat reasonable I found the last two episodes totally stupid. Really, whos gonna buy a huge flame retardant hood for their house? Whos gonna have rocket engines strapped to their truck incase it runs away? What kind of building is gonna have a fire escape that requires massive rare earth magnets when stairs, a big slide or friction breaking is so much easier? I like the cast and the format but the things they come up with are nothing short of insane.
Backyard Skunkworks, Tue Mar 04 2008, 05:26AM
Smash lab is real disaster... half of the stuff they do is pointless and or unreasonable (stopping a run away truck with rockets, c'mon). While that episode with a better locomotive front seemed somewhat reasonable I found the last two episodes totally stupid. Really, whos gonna buy a huge flame retardant hood for their house? Whos gonna have rocket engines strapped to their truck incase it runs away? What kind of building is gonna have a fire escape that requires massive rare earth magnets when stairs, a big slide or friction breaking is so much easier? I like the cast and the format but the things they come up with are nothing short of insane.
Re: Anyone else here have a hard time watching mythbusters?
Ken M., Tue Mar 04 2008, 03:53PM
Agreed Skunkworks, Smash lab is just a show for demolition, but Discovery had to make the name of the show be better sounding then Cheap impractical destruction, where as Mythbusters was originally a show to try urban myths, or just plain silly things, that may have some truth behind it or not, but since It has became such a hit and since theres only so many myths that are out there and doing 3-4 myths a show also with some safety and legal reasons. They were able to get most of the myths that could legally be done on tv done and now its gotten to be more of silly yet comical show about reasonable things the a lot of people are curious about. Also because some people that might nag and ask well how is this done, or how does that affect the things under these circumstances, thats why they added the "science content". At least they try and do things that are little more practical, and if they have to go to a ridiculous extreme they say so, Like "this is impractical but for entertainment reasons we're gonna do it anyways!". Anyways Smash lab isn't too great watched the 1ST 2 or 3 episodes and thought the show was a waste of time.
Ken M., Tue Mar 04 2008, 03:53PM
Agreed Skunkworks, Smash lab is just a show for demolition, but Discovery had to make the name of the show be better sounding then Cheap impractical destruction, where as Mythbusters was originally a show to try urban myths, or just plain silly things, that may have some truth behind it or not, but since It has became such a hit and since theres only so many myths that are out there and doing 3-4 myths a show also with some safety and legal reasons. They were able to get most of the myths that could legally be done on tv done and now its gotten to be more of silly yet comical show about reasonable things the a lot of people are curious about. Also because some people that might nag and ask well how is this done, or how does that affect the things under these circumstances, thats why they added the "science content". At least they try and do things that are little more practical, and if they have to go to a ridiculous extreme they say so, Like "this is impractical but for entertainment reasons we're gonna do it anyways!". Anyways Smash lab isn't too great watched the 1ST 2 or 3 episodes and thought the show was a waste of time.
Re: Anyone else here have a hard time watching mythbusters?
teslacoolguy, Tue Mar 04 2008, 04:02PM
i totally agree with you the 1st episode that came out on smash lab i watched the 1st 15 min of it and then swiched to csi. but anyway mythbusters do try to make it as scientific as they are allowed to make it and smash lab just does impractical things that dont mean anything like when they tried to stop a bus in that airated concrete i mean come on when are you going to find thst stuff in some intersection in some city and by the way it dident even work!
teslacoolguy, Tue Mar 04 2008, 04:02PM
i totally agree with you the 1st episode that came out on smash lab i watched the 1st 15 min of it and then swiched to csi. but anyway mythbusters do try to make it as scientific as they are allowed to make it and smash lab just does impractical things that dont mean anything like when they tried to stop a bus in that airated concrete i mean come on when are you going to find thst stuff in some intersection in some city and by the way it dident even work!
Re: Anyone else here have a hard time watching mythbusters?
asabase, Wed Mar 05 2008, 11:43PM
Their argument that rockets aren't reliable is BS. What they should have said was "rockets aren't reliable *in the hands of morons like us*."
