Eclipse Safety and Idiocy

[medawyn]

I thoroughly understand the potential danger in viewing the eclipse without proper protection. It's a serious issue, and I do hope people have understood the gravity of the warnings.

 

BUT, seriously! Via several of my local FB groups, it appears that many people think the sun will be somehow differently dangerous all day Monday. How are park rangers going to handle all the blind animals?!? Several moms are taking the day off work, because they are afraid to take their infants outside on the way to daycare. Not preschoolers where daycare might have them outside without adequate supervision, but under 6 month old infants.

 

I'm heroically refraining from pointing out that the sun won't be shooting lasers on Monday. In fact the sun won't be changing at all! If you don't look at the sun, it will just be like any ordinary day.

[6packofun]

And, get this: If you WANT to safely watch the eclipse you're not morally inferior!  LOL  Seriously, this isn't a WWJD moment, people.  I saw someone on FB snidely talk about how people are so interested in this eclipse but will ignore nature and everything else around them. THEY are going to enjoy 100% of the experience, oh ho!!

 

Get a grip.

[regentrude]

It is ridiculous. There is nothing more dangeours about the sun itself. If anything, it shines less - because well, the moon.

The only danger is that people feel compelled to look at it, which they normally refrain from.

[Monica_in_Switzerland]

This literally made me LOL.  People are INSANE!!!  

[Guest]

If you look at the sun on solar eclipse day, your eyes will explode. Didn't you know?

[Bambam]

I'm afraid I might have contributed to this. A friend posted that you *needed* to keep your dogs inside because otherwise they would look at the eclipse and go blind.

 

So, I acted concerned about all the wild animals. Has PETA not sent out an alert so that everyone can go out and put blinders on the wild animals? 
What about ranchers? Aren't they making sure all the livestock are in barns?

What about the birds?

 

I just figured that people would all understand that as sarcasm. But maybe not. Maybe there are people out there worried about all the soon-to-be-blind animals. 

 

Because, seriously folks, it isn't like there has never been a solar eclipse before. 

 

Personally, I'm fine with people staying home all day. Safer for the rest of us. 

[Soror]

I just read a forwarded warming from this guy who knows a real-life rocket scientist, and according to him, the rocket scientist said the only way to safely view the eclipse is through a welding helmet, there are no safe glasses at all. Ok. 

[Pawz4me]

I'm afraid I might have contributed to this. A friend posted that you *needed* to keep your dogs inside because otherwise they would look at the eclipse and go blind.

 

Yes, I'm reading a lot about that on some of the pet boards I'm on.

 

Which makes me contemplate how unobservant of animals people must be. IME not many animals stand around looking skyward.

[GailV]

.

 

I'm heroically refraining from pointing out that the sun won't be shooting lasers on Monday. In fact the sun won't be changing at all! If you don't look at the sun, it will just be like any ordinary day.

 

Wow, now I want to have lasers shoot out of the sun!  How cool would that be!  Fingers crossed for some super-viillain to figure this out by tomorrow. Or maybe by 2024.

 

Sheesh, thanks for destroying my simple pleasures in a relatively mundane astronomical event that's happened countless times in history, with the moon appearing even smaller hundreds of years ago.  :lol:  Now I want nothing less than super-laser-weaponized-eclipse!

[DesertBlossom]

I told DH that our kids' school was having "rainy day schedule" and keeping everyone inside even for recess, and that teachers would be escorting the kids to the bathroom even, lest they run out and try to stare at the sun. He replied "that's the dumbest thing I have ever heard of. Please keep them home from school." ðŸ˜

[Xahm]

A lady posted in my local Facebook group a picture of her dog staring at the sun. This was supposed to be evidence that you should keep your dogs, or maybe just scent hounds (her post was a little confusing) indoors. I decided not to point out that it was actually just evidence that she should keep her dog in all the time, and that the eclipse would actually be the safest time to be out if her dog actually routinely states at the sun.

[fralala]

Indeed. In reading about the history of solar eclipses-- from the Chinese theory that a dragon was ingesting the sun, to the Greeks laying down their weapons at this apparent sign from the Gods-- I thought about our own curiosity: the solar eclipse so misunderstood (despite all available scientific explanations) that people are worrying that they might need special glasses on that day if they plan to drive. (Obviously, they should just drive with their eyes closed.)

