this post was submitted on 30 Jan 2026
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A Boring Dystopia
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Remember when you had to turn your phone off when refuelling? Pepperidge Farm remembers.
I don't! Why?
A bullshit urban legend that said using your phone while pumping gas would potentially start a fire because of radio waves or some such and spontaneously start fires. It even went so far that gas stations put signs up telling customers to not use their phones.
What really happened was people would start pumping gas with those pumps that had automatic shutoffs, then they’d go sit in the car while it filled the tank to use their phone. When the pump automatically clicked off they’d get up and pull the gas nozzle out. This action caused static buildup getting into/out of the car seat and it discharged grabbing the gas nozzle. Sometimes enough of a discharge to start a fire. Took them a while watching security videos to figure out the sequence of events.
So indirectly it was using a phone that caused the fires, but not the phone itself.
Gas fumes and electronics
Gas fumes and static electricity. Electricity isn't a problem if it remains inside. Once it goes outside it can do unpredictable stuff.
It was a theory. unproven theory.
It is more dangerous to get in and out of your car while fueling.
no, but i got my first cell in the late aughts. i'm not a luddite, just poor.
These "smart nozzles" were approved for use in the environment and appropriately designed and certified. Their company has shut down anyway because it wasn't profitable enough. Sucks for the three people that worked for them, but not surprising, considering how unlikable and liable to vandalism the product is