Cell Phones: Safe. TV Sets: Killers
from the 2-days-without-an-accident dept
We've noted before how often the media writes "(insert technology here) can kill" stories, so you can imagine what we expected from the headline "Doctors: TVs can be deadly for kids". Looks like it's pretty spot on, though, as it's nothing decrying moral problem or psychological ones, but rather the dangers posed by falling TV sets to children. The "problem" is apparently that traditional tube sets are heavily weighted towards the front (a big surprise to anybody that's ever moved one), and kids climbing on them or the furniture on which they rest easily knock them over. The doctors behind this study say that TV should be secured with straps to prevent them from falling over, and that they should feature warning labels warning parents of the danger. Neither's a bad idea, as such, but we can't help but wonder how long it will be before some politician jumps on the idea to try to pass a law "for the children".Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.
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Will somebody think of the children!
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For the children
Seriously though, those TV's fall over all the time. I have 61" rear projection big screen **whew** have to pick it back up 3 times a day. Such a pain.
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Re: For the children
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HooRay
Of course, the government would probably just require that a large red mandatory sticker be placed on the front of the TV (Covering up 90% of the screen) saying that this television could kill your child.
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For the Children
Try living in Iraq....bugger the TV falling on you or your children....try a laser guided bomb....whoops....sorry...wrong address......
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Re:
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So, where are the parents?
I was never dumb enough, nor have I known anyone who was stupid enough, to pull on a TV nor climb the furniture it was on. It just never occured to me. Hell, if the kids are getting crushed by TV's, maybe it's just Darwinism at work.
Not to mention the fact that the article gave incredibly low numbers that it's really more of a moot point. More kids are injured by shopping carts than falling TV's.
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Re: So, where are the parents?
ok, follow the math on this one: from 1999 to 2004, fulton county found 9 people struck by a falling branch and falling tree collectively. divide that by 6 years gets us to 1.5 deaths per year. fulton county has 915k people (2005) and the US has 296.4mil, which means that statistically 486 people will die annually from this travesty. why don't we tackle this problem too?!?
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Re: Re: So, where are the parents?
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Re: So, where are the parents?
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Re: So, where are the parents?
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Re: So, where are the parents?
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Lets Think About It!!!
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Re: Lets Think About It!!!
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My father always said....
So today's kids cant take a tv to the head? C'mon...
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Re: My father always said....
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For The Children
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Re: by Matt Bennett
Darwin, where are you when we need you!!!
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Work kills children
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Falling TV's
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All in favor of a little population control say AYE!
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Re: Heavy TVs
It's nice that you are favor of killing toddlers.
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Re: Re: Heavy TVs
Don't put words in our mouths. No one said that. But I will go on record of being in favor of having Heavy TV's dropped on parents who are irresponsible and should have had to pass a "common sense" test before being allowed to breed!!
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As overall death rates decrease
Conceivably, toddlers today are 1000 times more likely to be attacked with tear gas by their teachers than 10 years ago. Such an incident occurred yesterday in Tokyo, when a pre-school teacher was going to take the kids for a walk, got out her keychain with the mace spray on it, when the mace can spontaneously exploded, sending 7 snot-covered kids to the hospital.
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Re: As overall death rates decrease
http://mdn.mainichi-msn.co.jp/national/news/20060619p2a00m0na018000c.html
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Mmmmm.... Television....
On a second note, 'way back when', there was usually only ONE TV per household, and the parents controled what the kids watched. Now, there are TVs in the kitchen, den, kids' rooms, even the bathroom. No wonder falling TVs are more common now.
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things u can use to climb with:
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Re: by Anonymous Coward
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Just keep putting Cell Phones SAFE
I just wonder if this "doctor" was the same one I saw on TV the other night selling weight loss drugs. They probably got grant money for this breakthrough in modern science.
HALT THE PRESS- Heavy things falling on people causes injuries!!!!! Next will be the einstein who figures out that humans getting prolonged exposure to excess water leads to drownings.
