What's the deal with burning?

gillza said:

Why does my cat licks his balls ones in a while? Because he CAN

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That has to be one of the best replies here! :crackup:

Folder...you...moron... BECAUSE what thing do people generally love? DANGER. What is a burning laser? DANGEROUS. And there IS a point to lasers >50mW for not burning. They get a lot more bright, better beams, and go further!

This is simple.

Humans have had fire for so long, it's neurologically/genetically programmed into us to be fascinated by it, tend to it, poke it, re-arrange the logs... get hypnotized by the flickering coals and smoke.

And humans have been tool users so long, it's also neurologically/genetically wired in us to want to control and affect the world at a distance greater than our reach, the spear, the sling and stone, the arrow etc.

Take a child (well, LOL a BOY actually...) and raise him isolated from the rest of the world without any knowledge of hunting or violence, and he WILL throw stones, and swing sticks around. It's part of the makeup of who we are as humans.

A burning laser satisfies both of these human instincts quite nicely.

"do experiments with, review or shine at things in the distance/play with -- they're all unique to lasers. But burning things?"

Your point is, I think, that burning with lasers is of no interest because unlike the other things you mention, burning is not unique to lasers.

But of course it is not the burning as such that we are interested. We are not pyromaniacs. It is the way that lasers burn:

* very finely and precisely
* at a distance
* using pure EMR in the visible spectrum

These features are, if not unique to lasers, certainly very distinctive and not easily duplicated by any other means.

Thus your point, by its own logic, is a bad one!

sigh... I so hate to feed the trolls.

Burning is an implication of power, by default a burning laser has several characteristics guranteed that may not exist in a non-burning laser. So by asking for a burning laser you automatically are able to make several assumptions about the laser.

For this example we will assume that no focusing optics are used.

If I compare a burning laser vs a non burning laser, I know several things...

1. The burning laser is a minimum of 50mw if it can burn anything, the faster it can burn or the harder objects it can burn more likely the more powerful it is.
2. Burning lasers are going to generally have a smaller beam diameter, thus making the beam easier to see and work with. This is not a gurantee but a likelyhood.

It's kinda the same thing as asking how fast a car can go. A faster car generally has a more powerful engine, they usually look better, etc... None of that is necessarily guranteed, but generally speaking those factors hold true.

It's just the same way of getting a lot of specific information without actually digging into the specifics.

Folder said:

Now, this isn't a troll post and shouldn't be interpreted as such. If you don't like what I'm saying, leave, . I'm not trying to have a go at anyone here.

Simply put: What's the deal with burning things with lasers? Why would somebody spend $200 on a laser so they can burn things with it? I get if you're buying a laser to check out the beam, do experiments with, review or shine at things in the distance/play with -- they're all unique to lasers. But burning things? Seriously? My lighter destroys a 4W IR diode at burning things. It seems stupid, in my eyes, the obsession with burning.

Edit: And don't say 'it's just a bonus' as people purposely buy lasers that can burn. If they didn't, we wouldn't have lasers over 50mw -- you can see that fine, it can't severely hurt someone and it goes miles. Don't deny that the question everyone asks is 'can it burn' or variants of the question.

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You don't tell members that if they don't like what your saying to leave, this is a forum and we have freedom of speech. If you don't want negative responses don't post anything stupid, you are just asking for it by posting something like that!:banghead:

The higher the output the beam is more visible. Burning is a bonus that I happen to like!

So what's the deal with burning? Because I like it! Just as my dog likes licking it's own ass! :eg:

@Folder: [FONT=Verdana, Technical, Times New Roman]Get a woolly dog up ya.

Oh, and [/FONT][FONT=Verdana, Technical, Times New Roman]I'm going to give birth to your twin -> :toilet:

[/FONT]

I agree AJ, That's just what I was thinking about. I couldn't choose better words to say it. But not only fire hypnotise us, lots of tmes I have thought about Light shows, colorful bulbs, discos, a bunch of people around a tv, etc. We are just like million years ago, dancing and fascinated by lights, lasers, burning things, just around the fire singing and talking, and as always... someone trolling.

