Nanny Knows Best

Nanny Knows Best
Dedicated to exposing, and resisting, the all pervasive nanny state that is corroding the way of life and the freedom of the people of Britain.

Tuesday, December 19, 2006

Nanny Bans Wireless

Nanny Bans WirelessThe truly remarkable thing about Nanny and her followers is that they are happy to make decisions, and act, on "faith based analysis" totally devoid of any scientific study or verifiable evidence.

That's the beauty of knowing that you are right, you never have to check the validity of your decision making. At this stage I could make a snide comment about President Bush's and Prime Minister Blair's Iraq "policy", but that would be a tad off topic.

Anyhoo, it seems that Nanny's followers are getting themselves into a right "two and eight" (rhyming slang for "state") over wireless networks.

It seems that some parents and teachers (remember Nanny comes in many forms; "Nanny is a Nanny does") are forcing some schools to dismantle wireless computer networks.

Why?

Well these people, despite having no hard scientific evidence, are of the belief that wireless networks pose a danger to their precious childrens' health.

The fear is that the low levels of microwave radiation emitted by the transmitters could be harmful, causing loss of concentration, headaches, fatigue, memory and behavioural problems and possibly cancer in the long term.

Nanny's followers lobbied hard at Prebendal School, in Chichester West Sussex, and have persuaded the headteacher, Tim Cannell, to remove the wireless network in October.

Mr Cannell said:

"We listened to the parents' views

and they were obviously very concerned.

We also did a lot of research.

The authorities say it's safe,

but there have been no long-term studies to prove this
."

The key part being that there is no evidence to say that it is dangerous, yet they remove it anyway; a decision based purely on ignorance and fear.

Vivienne Baron, who is bringing up Sebastian, her 10 year old grandson, said:

"I did not want Sebastian exposed to a wireless computer network at school.

No real evidence has been produced

to prove that this new technology is safe in the long term.

Until it is, I think we should take a precautionary approach and use cabled systems
."

How does she know that cable technology is safe?

How does she know that pc's are safe in the long term?

They have only been with us for 20 years or so, damage caused by serious long term exposure to pc's might not be evident for another 20 years or more.

You see folks, what we think of as safe is based more often than not on our prejudices and fears, rather than hard reliable scientific fact.

At Ysgol Pantycelyn, a comprehensive in Carmarthenshire, parents put paid to the wireless network there too.

I would make the following observations; based on my own prejudices, fears and ignorance:
  • Were we to have had this fuss when fire was invented, we would still be eating raw meat and huddled together in animal skins. Fire is dangerous, it has a habit of burning things and killing people. Yet we have used it for thousands of years.


  • I wonder if Sebastian's granny, or the parents of all the other "Sebastians" allow their sprogs to use mobile phones?

    I bet many of them do.

    Aren't these meant to be slightly dubious as well? Don't these emit low level microwave radiation?

    Do I smell the faint whiff of hypocrisy here?


  • Do these same parents of "Sebastians" have pc's, wireless networks, tv's etc at home?

    I bet many do?

    Again, there is a whiff of hypocrisy in the air.
I wonder what the next panic will be about?

What do you think is dangerous and should be banned?

Remember folks, don't worry about using facts to justify your campaign or arguments; blind prejudice and ignorance is all we need in Nanny's Britain!

12 comments:

  1. Anonymous11:04 AM

    Spices and curry. They tend to have a purgative affect on the bowels. Who knows what impact excessive bowel movements may have. Have there been any long term studies on this?

    I insist that there should be one now and that until then all curry parlours should have to carry a health warning.

    This is as sensible as the bans on WiFi networks, mobile phone masts etc.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Anonymous11:09 AM

    I'm amazed that Nanny hasn't cast her gaze over the clear and present danger that contact sports and martial arts present to our children.
    Thousands of children are regularly exposed to appalling risk whilst playing Rugby, Judo etc and no satisfactory study has been carried out to assess said risk.
    The long term health of our children should be a concern of us all.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Anonymous11:25 AM

    I completely agree with the precautionary principle. I myself do not allow master Fin-tim-lin-bin-whin-bim-lim-bus-stop-F'tang-F'tang-Olé-Biscuitbarrel to watch TV as it causes cancer of the eyes. I cover myself with tinfoil whenever I have to leave the house as radio waves cause brain cancer.

    People may laugh but I have never suffered from either of these maladies.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I think there can only be one answer to the question "What is dangerous and should be banned ?" and that is...

    Nanny

    Maybe then those of us with some sense can get on with our lives without the daily intrusions and foolishness of her and her minions.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Anonymous12:40 PM

    Presumably these people will also be removing the electical wiring from their houses and asking that the same be done at the school? Mains wiring produces a much higher field than wireless networks do, and there's no evidence showing that it is safe either.

    (perhaps because it's impossible to show something is safe rather than show there is no evidence of risk - but as you observed, never let science interfere in the actions of idiots)

    ReplyDelete
  6. Anonymous12:42 PM

    i like the idea of banning nanny on safety grounds. hoist by her own petard!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Anonymous12:57 PM

    Beliefs.

    Humans are much better at beliefs than facts.

    Were it not so at least half the daily newspaper output would not exist, astrology would be an undiscovered word and gambling would revert to gambolling.

    The lottery would not be available as a fund raiser for the Olympics. Indeed the Olympics may not exist either.

    People would laugh at the idea of the Chancer becoming the PM.

    I'm sure there would be many other benefits too ...

    ReplyDelete
  8. Anonymous1:37 PM

    Yes, ban nanny and her minions. Perhaps then I won't have to take medication daily to lower my blood pressure!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Anonymous3:40 PM

    Why has nanny not banned Dihydrogen Monoxide? This substance is the known cause of thousands of deaths each year and millions of kiddiewinkies are exposed to it each day.

    See this factsheet for the full story.

    You could also check out Wikipedia as a source of background info on the DHMO panic and efforts of the concerned to prevent this death and environmental disaster.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Anonymous4:22 PM

    Life is 100% fatal, and there is no known cure. People should be banned from engaging in amatory relations.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Anonymous1:12 PM

    Yes the field arround overhead power lines is detrimental to humans, years ago it was linked with cancer, also I bet the PCs are windows, except in the Isle of Man where they insist on decent Apple computers. My microwave detector lights with mobile phones, ovens but not my wireless router or laptop!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Anonymous3:36 AM

    This is the self same gang of fuck-wits who believe that immunizations causes alzhimers and autism.

    Much better children get whooping cough and polio than get immunized.

    Ladies and gentlemen, I present Junk Science at it's best.

    ReplyDelete