Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Abacus · 06-07-2002, 11:00 AM

<a href="http://www.cnn.com/2002/TECH/ptech/06/07/ionic.gadgetry.ap/index.html" target="_blank">Negative Ions</a>

Now if negative ions are supposed to be so good for you, does that mean that positive ions are bad?

I really hope this stupid fad doesn't make it to this country. We have enough stupid fads already.

Corwin · 06-07-2002, 11:08 AM

It's mostly hype. Negatively ionized air has been shown to have various effects on the human body... (which may be cultural responses to the stimuli... not sure...) but in this case it looks like the 'negative ions' are a bit like adding 'linux' to the end of your company's name just before going public.

Coragyps · 06-07-2002, 12:46 PM

Negative ions were big as a "health aid" back in maybe 1975 or so - the machines were always advertised in the Sunday Magazine section of the newspaper and such. I have wondered where they were hiding. I guess they were waiting for a new generation of shoppers.

The Other Michael · 06-07-2002, 12:53 PM

The negative ion machines I recall seemed to work well at making the area around them nasty with particulate matter pulled out of the nearby atmosphere.

But I didn't get to sit near them and so can't attest to any perceived positive health value.

cheers,
Michael

Corwin · 06-07-2002, 01:13 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by The Other Michael:
<strong>The negative ion machines I recall seemed to work well at making the area around them nasty with particulate matter pulled out of the nearby atmosphere.

But I didn't get to sit near them and so can't attest to any perceived positive health value.

cheers,
Michael</strong>

And once you got a short distance away from them?

Much cleaner air. This is their main health benefit.

Undercurrent · 06-07-2002, 03:09 PM

Maybe in ten years "ions" will be in the new-age mindset where "energy" is now. I.e. a word that new-agers use that is unrelated to, but siphons credibility off of, the concept of the same name used in physics.

m.

Abacus · 06-07-2002, 04:53 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Michael:
<strong>Maybe in ten years "ions" will be in the new-age mindset where "energy" is now. I.e. a word that new-agers use that is unrelated to, but siphons credibility off of, the concept of the same name used in physics.

m.</strong>

That was my suspicion also. The first <a href="http://cerebrex.com/cerebrex.html" target="_blank">site</a> on a Google search of negative ion machines yields all kinds of kooky, psuedoscientific crap. I don't think I'll ever be shelling out $300 for one of these.

06-07-2002, 11:00 AM	#1
Abacus Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: South Dakota Posts: 2,214	Negative Ion Machines <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2002/TECH/ptech/06/07/ionic.gadgetry.ap/index.html" target="_blank">Negative Ions</a> Now if negative ions are supposed to be so good for you, does that mean that positive ions are bad? I really hope this stupid fad doesn't make it to this country. We have enough stupid fads already.

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06-07-2002, 11:08 AM	#2
Corwin Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 4,369	It's mostly hype. Negatively ionized air has been shown to have various effects on the human body... (which may be cultural responses to the stimuli... not sure...) but in this case it looks like the 'negative ions' are a bit like adding 'linux' to the end of your company's name just before going public.

06-07-2002, 12:46 PM	#3
Coragyps Veteran Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Snyder,Texas,USA Posts: 4,411	Negative ions were big as a "health aid" back in maybe 1975 or so - the machines were always advertised in the Sunday Magazine section of the newspaper and such. I have wondered where they were hiding. I guess they were waiting for a new generation of shoppers.

06-07-2002, 12:53 PM	#4
The Other Michael Honorary Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: In the fog of San Francisco Posts: 12,631	The negative ion machines I recall seemed to work well at making the area around them nasty with particulate matter pulled out of the nearby atmosphere. But I didn't get to sit near them and so can't attest to any perceived positive health value. cheers, Michael

06-07-2002, 03:09 PM	#6
Undercurrent Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Santa Fe, NM Posts: 2,362	Maybe in ten years "ions" will be in the new-age mindset where "energy" is now. I.e. a word that new-agers use that is unrelated to, but siphons credibility off of, the concept of the same name used in physics. m.

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