Posted on 06/07/2005 8:01:09 PM PDT by neverdem
THE FACTS It was more than 70 years ago that television sets first went on sale in the United States, and perhaps it was just as long ago that a cautious mother, noticing a son or daughter propped in front of that mesmerizing new invention, snapped and barked the words that generations of children would grow up hearing: "Don't sit so close; you'll ruin your eyesight!"
Now, scientists can say with certainty that the age-old warning is outdated.
Before the 1950's, television sets emitted levels of radiation that after repeated and extended exposure could have heightened the risk of eye problems in some people, said Dr. Norman Saffra, the chairman of ophthalmology at Maimonides Medical Center in Brooklyn.
But modern televisions are built with proper shielding, so radiation is no longer an issue. "It's not an old wives' tale; it's an old technology tale," Dr. Saffra said. "Based on the world our grandmothers lived and grew up in, it was an appropriate recommendation."
While concentrating on a screen for hours on end may not cause blindness, it can lead to eyestrain. Keeping the room fairly well lighted while the television is on and peeling your eyes from the screen for an occasional break can prevent this.
Parents should also be alert for the child who keeps creeping closer to the screen. Not because of radiation, of course, but because the child may need glasses.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
Do you realize that by linking to NYSlimes website you help them make a lot of advertising dollars?
I'm still going to yell at the kids to move away from the TV with the warning that it's bad for their eyes because when they sit in front of the television I can't see. The warning, real or imagined, only gives my words the sense of urgency that it takes to make them move their lazy rears.
Nowadays, it's sitting too close to our computers screens.
FReepmail me if you want on or off my health and science ping list.
Ping.
Reading the NYT is bad for your eyes... Not to mention the rest of your body.
They also told us that "choking the chicken"/"spanking the monkey" would make us go blind.
I just did it til I needed glasses.
"Don't sit so close; you'll ruin your eyesight!"
Other popular warnings....
"Don`t climb that tree, you`ll break your neck!"
"If you keep making that face it will stay that way!"
"You`re not getting a BB gun, you`ll shoot your eye out!"
"If you put that grenade in your mouth and pull the pin, you`ll blow your head off!"
Thanks for the ping.
Do you realize that the following story is on the NY Times front page.
Senator Clinton Assails Bush and G.O.P. at Campaign Fund-Raiser
longtermmemmory wrote:
and yet the MSM will not cover this speech for one second.
This insanity should be put side by side to show hitlary is further left than even dean.
her own words condemn her.
12 posted on 06/06/2005 3:07:35 PM EDT by longtermmemmory
To answer your question, yes, information is not free. When someone can show me a conservative newspaper that matches the coverage of the Times, including health and science topics, I'll be glad to switch from the Times.
The problem today is the drunken cameramen, and producers high on drugs.
The resulting show is about as meanigful as looking into a kalidascope. With the constant motions of the video, the endless half second snapshots, there never is a clear shot of what it is they are pretending to be showing the audience.
I think it has to have a big negative impact on young minds.
I used to enjoy shows on big equipment, ships, bridges etc. I no longer even turn them on as they just infuriate me because they never show anything but a 1 or 2 minute total clear shot during a half hour program.
You mean that I'll go blind watching Paris Hilton wash a car! Yeekes!
To be fair, the Discovery Channel's "Deadliest Catch" has had some great photography. Some of the best video I've seen recently.
Virtually everyone who was a kid in the 1950s needs reading glasses today (or CK)... it is called presbyopia - a natural aging of the accommodative system due to lens hardening.
Hey, we didn't even HAVE a tv till the 60s, and I STILL need glasses! No fair!
Can't believe you left out "running with scissors!"....
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