 

As I said to the unfortunate man (unfortunate to be married to me) who began a story with, "You know, there was a man who went blind--" "STOP. JUST STOP."

[KungFuPanda]

I think it is going to be differently dangerous. Usually, you can't stare at the sun because it hurts and you look away. The eclipse lets you stare longer without that level of discomfort and that's why it's tricky. I'm really not concerned about my dog looking at it because he's a dufus and won't look where I point anyway. I'll be surprised if nobody manages to damage their eyesight by looking directly at it. Taking an entire class out to stare at it in cheap glasses seems like a liability to me. Even in school in the 70s we knew to go the pinhole route.

 

Please correct me if I'm wrong, but I understood that you can look at it during totality (how long does that last?) but when it's shifting in and out is when people get those crescent-shaped scars on their retinas from getting just one good look and looking away after they experience discomfort.

Edited August 20, 2017 by KungFuPanda

[catz]

In '79 we were kept in from recess that day because we were all going to burn our eyes out.  LASER BEAMS PEOPLE!

 

The pet stuff was cracking me up.  I really doubt anyone's pets gives a flying leap about looking at the eclipse.  LOL.  Think of the blind squirrels!

Edited August 20, 2017 by WoolySocks

[Word Nerd]

I saw a post this morning with a photo of a horse wearing a bra over its eyes. The post claimed the sun was much more dangerous when the moon covers it, so it's important to protect animals. I'm sure it was just a joke, but considering all the eclipse stupidity out there, I wonder how many will take it seriously.

[sassenach]

My friend is an elementary school teacher and he just posted that his whole school is on LOCKDOWN during the eclipse. No one can go outside, not even to the bathroom. Apparently a lot of schools are doing this because they don't want the liability. It's such a shame.

 

Are Americans the only ones who get this batshit crazy about eclipses? I'm starting to feel really embarrassed.

[Caroline]

I think Americans are the only ones who are batshit crazy about suing people and liability issues.

 

My friend is an elementary school teacher and he just posted that his whole school is on LOCKDOWN during the eclipse. No one can go outside, not even to the bathroom. Apparently a lot of schools are doing this because they don't want the liability. It's such a shame.

 

Are Americans the only ones who get this batshit crazy about eclipses? I'm starting to feel really embarrassed.

[Daria]

My friend is an elementary school teacher and he just posted that his whole school is on LOCKDOWN during the eclipse. No one can go outside, not even to the bathroom. Apparently a lot of schools are doing this because they don't want the liability. It's such a shame.

 

Are Americans the only ones who get this batshit crazy about eclipses? I'm starting to feel really embarrassed.

 

I read an article about craziness that surrounded a previous eclipse in Australia, so I think the answer to your question is no.

 

Only the city schools are in session here, suburbs and privates, including mine, start later.  Many of them are taking kids outside to watch with glasses, which I think is great.  I admit that I'd be nervous about recess during the partial phases, because I think there's a segment of elementary school students who like to do the opposite of what they're told, but Lockdown seems ridiculous.

 

My mother just told me she's going up on the roof with a colander on her head so she can watch the eclipse through the holes.  Luckily, I had an extra pair of eclipse goggles, so I gave them to her.  I'm pretty sure that a colander is not the solution.  To be clear, she wasn't planning on using the colander as a pinhole projector, but simply as something to look through.

[KungFuPanda]

I read an article about craziness that surrounded a previous eclipse in Australia, so I think the answer to your question is no.

 

Only the city schools are in session here, suburbs and privates, including mine, start later. Many of them are taking kids outside to watch with glasses, which I think is great. I admit that I'd be nervous about recess during the partial phases, because I think there's a segment of elementary school students who like to do the opposite of what they're told, but Lockdown seems ridiculous.

 

My mother just told me she's going up on the roof with a colander on her head so she can watch the eclipse through the holes. Luckily, I had an extra pair of eclipse goggles, so I gave them to her. I'm pretty sure that a colander is not the solution. To be clear, she wasn't planning on using the colander as a pinhole projector, but simply as something to look through.

Daaaaaamn. I was with your mom until that last sentence.

