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It was a link to a forum discussion about Petrol/Gasoline -v- Diesel as a automotive fuel.And sorry, but I was frankly amazed at the lack of knowledge and in some case downright misrepresentation or perhaps being charitable, misconception on behalf of most of the contributors, that it revealed.I was all the more unhappy as the link had appeared to be made on the basis that the topic/thread concerned was seen as some sort of authoritive view on the debate when it was nothing of the sort.I just hope that particular topic/thread is not typical of the whole site.
Not intended as an insult at all, simply a question.Anyway thanks for the welcome and a belated Hello.......... but I still hope the debate on that topic is not typically informed.
Have you heard the radio show ?I suspect if you are looking for some hard core staid science debate en massse then this site my soon disappoint you.This site is aimed at the younger viewer and this is reflected in the general tone of the site.You will find serious science here but you will also find a lot of levity and mild mannered friendliness.No one has to prove that they are an expert in the field before posting here, hence the friendly banter demonstrated through friendly debate and learning.....The conclusion of most threads usually ends with the correct facts and a general happy agreement.....A lot of us like to watch it happen from the early stages until the final post and though some of the facts may be wrong..the fact that they are..and are then corrected with courtesy, is what makes the learning process fun and with an air of congeniality.I do hope you enjoy the site and take it for what it is. Welcome here.
Quote from: neilep on 15/02/2007 01:09:47Have you heard the radio show ?I suspect if you are looking for some hard core staid science debate en massse then this site my soon disappoint you.This site is aimed at the younger viewer and this is reflected in the general tone of the site.You will find serious science here but you will also find a lot of levity and mild mannered friendliness.No one has to prove that they are an expert in the field before posting here, hence the friendly banter demonstrated through friendly debate and learning.....The conclusion of most threads usually ends with the correct facts and a general happy agreement.....A lot of us like to watch it happen from the early stages until the final post and though some of the facts may be wrong..the fact that they are..and are then corrected with courtesy, is what makes the learning process fun and with an air of congeniality.I do hope you enjoy the site and take it for what it is. Welcome here.Oh, so THAT'S what this site is about, I get it NOW []!
The trouble is this site - or more specifically the topic the BBC link lead to - was not quoted as an example of "having a light-hearted laugh without letting the facts get in the way" but supposed as an authoritive source of info for someone trying to decide between a petrol powered car and a diesel one.What I found was a topic seriously blighted with misconceptions, out of date (several decades so) information and down right lies i.e. NOX is a proven carcinogen.As a long term diesel driver I am well used to the "I've never driven a diesel, but travelled on a bus once so know all about it!" attitude of many so called experts, including the two used by the BBC in the show. Everytime petrol -v- diesel is discussed by so-called experts it is only the disbenefits of diesel that are advanced and only the benefits of petrol.Only diesels emit particulates they say - NOT TRUE.Diesel fumes are carcingenic they say - NOT PROVEN.The benzene content of petrol is never mentioned.The environmental catastrophe resulting from the MTBE used to replace benzene is never mentioned. The sheer danger from the volatility of petrol is never mentioned. I have direct experience of that as the two children of a former co-worker died in an auto accident where the fuel cut off on a fuel injected petrol car didn't "cut off" and the fuel pump continued to fill the car with petrol after it had caught fire.All I ask is a level playing field with ALL the facts put forward, preferably by people who actually know something about the subject.Thank you again for the welcome.