Laser pointers

[Imaginos]

Hi waspfarmer, welcome to the site and thanks for the tips. Do you really farm wasps?

[Boddie]

Originally Posted by waspfarmer

Sorry for dragging this up, but lasers are a hobby of mine and I hope to educate.
First, yes, the orriginal post is spam. The code numbers given will give one a 5% discount and also give the poster some financial benefit.
Class IIIA lasers are legal to use in public plases. They are pointers. Any laser less than 5mW power are in this class. A <5mW laser can only cause eye dammage with direct exposure of prolonged duration. If someone holds you down and pryes your eye open, then aims the laser directly into your eye and holds it there for several seconds, you may develope a blind spot. Under natural circumstances, people and animals blink or look away far faster than this dammage could occurr. A good quality <5mW green laser pointer is great fun and great for star gazing. It can be seen for miles and is relativly harmless if used responsibly.
A 125mW laser is powerfull enough to almost instantly burn the retina of the eye with direct or even reflected exposure. It is a class IIIB laser and is illegal to use in a public place without an ordinance. Any laser over 5mW can cause permanent eye dammage very quickly. A 125mW laser will produce a stinging sensation on the skin if held close enough (within 1') and will pop balloons, burn through black electrical tape ect. 125 mW is certainly overkill for star gazing!

Why write "Sorry for dragging this up" and then do just that. I am sure that most of us know that ordinary low powered lasers are of no real danger. I use one every day for presentations. But this guy was trying to promote dangerous 125 mW versions, which you agreed are dangerous, yet you still think it is wise to repromote the thread which had vanished into space, despite the obvious discord it had previously presented.

I really fail to see the logic in that

[Imaginos]

Originally Posted by Boddie

Why write "Sorry for dragging this up" and then do just that. I am sure that most of us know that ordinary low powered lasers are of no real danger. I use one every day for presentations. But this guy was trying to promote dangerous 125 mW versions, which you agreed are dangerous, yet you still think it is wise to repromote the thread which had vanished into space, despite the obvious discord it had previously presented.

I really fail to see the logic in that

Very true, but nowhere was this put as clearly as waspfarmer has put it (just unfounded opinions)-remember we cannot assume everyone knows everything.

And I really want to know how & why he/she farms wasps!

[Boddie]

How exactly is it unfounded opinions when the website the original guy was plugging stated exactly what could be done with such a laser, such as the benefits of popping balloons (often held by children) and melting plastic bags? I am fully aware of what can be achieved with lasers, and at what powers, as microsurgery happens to be one of my specialties and Birmingham hospitals are harnessing such technologies to carry out Laser Prostatectomy for Benign Prostatic Obstruction, so I think I have more than just an unfounded opinion. My point is why not just start a new thread, and not drag this unfortunate one up again?

[Imaginos]

Originally Posted by Boddie

How exactly is it unfounded opinions when the website the original guy was plugging stated exactly what could be done with such a laser, such as the benefits of popping balloons (often held by children) and melting plastic bags? I am fully aware of what can be achieved with lasers, and at what powers, as microsurgery happens to be one of my specialties and Birmingham hospitals are harnessing such technologies to carry out Laser Prostatectomy for Benign Prostatic Obstruction, so I think I have more than just an unfounded opinion. My point is why not just start a new thread, and not drag this unfortunate one up again?

Apologies-I should have said seemingly unfounded opinion. Personally I have no knowledge of laser technology & I'm sure I'm not alone in this and, having missed the thread originally, I found waspfarmer's comments interesting and informative (more so than the previous posts).

As to your 'point' (not laser guided I hope) I'm sure that, if waspfarmer was a seasoned member of this forum then (s)he may have been aware of the unwritten laws governing which threads can and cannot be posted on. As this is his first post it's likely that (s)he was not au fait with the particular prejudices of members and posted this in good faith, seeking to expand on a topic that (s)he had something to say on. After all it is not a locked thread.

[speckled wood]

Originally Posted by Boddie

But this guy was trying to promote dangerous 125 mW versions, which you agreed are dangerous, yet you still think it is wise to repromote the thread which had vanished into space, despite the obvious discord it had previously presented.

I really fail to see the logic in that

You could I suppose use one for zapping those annoying door to door sales people who try to get you to change your gas/electricity supplier and of course those people who try to sell these dangerous 125w laser pointers in the first place.

[Boddie]

Originally Posted by Imaginos

Apologies-I should have said seemingly unfounded opinion. Personally I have no knowledge of laser technology & I'm sure I'm not alone in this and, having missed the thread originally, I found waspfarmer's comments interesting and informative (more so than the previous posts).

As to your 'point' (not laser guided I hope) I'm sure that, if waspfarmer was a seasoned member of this forum then (s)he may have been aware of the unwritten laws governing which threads can and cannot be posted on. As this is his first post it's likely that (s)he was not au fait with the particular prejudices of members and posted this in good faith, seeking to expand on a topic that (s)he had something to say on. After all it is not a locked thread.

It has nothing to do with prejudices but moreso an understanding of the discord the thread had caused

and a 125mw laser is at least a class IIIB laser capable of permanently blinding someone !

can I call someone an oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo on here?

Moderator required... delete!

What a stupid, irresponsible idiot this person is

Cant this post just be deleted? Fair enough if it's wildlife related, but this isn't.

ps: sorry to bring it upto the top again

Had Waspfarmer eloborated on how lasers are utilised within astronomy that would be valuable, but I see the post as achieving nothing but repromoting a thread, to which others had apologised for bringing to the top of the boards again.

I fully agree that the thread was probably written in good faith but what I find illogical is to start a thread with "Sorry to drag this up again" or "At the risk of offending" then persist with it.

