<p>Yeah, I get what you’re saying, I’ll give it a shot if our RA can’t resolve the issue. I wonder how much help it will be though if even doctors in Korea believe in this…</p>
<p>Oh, I definitely think working with the RA is the first step. I even think that the RA should help engage a Korean prof if you all need to go in that direction.</p>
<p>Good luck this afternoon. Do the windows in your dorm open?</p>
<p>I think so, but for some reason, mosquitoes seem to find and bite me no matter where I am, so I’d like to keep the windows closed if possible. It’s a possible short-term solution though.</p>
<p>Can you purchase a small temp window screen like this ? Very cheap. </p>
<p>Mosquitoes like me too. </p>
<p>[Amazon.com:</a> Adjustable Window Screen, 18" x 19" to 33": Home Improvement](<a href=“http://www.amazon.com/Adjustable-Window-Screen-18-19/dp/B001AYBN4M/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1346271457&sr=8-1&keywords=temporary+window+screen]Amazon.com:”>http://www.amazon.com/Adjustable-Window-Screen-18-19/dp/B001AYBN4M/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1346271457&sr=8-1&keywords=temporary+window+screen)</p>
<p>His fears are based on misinformation but he doesn’t know that. If he’s presented with neutral, scientifically-based information, it will then be his option to change his feelings based on the new information or to continue to have fears based on (what we know is) misinformation. A good science professor can give fact-based explanations refuting all the different ways fans are believed to kill people. Nearly every international student I’ve ever known from an Asia country is a STEM major which is why the suggestion that maybe a professor from a STEM field could be helpful on this as someone who just wants to present facts.</p>
<p>If he chooses not to believe the actual facts, then ask for a new roommate ASAP. Both roomies should not be spending so much time and energy dreading their daily argument about this. </p>
<p>The international student shouldn’t feel that his fears are being ridiculed or his culture is believed to be stupid, especially as more people may learn about this and make comments to him about it.</p>
<p>^^ The other part of the wives tale is that a fan and/or air conditioner will eliminate the oxygen from a room causing suffocation. </p>
<p>Which can also be erradicated be science. </p>
<p>My concern about the science position is that many people do not know why they believe something, only that they believe it because they were brought up with the belief. So it may be difficult to change their mind.</p>
<p>This is a website, not a blog, so hopefully, it will not be removed by moderators. But it had the best explaination of Korean Fan Death all in one place that I found. Along with the history of it. </p>
<p>[Korean</a> Fan Death](<a href=“Korean Fan Death”>Korean Fan Death)</p>
<p>ABS, don’t forget to comeback and tell us how your meeting with the RA and RM went!</p>
<p>I’m kinda ashamed now that this matter got pretty serious. -_- As a Korean myself I can assure you that this myth is sort of dying out now, and those who still believe it are seriously behind the time. Hope you won’t hold any prejudice against us because of this haha.</p>
<p>melody, since none of us had even heard of this before now, I really don’t think that is a problem. </p>
<p>If it makes you feel any better, my grandmother used to make us EAT vicks salve when we had a cold, or fever as children. And used windex on all cuts and scrapes to clean them. It was not until I was in nursing school that I realized we probably should not have been doing that all those years! LOL</p>
<p>We all have weird things in our individual and national cultures.</p>
<p>True. I’m just disturbed by this roommate’s stubbornness and how it really annoyed other people.</p>
<p>His parents/grandparents/and it seems even MD’s may have put an irrational fear in him. He may even have had a relative that passed in the summer with a fan in their room that was called Fan Death (even if it was not) and it was traumatic for him. If that happened to any of us, and we were around 6-12 years old, and everyone in the family kept saying it was fan death, and for many years kept blaming that death on a fan…it would be pretty hard to not think about that. And be a little freaked out by fans. </p>
<p>Just like any superstition. My mom is freaked out by clowns. It is actually a documented phobia that many people have. Why? I have no idea what that trauma came from, but find it really strange.</p>
