Group claims to be allergic to Wi-Fi, wants it banned from public buildings

motivez · 06-09-2008, 10:38 PM

A group in Santa Fe says the city is discriminating against them because they say that they're allergic to the wireless Internet signal. And now they want Wi-Fi banned from public buildings.

Arthur Firstenberg says he is highly sensitive to certain types of electric fields, including wireless Internet and cell phones.

"I get chest pain and it doesn't go away right away," he said.

Firstenberg and dozens of other electro-sensitive people in Santa Fe claim that putting up Wi-Fi in public places is a violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

The city attorney is now checking to see if putting up Wi-Fi could be considered discrimination.

But City Councilor Ron Trujillo says the areas are already saturated with wireless Internet.

"It's not 1692, it's 2008. Santa Fe needs to embrace this technology, it's not going away," Trujillo said.

The city attorney hopes to have a legal recommendation by the end of the month.

KOB.com - Group wants Wi-Fi banned from public buildings

First of all, I call

Second of all, they should have to proven in some sort of scientific study that they can tell when the wireless is active.. Like put them in a room with a bunch of wireless routers all hidden and ask them to tell them when they're active.

Better yet, put them in a room with a bunch of fake wireless routers and see how many of them completely lie about the pain they're feeling.

People will sue for anything these days. Ridiculous.

Scrum · 06-09-2008, 11:11 PM

Do these people not have electricity in their homes?

There are EM fields all around us all the time.

Simius · 06-10-2008, 03:21 AM

I hope none of these people have cell phones... or car radios... or TV antennas or... ah, fuck it, I hope these people just die.

WickedLou9 · 06-10-2008, 02:04 PM

Ugh. Tell those ass clowns to wear chain mail then.

Stylerod · 06-11-2008, 09:15 AM

Yeah, I'd love to see a blind test with these people. What horseshit.

WickedLou9 · 06-11-2008, 11:25 AM

Originally Posted by Stylerod

Yeah, I'd love to see a blind test with these people. What horseshit.

Not to mention the fact that it's impossible to be "allergic" to radio waves. An allergy requires an adverse physical reaction to some foreign body or chemical which makes it's way into the body. Radio waves are not matter. They are energy. Wifi operates in the same sort of spectrum that cordless phones, cellphones, baby monitors,etc..all operate on. If they are "allergic" to Wi-Fi, then they are allergic to all wireless technology. They are essentially allergic to all of modern society. Sucks to be them. They should wear clothing with embedded metallic fibers, a sort of wearable Faraday Cage. That's of course, assuming that a person can be allergic to radio waves to begin with.

motivez · 06-11-2008, 08:47 PM

Originally Posted by WickedLou9

Not to mention the fact that it's impossible to be "allergic" to radio waves. An allergy requires an adverse physical reaction to some foreign body or chemical which makes it's way into the body. Radio waves are not matter. They are energy. Wifi operates in the same sort of spectrum that cordless phones, cellphones, baby monitors,etc..all operate on. If they are "allergic" to Wi-Fi, then they are allergic to all wireless technology. They are essentially allergic to all of modern society. Sucks to be them. They should wear clothing with embedded metallic fibers, a sort of wearable Faraday Cage. That's of course, assuming that a person can be allergic to radio waves to begin with.

I doubt it'll go anywhere. I wonder what motivates people to obviously lie about stuff like this though?

I mean, I can understand suing someone for reasons the rest of us find ridiculous if you feel you're justified, but something so obviously false?

WickedLou9 · 06-12-2008, 10:34 AM

Originally Posted by motivez

I doubt it'll go anywhere. I wonder what motivates people to obviously lie about stuff like this though?

I mean, I can understand suing someone for reasons the rest of us find ridiculous if you feel you're justified, but something so obviously false?

I don't think they are lying. They probably do believe that the signals cause them physical pain. It's my opinion that these are probably subliminal things where they have convinced themselves that it hurts them so it does. Mind over matter. It happens alot but usually we just call those people hypochondriacs. My grandmother actually insists that the airconditioner hurts her bones. She won't turn it on even during the heat of the summer. I'm pretty sure it's all in her head but the mind is a powerful thing. If you believe something will hurt you strongly enough, it probably will hurt you.