AJ_Dual said:

This is simple.

Humans have had fire for so long, it's neurologically/genetically programmed into us to be fascinated by it, tend to it, poke it, re-arrange the logs... get hypnotized by the flickering coals and smoke.

And humans have been tool users so long, it's also neurologically/genetically wired in us to want to control and affect the world at a distance greater than our reach, the spear, the sling and stone, the arrow etc.

Take a child (well, LOL a BOY actually...) and raise him isolated from the rest of the world without any knowledge of hunting or violence, and he WILL throw stones, and swing sticks around. It's part of the makeup of who we are as humans.

A burning laser satisfies both of these human instincts quite nicely.

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My family have asked what my lasers were for, as in practical purpose.
(What do you use them for?)

My answer was that they served no practical purpose whatsoever, and that that is why it is called a hobby.

My answer went down well.

@ Folder, Some people find it facinating that a light albeit a powerfull light can burn stuff and at varying distances depending on the power. Can your bic lighter burst a baloon 10ft away, I think not ! Why should it bother you so much if the people that buy lasers buy them JUST to burn stuff ? mabe they got bored of their Bic lighters

"what's the deal with burnig"

here LuLz

I've been asked a lot of times the same question, and some of my gf's and always my mother, have agreed this: If it makes you happy, come on! don't stop! (Beers seem to be an exception ) That's what I always say from then, no special spell, just it make me a happier dude, and I like to be happy, and people that loves me, loves also to see me happy, as I do with them; I don't even ask why. Everyone has a hobby, maybe your work/kids/sons/wife/parents/house/friends/lasers/helicopters/etc You are a lucky guy if you can get time to do the thing you like to do...

Toke said:

My family have asked what my lasers were for, as in practical purpose.
(What do you use them for?)

My answer was that they served no practical purpose whatsoever, and that that is why it is called a hobby.

My answer went down well.

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Its a hobby. The science intrigues me. Not my fault a field that actually requires some scientific intelligence interests me.

Also, we can stand 200 yards apart, you get your lighter, I get my laser. You say go, and then see if you can find me after I own your retinas. XD

Folder said:

So you're saying it's a better deal to get a laser to burn stuff, in the long run? Again, just checking we're on the same page here.

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Clearly no one is in this hoby for a great "DEAL". Also, it's obviously clear that people don't just buy a laser for the ability to burn stuff either.

For me...first, my fasination with lasers started with the ability to see the beams of coherent light. It reminded me of movies that I watched as a kid....you know..Star Wars and many others. The ability to burn things is just a bonus.

Going with your logic.....Why would you buy a $1.50 bic when you could just buy a $0.50 magnified glass lense....Use the power of the sun dude....Just be careful, that sun can blind you. Either way, in the end, you will get the same result.

Also, just realized that you are from Australia....it's all starting to make since to me know...?

Folder said:

Now, this isn't a troll post and shouldn't be interpreted as such. If you don't like what I'm saying, leave. I'm not trying to have a go at anyone here.

Simply put: What's the deal with burning things with lasers? Why would somebody spend $200 on a laser so they can burn things with it? I get if you're buying a laser to check out the beam, do experiments with, review or shine at things in the distance/play with -- they're all unique to lasers. But burning things? Seriously? My lighter destroys a 4W IR diode at burning things. It seems stupid, in my eyes, the obsession with burning.

Edit: And don't say 'it's just a bonus' as people purposely buy lasers that can burn. If they didn't, we wouldn't have lasers over 50mw -- you can see that fine, it can't severely hurt someone and it goes miles. Don't deny that the question everyone asks is 'can it burn' or variants of the question.

Click to expand...

If you honestly have to ask, then lasers aren't for you.

It's a boy thing, boys always play with matches, always have since there have been matches. I guess this is the modern equivalent - high tech version of naughty boys playing with matches, get it? LOL

Folder I know where you're coming from - check this post:

http://laserpointerforums.com/f58/how-old-we-49585.html

You're probably talking to teenagers, maybe ever an under 15, get it?