The issue is not the strobes or sensitivity thereto. The issue, as always, is the Nanny Culture, the constant externalization of the locus of control, and every last person’s unilateral demand and expectation that the world must be modified, made safe, and plastered with warnings. Epilepsy, peanut allergies, falls from ladders, side effects of drugs, etc. etc. etc.
The person quoted in this story is...a blogger. Not a doctor, not a neurologist, not a scientist. Strobes are hardly a new thing, having been employed in music shows, haunted houses and dozens of other applications. It’s only within the last 10 years that we have been inundated with demands and warnings.
As with peanut allergies, somehow the person who is affected is entitled carry on with life without a care in the world AFTER the rest of the world modifies itself, often at great expense and almost always at great inconvenience and with the usual killjoys banging on about ‘raising awareness.’
Every human being has these remarkable, portable things called eyelids - always at the ready to snap shut. They also have two hands which may be used to cover the eyes if the eyelids are insufficient. At the first sign of blinking, strobes, flashbulbs, etc. the eyelids can be closed, the hands raised to eyes and the offending photons may be effectively blocked. It’s certainly quicker, more efficient and requires no ‘raising awareness’ except the awareness of the individual affected.
From a FR/libertarian standpoint, surely we know by now that these issues and demands are invariably the thin end of the wedge before ‘benevolent’ government steps in to make such warnings mandatory or even, as in the case of government schools, to place restrictions or even outright bans on that which have been deemed unacceptable. Not only is it ridiculous, it is dangerous.
That's an infinitely more respectable occupation than Big Media "journalist". I continue to be baffled by the use of "blogger" as a pejorative.
As I said previously, I'm sure the people who have to deal with this problem appreciate her warning. The rest of us can enjoy the movie (if we wish to) in peace.
Yes, strobes are used, and yes some folks are sensitive to them, to the point of literally having seizures triggered by them. Do you think someone asking for a warning is being irrational or destroying society then I really think you miss much of the point of life in general.
IF she was out DEMANDING that the world revolve around her, your diatribe of angst might have some merit, but there is nothing irrational, impolite, rude, wrong, or any other pejorative, to let folks know ahead of time that it might cause them issues.
I’ve seen the movie, and yes, while strobe effects are common in entertainment, the effects used in the movie, are pretty extreme far more than your typical rock concert... and they are fundamental to the plot.
Your attempt to turn this woman’s simple request into a federal case speaks more about your world view than hers.
There is enough legitimate things in this world to need to worry about, this woman’s request to a company sure as hell isn’t one of them.
The person quoted in this story is...a blogger. Not a doctor, not a neurologist, not a scientist. Strobes are hardly a new thing, having been employed in music shows, haunted houses and dozens of other applications. It’s only within the last 10 years that we have been inundated with demands and warnings.
As with peanut allergies, somehow the person who is affected is entitled carry on with life without a care in the world AFTER the rest of the world modifies itself, often at great expense and almost always at great inconvenience and with the usual killjoys banging on about ‘raising awareness.’
Every human being has these remarkable, portable things called eyelids - always at the ready to snap shut. They also have two hands which may be used to cover the eyes if the eyelids are insufficient. At the first sign of blinking, strobes, flashbulbs, etc. the eyelids can be closed, the hands raised to eyes and the offending photons may be effectively blocked. It’s certainly quicker, more efficient and requires no ‘raising awareness’ except the awareness of the individual affected.
From a FR/libertarian standpoint, surely we know by now that these issues and demands are invariably the thin end of the wedge before ‘benevolent’ government steps in to make such warnings mandatory or even, as in the case of government schools, to place restrictions or even outright bans on that which have been deemed unacceptable. Not only is it ridiculous, it is dangerous.
OK, in general I agree with the premise of your dissertation in regard to the nanny state culture and having to modify the world for the few to benefit the few at the expense of the many. I have always had issues with that type of mentality.
Having said that, I had no clue that there was a high contrast strobe sequence that lasted for a minute or more and as a person who suffers from migraines and has a daughter that also has the same affliction - both of us having sensitivity to bright/flashing/strobing lights I do appreciate the warning/awareness.
Yes I would probably shut my eyelids and cover my eyes with my hands, but how do I then know when I can open them - how do I know how long the sequence lasts - there are myriad considerations. Sometimes a mere second of exposure to bright lights or the sun will set off a migraine for me, other times I can handle it fairly well. I do not always know what my exposure limitation is at every given second.
I modify my lifestyle to deal with it, I don’t expect anyone else to modify theirs for me. When I get a warning such as this; the first thing I think is “good to know, glad I found out beforehand”. Does Disney or anyone else NEED to warn me? No, but it is appreciated.
Did the blogger get a bit carried away and expect too much? I suppose it is debatable either way, but I would tend to agree that we don’t need some massive to-do about it.