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News & ArtsThursday, February 5, 2009
Savage Love Savage Love Letter of the Day
Posted by Dan Savage on Thu, Feb 5, 2009 at 3:01 PM
I was very dissapointed with your alarmist warnings regarding "Numb-Dicked Dude." First, you quoted the scientific literature completely out of context—the concentration used in that paper was 600 micromolar, while the concentration is Orajel is unknown (which would be a more salient point to make). Thus, there is no way to compare use of Orajel on a dick covered with a thick layer of keratin to orajel directly administered to (in the paper I read) submandibular gland cells.And, the chemical, as used in the paper, does not kill *mice*. The MSDS sheet is available on the web—here's the link—and it clearly shows that drinking the chemical is lethal for mice at around 3g/kg body weight—significantly higher than the 600 micromolar concentration used on isolated cells (600 micromolar, when given as a 5 ml drink to a mouse translates to 0.4 milligrams, which would be lethal to a 1 gram mouse).
Nit picking aside, I am more disappointed in your uncharacteristically shoddy background research. Usually you are very good about going to experts. Maybe it's just that lately I see people unable to distinguish between scholarly reports produced by the National Academy of Sciences and crap put out on the Drudge Report. You know better than this, Dan.
Disappointed in Dan
In my response to NDD I admitted to being "an alarmist sex-advice professional, not a responsible one," DID, so it's not like I tried to pass my advice off as something other than the scare-mongering claptrap it usually is. But thanks for taking the time to do the science.
2
That's weak. As long as you give yourself an out you feel comfortable giving bad* advice?
*I haven't actually read this bit of advice you gave, I just object to the principle of your weak-ass loophole.
*I haven't actually read this bit of advice you gave, I just object to the principle of your weak-ass loophole.
4
My new game (starting now) is called:
"How I know Dan Savage is losing his edge"
uses term "hubba hubba" (last podcast)
i think he may have also used "get it on"
"How I know Dan Savage is losing his edge"
uses term "hubba hubba" (last podcast)
i think he may have also used "get it on"
5
Here is my issue with it, Dan: You then go on to recommend products "designed for" (marketed for is closer to the truth) the purpose of delaying orgasm and then you assume that some entity has tested these products to make sure they don't kill mice cells?
Odds are Mandelay has never been tested for efficacy or safety by any entity, let alone a respectable entity doing actual honest-t-god research.
Odds are Mandelay has never been tested for efficacy or safety by any entity, let alone a respectable entity doing actual honest-t-god research.
6
Fucking christ, dude. If you're lathering on the Oragel and using two condoms to let your girlfriend "you use like a dildo", how about you just, um, BUY A DILDO.
7
Yeah, the worst part about this is that you're so accepting of being lazy. Your claptrap is not usually scare-mongering, Dan, and that's the point. You don't want to call experts and have them quoted in your articles anymore? Are people refusing your calls? Are you depressed?
I'll give you a hug, if you need one.
I'll give you a hug, if you need one.
8
I agree with @2 that it's ridiculous how you seem to pride yourself on giving bad advice to people. This certainly isn't the first time.
However, the actual advice you gave on this was good, though it would be better to simply say: "If you don't know if what you're using is safe or not, just use products designed for what you're going to use them for."
However, the actual advice you gave on this was good, though it would be better to simply say: "If you don't know if what you're using is safe or not, just use products designed for what you're going to use them for."
9
You know, Dan, it's not like anyone forced you to answer that letter. You get to pick and choose which letters you even deign to respond to. If you're gonna do it, you have an obligation to do it right.
That said, I think you should emulate Obama and give this guy an "I screwed up" in next week's column.
That said, I think you should emulate Obama and give this guy an "I screwed up" in next week's column.
10
@9 How did he screw up? His point was still valid.
Don't put shit on or in your body that you know is harmful. If this stuff is shown to cause damage - in any way - why would you PUT IT ON YOUR GENITALS?!?
I think Dan's advice was the best. Use another product and be safe. Why take the risk?
Don't put shit on or in your body that you know is harmful. If this stuff is shown to cause damage - in any way - why would you PUT IT ON YOUR GENITALS?!?
I think Dan's advice was the best. Use another product and be safe. Why take the risk?
13
"known to be harmful"? If it's safe to lather it on your gums, it's probably safe to lather on your dick, too. And just because some other product is marketed for that purpose doesn't make it any safer. Oragel probably has to be approved by the FDA as somewhat safe to put on skin, but "natural" shit is often completely unregulated.
I'm in the "you owe him an 'I messed up'" camp, but maybe this blog note is good enough.
I'm in the "you owe him an 'I messed up'" camp, but maybe this blog note is good enough.
14
---"known to be harmful"? If it's safe to lather it on your gums, it's probably safe to lather on your dick, too. ---
I wouldn't recomend it for your gums, either.... And it's not like the FDA is really on top of things, you know?
I wouldn't recomend it for your gums, either.... And it's not like the FDA is really on top of things, you know?
15
Water is shown to be harmful in huge quantities (you can drink too much and die). Does this mean I should not put it on my genitals? Is genitals plural? Probably not but it sounds like it. I guess I can't walk around saying I have a genital...
That said, I think we need to use the products that were designed for what we're using them for. That way when something goes horribly wrong we can sue in good conscience!!
That said, I think we need to use the products that were designed for what we're using them for. That way when something goes horribly wrong we can sue in good conscience!!
16
What an asshole you are, Dan. Thanks to you, this guy is going to miss out on putting Orajel on his dick, and will use a milder numbing agent. The havoc you wreak with your irresponsible, shoddy research!
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