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Help[Opinions] Re: NO (m)
in reply to a message by LMS
Well now he did electrocute Topsy the Elephant but that was because she was a rogue elephant and had killed three people. Apparently not entirely or even really her fault as her trainer had been abusive. But the point is, she had killed three people, so for that reason, her owners were determined to kill her, and if Edison hadn't done it with electricity, they would have had her killed some other way.
As for other animals, well I guess if you're sentimental about animals, although I am not.
As for electricity as an appropriate method to execute humans, well not only Edison but the majority of US States thought it was more humane than hanging and they thought that for a long time, long after Edison was gone. Prolly really wasn't, but the intent was good.
As for executing one of his employees who volunteered to be a guinea pig, do you have a source for that? I've Googled in vain to find something about it.
I kind of think he was hot when he was young.
Now, me I hate Robert E. Lee. But Lee is too common a name to be associated only with him.
As for other animals, well I guess if you're sentimental about animals, although I am not.
As for electricity as an appropriate method to execute humans, well not only Edison but the majority of US States thought it was more humane than hanging and they thought that for a long time, long after Edison was gone. Prolly really wasn't, but the intent was good.
As for executing one of his employees who volunteered to be a guinea pig, do you have a source for that? I've Googled in vain to find something about it.
I kind of think he was hot when he was young.
Now, me I hate Robert E. Lee. But Lee is too common a name to be associated only with him.
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"As for electricity as an appropriate method to execute humans, well not only Edison but the majority of US States thought it was more humane than hanging and they thought that for a long time, long after Edison was gone. Prolly really wasn't, but the intent was good."
Actually, this isn't actually true. The people who witnessed the first electrocution felt it was distressing and barbaric. Many people, doctors and scientists included, felt like it was so barbaric it would never take off as an accepted method of execution. Some quotes from the aftermath:
"They would have done better with an axe," Westinghouse commented.
"Turned on the current," excitedly cried Dr. Spitzka. "This man is not dead."
"That man wasn't dead," cried Spitzka excitedly.
"Keep it on now until he's killed," said one of the doctors.
"For me," said he, "first the guillotine, second the gallows, and last of all electrical execution. Never before," said the Dr., "have I felt just as I do now. What I have seen as impressed me deeply, not exactly what you would call horror, but rather with wonder in doubt. I have seen hangings far more brutal and this execution, but I have never seen anything so awe inspiring. What I have seen satisfies me that the scale of capital punishment is first the guillotine, second the gallows, and far in the rear the electrical execution.I do not regard the execution a failure, but it did not appear to be what it had promised to be. The object of the system was to written capital punishment of its features of barbarity and cruelty."
"When the signal was given and the current was turned on the other no sound, but his shoulders slowly drew up, as they sometimes do in the case of a man who is hanging. The index finger of his right hand was closed so tightly on the upper joint that the male cut the capillary skin and it began to bleed. The eyes were half closed, and so nearly hidden that I could see no expression in them.
Actually, this isn't actually true. The people who witnessed the first electrocution felt it was distressing and barbaric. Many people, doctors and scientists included, felt like it was so barbaric it would never take off as an accepted method of execution. Some quotes from the aftermath:
"They would have done better with an axe," Westinghouse commented.
"Turned on the current," excitedly cried Dr. Spitzka. "This man is not dead."
"That man wasn't dead," cried Spitzka excitedly.
"Keep it on now until he's killed," said one of the doctors.
"For me," said he, "first the guillotine, second the gallows, and last of all electrical execution. Never before," said the Dr., "have I felt just as I do now. What I have seen as impressed me deeply, not exactly what you would call horror, but rather with wonder in doubt. I have seen hangings far more brutal and this execution, but I have never seen anything so awe inspiring. What I have seen satisfies me that the scale of capital punishment is first the guillotine, second the gallows, and far in the rear the electrical execution.I do not regard the execution a failure, but it did not appear to be what it had promised to be. The object of the system was to written capital punishment of its features of barbarity and cruelty."
"When the signal was given and the current was turned on the other no sound, but his shoulders slowly drew up, as they sometimes do in the case of a man who is hanging. The index finger of his right hand was closed so tightly on the upper joint that the male cut the capillary skin and it began to bleed. The eyes were half closed, and so nearly hidden that I could see no expression in them.
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I just want to point out again, although I know you're now way off topic, and getting gratuitously gruesome - there's no reason to believe Edison wished to torture people to death. He wanted to scare people away from a technology that competed with what he was selling, and apparently was rather insensitive by modern standards. Associating his last name with electrocution is totally optional and IMO would be weird.
