It´s nice to see a real discussion and some different viewpoints. As far as the conspiracy theories go, you can dispell those outright. I have no connection to LC or the guys over at Wicked Lasers per se. Yes, I bought one of their 35mw´s and I´m okay with the laser. Nothing wrong with it. I mainly like it because it doesn´t have a functionless pocket clip on it. I also bought an Atlas Nova ¨astronomy grade¨ that I´m quite happy with due to its power. I seem to have gotten lucky with a good one. Relatively speaking, I´d even say the Wicked was a bit pricey for what I got. But whatever, I lived with it. I´ve also posted, I think maybe on this forum somewhere, that I was interested in a LaserGlow Aries. Maybe I´ll get one of those someday. But I expect I would get goggles of some sort with it.
Senkat replied and I appreciate that. While he has stressed that neither he nor his daughter were in any danger whatsoever, that´s not the point I´m necessarily trying to make here. The only person to get it right was NOOB. The issue isn´t necessarily about Senkat himself, although I´ll grant you when I first saw the video I was concerned about both the man and the daughter, it´s about the message the video sends to others not as experienced in the hobby. Noob hit it on the head, really.
Now, in my own defense (can you tell I like to debate?), whether or not the laser is a 175mw (although Senkat´s I understand actually puts out more like 189mw) and costs $800, as Lazerlover pointed out, is immaterial. Let´s face it, eye damage can be done with a laser costing much less. Goggles are recommended (as mentioned on this very forum) for lasers at 55mw and up, more or less, when used in relatively close quarters and not being simply pointed at the sky. That´s Laser Safety 101 right? So I´m entirely within reason, surely, to point out a video which appears to violate those norms to get opinions. Censorship need not be the response.
Now, what I´ve said here is even irrespective of the IR issue that is so often talked about which I´ve not even addressed. Now, I can kind of predict the response on this one: ¨But, the Aries HAS an IR filter you jerky stupid moron!¨ Fine, but again, the average Joe out there might go out and buy a 100mw Ebayser thinking he can do all those tricks, clowning around etc, and feel safe about it without a clue as to the real dangers. Point made.
Yes, now that I know it was Senkat´s daughter, I expect the experiment was much safer than it would be in the hands of a newbie. I´m simply questioning the judgement to post it on Youtube without some sort of preface as to safety suggestions because, honestly, I would have expected something like that from someone with Senkat´s expertise. I like Senkat a lot. Looking back on some posts I´ve made on here when I was seeking advice, he was extremely helpful and he clearly has a passion for the hobby. I think he just didn´t consider how the video might be processed in the minds of people with less experience. I think he took his experience for granted perhaps. Anyone can make that mistake. He may not consider this a mistake in judgement, but I do. Not the judgement to do the experiment itself necessarily mind you (although I disagree with using a child as a prop) but to post to YouTube without the proper safety warning issues, ESPECIALLY given that a child is in the picture. It gives the impression that kids can be involved in laser games...and I think it sends a very mixed signal. But it appears some of us have a difference of opinion on this issue. However, I will defend my position in this particular case vigorously as you can see.
I remember recently my wife was checking out my laser for the first time...and it´s only a 35mw, but that too can be dangerous. I jumped on her (figuratively speaking) because she was pointing it towards a window to the outside and I could sense there could be a reflection off the window causing a direct hit to her eyes AND the possibly that it the beam could hit an unsuspecting passerby outside. I wanted to educate her on it and stress to her that it´s not a toy, to be careful with it, not to point it near anyone, etc. This is how people without a clue as to the power of a laser often behaves. We´ve all seen or heard about it. Their first instinct is to point it at something shiny to see the pretty lights bounce all over the place, or at people to scare them, or at planes to see if the beam hits it.
Yes, maybe I jumped on Senkat the same way, but it was all in the name of safety and not to flame him. I wanted to give urgent attention to a matter that I thought needed it. I think we´d all rather err on the side of safety and inform the public appropriately, otherwise I venture to say, we´ll be reading about cases of laser accidents with the proliferation of these powerful instruments (or ¨toys¨depending on who´s using it) in recent years.
Lastly, the issue isn´t one of legality, it´s one of safety and the message of the video. Pointing lasers at planes may be illegal (and I´ve never done it), but there´s a heck of a lot less danger in doing that, depending on the distance of the plane, angle of the beam, speed of the plane, etc. of course, than using a high powered handheld at close quarters without goggles. It´s been discussed many times, on several forums. Taking down a plane with handheld, as we all have read, is FARRRR less likely than injuring ourselves or others with a high powered handheld at relatively close range without goggles. So if anyone´s going to take the argument in a direction about pointing lasers at planes because of safety issues, and not legal ones, they ought to speak up as Noob has so bravely done.
On a conciliatory note, I did PM Senkat since this apparent broughhahah started and I apologized to him if I came across too strongly or if I offended him in any way. I did not think to PM him initially because I rarely PM anyone on any forum. I just don´t get that personal normally. And secondly I mainly wanted to get the reactions of others to the video, not to mention that I wasn´t sure in the first place if the Senkat producer of the video was the same Senkat on this forum. Again, I think I addressed this earlier in a previous post. Hopefully I´ve made my point and the ruffled feathers will begin to subside. From Senkat´s response it appears he´s accepted my apologies.
If anyone, including Senkat, still cares to comment, we can certainly talk about it further and, hopefully, in a constructive, friendly, and adult way. Thanks for reading.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ME0GYr1Jvr0
