Monday, October 20, 2014

Cognitive Dissonance At The Gas Station

You've all probably seen the sign at the gas station telling you not to use your cell phone while filling your tank. Something like this one:


The first thing to know about that is that it's wrong. No one has ever found a connection between cell phones and explosions at gas stations. No one.  Here, check it out for yourself:

http://www.snopes.com/autos/hazards/gasvapor.asp
http://www.hoaxorfact.com/Technology/explosion-at-gas-station-mobile-usage.html

Yes, a spark can cause a fire from the gas vapors, but cell phones don't spark unless something is seriously wrong - perhaps like this:

http://www.phonearena.com/news/Apple-iPhone-4-allegedly-catches-on-fire-while-charging-overnight_id28312

That said, you wouldn't think the company that put up that stupid sign saying you should turn off your phone also put up this:


Yes, those signs are on the very same gas pump. I've grayed out much of it because it doesn't matter. Just in case you can't read it, it says "SMART PHONE CHECK-IN at a Valero Station to receive one (1) entry to sweepstakes." Really.

Turn off your phone!
Use your phone to check in and enter our sweepstakes!

Hey, Valero! Which is it? Will I die in a fiery explosion if I check-in? Can I (or my next of kin) hit you with a suit if that happens?

Sometimes I have no idea how we continue to survive.

This shouldn't bug me, I know. It's a small thing, but it is the small things that help explain why we haven't found intelligent life anywhere in the universe yet: because there isn't any. Not even here on earth.