 

Mine will be really rigged. A piece of poster board on my fire pit and a piece of cardboard duct taped to a music stand with a hole in it for projecting. Gonna sit on the patio, read a book, and look at my shadow now and again. If I get lazy, I'll bust out the colander.

Edited August 20, 2017 by KungFuPanda

[regentrude]

My mother just told me she's going up on the roof with a colander on her head so she can watch the eclipse through the holes.  Luckily, I had an extra pair of eclipse goggles, so I gave them to her.  I'm pretty sure that a colander is not the solution.  To be clear, she wasn't planning on using the colander as a pinhole projector, but simply as something to look through.

 

And that would be supposed to accomplish what, exactly?

[ktgrok]

people are incredibly ignorant. It's killing me. The schools on lockdown sounds like something from a dystopian novel. 

[Daria]

Daaaaaamn. I was with your mom until that last sentence.

 

She listens to a ton of NPR and swears they said colanders are safe choices, but I'm guessing she turned it on in the middle of a sentence that said "You can make a pinhole camera out of a colander to safely watch the eclipse", or some such.

 

She did say that she'd be more comfortable with glasses, because a colander would look silly, so I'm hoping she chooses those. 

[regentrude]

She listens to a ton of NPR and swears they said colanders are safe choices, but I'm guessing she turned it on in the middle of a sentence that said "You can make a pinhole camera out of a colander to safely watch the eclipse", or some such.

 

 

LOL A quick google search found what they talked about on NPR

"Instead, use a piece of cardboard with a pinhole and project the sun’s image onto a white surface. Bonadurer also suggested using a kitchen colander to create lots of images."

https://www.wpr.org/plan-your-trip-south-see-once-lifetime-great-american-eclipse

[Daria]

people are incredibly ignorant. It's killing me. The schools on lockdown sounds like something from a dystopian novel. 

 

I have to hope that when they say "lockdown" they mean what we call "lockdown - response" here.

 

At every school I've worked at there are either 2 ypes of lockdown:

 

Type 1 (Lockdown no-response):  There is an intruder in the building.  Lock your doors, close your shades, keep kids away from windows and silent.

 

Type 2 (Lockdown response):  We don't want kids in the hallway right now.  Keep teaching, but no bathroom passes.  If you're an adult, and you're free at the moment, check and see if the front desk needs your help. 

 

I've seen lockdown responses for all sorts of reasons.

 

1) An ambulance has been called for a kid with an asthma attack and they want the hallway clear for the gurney.

 

2) They've called for a severe weather warning in the near future, and they're asking you to gather your kids because the request to move to the hallway is coming soon.

 

3) There's something going on in the community, such as a shooting.  (Usually this proceeds pretty quickly to "recess is cancelled, keep the shades drawn, otherwise business as usual") 

 

I still think Lockdown - response is an over reaction during the eclipse, but not quite as wild as hiding in the closet would be, particularly in schools where kids move outside the buildings to get to the bathrooms.

[Daria]

LOL A quick google search found what they talked about on NPR

"Instead, use a piece of cardboard with a pinhole and project the sun’s image onto a white surface. Bonadurer also suggested using a kitchen colander to create lots of images."

https://www.wpr.org/plan-your-trip-south-see-once-lifetime-great-american-eclipse

 

Which sounds really cool!

 

But not on the head people, not on the head!

[MrsBasil]

Schools are going on lock down?   My kid's district bought glasses for every 1-12th grader.  My kid's school plans to have all of the kids outside to view the eclipse. 

 

I have seen FB conversations where people plan to stay inside all day. They are afraid their kids will accidentally look up.  To each their own, I guess. 

[AlmiraGulch]

My school district supposedly bought glasses for all the kids, but then oops! A bunch of them aren't certified.  So the solution at DD14's high school is to let everyone outside to watch, with glasses, except the freshman.  Ummm....ok?  They won't let the kids take their own to school.  

 

She's staying home tomorrow.

[Liz CA]

Which sounds really cool!

 

But not on the head people, not on the head!

 

Dh and I were laughing so hard, we are crying now. Somehow this upset our little boxer.

 

[Mimm]

My friend is an elementary school teacher and he just posted that his whole school is on LOCKDOWN during the eclipse. No one can go outside, not even to the bathroom. Apparently a lot of schools are doing this because they don't want the liability. It's such a shame.

