Trammell HudsonMay 27, 2025
"Let's put AI/LLM in everything" is the new...
Lead
10.2%
Radium
27.9%
Heroin
10.2%
Asbestos
51.6%
Poll ended at .
Show threadGabsMay 27, 2025
@th it has to be Radium - something that wasn't understood by even the experts got added to everything just because it was new and cool.
All the others had actual function - yes, tetraethyl lead in gasoline to reduce knocking engines was basically cosmetic, but Heroin is a really good painkiller and say what you want about asbestos, but those houses simply won't burn down.
Show threada fish named dog ✡️♾️
@Gabs @th Lead is really soft and moldable, but once you get it how you want it to be, it's nice and firm, which makes it honestly amazing. I think we still use it in stained glass windows because it's basically the only thing that meets the criteria. It would be really great if it weren't, y'know, toxic.
May 27, 2025 at 3:26pmWeb
Show threadGabsMay 27, 2025
@FishNamedDog @th I have no issues with lead in solder or other applications - putting it in paint because it makes a slightly cheaper white pigment than titanium oxide and putting it in gasoline were the really bad ideas.
Show threadGabsMay 27, 2025
@FishNamedDog @th even the whole "Romans used lead piping and that's why they all had lead poisoning" is bullshit - most of those pipes were covered in calcium deposits and the lead barely got into the water.
But adding powdered lead to your wine made it oh so much sweeter. Stupidity is always the most dangerous thing in the world.
Show threada fish named dog ✡️♾️May 27, 2025
@Gabs @th I've heard lead paint is actually highly durable and water resistant. you can put it on and just kind of forget about it. it also dries quicker and allegedly creates better colors, not just white. and according to wikipedia, "Effects of engine knocking range from inconsequential to completely destructive." so probably a good thing to stop.
Show threadGabsMay 27, 2025
@FishNamedDog @th we eventually fixed knocking engines with less toxic additives and better engineering and the "highly durable" aspect of lead paint might have led to overuse in cases where water resistance and bright colours were not really needed. If you paint your classroom in lead, maybe repaint it before the kids learn how sweet paint flakes can taste...
Like I said - lead has its uses, but within reason and maybe only if it's the best alternative.
But I feel we are having an argument about nothing here.