So, a few months ago I decided to go outside and smash all my old phones into a million pieces just for fun and since they didn’t work. I put them in a bag in my closet because I don’t have an easy way to dispose them correctly. Well, my 9 year old brother tells me that he thinks it’s killing me because of “liquid mercury” and stuff in the screens. Just asking here if that’s actually the case.

The devices are a Samsung Galaxy J3, a Samsung Galaxy A5, a Samsung Galaxy S6, and an iPod Classic.

Thanks in advance!

  • AlexanderScott66@alien.topB
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    1
    ·
    1 year ago

    First of all, there’s no mercury in phones. That 9 yo is kinda stupid for thinking that out of all things.

    Second of all, it’s not that hard to find a recycling center that will take them. There’s really no need to smash them “for fun” because cleaning up the mess won’t be worth it

    • Gh3rkinz@alien.topB
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      1
      ·
      1 year ago

      I mean. He’s 9. Real possibility they believe in Santa. Saying they’re stupid is a bit harsh.

      • AlexanderScott66@alien.topB
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        1
        ·
        1 year ago

        Mercury hasn’t been used in really anything since thermometers. When I was 9, a lot of thermometers around still used Mercury, and even I knew that phones didn’t use Mercury. Mercury altogether was outlawed for most purposes in 2008. The kid certainly wasn’t born during a time when it was in anything

        • Gh3rkinz@alien.topB
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          1
          ·
          1 year ago

          Nice, dude. When I was 9, I was shocked to learn the teenage mutant ninja turtles were in fact, mutated turtles.

          Don’t take a childs intelligence seriously. There aren’t many demographics that are more gullible and prone to misunderstandings than 9 year olds. The next would be an 8 year old.

          • AlexanderScott66@alien.topB
            link
            fedilink
            English
            arrow-up
            1
            ·
            1 year ago

            If you want to get political, I can think of a pretty big demographic that’s the most gullible. Hint: their favorite day is January 6th

    • croholdr@alien.topB
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      1
      ·
      1 year ago

      Yea I’m sure that 9 year old and his brother who likes to ‘smash old stuff for fun then put it in a bag’ goes around taking things to places like an electronics disposal service all the time!

      Personally, as a middle aged man, I have never taken anything to a electronics recycler, I once had a collection of old phones but they were stolen out of storage. I’m curious to hear about others experiences disposing of old electronics…

    • dsolo01@alien.topB
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      1
      ·
      1 year ago

      No kidding. By 9 years old your silly childish imagination should already be smashed to pieces just like your siblings phones 🙄