NationStates Jolt Archive

I was never around during the Cold War, so I was wondering, why did you guys think that the Soviets would nuke an elementary school, and more importantly, how would a desk save you from a nuclear attack? Did they invent some kind of shield against radiation that they applied to all desks in public schools? I mean, it seems kind of farfetched if you ask me.

It serves no purpose, other than suggesting you a sense of safety.

The glue holding the laminate top on was lead based

Plus all the glue stuck to the bottom would weigh the desk down, so it wouldn't blow away during the compression blast.

Exactly and the chewing gum could be consumed afterwards untill growing things return.

Well, if your in the blast radius, you're practicly dead. But it can sheild you from debree. Its like how people recomend that you hid under a table in an earthquake.

The Soviets certainly had enough nukes to blast the whole world through a couple of times, and I'm sure that one of their priorities would be to disable our agriculture. Thus, rural areas would need to be nuked.
And I have no idea what "duck and cover" was all about. I don't even know if it was based on sound science of the time, instinct, or just propaganda.

Placebo effect. It wouldn't do anything but maybe keep the ceiling tiles from hitting you, heavier stuff would break the desk. But hey, it keeps the kids calm.

Propoganda.

In this kind of situation I think hiding under the desks serves several purposes:

1. it gives the kids a sense of safety and activity, rather than standing exposed and waiting, they are actually doing something. Would you rather be in charge of 30 kids curled up under desks sucking their thumbs and crying, or 30 kids running around and screaming and crying?

2. if you are crouched hiding under a desk you are less likely to be hit by broken glass from shattered windows.

3. similarly, if the ceiling starts coming down the desk will provide a modicum of protection.

4. certainly hiding under a desk isn't the ideal way to face a nuclear explosion, but being underneath the desk is better than sitting on top of it. It may only be 3/4" of plywood, but it is better than nothing. Kind of like having the choice between being hit with a 16 ton weight or a 15 ton1999 pound one... the chances aren't much better with the lighter one, but they are just slightly more attractive.

'..Slightly more attractive.'

LOL :lol:


But, right you are!

'..Slightly more attractive.'

LOL :lol:


But, right you are!

The general point of the whole thing being that the people who had their hands on the buttons shouldn't have been let near sharp objects, never mind nuclear devices...

It's not that Soviets would bomb your elementary school, it's the fact that the bomb 10 miles away would demolish anything in its wake and your school might be next to that secret military base 10 miles from your school.

This whole question is moot. The US had won the cold war. The cold war is over.

This whole question is moot. The US had won the cold war. The cold war is over.

So why does the US* keep its nuclear weapons then?



* or: Russia, UK, France, China, India, Pakistan, Israel.