 

Are Americans the only ones who get this batshit crazy about eclipses? I'm starting to feel really embarrassed.

 

One school in my area actually cancelled for the day because of insurance issues. Part of me doesn't blame them. People will sue for nothing it seems.

 

My daughter's school is giving out eclipse glasses and taking everyone outside to watch it. So that'll be nice. :)

[Daria]

My school district supposedly bought glasses for all the kids, but then oops! A bunch of them aren't certified.  So the solution at DD14's high school is to let everyone outside to watch, with glasses, except the freshman.  Ummm....ok?  They won't let the kids take their own to school.  

 

She's staying home tomorrow.

 

Is the school in the path of the totality?  

 

Certainly by 9th grade the kids can be trusted to take turns looking with another kid, no?

 

If a kid has a major problem with impulse control, make an exception for him/her, since they have 3/4 of the number they need.

 

Or, if that doesn't work, send 2 grades out, bring them back in and collect the glasses, then send another crew out.  It's an event that lasts for hours.

 

I can understand why schools have reservations about 5 year olds playing outside at recess, but not about 14 year olds.

[Liz CA]

Honestly, this reflects the 0.02 second attention span. People hear something about needing extra special glasses on Monday but don't pay attention to the fact they only need them IF they are planning to look at the sun. And the sun will actually be less powerful for the time it is being obscured.

Mothers thinking they cannot take their kids to daycare because it's not safe to go outside....maybe they were kidding ...one can hope.

[Guest]

And that would be supposed to accomplish what, exactly?

Making a pretty pattern on her retinas?

[Beaniemom]

I just saw that our vet office posted encouraging people to keep their pets indoors during the eclipse. Do they really think dogs are going to stare at the sun? We're only at 80% here too.

[Tammi K]

it appears that many people think the sun will be somehow differently dangerous all day Monday. How are park rangers going to handle all the blind animals?!? ...

I'm heroically refraining from pointing out that the sun won't be shooting lasers on Monday. In fact the sun won't be changing at all! If you don't look at the sun, it will just be like any ordinary day.

 

OH MY GOODNESS - THIS EXACTLY!  

 

I am seeing the exact same thing.  And what's even worse is that I'm in an area that isn't even getting 50% coverage.  I have heard people commenting on what's going to happen after the moose and bear become blind. 

 

And, if I see the FB post about keeping pets indoors or dealing with their permanent blindness, I'm going to cry.

 

I worry for the state of humanity...and it's not because of the eclipse... :rolleyes:

 

[Liz CA]

OH MY GOODNESS - THIS EXACTLY!  

 

I am seeing the exact same thing.  And what's even worse is that I'm in an area that isn't even getting 50% coverage.  I have heard people commenting on what's going to happen after the moose and bear become blind. 

 

And, if I see the FB post about keeping pets indoors or dealing with their permanent blindness, I'm going to cry.

 

I worry for the state of humanity...and it's not because of the eclipse... :rolleyes:

 

 

:lol:  :lol:  :lol:

 

[nixpix5]

OH MY GOODNESS - THIS EXACTLY!

 

I am seeing the exact same thing. And what's even worse is that I'm in an area that isn't even getting 50% coverage. I have heard people commenting on what's going to happen after the moose and bear become blind.

 

And, if I see the FB post about keeping pets indoors or dealing with their permanent blindness, I'm going to cry.

 

I worry for the state of humanity...and it's not because of the eclipse... :rolleyes:

 

Laughing so hard right now. Yes, people are uninformed. They just don't get that animals are not as eager as all of us to stare at the sun on Monday. They don't stare at the sun any other day so I am pretty sure there isn't going to be a sudden interest among the forest animals for events in the sky. I don't think many people actually even understand why they need to wear the protective eye wear to view it.

[madteaparty]

And that would be supposed to accomplish what, exactly?

I don't know, but it sounds hilarious and I think everyone should go out in their colander helmets tomorrow. I'm partial to my instantpot insert, myself. 😂 Edited August 21, 2017 by madteaparty

[madteaparty]

I'm also not convinced that those flimsy little dollar glasses are better than my regular ol sunglasses. But I'm ignorant and will go blind tomorrow then get hit by a blind deer on the way home.