Still a stupid concept though.
asabase, Wed Mar 05 2008, 11:43PM
Their argument that rockets aren't reliable is BS. What they should have said was "rockets aren't reliable *in the hands of morons like us*."
Still a stupid concept though.
Re: Anyone else here have a hard time watching mythbusters?
HV Enthusiast, Thu Mar 06 2008, 12:30AM
Actually rockets aren't that reliable. Just compare how many rocket failures vs. the number of satellites launched into orbit. The numbers are numbing.
Its a risky business. Even the space shuttle which is built considerably more reliable than a rocket, has had its share of failures.
HV Enthusiast, Thu Mar 06 2008, 12:30AM
asabase wrote ...
Their argument that rockets aren't reliable is BS. What they should have said was "rockets aren't reliable *in the hands of morons like us*."
Still a stupid concept though.
Their argument that rockets aren't reliable is BS. What they should have said was "rockets aren't reliable *in the hands of morons like us*."
Still a stupid concept though.
Actually rockets aren't that reliable. Just compare how many rocket failures vs. the number of satellites launched into orbit. The numbers are numbing.
Its a risky business. Even the space shuttle which is built considerably more reliable than a rocket, has had its share of failures.
Re: Anyone else here have a hard time watching mythbusters?
Alex, Sat Mar 08 2008, 04:19PM
I'm not going to argue that using rockets to stop a moving vehicle is a good idea, but I think you're making some invalid assumptions there. A satellite launch mission is far more complex (and thus has far more qualifications to meet to call it a success) than securely fastening some rockets to something and igniting them at the same time. Perhaps if they weren't pyrotechnics engineers using detonators and det cords, they could have gotten that part right.
Alex, Sat Mar 08 2008, 04:19PM
I'm not going to argue that using rockets to stop a moving vehicle is a good idea, but I think you're making some invalid assumptions there. A satellite launch mission is far more complex (and thus has far more qualifications to meet to call it a success) than securely fastening some rockets to something and igniting them at the same time. Perhaps if they weren't pyrotechnics engineers using detonators and det cords, they could have gotten that part right.
Re: Anyone else here have a hard time watching mythbusters?
Backyard Skunkworks, Mon Mar 10 2008, 03:59AM
Mythbusters has also had their fair share of rocketry failures so far! Remember the ming dynasty astronaut episode? All it took was a few dozen pounds of gunpowder and some bad decisions before they needed Buster 2.0. And we can't forget the rocket car re-visited, they even got the pros for that one and the Ammonium Perchlorate engine still blew their car to bits.
Backyard Skunkworks, Mon Mar 10 2008, 03:59AM
Mythbusters has also had their fair share of rocketry failures so far! Remember the ming dynasty astronaut episode? All it took was a few dozen pounds of gunpowder and some bad decisions before they needed Buster 2.0. And we can't forget the rocket car re-visited, they even got the pros for that one and the Ammonium Perchlorate engine still blew their car to bits.
Re: Anyone else here have a hard time watching mythbusters?
Noelle, Mon Mar 17 2008, 04:47PM
Today's xkcd is highly relevant to this topic!
Noelle, Mon Mar 17 2008, 04:47PM
Today's xkcd is highly relevant to this topic!
Re: Anyone else here have a hard time watching mythbusters?
Firnagzen, Tue Mar 18 2008, 10:15AM
Dang it. I wanted to post it, but forgot... (sigh)
Firnagzen, Tue Mar 18 2008, 10:15AM
Dang it. I wanted to post it, but forgot... (sigh)
Re: Anyone else here have a hard time watching mythbusters?
Noelle, Sun Mar 30 2008, 08:21PM
Here's a picture I took of the Mythbusters from their talk at the UMaine campus today! They were really fun and entertaining. They touched upon the very topic of discussion in this thread, when they said they strive to make science fun and adventurous for everybody, and that their biggest thrill is knowing they are engaging viewers (who yell at the tv or write in to the show or whatever they may do). They said they don't care about being proven wrong, and they in fact like it, but the point of science is to experiment and that is what they try to get across.