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Re: Just keep putting Cell Phones SAFE
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Re: Re: Just keep putting Cell Phones SAFE
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URL Update
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TV
I propose we erect a memorial - perhaps on the Capitol lawn or near the tomb of the unknown soldier - for these poor unfortunates, a television screen 4 stories tall with running lists of the children killed by television, interspersed with huge warning labels ,'TV can kill','TV will turn your brain to mush'.
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Re: TV
While we're at it let's erect a memorial to those killed by trains while talking on cell phones or listening to iPods!! Better yet, lets dedicate a stretch of highway to them so they can be run over repeatedly day after day!!
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Re: Re: TV
You know... I've always wondered every time I see one of those memorial crosses on the side of the road that mark where someone died in an accident(usually a teenager)...
What about the kids that died because they were drinking and driving, or acting like an idiot behind the wheel to impress their friends. I think I'd lose respect for those markers if I knew the truth.
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Out of proportion
But I think we've lost a bit of perspective in that article. Yeah, TV's on heads is bad. Yeah, heavy things on heads is bad. OK... furniture can be dangerous... got it.
But there are so many things out there that can kill a child, and all of them by accident. List? OK.
Before anyone says it, yes it is horrible when a young person dies of any of these kind of accidents. It is a terrible tragedy and I agree with that. And suggesting that anyone here, by their arguments, is "in favor of killing toddlers" is simply childish and irresponsible. Way to go "mom".
What I don't agree with and what I don't understand is why this "TV epidemic" is getting any kind of knee-jerk reaction. This isn't new. It isn't some new killer technology. This is death by blunt-force trauma. And it's not, statistically, higher than any of these other things (again, good point Dorpus). While I don't think we should ignore the danger of TV's falling on children, or really, any of the other things I listed, I don't think that this is something "that we MUST!!! do something about."
We already should have been doing something about it. It's called "parenting". Yeah, I know I know... not everyone can be home all the time to watch their kids 24/7. Fine. No problem. But guess what: you can't watch your kid for every danger in the world 24/7 either.
Shit is going to happen people. It's horrible when it happens to kids, but we're not going to be able to protect every child every minute of every day. Nor should we. If we coddle our kids that much, they'll never be able to make it in "the real world" where they have to overcome such danger on their own. Anyone hear about lower immunities to basic illness? Exactly.
I've screwed myself up on many occasions as a kid. Usually doing stupid things. But guess what. I know not to touch the red glowing thingy on the stove. I know that just because it fits, a key doesn't go into a light socket. I know that if the hill looks really steep, there is danger involved in riding a bike down it. I know to ask others before messing with stuff about which I don't know.
I'd hate for my kids to suffer the pain I've been through growing up. But I was always angry with my dad for "keeping my from learning the hard way as he did". I'm proud of my mistakes and the lessons I've learned. I'm just fortunate that I'm still around to have that pride. Others aren’t. And that's how it will always (and should always) be.
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Re: Out of proportion
I'm guessing that absolutely NOTHING will change. There won't be warnings on TVs, the govt. isn't going to do anything, which is what seems to get people's dander up. Relax - this isn't going to change a thing!! Big money isn't going to be wasted!! You know why? Because most of you are actually right, the govt. isn't that stupid (all the time), and just isn't necessary.
There are many other things to worry about. However, I would say, just because other things are MORE likely to happen doesn't mean we shouldn't look into and try to prevent accidents that are less likely.
Anywho, LCDs, Plasma, - this problem is going away!! We can all sleep well at night.
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Re: Out of proportion
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Not Putting Words in Mouths
I may have said it more succinctly, but that's basically what this person is saying.
I'd suppose a few things:
1. Many people have never picked up a TV, moved a TV, and have no idea that it is so front-weighted.
2. This was a VERY small research study and not some big waste of govt. money that people seem to decry.
3. A small warning tag probably would change nothing since most people don't read that stuff anyway.
4. It's probably a good idea for people not to put Johnny's favorite toy on top of the TV.
I don't know, whatever. It's tough being Matt Bennet's Mom.
