Nobody's that stupid...?

[ffutures]

I was just out getting a sandwich for lunch and overheard a snatch of conversation from one of the cafe tables that sounded truly bizarre:

"Of course the real reason the US is phasing out tin cans is that the chemical name sounds like 'satanic'"

I think that the guy who said this was one of three men, all in their thirties-forties and fairly smartly dressed. Wouldn't amaze me if they were advertising people, there are some agencies in the area.

I just did a web search and can't find anything that looks like this sort of nonsense, but the chemical name for many tin compounds does begin "stannic" and that isn't far off being an anagram if you are deeply stupid. Anyone know anything about this?

Comments

[karohemd.livejournal.com]

Mmm, someone needs to set up a website along the lines of Overheard in New York City, I think. That would be a perfect submission. ;o)

Haven't heard of the tin can thing yet, no.

[heliograph.livejournal.com]

They're phasing out tin because it's too damned expensive. The tin market has exploded in the last few years (witness the rising cost of minis), and now it's cheaper to use thick aluminum.

As far as the other goes, I'd point you to the punk rock Xmas album "Santa or Satan" for more useful comparisons.

[ffutures.livejournal.com]

Yes, the cost thing had crossed my mind too. Plus aluminium is recyclable etc., and the production process is much simple. I know all that, nevertheless I did vaguely wonder if there was a rumour about the satanic thing too.

[parakkum.livejournal.com]

I haven't encountered such a rumor, and I'd tend to discount it because it would require Americans associating tin with the word "stannic" (which we don't, by and large, unless we are chemists).

It has the structure of a good urban legend. The word is close enough to make it phonetically plausible, and it fits a worldwide image of us as a bunch of ignorant overly religious types (it just makes the mistake of not realizing that ignorant folks don't know the old common names of chemicals...). So possibility + message = urban legend. :)

[ffutures.livejournal.com]

Sounds plausible.

[captboulanger.livejournal.com]

The only "phasing out" of metal cans I've witnessed is in the case of coffee, where some brands are now using thick, rigid plastic containers (similar grade plastic to that used for ketchup or mayonnaise).

Of course, it's possible they are shifting to a different type of metal.

[ffutures.livejournal.com]

As heliograph mentioned there's been a long-term shift from steel cans with soldered joints top and bottom (the type which still use a little tin) to the modern metal cans which are formed as a cup-shaped pressing with a top that is attached by a rolled plastic-lined joint; usually aluminium, but increasingly made of very thin steel with a plastic inner lining. The old type has almost completely vanished for soft drink cans and other pressurised liquids (e.g. beer) and increasingly is only made in large sizes where there are technical difficulties in making the cup type. For the smaller sizes the new ones are cheaper, more recyclable, and much easier to manufacture. And one of the main reasons for adopting them is that tin is a finite resource and can't easily be recycled.

All of which has nothing to do with the conversation I overheard, of course, it's just the real reason.

[brendanm720.livejournal.com]

Actually, I haven't seen a real Tin Can in ages.

Food comes in either Steel, Aluminum, or now, Plastic.

Beer and pop comes in Aluminum.

[shrugs]

I agree with the assessments on cost and recycling.

You're probably right about your guy being in advertising (or marketing). In my experience, advertising/marketing people tend to shoot their mouth off first, and ask questions never. I always loved to catch the marketing guys on something. You know, back when we used to HAVE marketing guys.

Ah. Good times.