Notices by arclight (arclight@oldbytes.space)

@lowqualityfacts "Crucially, it lacks an algorithmic feed which directs social media consumers to my Substack"

If someone is projecting apocalyptic health and environmental damage from the vinyl chloride spill in Ohio, take a few seconds to ask their qualifications for making such an assessment. Do they have relevant education or work experience? What consequences do they suffer if they're wrong? Have they performed similar work before? Can they direct you to the data and methods used to reach their conclusion? Do they get defensive when asked why their opinion should be trusted?

I don't have predictions because it's not my area of expertise (I deal mainly in radiological releases) but I can point to professional references in this area. Environmental fate https://webwiser.nlm.nih.gov/WebWISER/substance?substanceId=43&identifier=Vinyl%20chloride&identifierType=name&catId=115 for example. Sax's Dangerous Properties of Industrial Materials for another: https://archive.org/details/saxsdangerouspro0000lewi

Experts exist. Learn how to find them, listen to them, encourage them to speak.