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Re: Not Putting Words in Mouths
No, they weren't saying "lets kill kids" or "let the kids die"... They were saying (and correct me if I'm wrong, SPR) "let nature take it's course". Albeit in a very cynical way.
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Re: Re: Not Putting Words in Mouths
Oopp...hang on...Matt's climbing on the TV, again. Got to run...
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Re: Not Putting Words in Mouths
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So, seriously, How does that magical TV get from the store to the living room nowadays? Or out of the box for that matter? Is there a TV Fairy I dont know about. C'mon people! The only reason kids are being injured is out of plain old stupidity. You dont put a 100 lb TV on a TV Tray. Especially if you have children around. Population control, darwinism, or whatever you want to call it, its gonna happen and stupid people are always gonna get the short end of the stick. Thats life. Deal with it!
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Re: TV Fairy
Maybe someone's husband, uncle, brother, or the delivery people are the one's that move it?
I think you are right about the TV tray, though. I wonder if they asked people what kind of furniture the TV sat on? Matt's TV is on a solid table and is heavy enough that I really doubt it's going to tip.
Where are people putting their TVs?
I suppose you are saying that the stupidity is that of the parent's who put the TV in a precarious place. Maybe so...I still wouldn't be in favor killing their children. Seems kind of rough.
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Stupid People
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It doesn't matter where it happened. I'm reading it as another manifestation of the same problem. The media (and individuals like this doctor who took it upon himself to waste peoples time) fear-mongering to get ratings and/or attention.
"Oh Noze! Teh TV's are killing kids!!!!!one!1". Seriously. I don't care how small the paper was, the doctor and all those involved took this as seriously as an epidemic. The media has a responsibility in thier reporting of the news. And it chapps my ass when they do this.
A local station in my town was reporting a stalker-related murder. Nothing too out ot the ordinary. Guy follows girl home from club and ends up killing her. Tragic and scary? Yes. But the headliner on the evening news was (and I'm not making this up) "The war on terror hits close to home". That's irresponsible sensationalism.
Same thing with this article. It's nothing that's news-worthy and yet it's treated like a growing problem that's endangering our youth.
I know things won't change with regards to TVs and warnings... simply for the fact that nothing needs to change. I don't care about "the wasted big money." That wasn't the point of my rant.
Absolutely! But my point is that simple parenting is all that you need to do. Telling your kid not to climb on the TV... or better yet, make sure the damned thing is secure. Makes sense to me. What is there to "look into"? That's the gist of my point.
OK, you "would read that more along the lines of..." Fair enough. But by accusing people of what your impression is before verifying it... that is putting words into their mouths.
You're (obviously) free to draw whatever conclusions you want from what people say. But before you go shouting "child-killer advocator!", you may want to verify that that's what they were meaning.
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unstable telly
took a 21" telly back to the shop a few years back, the damn thing was unstable, i reckon the COG was about 1" behind the front feet. this is totally uncalled for, use a counter weight if required.
yes more 'normal' tv's are front heavy, its the nature of the beast. but given the best way these days to send anyone in the media of gov running for cover is to ask them to name something 'safe' this sort of article is going to become more common.
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"Bulky, large, heavy, sharp, or very small objects in your home may be dangerous to your children. Also, children should not be permitted to randomly ingest medicines, cleaning agents, alcohol based liquids, or sugary cerials such as Captain Crunch. In addition, do not let your chidren play in the back yard, the front yard, the street, the neighborhood pool, public parks, or near the Canadian border. Thank you."
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Re:
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Protecting kids better from falling television set
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What does TV actually prevent the kids from doing
guys i am doing a research on tv turns kids nasty
and i need your help for this research so plz give me response on this mgs
and relpy before sunday the 23/july/2006
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Tv's
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