i think every discipline needs something that's way more dangerous than it looks. like high voltage transformers, or giant metal springs, or pretty much anything radioactive
@jamey computers generally can't just straight up kill you instantly with slight mishandling
@typhlosion not with that attitude they can't
but okay, taking the idea seriously, there is something about computing and information technology: a bunch of parts which are individually harmless can be put together in ways which look safe but do get people killed
@jamey in an abstract sense i guess, but i had in mind the more direct interpretation of "there's not even a bad smell or hideous noise to warn you that if you don't follow every single precaution you'll be dead before you hit the floor"
@typhlosion computers: mentioning to family that you know how they work in any fashion.
@typhlosion In writing that thing is called "subtext."
@orrery @typhlosion Also the text itself, sometimes.
@typhlosion CRT monitors and their capacitors are quite fun :)
@Starra oh god i forgot about crts, yeah
innocuous-looking dangerous stuff
@typhlosion @Starra RF power devices, including some magnetrons in microwaves, use beryllium oxide as a heat transfer material (it's the best electrically-insulative thermal conductor, other than diamond which is too expensive). beryllium oxide is perfectly safe if undamaged, but if you break it and dust gets into your lungs it's extremely toxic
-F
@typhlosion computing has this! it's computers