Since this forum has a pretty strong Korean contingent...

Can someone please explain to me why the country is seemingly obsessed with the notion of "fan death"? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fan_death

It's the most terribly hilarious thing I've read in a long while, an urban legend so strong it pervades the mainstream media.

Leunal

United States127 Posts

September 01 2008 02:17 GMT

The first thing that comes to mind is not wanting to waste energy by leaving the fan on overnight, but what do I know.

Ganfei

Taiwan1439 Posts

September 01 2008 02:19 GMT

I've slept with my fan on at night for like 8 years, O_O

Ozarugold

2716 Posts

September 01 2008 02:20 GMT

Time to call the Mythbusters!

pubbanana

United States3063 Posts

September 01 2008 02:21 GMT

My mom slept in her room with the door and every window closed and with an electric fan on all night, every night since I was born until this very day (and I turned 20 next month).

boghat

United States2109 Posts

September 01 2008 02:22 GMT

The last time I slept without a fan was never. The silence disturbs me at this point. If I am dead I can't tell the difference so no need to worry.

NonY

8748 Posts

September 01 2008 02:26 GMT

I think that's the funniest accurate wikipedia page I've read. I wonder how much money could be made by betting that you'll sleep all night in an enclosed room with 5 fans pointed at you.

The age old
1. Go to Korea
2. Sleep with 5 fans pointed at you
3. ??????
4. Profit!!

Has been solved!!!!

ilovejonn

Canada2548 Posts

September 01 2008 02:30 GMT

That if the fan is put directly in front of the face of the sleeping person, it will suck all the air away, preventing one from breathing. This explanation ignores the fact that most people point a fan towards themselves when using one, which causes air to move past the face but does not change the amount of air present.

LOL

Pressure

7326 Posts

September 01 2008 02:33 GMT

yeah... when i sleep with a fan on i always keep the door open
i have no clue but my grandma pushed it on me

statix

United States1760 Posts

September 01 2008 02:34 GMT

#10

"The Korea Consumer Protection Board (KCPB), a South Korean government-funded public agency, issued a consumer safety alert in 2006 warning that "asphyxiation from electric fans and air conditioners" was among South Korea's five most common seasonal summer accidents or injuries, according to data they collected"

interesting

MidnightGladius

China1214 Posts

September 01 2008 02:36 GMT

#11

/shrug

I like timers simply because there's no point having a fan on for the 6-8 hours I'm asleep. Plus, you can detach them and use them in explosives!

YPang

United States4024 Posts

September 01 2008 02:37 GMT

#12

On September 01 2008 11:20 Ozarugold wrote:
Time to call the Mythbusters!

boghat

United States2109 Posts

September 01 2008 02:39 GMT

#13

On September 01 2008 11:36 MidnightGladius wrote:
/shrug

I like timers simply because there's no point having a fan on for the 6-8 hours I'm asleep. Plus, you can detach them and use them in explosives!

If you are used to white noise and could potentially have other noises wake you up this is a very good reason to keep the fan on the whole time. That's at least why I do. It's kind of like people keeping the television or radio on when they sleep.

Night[Mare

Mexico4793 Posts

September 01 2008 02:39 GMT

#14

that is soooo ridiculous

{CC}StealthBlue

United States41117 Posts

September 01 2008 02:44 GMT

#15

Stupid.

CapO

United States1615 Posts

September 01 2008 02:47 GMT

#16

i remember a media coverage on this matter, and i never knew this was actually an urban legend. i still leave windows and doors open, whenever i sleep with a fan on. my father would always warn me about this.