Also, they showed a clip that Discovery wouldn't let them air from the episode about flatulence, where Adam lit his farts on fire.
Noelle, Sun Mar 30 2008, 08:21PM
Here's a picture I took of the Mythbusters from their talk at the UMaine campus today! They were really fun and entertaining. They touched upon the very topic of discussion in this thread, when they said they strive to make science fun and adventurous for everybody, and that their biggest thrill is knowing they are engaging viewers (who yell at the tv or write in to the show or whatever they may do). They said they don't care about being proven wrong, and they in fact like it, but the point of science is to experiment and that is what they try to get across.
Also, they showed a clip that Discovery wouldn't let them air from the episode about flatulence, where Adam lit his farts on fire.
Re: Anyone else here have a hard time watching mythbusters?
pbfree, Sun Mar 30 2008, 09:46PM
Anyone else here have a hard time watching mythbusters?
My answer is no. I have a great time watching. In fact I congradulate them and so should you, but only after you get an understanding for the show first.
pbfree, Sun Mar 30 2008, 09:46PM
Anyone else here have a hard time watching mythbusters?
My answer is no. I have a great time watching. In fact I congradulate them and so should you, but only after you get an understanding for the show first.
Re: Anyone else here have a hard time watching mythbusters?
lpfthings, Mon Mar 31 2008, 08:42AM
I dont have a problem watching them, infact i get annoyed when they arent on. Even though some of their science may be incorrect, who doesnt love an explosion?
lpfthings, Mon Mar 31 2008, 08:42AM
I dont have a problem watching them, infact i get annoyed when they arent on. Even though some of their science may be incorrect, who doesnt love an explosion?
Re: Anyone else here have a hard time watching mythbusters?
CCCC, Tue Apr 08 2008, 04:09PM
This comic sums up my feelings about Mythbusters.
[Edit: 400 pixels]
CCCC, Tue Apr 08 2008, 04:09PM
This comic sums up my feelings about Mythbusters.
[Edit: 400 pixels]
Re: Anyone else here have a hard time watching mythbusters?
Tom540, Tue Apr 08 2008, 05:08PM
Keep in mind the myth busters guys have experience in what? oh movie magic. they are not scientists by any standard. I like the show and I could care less how scientific it is.
Tom540, Tue Apr 08 2008, 05:08PM
Keep in mind the myth busters guys have experience in what? oh movie magic. they are not scientists by any standard. I like the show and I could care less how scientific it is.
Re: Anyone else here have a hard time watching mythbusters?
FastMHz, Fri May 02 2008, 04:02PM
Like many others, I watch it for entertainment value only. I laugh so hard while watching that show.
FastMHz, Fri May 02 2008, 04:02PM
Like many others, I watch it for entertainment value only. I laugh so hard while watching that show.
Re: Anyone else here have a hard time watching mythbusters?
Backyard Skunkworks, Fri May 02 2008, 11:52PM
A good thing to point is that they do get the majority of their science atleast close to right, and like Zombie Feynman said, they are helping to introduce the scientific process to the masses. If the Mythbusters got too scientific they would be more like science channel programming, less entertaining but more scientific, however their viewership would drop.
Backyard Skunkworks, Fri May 02 2008, 11:52PM
A good thing to point is that they do get the majority of their science atleast close to right, and like Zombie Feynman said, they are helping to introduce the scientific process to the masses. If the Mythbusters got too scientific they would be more like science channel programming, less entertaining but more scientific, however their viewership would drop.
Re: Anyone else here have a hard time watching mythbusters?
Backyard Skunkworks, Tue Jun 03 2008, 06:31AM
You've likely heard the false and disturbing rumors that Mythbusters has been canceled due to Adam commiting suicide.
