Re[2]: Misuse of Rad Symbol -Reply

[steve.rima@DOEGJPO.COM (Steven Rima)]

     I promise, Melissa, that this will be absolutely my last post to 
     RADSAFE on this subject. Since I've known Kim for several years, I 
     don't mind him putting words in my mouth. He's partially right. We (at 
     least many of us) get upset when TV stations, newspapers, etc. misuse 
     the trefoil for sensationalist purposes. Many of us even contact them 
     to let them know of our displeasure. This is far different from 
     censoring, fining, boycotting, etc., which I have never advocated.
     
     I was bothered because a publication that should clearly know better 
     than to misuse ANY safety-related symbol on the outside of a mailing 
     for pure marketing purposes did this. As others have pointed out, all 
     I advocated was that if you feel strongly enough, contact ISHN and 
     make your views known. If you don't, that's okay too. If you strongly 
     disagree with me, that doesn't bother me either. If we all thought the 
     same way and agreed on everything, it would be a pretty boring world. 
     If you want to flame me, okay, but please don't waste RADSAFE 
     bandwidth, my email address is below.
     
     Steven D. Rima, CHP, CSP
     Manager, Health Physics and Industrial Hygiene
     MACTEC-ERS, LLC
     steve.rima@doegjpo.com

_____________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________
Subject: RE: Misuse of Rad Symbol -Reply
Author:  Kim Merritt <merritt9@llnl.gov> at Internet
Date:    9/21/99 10:30 AM


I hate to put my words in Steve's mouth but my perception is that he was 
upset not necessarily at the use of the trefoil alone but in the context as 
"The end is near", thus furthering the "deadly radiation" idea.  Perhaps a 
mushroom cloud would have been a more appropriate symbol.
     
| | | |    Kim Merritt, RRPT
| | | |__  Physics Safety Support Officer
| | \___/  Lawrence Livermore National Labs 
| \___/    merritt9@llnl.gov
\___/      Voice: (925)423-9668   Fax: (925)422-7160
           "When the only tool you have is a hammer, 
           every problem begins to resemble a nail." 
           -Abraham Maslow
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