Last night I was half watching the news half surfing the internet when I heard the news caster say something about Ricin being produced from castor beans.
So this kind of bothered me and I knew that the internet was a source of huge amounts of information. So I typed in Ricin and Castor beans into google and got a web site which had directions on how to produce ricin from castor beans. They give you a step by step process on how to create this stuff Here
On the news they said that Ricin is so dangerous that the amount the size of a sugar packet could wipe out a city. Does anyone else have a problem with this type of information being on the internet? Because I have a pretty big problem with it. Why would someone put this on their web site? It is just asking for someone to try and make it in their basement.
Posted by Stray (Member # 4056) on :
quote: On the news they said that Ricin is so dangerous that the amount the size of a sugar packet could wipe out a city.
Judging by the CDC's website, that seems to be an exaggeration. Sure it's dangerous stuff, but not that potent.
Posted by Shigosei (Member # 3831) on :
Do-it-yourself ricin sounds like a really great way to get yourself killed. While a person could probably get ahold of the equipment needed to make it, I have my doubts about whether it would be easy to make it safely. There's also the distinct possibility that this information is inaccurate. And I suspect that those who would actually use ricin already have this information. This doesn't preclude stupid people from trying to make it at home for fun, but I'm not particularly worried unless someone who lives in my building decides to try it.
Posted by AvidReader (Member # 6007) on :
On a larger scale though, does information equal permission? I ran into that question during the sex ed/abstinance debates. Does the school providing sex ed and condoms equal permission for high schoolers to have sex?
Posted by AvidReader (Member # 6007) on :
So adam, you would say giving someone knowledge on a subject does not equal giving them permission to commit the described act?
I'm just looking for clarification. It always seemed to me knowledge was a two edged sword that way. We have tv specials on anorexia encouraging girls not to act that way, but Christina Ricci said it was one of those made-for-tv movies that got her doing it.
I guess my question is, does the person giving out the information bear moral responsibility for what someone else does with the knowledge?
Posted by Jar Head (Member # 7018) on :
Double Tap!
[ December 01, 2004, 04:38 PM: Message edited by: Jar Head ]
Posted by Jar Head (Member # 7018) on :
Of course now you are on the Homeland Watch List and your hard drive is being copied for future reference.
Posted by Promethius (Member # 2468) on :
Jar Head, are you talking about me or the others? Because I did think about something like that when I posted, but I am not concerned because homeland security will find it pretty hard to find someone more in favor Bush's policies.
Just looking at my posts here would tell them that. But anyway, back to the original topic. After looking at the CDC link it seems you have to ingest or inhale it and it is not something which can be spread like a virus, so I am a bit happier about that.
Posted by AvidReader (Member # 6007) on :
I can see that on a personal level.
Posted by Bean Counter (Member # 6001) on :
Yes all kinds of sites out there are flagged, Uni Bomber Manifesto, The Anarchist Cookbook etc. So many people hit them that they probably just compile a hits list and use it if your name comes up in some other specific investigation.
BC
Posted by Black Fox (Member # 1986) on :
Ricin is extremely dangerous in small doses, but like every other bio/chemical weapons its the delivery method that is the major issue. I could have a buckey of ricin and it wouldn't do me much good unless I could figure out how to get everyone in the city infected, from what I know most basic NBC equipment will keep it off you, it has to get into your system via the eyes, nose etc. From my personal knowledge it is not absorbed through the skin, but I could be wrong. The only person I can remember off hand who was killed by ricin was a target of the KGB which they killed with an umbrella gun, ricin was in the round inside the umbrella and though the round wasn't strong enough to kill the target, it was enough to penetrate the skin and deliver the agent.
Posted by Bob_Scopatz (Member # 1227) on :
from the website:
quote:NOTICE: TO ALL CONCERNED Certain text files and messages contained on this site deal with activities and devices which would be in violation of various Federal, State, and local laws if actually carried out or constructed. The webmasters of this site do not advocate the breaking of any law. Our text files and message bases are for informational purposes only. We recommend that you contact your local law enforcement officials before undertaking any project based upon any information obtained from this or any other web site. We do not guarantee that any of the information contained on this system is correct, workable, or factual. We are not responsible for, nor do we assume any liability for, damages resulting from the use of any information on this site.
Here's the formula for Ricin. The reason I place this on here is because if you try to make this poison (kills in 4 days, no good cure and the cure is rare) you will probably get some on your skin and die.
Probably few people are dumb enough to even try this. Or motivated to try it.
If you follow their steps precisely, you would kill yourself, however, because they tell you in some places how to protect yourself, but in other just tell you to "squeeze the filter" etc.
I these people are dumb to put this stuff on the web, but anyone who believes them is even dumber.
Posted by The Rabbit (Member # 671) on :
If its any concolation, here is no way you could isolate ricin from Castor beans in high enough purity to be dangerous using this procedure. Ricin isn't very hard to purify and the procedures for doing so are commonly available in research libraries but the description at this website is laughable.
Posted by Bob the Lawyer (Member # 3278) on :
You also can't take ricin in through you're skin unless it's solubilized in something that can penetrate like DMSO. It's also far more toxic when inhaled or injected than ingested, but most people won't have the lyophilizer in their basement that they'd need to make the protein into an aerosol, or the other equipment to make an aerosol for that matter. And, of course, in order to contaminate the water supply with enough ricin to reach a concentration high enough to kill a city they'd have to smuggle a whole hunkin' lot into the city's reservoir.
Nah, if you're worried about some crazy killing you worry about the guy across the street getting his hands on a gun or a knife. Or worry about getting in a car accident, or eating something you’re allergic to.
And, y'know, if someone was really and seriously going to make a WMD they probably wouldn't use "Little Timmy's Website of Death" to make their active ingredient. And, like rabbit said, they just aren't going to get much of anything from that procedure. They're actually a heck of a lot more likely to destroy it than isolate it in any meaningful amount. Frankly I'm offended that anyone thinks this recipe could work Posted by King of Men (Member # 6684) on :
quote:Jar Head, are you talking about me or the others? Because I did think about something like that when I posted, but I am not concerned because homeland security will find it pretty hard to find someone more in favor Bush's policies.
So it's OK that the secret police are listening to you, because you never say anything disloyal? Posted by Telperion the Silver (Member # 6074) on :
Mmmm... dioxen
Now THAT could wipe a city out in a small amount.
[ December 01, 2004, 08:27 PM: Message edited by: Telperion the Silver ]
Posted by The Rabbit (Member # 671) on :
Only if you want to wipe out the dogs and rats. Dioxins are far more toxic to dogs, rats and guinea pigs than they are to humans. They are dangerous, but it would take quite a bit to wipe out a cities human population.
Posted by Promethius (Member # 2468) on :
quote:So it's OK that the secret police are listening to you, because you never say anything disloyal?
![[Wink]](wink.gif)
![[Roll Eyes]](rolleyes.gif)