This is all quite obviously Bull****.
The guys at Anonymous (hacker group) have turned poor Adam into this month's offical "lolcow" (source of humor). There is nothing more to this story.
I have asked an IM buddy of mine who is an active higher-up in Anonymous about this, he confirms that they "did it for the lulz" and that Adam is alive and well.
Anonymous is constantly pushing the envelope of funny hoaxes, too bad they turned to mythbusters as their latest source of "lulz".
Backyard Skunkworks, Tue Jun 03 2008, 06:31AM
You've likely heard the false and disturbing rumors that Mythbusters has been canceled due to Adam commiting suicide.
This is all quite obviously Bull****.
The guys at Anonymous (hacker group) have turned poor Adam into this month's offical "lolcow" (source of humor). There is nothing more to this story.
I have asked an IM buddy of mine who is an active higher-up in Anonymous about this, he confirms that they "did it for the lulz" and that Adam is alive and well.
Anonymous is constantly pushing the envelope of funny hoaxes, too bad they turned to mythbusters as their latest source of "lulz".
Re: Anyone else here have a hard time watching mythbusters?
aonomus, Tue Jun 03 2008, 05:10PM
I think that Mythbusters has run out of myths to bust in a semi-scientific manner while still being of interest to the general public. The upper management made them crank out all of season 4-5 in a rush with semi-poor quality and weekly new episodes (thus a rushed shooting schedule), and now they're somewhat out of ideas, its been upwards of half a year now IIRC for a regular format show from them.
In all honesty as a chem student I'd love to see more chem related myths, even the small ones that don't end in explosion. It always seems that the formula for a myth now requires some disasterous end, even if they can't duplicate it with the circumstances, they'll seek out myths that explode it seems...
aonomus, Tue Jun 03 2008, 05:10PM
I think that Mythbusters has run out of myths to bust in a semi-scientific manner while still being of interest to the general public. The upper management made them crank out all of season 4-5 in a rush with semi-poor quality and weekly new episodes (thus a rushed shooting schedule), and now they're somewhat out of ideas, its been upwards of half a year now IIRC for a regular format show from them.
In all honesty as a chem student I'd love to see more chem related myths, even the small ones that don't end in explosion. It always seems that the formula for a myth now requires some disasterous end, even if they can't duplicate it with the circumstances, they'll seek out myths that explode it seems...
Re: Anyone else here have a hard time watching mythbusters?
Hon1nbo, Sat Jun 14 2008, 01:38AM
I have a large list somewhere, but nothing will made me madder then the way they did their "first myth" the JATO car, as they even said in the episode (if I recall, but they for sure did it) "would adjust the suspension so that the car would not loos traction and spin out of control"
please note that they TRIED to prevent the myth from being true [not saying it happened, but you dont get dumber than that!]
Hon1nbo, Sat Jun 14 2008, 01:38AM
I have a large list somewhere, but nothing will made me madder then the way they did their "first myth" the JATO car, as they even said in the episode (if I recall, but they for sure did it) "would adjust the suspension so that the car would not loos traction and spin out of control"
please note that they TRIED to prevent the myth from being true [not saying it happened, but you dont get dumber than that!]
Re: Anyone else here have a hard time watching mythbusters?
quicksilver, Sat Jun 14 2008, 03:23PM
I think the mythbusters writers/editors/media ad-marketing people are in a squirrel fight. If the fellows went with some of the more edgy stuff that they may WANT to do, there may be trouble from marketing girls trying to get ad-copy or sponsors. OR they may have some issue with legal / liability stuff.
If you think about it there may be some areas that could diminish a product line or invite litigation as "damage" ("this is said to function but is complete Bull***")
I really believe that each show goes through some serious "holy-war" of competing agendas - and THAT creates a mediocre product. If those fellows could have free reign, I'd bet that show would scream! (I happen to like it myself, but I find it a bit mediocre at times & have asked myself why they pursued a certain agenda that could have been better).