[Tanaqui]

Colander hat all the way, ramen!

[Caraway]

I don't understand all the driving advisories. I mean, people drive at night, right?

 

Is it because of all the blind animals that will be staggering around???

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Corraleno]

I'm also not convinced that those flimsy little dollar glasses are better than my regular ol sunglasses.

 

Not sure if you were joking, but in case you weren't, the difference between really dark sunglasses and eclipse glasses is the difference between blocking ~80% of the light from the sun and blocking 99.9997%. With eclipse glasses you literally can't see anything unless you're looking directly at the sun, and then you see an orange ball.

[Lori D.]

"Instead, use a piece of cardboard with a pinhole and project the sun’s image onto a white surface. Bonadurer also suggested using a kitchen colander to create lots of images."

https://www.wpr.org/plan-your-trip-south-see-once-lifetime-great-american-eclipse

 

Which sounds really cool!

 

It is cool! We used a colander (I thought of it all by myself!) 2 solar eclipses ago, and just projected onto our light gray block wall. Worked great and was very fun with oodles of teeny little solar eclipse shadows.

 

Last eclipse, we were in Disneyland, and standing in line when the sunlight was dimming somewhat and there were no clouds. That's when I suddenly remembered the eclipse was happening while we were on vacation. DSs used the small circular vent holes in their ball caps and projected onto the palm of my hand.  :thumbup1:  :w00t:

 

Really, no need for special sunglasses when you can just be creative with what's on hand and make a pinhole projection... ;)

[Pawz4me]

I don't understand all the driving advisories. I mean, people drive at night, right?

 

Is it because of all the blind animals that will be staggering around???

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

It's a puzzler. The best I can come up with is that the authorities are worried that people will get distracted trying to watch the eclipse instead of paying attention to the road and their driving?

[Laura Corin]

Are Americans the only ones who get this batshit crazy about eclipses? I'm starting to feel really embarrassed.

 

The one in Scotland in 2015 was big news with lots of advice.  I don't remember lock-downs or people fearing the sun to be especially dangerous that day.  We made various pinhole devices.  I was at work that day, and everyone in the building came out to look at my pinhole image.

[marbel]

I thought that part of the danger - in 100% areas - was that as people are looking at the sun while it is completely covered, their pupils dilate to let in more light.  And then, suddenly, the sun reappears; the eyes adjust quickly but not that quickly, right?  So that's where (much of) the danger comes from?   Is that not correct?  Because that seems reasonable to me.   

[FaithManor]

Well, the colander is the helmet of "The Spaghetti Monster" of the infamous "Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster" so if a bunch of people go out wearing them, then ya know....conspiracy theorists unite! THE APOCALYPSE!

 

😠:D

[MedicMom]

I'm ignoring all of it.

The amount of stupid hurts.

[eagleynne]

It's a puzzler. The best I can come up with is that the authorities are worried that people will get distracted trying to watch the eclipse instead of paying attention to the road and their driving?

  

I thought that part of the danger - in 100% areas - was that as people are looking at the sun while it is completely covered, their pupils dilate to let in more light.  And then, suddenly, the sun reappears; the eyes adjust quickly but not that quickly, right?  So that's where (much of) the danger comes from?   Is that not correct?  Because that seems reasonable to me.

 

Around here (Indiana) they've been warning people not to drive while wearing eclipse glasses and to pull off if they want to have a look.

[FaithManor]

It's a puzzler. The best I can come up with is that the authorities are worried that people will get distracted trying to watch the eclipse instead of paying attention to the road and their driving?

This. And a ton of drivers will likely pull over when it gets close to totality, clogging roadsides, putting a far greater number of pedestrians out walking between and around vehicles, standing in the roads, etc. Given how often pedestrians appear to at chicken with cars in the local Wal-Mart parking lot, I have no doubt that the least observant amongst us will be ten times worse while staring up!

Edited August 21, 2017 by FaithManor

[wintermom]

We're being wild risk-takers and going to the outdoor waterpark. We're in Canada, so not getting a full eclipse anyway. No plans on staring into the sun for us. I think we'll be fine. ;)

 

I remember the solar eclipse back when I was in grade 6. They kept us school kids indoors for the whole day. No risk taking at all. I don't remember how many animals became blind at that time.  :laugh: