The document continues that Aspertame is made from wood alcohol, and if it's heated to 86 degrees Fahrenheit it will mysteriously alchemise into formaldehyde and then into formic acid. The reason is that it reflects a great public fear of insidious toxicity creeping into our daily lives. The message isn't necessarily about Aspertame. It's more about a general mistrust of what large corporations tell us is safe. Again we must ask, why was this message so successful in the digital realm when so many urban legends concerning health safety haven't crossed over.
Computer programmers are notorious for their soda consumption.
It's not unusual for a technology worker to guzzle a 2-liter bottle before lunch. Expanding waistlines drive many geeks to drink diet. On a grander scale, many of us suspect that the very act of using computers is unhealthy. The stereotypical programmer is pasty-faced with sunken eyes and horrible posture. Leaning into a radiation-emitting monitor for hours on end makes an individual feel just plain bad.