Imagine if they did a show on energetic materials and REALLY got into energetic chemistry.....the liability issues would soar! Same thing with HV, to a degree. They have to come CLOSE but never even approach a "how to" type agenda. Secret formulas, secret items....must be held from the public's eye....lest little Johnny mix up some peroxides and knock his fingers off.... that type of thing. So they have to "settle" for showing an entertaining issue but keeping the "how to", actually the science, to a minimum.
quicksilver, Sat Jun 14 2008, 03:23PM
I think the mythbusters writers/editors/media ad-marketing people are in a squirrel fight. If the fellows went with some of the more edgy stuff that they may WANT to do, there may be trouble from marketing girls trying to get ad-copy or sponsors. OR they may have some issue with legal / liability stuff.
If you think about it there may be some areas that could diminish a product line or invite litigation as "damage" ("this is said to function but is complete Bull***")
I really believe that each show goes through some serious "holy-war" of competing agendas - and THAT creates a mediocre product. If those fellows could have free reign, I'd bet that show would scream! (I happen to like it myself, but I find it a bit mediocre at times & have asked myself why they pursued a certain agenda that could have been better).
Imagine if they did a show on energetic materials and REALLY got into energetic chemistry.....the liability issues would soar! Same thing with HV, to a degree. They have to come CLOSE but never even approach a "how to" type agenda. Secret formulas, secret items....must be held from the public's eye....lest little Johnny mix up some peroxides and knock his fingers off.... that type of thing. So they have to "settle" for showing an entertaining issue but keeping the "how to", actually the science, to a minimum.
Re: Anyone else here have a hard time watching mythbusters?
Hon1nbo, Sat Jun 14 2008, 04:15PM
smash lab sorta has that occasionally, and mythbusters but rarely... and they state their insurance company wont allow much of the stuff... but if the mythbusters did more of that, they probably would blow up their shop, but on smash labs that's sorta the point lol.
Hon1nbo, Sat Jun 14 2008, 04:15PM
smash lab sorta has that occasionally, and mythbusters but rarely... and they state their insurance company wont allow much of the stuff... but if the mythbusters did more of that, they probably would blow up their shop, but on smash labs that's sorta the point lol.
Re: Anyone else here have a hard time watching mythbusters?
teslacoolguy, Thu Aug 28 2008, 03:47AM
Ok. I was wondering any of you watched the new episode tonight and thought it was a fix? I know there are a lot of conspiracy out there about the moon landing being a hoax and personally i think it was. Tell me your opinion but i think that they on purpose made it look real and busted it so nasa doesent get letters from people asking to borrow the moon landing tapes for evaluation. I mean come on... would those triangle mirrors even if there were some up there be still visible 40 years later with all that dust? I could be wrong but i dont think that they did a good job on this one, and i am not convinced.
teslacoolguy, Thu Aug 28 2008, 03:47AM
Ok. I was wondering any of you watched the new episode tonight and thought it was a fix? I know there are a lot of conspiracy out there about the moon landing being a hoax and personally i think it was. Tell me your opinion but i think that they on purpose made it look real and busted it so nasa doesent get letters from people asking to borrow the moon landing tapes for evaluation. I mean come on... would those triangle mirrors even if there were some up there be still visible 40 years later with all that dust? I could be wrong but i dont think that they did a good job on this one, and i am not convinced.
Re: Anyone else here have a hard time watching mythbusters?
Tesladownunder, Thu Aug 28 2008, 11:11AM
I don't know anything about the episode but I presume they are referring to the corner mirrors that return a beam coming from the earth for laser ranging.
Dust? In the vacuum of the moon, dust will fall as fast as a stone and only be stirred by meteorite impacts. Nothing else apart from the lander itself will stir it up.
TDU
Tesladownunder, Thu Aug 28 2008, 11:11AM
I don't know anything about the episode but I presume they are referring to the corner mirrors that return a beam coming from the earth for laser ranging.
