Special nail polish may help detect date-rape drugs - Polidicks

[IMG]http://i.imgur.com/oulIIaf.jpg[/IMG] [QUOTE=CBS News]Four college students have used their scientific training to come up with an unusual solution to an all-too-common problem on college campuses and beyond. They are developing a nail polish that changes color when it is exposed to date-rape drugs such as Rohypnol, Xanax and GHB, to help women detect if the colorless, odorless compounds have been slipped into their drinks. A woman wearing the experimental nail polish would be able to tell if her drink had been drugged by simply dipping her finger into the drink and giving it a stir. The product is still being tested and is not available for purchase at the moment. The students, four young men majoring in Materials Science & Engineering at North Carolina State University, have named the nail polish line "Undercover Colors" and are promoting the project as "The First Fashion Company Empowering Women to Prevent Sexual Assault."[/QUOTE] [URL="http://www.cbsnews.com/news/nail-polish-may-help-detect-date-rape-drugs/"]Source[/URL]

That's really smart actually.

Guess what, feminists are already giving them flak for this :v:

How does this even work, how would nail polish be able to accurately detect if there was something in the drink?

[QUOTE=madmanmad;45825339]How does this even work, how would nail polish be able to accurately detect if there was something in the drink?[/QUOTE] It can react to certain groups within the structure of chemicals to test, causing a change in color.

[QUOTE=madmanmad;45825339]How does this even work, how would nail polish be able to accurately detect if there was something in the drink?[/QUOTE] Flashing lights and a siren come installed with it

it's like litmus paper in nail polish form but for date rape drugs.

[QUOTE=madmanmad;45825339]How does this even work, how would nail polish be able to accurately detect if there was something in the drink?[/QUOTE] The same way that we have created mugs that can change color based on the temperature of the liquid inside, fucking magic

[QUOTE=madmanmad;45825339]How does this even work, how would nail polish be able to accurately detect if there was something in the drink?[/QUOTE] I would imagine the polish itself contains a chemical that would react in the presence of these drugs, perhaps changing color or something, like a litmus paper.

And then that hot guy you went out with walks away because "Did you just stick your finger in your drink? Gross!" On a serious note, what an ingenious idea to give girls (and guys I suppose) an easy tool to be safer when going out.

Hey! That's being done at my school.

[QUOTE=BananaMed;45825334]Guess what, feminists are already giving them flak for this :v:[/QUOTE] Their main argument is that the statement "Our goal is to invent technologies that empower women to protect themselves from this heinous and quietly pervasive crime" is putting the responsibility on the victim rather than the rapist. They also say "we shouldn't be doing this, we should be teaching men not to rape". In a perfect world we could teach people "don't rape". But if someone honestly thinks we live in a world where everyone will just change their ways by being told that, they are insane.

It freaks me out that there is even a need for something like this.

I heard about his the other day. I know its good having progress in that field and all, but couldn't this be as harmful as it is good? If there are alternative drugs that are not detected then they will be used more, and then people using this would probably be more likely to trust the drink based on their nails. A lot of girls I know though know not to accept a drink off a random person unless they are there when its bought and it was generally their parents that drilled that into them when they started going out, but I guess this wont help much anyway if someone is shitfaced and will drink anything you put in their hands.

[QUOTE=outlawpickle;45825387]On a serious note, what an ingenious idea to give girls [B](and guys I suppose)[/B] an easy tool to be safer when going out.[/QUOTE] B-but guys shouldn't even be wearing nail polish! That's gay! /s

If you saw the person you were on a date with dip their finger into their drink just to be sure you're not spiking their drink, you'd probably be offended as fuck.

[QUOTE=Baron von Hax;45825472]If you saw the person you were on a date with dip their finger into their drink just to be sure you're not spiking their drink, I'd probably be offended as fuck.[/QUOTE] Honestly, if someone did that to you - perhaps you should question the impression you give women.

[QUOTE=Snickerdoodle;45825440]Their main argument is that the statement "Our goal is to invent technologies that empower women to protect themselves from this heinous and quietly pervasive crime" is putting the responsibility on the victim rather than the rapist. They also say "we shouldn't be doing this, we should be teaching men not to rape". In a perfect world we could teach people "don't rape". But if someone honestly thinks we live in a word where everyone will just change their ways by being told that, they are insane.[/QUOTE] what the fuck...

Of course, the most common date rape drug is alcohol.

Like it or not, the Victim has to take some responsibility for trying to protect themselves. I mean Why else would stuff like this and spray mace even exist? it almost feels like "Feminists" just want women to not resist and be submissive rather than take real preventive measures including getting tools that can help them.

Obviously, it's a shame that something like this is needed in 2014, but still, I think it's a fantastic idea. You get to stay safe in a way that is subtle and also have cute nails at the same time.

[QUOTE=Snickerdoodle;45825440]Their main argument is that the statement "Our goal is to invent technologies that empower women to protect themselves from this heinous and quietly pervasive crime" is putting the responsibility on the victim rather than the rapist. They also say "we shouldn't be doing this, we should be teaching men not to rape". In a perfect world we could teach people "don't rape". But if someone honestly thinks we live in a word where everyone will just change their ways by being told that, they are insane.[/QUOTE] I'll seriously never understand the mental gymnastics that are used to come up with logic like that. Victim blaming is awful and it's a shame that precautions like these have to be done in the first place, but doesn't that imply that women are completely helpless and can't (or shouldn't be able to) take things into their own hands?

