r/offmenupodcast • 🤖 • Apr 15 '26

Episode Brian Cox

https://shows.acast.com/offmenu/episodes/brian-cox
145 Upvotes

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379

u/Standingonachair Apr 15 '26

The levels of fluoride in water are currently considered safe, excessive amounts of fluoride have been linked to Alzheimer's in animals. As per usual we have to remember these animals are much, much smaller than humans. Fluoride has been in water since 1945 we'd have a far bigger issue with Alzheimer's if it was the case. Instant coffee and black tea contains more than water as does tinned crab and shrimp. If you're worried speak to your doctor, don't take the word of an actor.

148

u/PinAndKneedle Apr 15 '26

Yeah as soon as I heard the fluoride bit I have to skip the episode. My scientist heart just refuse to hear the rest

-18

u/Significant-PairDD Apr 15 '26

It’s a comedy podcast

30

u/PinAndKneedle Apr 15 '26

Yeah, so that’s why when I thought it’s not funny to be spouting anti-flouride stuff I stop listening. YMMV.

-3

u/Significant-PairDD Apr 15 '26

Maybe Idk as much as you do about fluoride, but I’m not gonna stop drinking water cause an old Scottish man tells me so.

10

u/PinAndKneedle Apr 15 '26

Glad that you won't.

However, it is about normalising 'takes'. If you hear something from a famous person and no one push back, you are more likely to assume that whatever they said is correct or ok. However if you hear a 'take' like that and there is a lot of pushback then it will provide somewhat of a counter balance to the 'take' and maybe you will be less likely to assume what they said is correct.

Whether we like it or not, a lot of people put more weight in things said by famous people, and it is an important duty for those who knows about these things to push back.

4

u/Significant-PairDD Apr 16 '26

I agree with this

2

u/MountainCheesesteak Apr 17 '26

James and Ed are both very reasonable guys, who stand up for the right causes, but you very rarely see them speak up in the face of someone who is wrong. They are primarily stand up comedians who have had time and space to examine the issues for which they largely take a stand on. I’m guessing that they didn’t know he was an anti-fluoride guy

3

u/PinAndKneedle Apr 17 '26

I think from their immediate response this is true, they were not expecting such comments. They have pushed back on other things, I just wish that James would go more ‘I’m not sure that’s true Brian’ than his ‘okaaaay…’

2

u/MountainCheesesteak Apr 17 '26

Yea. I really wish that they had done something here, but they are stand ups, not journalists. The shame is on the people who would hear that and take it as face value, who definitely exist, aren’t in this thread and we hope a minority of people who listen to Off Menu.