Dust? In the vacuum of the moon, dust will fall as fast as a stone and only be stirred by meteorite impacts. Nothing else apart from the lander itself will stir it up.
TDU
Re: Anyone else here have a hard time watching mythbusters?
Chris Russell, Thu Aug 28 2008, 11:59AM
Oh, goodness. They're up there. That's an undeniable fact. Anyone with a powerful enough laser can tickle them and look for a return bounce. Or are scientists all over the world also part of the moon conspiracy? Really, if you're going to argue an insane theory, you could at least learn the facts and construct a reasonable hoax scenario, such as claiming that the retroreflectors must have been deployed by an automatic probe of some sort.
Have a look here for independent evidence that's really difficult to scoff at: . The Apollo 16 ultraviolet photograph is especially damning. Also interesting is the fact that many people tracked the missions via radio and telescope, meaning that people would have immediately noticed if there wasn't a spacecraft exactly where NASA said it would be. As more evidence gets piled on top, the hoax scenario starts becoming more and more untenable. Did NASA really construct probes to that were capable of: taking ultraviolet photographs, deploying lunar retroreflectors, broadcasting hundreds of hours of fake telemetry, audio, and video, and then still have enough money to buy the utter silence of everyone who worked on the project? It would have been cheaper by an order of magnitude or more to just go to the moon in the first place.
Chris Russell, Thu Aug 28 2008, 11:59AM
Oh, goodness. They're up there. That's an undeniable fact. Anyone with a powerful enough laser can tickle them and look for a return bounce. Or are scientists all over the world also part of the moon conspiracy? Really, if you're going to argue an insane theory, you could at least learn the facts and construct a reasonable hoax scenario, such as claiming that the retroreflectors must have been deployed by an automatic probe of some sort.
Have a look here for independent evidence that's really difficult to scoff at:
. The Apollo 16 ultraviolet photograph is especially damning. Also interesting is the fact that many people tracked the missions via radio and telescope, meaning that people would have immediately noticed if there wasn't a spacecraft exactly where NASA said it would be. As more evidence gets piled on top, the hoax scenario starts becoming more and more untenable. Did NASA really construct probes to that were capable of: taking ultraviolet photographs, deploying lunar retroreflectors, broadcasting hundreds of hours of fake telemetry, audio, and video, and then still have enough money to buy the utter silence of everyone who worked on the project? It would have been cheaper by an order of magnitude or more to just go to the moon in the first place.Re: Anyone else here have a hard time watching mythbusters?
Myke, Thu Aug 28 2008, 01:54PM
Also most of the things that you asked me about the moon landing not being real, I showed you how they were true. Do you remember the thing that I couldn't prove to you to be true?
Myke, Thu Aug 28 2008, 01:54PM
Also most of the things that you asked me about the moon landing not being real, I showed you how they were true. Do you remember the thing that I couldn't prove to you to be true?
Re: Anyone else here have a hard time watching mythbusters?
Shaun, Thu Aug 28 2008, 11:15PM
I saw the episode, and there wasn't a doubt in my mind they would bust every moon-landing-hoax myth out there.
My personal argument whenever I hear people discussing this topic is that at the time we (the US) were in the middle of a damn multi-trillion dollar space race with the USSR. Do people not think the Soviets were watching like a hawk every single thing we were doing up there? If we hadn't actually gone to the moon, the would have been the first one to bust us.
Even if we had wanted to, I don't think we could have fooled them.
Shaun, Thu Aug 28 2008, 11:15PM
I saw the episode, and there wasn't a doubt in my mind they would bust every moon-landing-hoax myth out there.
My personal argument whenever I hear people discussing this topic is that at the time we (the US) were in the middle of a damn multi-trillion dollar space race with the USSR. Do people not think the Soviets were watching like a hawk every single thing we were doing up there? If we hadn't actually gone to the moon, the would have been the first one to bust us.
Even if we had wanted to, I don't think we could have fooled them.
