On Dec 24 I saw an ad on Australian TV for a button that you stick on your mobile phone to shield you from the dangerous radiation that mobile phones are alleged to cause (according to "studies"). It costs $40. Google around, you'll find the website for the "RadiGuard".
Leaving aside the fact that the actual studies to date done on mobile phone radiation (not the "studies" the commercial referred to) have been at best inconclusive with regard to actual or even potential harm (and here's a nice link on that subject - and that's a site you should visit every day, by the way), here's why this thing is, frankly, a complete scam designed to make you afraid and then capitalise on that manufactured fear:
1. This device is meant to be a radiation barrier, yet you stick it to the BACK of your phone. Shouldn't it be between your head and the phone, i.e. on the FRONT? A barrier is no damn good if it's anywhere other than between you and the hazard. This shouldn't need pointing out. Unless you're more concerned about hand cancer than head cancer.
1a. Perhaps this sticky button is meant to "stop" radiation in a way other than providing a physical barrier? Other than on Star Trek, no "field" exists which can stop EM or IR radiation. There's a reason your radiologist stands behind a big thingy and wears lead underpants.
2. It claims to "block" IR radiation - heat - without itself heating up. In other words it claims to be able to violate physics and destroy energy. Or perhaps it can cool itself at the exact same rate as it heats so there appears to be no change in temperature - the world's most efficient heatsink? Or perhaps it simply transports the energy to another dimension? If any of those apply it'd be no small accomplishment for a device with no power source.
3. It claims to block 99.5% of the radiation your phone emits - without affecting signal strength. Considering most of the radiation emitted by your phone IS the signal, again, that's no small accomplishment.
4. It claims to use something called "Scalar Energy Embedding" ... which does not exist. I don't mind if the crew of the Enterprise string some science-y words together as some kind of plot device, but the crew aren't charging gullible Klingons $40 apiece for sticky buttons and claiming they defy everything currently known about everything and will protect you from the brain tumors that EVERYONE WHO USES A MOBILE PHONE IS GETTING right now - oh, that's right, they're not.
This kind of misuse of the word "energy" - and this whole sordid scam itself - reminds me of those fucking ridiculous rubber hologram bracelets that are meant to make you a better basketball player/golfer/xtreem sports DUDE. And which also cost $40. Hell, even Today Tonight exposed that particular scam for what it was. The sticky radiation guard from THE FUTURE deserves no less.
What to do apart from complain? Bugger alerting the "journalists" at Channel 7 (as they're highly selective about what they choose to call a scam), complain to the ACCC: http://www.accc.gov.au/content/index.phtml/itemId/54217#h3_37 - go to General Complaints.
People have a right to truthful and accurate information about anything they'll potentially spend money on. Lying might not be illegal, but lying to make money is definitely illegal. This product is designed to take advantage of a false sense of insecurity and a lack of scientific understanding. It makes claims about "studies" which are not supported. It makes claims about the danger of mobile phones which are not supported. The claims it makes about its own function are not just unsupported, but pure fiction. Everything we're being told about this product is false, except the price tag (which is the whole point of its existence).
Go, bitch & moan to the ACCC, before someone you love spends their hard-earned on this sticky plastic button in the belief that they're protecting you or themselves from THE CANCER. If you've seen an actual person you love suffer from actual cancer, seeing charlatans attempt to bilk people out of their money using alleged cures or preventions of cancer as the bait should seriously get your back up.
I'm off to write a letter.
Leaving aside the fact that the actual studies to date done on mobile phone radiation (not the "studies" the commercial referred to) have been at best inconclusive with regard to actual or even potential harm (and here's a nice link on that subject - and that's a site you should visit every day, by the way), here's why this thing is, frankly, a complete scam designed to make you afraid and then capitalise on that manufactured fear:
1. This device is meant to be a radiation barrier, yet you stick it to the BACK of your phone. Shouldn't it be between your head and the phone, i.e. on the FRONT? A barrier is no damn good if it's anywhere other than between you and the hazard. This shouldn't need pointing out. Unless you're more concerned about hand cancer than head cancer.
1a. Perhaps this sticky button is meant to "stop" radiation in a way other than providing a physical barrier? Other than on Star Trek, no "field" exists which can stop EM or IR radiation. There's a reason your radiologist stands behind a big thingy and wears lead underpants.
