bizarre trivia from the fanfic writer’s browser history

[firecat]

Contestant: “I’ll take bizarre trivia from the fanfic writer’s browser history for $100, Alex”

Alex: “In 2005, it was estimated that 70–80% of National Football League players were using these as stimulants.”

Contestant: “What are smelling salts?”

Comments

[stonepicnicking_okapi]

Wowww! Really? Interesting. Does it work? It must. But wowww.

[firecat]

Isn’t that neat? From frail Victorian flowers to linebackers! I’d say it must at least seem to have an effect, so athletes have something concrete to have a placebo response to…

[stonepicnicking_okapi]

Okay, now I am curious. I just googled it and went to the 'shopping' tab and the products seem to be divided between 1. thick bottles like the kind powder protein is sold in and sports (hockey specifically) and/or camo-colored bottles names and names like Atomic Rhino and 2. emo aromatherapy pink and purple crystals called 'Enchanted Ancient Wisdom'

It's really funny the dichotomy. Okay, I'm tempted to try it (For Science!).

[firecat]

Fascinating! Ammonia is not the usual thing that comes to mind when I think of aromatherapy!

[silveradept]

There are certainly more pleasant stimulants to abuse than that.

[firecat]

Well yeah. Some of the football players probably ab/use those too

[silveradept]

Almost certainly. It makes me wonder how desperate they may be, that they're abusing the unpleasant ones.

[too_quiet]

Well, these folks do regularly get tackled by Very Large Dudes in a professional capacity, so it’s possible their definition of ‘unpleasant’ is shifted somewhat to the right of the norm…

(Smelling salts still don’t sound like anywhere to go for a good time, just for the record)

[firecat]

I bet there’s a macho pride factor, which can be a coverup for desperation but be careful whom you suggest that to.

[silveradept]

Fair points.

[minoanmiss]

Ah research!

[firecat]

There’s a very fuzzy line between research and falling down a rabbit hole of faffing!

[j00j]

does this mean I should feel more alert after cleaning the litter box?

[firecat]

Yes, if only we could convince the power sportsers taking this enhancement that they’d get even more benefit from cleaning our cats’ litter boxes!

[wordweaverlynn]

I've heard of people using smelling salts to help deal with hay fever. And I don't just mean my mother, who has been known to take a deep whiff of horseradish and say, "That'll clear out your sinuses!"

[firecat]

Oh interesting! I guess it makes sense…