[QUOTE=Snickerdoodle;45825440]Their main argument is that the statement "Our goal is to invent technologies that empower women to protect themselves from this heinous and quietly pervasive crime" is putting the responsibility on the victim rather than the rapist. They also say "we shouldn't be doing this, we should be teaching men not to rape". In a perfect world we could teach people "don't rape". But if someone honestly thinks we live in a word where everyone will just change their ways by being told that, they are insane.[/QUOTE] Do you have any actual evidence that feminists are saying this and it is the majority who is doing so? Because even Tumblr has been saying this is fantastic and a good thing. So if they, who are often thought of as problematic and discredited, think it's good, I'm wondering what sort of source IS saying it's bad and why it should be acknowledged.

Why does this have to be nail polish though? I mean, if someone's going to drug you using your drink, aren't they going to slip it in the drink while you're distracted? Do you keep checking the drink constantly? Or keep staring at it? It's a good idea. I just don't get why it can't be something like a drink stirrer or an umbrella to put in your drink. Then the detector would stay there. Nail polish seems inconvenient.

[QUOTE=NiandraLades;45825589]Do you have any actual evidence that feminists are saying this and it is the majority who is doing so? Because even Tumblr has been saying this is fantastic and a good thing. So if they, who are often thought of as problematic and discredited, think it's good, I'm wondering what sort of source IS saying it's bad and why it should be acknowledged.[/QUOTE] I did not state that the majority of feminists think this, but [URL="http://www.newsweek.com/controversy-over-nail-varnish-date-rape-drug-detector-267126"]here[/URL] and [URL="http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/aug/27/activists-argue-drug-detecting-nail-polish-promote/"]here[/URL] is an example of what you requested. [QUOTE]However, Katie Russell from Rape Crisis England & Wales was critical of the idea, saying that the charity will not support the invention. “Whilst Undercover Color’s initiative is well meaning, on the whole,” she said, “Rape Crisis does not endorse or promote such a product or anything similar. This is for three reasons: it implies that it’s the woman’s fault and assumes responsibility on her behalf, and detracts from the real issues that arise from sexual violence.”[/QUOTE] [QUOTE]The innovation grabbed national headlines as the four-person company continues to ask for money for the venture. But ThinkProgress argues that women are already told not to wear revealing clothing, to travel in groups, to make sure they don’t get too drunk and to keep an eye on their drink. “Now, remembering to put on anti-rape nail polish … actually reinforces a pervasive rape culture in our society,” the article says.[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=NiandraLades;45825589]Do you have any actual evidence that feminists are saying this and it is the majority who is doing so? Because even Tumblr has been saying this is fantastic and a good thing. So if they, who are often thought of as problematic and discredited, think it's good, I'm wondering what sort of source IS saying it's bad and why it should be acknowledged.[/QUOTE] I don't know if you'll accept this article, but I found this: [url]http://thinkprogress.org/health/2014/08/25/3475190/date-rape-nail-polish/[/url]

[QUOTE=Snickerdoodle;45825440]Their main argument is that the statement "Our goal is to invent technologies that empower women to protect themselves from this heinous and quietly pervasive crime" is putting the responsibility on the victim rather than the rapist. They also say "we shouldn't be doing this, we should be teaching men not to rape". In a perfect world we could teach people "don't rape". But if someone honestly thinks we live in a word where everyone will just change their ways by being told that, they are insane.[/QUOTE] If only we could also teach people to not murder or steal.

Also I searched up "nail polish rape" into Tumblr's search tool and [IMG]http://i.imgur.com/k596PVC.png[/IMG][IMG]http://i.imgur.com/HE4TVDe.png[/IMG][IMG]http://i.imgur.com/NtX4x2q.png[/IMG][IMG]http://i.imgur.com/VrBPqif.png[/IMG] these are all on the first page.

Much appreciated; both are pretty interesting although somewhat disheartening reads. [quote]“For us, we work with victims to make them realise that they did nothing wrong,” she added. “Among primary cases, some do ask if they could have done anything to stop it. Products like this suggest otherwise. The emphasis must be placed 100% on the perpetrator.”[/quote] I understand this perfectly fine and victim-blaming is something that needs to be stopped, I can't say I agree at all that it suggests otherwise. Apologies if my tone was a tad sneery!

[QUOTE]“As a woman, I’m told not to go out alone at night, to watch my drink, to do all of these things. That way, rape isn’t just controlling me while I’m actually being assaulted — it controls me 24/7 because it limits my behavior. Solutions like these actually just recreate that. I don’t want to fucking test my drink when I’m at the bar. That’s not the world I want to live in.”[/QUOTE] Well you could just not test your drink. I hate how feminists misinterpret encouraging prevention and safety with victim blaming. This whole teach men not to rape thing is also pretty [URL="http://facepunch.com/showthread.php?t=1288565&p=41422877&viewfull=1#post41422877"]sexist[/URL].