Rebecca Skloot is an award-winning science writer, and author of the New York Times Bestselling book 
Here's some good solid (and useful) science for you: Researchers in
Liverpool have announced that "being pelted by a raw egg may
result in eye injury." How they know: They studied the medical records
of 18,651 patients who'd gone to an eye unit over the course of 14
months. Thirteen turned out to be egg attack victims. As the BBC reported: "The researchers warn that egg hurling, sometimes used as a form of protest or prank, is far from harmless. They point out, in the Emergency Medical Journal, that an egg has the same dimensions as a squash ball but carries even more weight when lobbed. Jon Durnian, lead author of the paper from the Royal Liverpool University Hospital, said: "The shape and weight of an egg makes it a perfect instrument to cause quite a lot of damage it it is thrown accurately ... Mr Durnian said the public should be made aware of the damage an egg can cause and that throwing eggs should definitely not be encouraged."
Durnian has a special beef with companies who sell eggs specifically designed for lobbing, like "Mischief Eggs," which are apparently sold during Halloween. Who knew?
Now, you're probably thinking to yourself, Who throws eggs anymore? I haven't heard of anyone throwing eggs in years! Well, I must say, if I'd known about those Mischief Eggs, I may have gotten some. Because the truth is, in the last few years, I've actually thrown a few eggs:
For years apartment was directly above the entrance to the Lincoln Tunnel in Manhattan, which meant the streets below my windows turned into a huge parking lot during rush hour. Several times a week, people stuck in that traffic leaned on their horns endlessly, as if their blaring would help move cars stopped all the way to New Jersey. This does not bring out the best in people: Some people would roll down windows and shout obscenities at the honkers, others got out of their cars, puffed up their chests and actually pounded on the windows of honkers. And I -- twice in three years -- opened my window and hurled eggs at honkers. Fortunately for them, they're in cars with their eyes not pointed toward the eggs. And my aim is terrible, so I couldn't hit a person if I tried. But I can apparently hit the hood of a car.
Update: I may have also lobbed a few eggs at certain political yard signs and banners during the lead up to the last election (and the one before that).
Medicine & Health
Brain & Behavior
Comments
yeah, it's all very funny til you put someone's eye out :)
Posted by: alphabitch | January 14, 2009 3:38 PM
"I may have lobbed a few eggs at certain political yard signs and banners during the lead up to the last election"
So, the pretty lady with the beautiful mind has a dark side.
Good for you.
Posted by: Art | January 14, 2009 4:16 PM
Who throw a shoe an egg? Honestly!
Posted by: Austin Powers | January 14, 2009 5:58 PM
Darn, the strike tags around "a shoe" didn't show.
Posted by: Austin Powers | January 14, 2009 6:01 PM
Hilarious, Powers! "Who throws
a shoean egg?! Honestly!"Posted by: Skloot | January 15, 2009 9:37 AM
Dammit. Stupid studies.
Now I'm reduced to jello flinging.
Posted by: kamaka | January 16, 2009 7:37 PM
Unfortunately people do throw eggs and I do not find your synical article amusing. My teengage son was hit by an egg thrown from a passing car whilst waiting at a bus stop. As a result he has got a serious eye injury which may effect his sight for life so think before you jest!
Posted by: olive oil | May 29, 2010 5:13 PM