Half a croissant, on a plate, with a sign in front of it saying '50c'
h a l f b a k e r y
Good ideas at the time.

idea: add, search, annotate, link, view, overview, recent, by name, best, random

meta: news, help, about, links, report a problem

account: browse anonymously, or get an account and write.

user:
pass:
register,


                         

Riot Gel

stop a mob dead in its tracks
  (+1, -5)
(+1, -5)
  [vote for,
against]

I'm not sure if this has been baked before, if it has please show me a link. I really did look, but I couldn't find anything that offered a good explanation of what it does.

Every year, you hear people complaining about brutality on the part of riot-control police, because their methods at dispersing a mob scene "discomfort" the protesters. So I propose a different kind of riot control, a completely non-violent one.

Basically, it's a liquid that's sprayed from a hose at the feet of protesters along the perimeter of the mob that thickens into sticky gel upon contact with air, so anyone who steps into it will be stuck in their tracks. Police would, of course, wear clothing of a material that doesn't form a bond with it so they could walk amongst the statuesque protesters, slapping handcuffs on them, then spray a liquifying agent at their feet to release them, one-by-one, into custody.

After a certain amount of time, the remaining gel would lose viscosity and liquify. It would be completely biodegradable, of course. Wouldn't want Green Peace and the EPA forming their own protests...

21 Quest, Jan 23 2006


Please log in.
If you're not logged in, you can see what this page looks like, but you will not be able to add anything.



Annotation:







       Try Googling for "sticky foam non lethal weapon".
wagster, Jan 23 2006
  

       I did that link, and I came up with a foam-type substance, but it's different.   

       //Q: Is it sticky? A: No, it's not particularly sticky. It's going to get on you if you walk through it like soap suds would, okay? // Basically, it's a soap-like foam laced with tear gas. My idea is to steer away from pain-inflicting methods.   

       The other "sticky foam" that's covered in that link is sprayed directly on a person, called a "high-tech lasso". Problem is that if it gets on the face it could cover the mouth and nose, causing suffocation and death.   

       Please note that these were both developed by marines, who are not exactly known for being "less-than-violent".
21 Quest, Jan 23 2006
  

       Would it glow? That might be helpful at night. Plus if it were edible then animals would come later to help with cleanup. You might add flavoring to attract specific local animals. One might also have gels in different colors to use depending on the type of protestor sprayed: red for someone seen throwing a brick, orange for a loud guy with a stick in his hand, blue for a hippie gal who was nearby and looked like she might need some gel.   

       Protestors might fight back by shucking off clothes with drying gel on them. Cops would have to resist similar urges. A naked protest might result, which would probably be a good outcome, if it were warm out.
bungston, Jan 23 2006
  

       Hm...could be a very nice outcome [bung]... unless it was obese people protesting tofu and soy...
21 Quest, Jan 23 2006
  

       Sounds like a magical spray to me.
Moreover, If this magical substance //thickens into sticky gel upon contact with air// and you start throwing it at a group of people, then you are going to kill some of them by suffocation and then where would you be?
gnomethang, Jan 23 2006
  

       As I said, [Gnome] : //spray at the feet// And it's not magical, just a different, less dangerous version of an existing spray. See above annos.
21 Quest, Jan 23 2006
  

       Is there some reason the sticky foam can't be sprayed at the feet or something that would prevent the gel from being sprayed at the face?
half, Jan 23 2006
  

       Because, in current form, the sticky foam is sprayed from a hand-held gun. Which means that a sadistic wielder can just "accidentally" aim alittle too high and get someone in the face. My solution to this problem is a ground-level sprayer that cannot be aimed up. perfect for city streets and sidewalks, where most riots take place. If all else fails, we could always call in the [Riot Control Bears]!
21 Quest, Jan 23 2006
  

       If instead of a sprayer, the gel was deployed by a pourer, it would obviate the risk of getting a mouthful. The pourer could be a dumptruck style vehicle. Alternatively the police could be issued watering-can style buckets. Enough must be poured to form a wave which would sweep down the street. Rioters would be notified to stay standing up.
bungston, Jan 23 2006
  

       That dumptruck idea could be a very good idea [Bung]. Thanks for the input.
21 Quest, Jan 23 2006
  

       I'm not seeing anything new here, except that //the remaining gel would lose viscosity and liquify//, er, somehow.
Shz, Jan 23 2006
  

       I was hoping for something that would paste the hair of protesters into perfectly groomed preppie hairstyles, rendering them and their protest pointless and inane.
UnaBubba, Jan 23 2006
  


 

back: main index

business  computer  culture  fashion  food  halfbakery  home  other  product  public  science  sport  vehicle