[xxrobxx]

Hi, there are laser IR Illuminators that are used for Night vision equipment to add light to the image intensifier, these laser are also not eye safe at short ranges and if you look into the laser they can cause damage, but are very useful for observing wildlife at night time with Gen1 Night vision equipment, not all laser are for popping balloons or surgery, in this case, the Green Laser dot's are not used of anything other than designation of targets or as toy's, possibly Star positioning for telescopes as well but I seem limited use in this field.

I run a night vision company so really I just wanted to say that they is a use in the wild life observation at night time for these device and not to confuse or class all lasers as either surgical implements or unsafe toy's.

Regards Rob

[Imaginos]

Originally Posted by Boddie

It has nothing to do with prejudices


but I see the post as achieving nothing but repromoting a thread,

I'll reiterate-I learned far more from waspfarmer's post than the host of posts before it, having no idea what class IIIa or b was all about, or even whether they were illegal, controlled, only legal if they were Chinese or what.

The fact that you can use the weaker lasers for pointing out stars is another point that was not made before waspfarmer's post-the only reason I'd ever consider buying a stronger one would be to do this & it turns out there's no need as the weaker ones can be 'seen for miles' too.

Originally Posted by Waspfarmer

but lasers are a hobby of mine and I hope to educate

I, for one, was educated and I see further input from xxxrobxxx has further expanded the information about laser pointers on this thread, as has boddie with some medical uses. Surely then reopening this topic has redeemed it from a bit of spam with lots of calls to delete it to some genuine information on laser pointers and their use.

If anything I'd call to delete all the pointless 'delete this' posts and then everything will be hunky dory.

[Boddie]

Originally Posted by Imaginos

I'll reiterate-I learned far more from waspfarmer's post than the host of posts before it, having no idea what class IIIa or b was all about, or even whether they were illegal, controlled, only legal if they were Chinese or what.



I, for one, was educated and I see further input from xxxrobxxx has further expanded the information about laser pointers on this thread, as has boddie with some medical uses. Surely then reopening this topic has redeemed it from a bit of spam with lots of calls to delete it to some genuine information on laser pointers and their use.

If anything I'd call to delete all the pointless 'delete this' posts and then everything will be hunky dory.

And I would reiterate. Why not just start a new thread without "dragging" this one up again.

[Imaginos]

Originally Posted by xxrobxx

Hi, there are laser IR Illuminators that are used for Night vision equipment to add light to the image intensifier, these laser are also not eye safe at short ranges and if you look into the laser they can cause damage, but are very useful for observing wildlife at night time with Gen1 Night vision equipment,

Would they cause any damage to the observed wildlife or is it dangerous only at very short ranges?

[Imaginos]

Originally Posted by Boddie

And I would reiterate. Why not just start a new thread without "dragging" this one up again.

A seasoned member possibly might, a novice may not realise that unlocked threads are not necessarily "Threads That Nobody Must Post On Because Boddie Says So". Especially as "nothing is out of bounds" and often it's "easier to get forgiveness than permission"

[xxrobxx]

Originally Posted by Imaginos

Would they cause any damage to the observed wildlife or is it dangerous only at very short ranges?

Only dangerous at close ranges and with the Width of the beam set to a close point, ,25 yards which you would not require at short ranges, Laser Illuminators enable longer range detection and greatly improved image quality, these are especially useful for Generation 1 units as they need as much help with artificial light as they can get, IR Laser although invisible to the human eye due the high wave length of the light supplies a fantastic amount of light to Night vision devices, Generation 2 does not require IR Laser Illumination due to the extended light gain of the image intensifier tubes, basically all Gen1 NV requires IR Light beyond 30 yards.

Regards Rob

[Boddie]

Originally Posted by Imaginos

A seasoned member possibly might, a novice may not realise that unlocked threads are not necessarily "Threads That Nobody Must Post On Because Boddie Says So". Especially as "nothing is out of bounds" and often it's "easier to get forgiveness than permission"

As usual you have managed to drag this down into a personal attack.

I would have thought that anyone reading the thread would have worked out that it had antagonised a number of members and simply started a new thread. That is, and always has been, my point. I do not disagree with the content of the post, just the neccesity to reopen one that had upset so many. I was not having a go at anyone. Just trying to justify the logic, but again you perceive it as an attack?
The last post was Alan apologising for bringing it to the top again, and suggesting it be deleted. Then everybody had the good sense not to post. Surely that spoke volumes?

That is my point, but again you see it as fair excuse to have a go at me personally. Whatever turns you on

[Imaginos]

Originally Posted by Boddie

As usual you have managed to drag this down into a personal attack.

Not a personal attack, just pointing out that not everyone perceives things in the same way as you do.

[Boddie]

Originally Posted by Imaginos

Not a personal attack, just pointing out that not everyone perceives things in the same way as you do.

It is a personal attack. If not, why get involved in the first place? Am I not entitled to an opinion. You patently don't agree with anything I say, so why not show some maturity, allow me to have my say, and butt out, instead of trying to antagonise me. You are supposed to be an intelligent bloke.

I'd prefer to speak to you privately on such debates, and to find out exactly what your problem is, but you have an aversion to PM's and seem to like such confrontation to be aired for the amusement of those currently PM'ing one another.

I am out of here. Have a good day

[speckled wood]

Originally Posted by Imaginos

Not a personal attack, just pointing out that not everyone perceives things in the same way as you do.

I think that Imanginos makes a very good point in that we don't all have the same perceptions. I have different perceptions and others have different perceptions than I do .... it is simply down to the fact that we all have different life experiences that have shaped our perceptions.

[Alan]

Some good points made by WaspFarmer, but can we let this thread slip again now?

……wonder if it’ll work again!

Maybe xxrobxx could start a new thread if he feels the need. One giving better advice for wildlife uses..

Alan