Re: Anyone else here have a hard time watching mythbusters?
Backyard Skunkworks, Thu Aug 28 2008, 11:19PM
Those mirrors have been used to map the moon's orbit and distance from earth quite fully, they are no hoax. The LRO is going to have high enough resolution to take photos of the landing sites, if they choose to.
Backyard Skunkworks, Thu Aug 28 2008, 11:19PM
Those mirrors have been used to map the moon's orbit and distance from earth quite fully, they are no hoax. The LRO
is going to have high enough resolution to take photos of the landing sites, if they choose to.Re: Anyone else here have a hard time watching mythbusters?
Wirenut, Fri Aug 29 2008, 03:16AM
Not to mention hundreds of pounds of rocks scientists worldwide agree came from the moon that only humans could have collected.
Wirenut, Fri Aug 29 2008, 03:16AM
Not to mention hundreds of pounds of rocks scientists worldwide agree came from the moon that only humans could have collected.
Re: Anyone else here have a hard time watching mythbusters?
Chris Russell, Fri Aug 29 2008, 04:15AM
I thought about bringing that up, but let's face it, the hoaxers are just going to claim that NASA digitally added the landing sites. When someone has already made up their minds as to what the "truth" of the matter is, they're free to move the bar as often as they like. I'm sure you could round up a hundred billion dollars, send a hoaxer group to the moon to see the landing sites for themselves, and they'd come back claiming the footprints were clearly placed years later by a secret robotic cover-up probe.
I'd assume that if you can pay every scientist with a big laser to claim they see a return laser bounce from the retroreflectors, buying off every scientist with a lunar soil sample and a microscope is just another line on the expense report. Note to self: time to build a big laser and start waiting for the NASA hush money to roll in.
Chris Russell, Fri Aug 29 2008, 04:15AM
Backyard Skunkworks wrote ...
Those mirrors have been used to map the moon's orbit and distance from earth quite fully, they are no hoax. The LRO is going to have high enough resolution to take photos of the landing sites, if they choose to.
Those mirrors have been used to map the moon's orbit and distance from earth quite fully, they are no hoax. The LRO
is going to have high enough resolution to take photos of the landing sites, if they choose to.I thought about bringing that up, but let's face it, the hoaxers are just going to claim that NASA digitally added the landing sites. When someone has already made up their minds as to what the "truth" of the matter is, they're free to move the bar as often as they like. I'm sure you could round up a hundred billion dollars, send a hoaxer group to the moon to see the landing sites for themselves, and they'd come back claiming the footprints were clearly placed years later by a secret robotic cover-up probe.
Wirenut wrote ...
Not to mention hundreds of pounds of rocks scientists worldwide agree came from the moon that only humans could have collected.
Not to mention hundreds of pounds of rocks scientists worldwide agree came from the moon that only humans could have collected.
I'd assume that if you can pay every scientist with a big laser to claim they see a return laser bounce from the retroreflectors, buying off every scientist with a lunar soil sample and a microscope is just another line on the expense report.
Note to self: time to build a big laser and start waiting for the NASA hush money to roll in.Re: Anyone else here have a hard time watching mythbusters?
aonomus, Fri Aug 29 2008, 05:35AM
On another note, anyone notice the little bit by Jamie at the end stating they haven't run out of myths to bust yet?
aonomus, Fri Aug 29 2008, 05:35AM
On another note, anyone notice the little bit by Jamie at the end stating they haven't run out of myths to bust yet?
Re: Anyone else here have a hard time watching mythbusters?
ArcLight, Fri Aug 29 2008, 05:44AM
The hell with everthing else, what I noticed was that Kari cut her hair. She's still a cutie, but I'm still so bummed.
Regards, ArcLIght
ArcLight, Fri Aug 29 2008, 05:44AM
The hell with everthing else, what I noticed was that Kari cut her hair. She's still a cutie, but I'm still so bummed.
Regards, ArcLIght
Print this page