2. It claims to "block" IR radiation - heat - without itself heating up. In other words it claims to be able to violate physics and destroy energy. Or perhaps it can cool itself at the exact same rate as it heats so there appears to be no change in temperature - the world's most efficient heatsink? Or perhaps it simply transports the energy to another dimension? If any of those apply it'd be no small accomplishment for a device with no power source.
3. It claims to block 99.5% of the radiation your phone emits - without affecting signal strength. Considering most of the radiation emitted by your phone IS the signal, again, that's no small accomplishment.
4. It claims to use something called "Scalar Energy Embedding" ... which does not exist. I don't mind if the crew of the Enterprise string some science-y words together as some kind of plot device, but the crew aren't charging gullible Klingons $40 apiece for sticky buttons and claiming they defy everything currently known about everything and will protect you from the brain tumors that EVERYONE WHO USES A MOBILE PHONE IS GETTING right now - oh, that's right, they're not.
This kind of misuse of the word "energy" - and this whole sordid scam itself - reminds me of those fucking ridiculous rubber hologram bracelets that are meant to make you a better basketball player/golfer/xtreem sports DUDE. And which also cost $40. Hell, even Today Tonight exposed that particular scam for what it was. The sticky radiation guard from THE FUTURE deserves no less.
What to do apart from complain? Bugger alerting the "journalists" at Channel 7 (as they're highly selective about what they choose to call a scam), complain to the ACCC: http://www.accc.gov.au/content/index.phtml/itemId/54217#h3_37 - go to General Complaints.
People have a right to truthful and accurate information about anything they'll potentially spend money on. Lying might not be illegal, but lying to make money is definitely illegal. This product is designed to take advantage of a false sense of insecurity and a lack of scientific understanding. It makes claims about "studies" which are not supported. It makes claims about the danger of mobile phones which are not supported. The claims it makes about its own function are not just unsupported, but pure fiction. Everything we're being told about this product is false, except the price tag (which is the whole point of its existence).
Go, bitch & moan to the ACCC, before someone you love spends their hard-earned on this sticky plastic button in the belief that they're protecting you or themselves from THE CANCER. If you've seen an actual person you love suffer from actual cancer, seeing charlatans attempt to bilk people out of their money using alleged cures or preventions of cancer as the bait should seriously get your back up.
I'm off to write a letter.
Qlink very similar.. It's amazing how these crackpot witchdoctor products all seem to come in batches. It's almost like they all latch onto something and rush to get in before the public or authorities cotton on.. Oh wait, that's exactly what snake oil salesmen have done for thousands of years..
ReplyDeleteWonder what the obsession these idiots have with holograms is all about? If holograms could balance something: everyone's visa would be balanced.. and that sure as shit doesn't happen.
I work in health care, and have been concerned for some time about the fact that when I use my mobile for any length of time, I start to feel an "itch" of sorts, deep in my ear and my mobile (a smart phone) gets very hot.
ReplyDeleteI find your logic and arguement very compelling, and I did try to find out more about the product before I purchased it from an online community as a special offer at a special price.
I Googled RadiGuard, sent an email through and asked them to get back to me. I then phoned them on their toll free number and was answered by a reception company who told me someone would return my call. No one did, so that should have been my first clue that there was something not quite right.
However, I thought that maybe they were really busy, and as the offer was going to end I purchased 2 Guards at the special price. I was sent vouchers out via email, and followed the instructions correctly. The company was supposed to send the guards to my home address. This was about a month ago, and I have had no response from the company...despite requesting a confirmation email when I originally emailed them the voucher codes.
I have since phoned them numerous times and emailed them....no response. And I am not alone. The Community website from which I purchased the vouchers are also having nothing but issues with this company.
They will refund my money, so I am not out of pocket, but I just wanted to point out that not only does the product sound questionable ( if you follow this thread), but the company is decidedly dodgy.
BEWARE AND DO NOT DO BUSINESS WITH RADIGUARD!
Hi Penny
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing that sucky experience. Your refund notwithstanding, it doesn't sound like the Radiguard people value customer satisfaction any more than they value good science. Such is the way of fly-by-night opportunists.