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Yes, but people will associate him with it if they know anything about Edison. I would find it really odd to name a kid Edison, knowing those things. Just as I would have a problem naming my kid Adolph, Vick, or Lenin. Yah, Adolph made art and the autobahn...and also concentration camps and nazism, Vick was a great football player...but also an animal abuser, and Lenin is praised by many for his revolutionization of his country...despite it leading to the deaths of many.
I just wouldn't use a name that is so heavily tied to one individual who may also be known for many terrible things. Whats wrong with Thomas? At least then it won't be linked to Edison.
I just wouldn't use a name that is so heavily tied to one individual who may also be known for many terrible things. Whats wrong with Thomas? At least then it won't be linked to Edison.
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But the law did stand. And it wasn't held to be cruel and unusual. There had to be just as many who thought it was not inhumane.
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There were just as many.
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agree - that story sounds like it was a myth written to demonize Edison. I'd like to see sources for the whole thing.
+ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_of_Currents#Edison.27s_publicity_campaign
The citation is a book about electric chairs for execution, written in 1999. an amazon reviewer criticizes it for inaccuracies. Dunno.
+ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_of_Currents#Edison.27s_publicity_campaign
The citation is a book about electric chairs for execution, written in 1999. an amazon reviewer criticizes it for inaccuracies. Dunno.
This message was edited 3/16/2015, 12:32 AM
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even discounting those stories Edison was a jerk. he stole people's ideas, he hired people to destroy other inventors work, and take a look at his feud with Tesla
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So did Watson and Crick, concerning DNA. Still, they accomplished things that are to be admired, beyond who they were as people. I would never name a child to honor them, but rather in memory of the great achievements their name brings to mind.
Not defending Edison... but rather the right to use a name despite it's associations.
Not defending Edison... but rather the right to use a name despite it's associations.
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I inadvertently linked his electricity experiments and his x-ray experiments. Through his Xray experiments, he killed Clarence Madison Daily, even though other scientists had warned that experiments with Xrays would be harmful on humans and animals.
The electrical chair story and the electrocution of animals is not made up. There are videos of Topsy being electrocuted and he electrocuted other animals before testing on Topsy.
Xrays: http://www.smithsonianmag.com/ist/?next=/history/clarence-dally-the-man-who-gave-thomas-edison-x-ray-vision-123713565/
Electric Chair: http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/edison-vs-westinghouse-a-shocking-rivalry-102146036/
Maybe she should name a son Tesla instead: http://theoatmeal.com/comics/tesla
The electrical chair story and the electrocution of animals is not made up. There are videos of Topsy being electrocuted and he electrocuted other animals before testing on Topsy.
Xrays: http://www.smithsonianmag.com/ist/?next=/history/clarence-dally-the-man-who-gave-thomas-edison-x-ray-vision-123713565/
Electric Chair: http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/edison-vs-westinghouse-a-shocking-rivalry-102146036/
Maybe she should name a son Tesla instead: http://theoatmeal.com/comics/tesla
This message was edited 3/16/2015, 1:36 AM
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Well, okay, but I can't conclude he was a sadistic or cruel character. He had the sensibilities of a businessman of his era. I don't think it ruins the name. I think it's good to remember that even our heroes are just humans who can do dumb and wrong things, but I think it's weirdly petty to associate the name Edison with animal cruelty instead of his inventions. Sort of like associating Tesla with having your work exploited.
This message was edited 3/16/2015, 9:12 AM
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I'd have to agree with you. I've read about many scientists, philosophers, businessmen, etc.... They all have their flaws. To boil a persons history down to some choices that were poor or seemed cruel in hindsight is arguable at best.
I happen to like the name Edison - outside of the relationship to Thomas Edison. And, I am not sure that Mareasi even mentioned that it would be in honor or relation to the scientist/business we are all discussing.
Maybe it would be in honor of the town in New Jersey, or a TV character, or even a brother named Edward (that is why we considered the name). I can think of Edison on it's own merits, and I like it.
I happen to like the name Edison - outside of the relationship to Thomas Edison. And, I am not sure that Mareasi even mentioned that it would be in honor or relation to the scientist/business we are all discussing.
Maybe it would be in honor of the town in New Jersey, or a TV character, or even a brother named Edward (that is why we considered the name). I can think of Edison on it's own merits, and I like it.
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