<p>Oh, and we all have our stubborn spots and annoy people. I am sure that the RA will help them through it.</p>
<p>Interestingly, there are actually certain studies saying that fan death can be real, although rare - but they’re more along the lines of this: if you’re in a REALLY hot room with no air circulation (read: all doors and windows closed), then the fan is just pushing around hot air and you could dehydrate really easily and accelerate heat exhaustion. The catch, of course, is that such an event requires the temperature to be insanely hot to begin with, so it’s pretty unlikely.</p>
<p>This pamphlet from the EPA explains it pretty well: <a href=“http://www.epa.gov/hiri/about/pdf/EHEguide_final.pdf[/url]”>http://www.epa.gov/hiri/about/pdf/EHEguide_final.pdf</a> (not a blog so should be ok)</p>
<p>Basically, though, the title to this pamphlet is “guide to excessive heat,” i.e., a temperature of over 105 degrees fahrenheit for 3 hours each day, two days in a row, or a sustained period where the heat index is over 115 degrees…something that is extremely rare and unlikely to be found in a dorm room. In temperatures lower than this (even in the 90s!) fan deaths are extremely unlikely because the heat probably isn’t at a dangerous level. Fan deaths are also extremely uncommon (and may never have actually happened) since very few people are likely to close their windows and use only a fan when the temperature is that hot. So you should be fine in a dorm room.</p>
<p>Sorry, geek moment. One thing I did read, though, is that fan deaths are alleviated by even cracking a window - most of the Korean blogs/articles I read said that most Koreans who believe in the dangers of the “fan death” also believe that it can be alleviated by cracking open a window. I know you’re worried about mosquitos (believe me, they bite me too), but maybe you can find a way to explain to him that cracking a window will help, and only open it slightly?</p>
<p>Well, it looks like things have worked themselves out! Our RA wasn’t exactly sensitive to his “beliefs” (read: my fan can stay on as long as I want, as long as it’s only pointed at me). My roommate decided it was too stressful dealing with superstition-less Americans, so he’s going to be living with some Korean upperclassmen off campus. The cool thing is that we’re technically required to live on campus as freshmen, so I’ll get a double all to myself until the end of the semester!</p>
<p>@3togo… Apparently she was staring at the fan and the repetitive spinning motion triggered the seizure. When the seizure was in process her eyes and head was moving in the same motion as the fan. </p>
<p>I understand that flashing lights can also cause seizures.</p>
<p>Dyson makes a fan WITHOUT blades that might make things better (even though those are a bit more expensive). They are available at Costco & many other stores. [Dyson</a> bladeless fans and heaters - free delivery | Dyson.com](<a href=“Air Treatment, Air Purifiers, Heaters, Fans, Humidifiers, Purifier Filters | Dyson”>Air Treatment, Air Purifiers, Heaters, Fans, Humidifiers, Purifier Filters | Dyson)</p>
<p>They are even sold on eBay. You do have to find out specifically what his objection to fans is. I have a Korean nephew-in-law & know MANY, MANY Koreans and have never heard of this fear before, honestly. In fact, many Koreans I know own and operate fans. Have never heard of this issue with regard to any ethnicity.</p>
<p>Whoops, I see you and your room mate & the RA have resolved the issue. Anyway, the Dyson Air Multiplier is an option (but a bit pricey).</p>
<p>You’re not going to get far in life if every time a culture inconveniences you, you regard their beliefs or customs as idiotic. It may not be rational, but we have plenty of irrational superstitions ourselves.</p>
<p>Also fyi - some people just hate having a breeze on them when sleeping. I would’ve raised an issue if I could feel the airflow at all and I have no superstition about fans whatsoever.</p>
<p>Wow, I guess he was very, very uncomfortable. I am sorry it led to this. I like the bladeless fan idea, maybe you can share the cost if he is willing to give it a try.</p>
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<p>It’s not like I said that to his face. I was very diplomatic about the situation. I know better than to tell people to their face that what they believe in is stupid. I’m an atheist, so if I did that in America, I’d have most of the population ticked off at me.</p>
<p>But religious nuts don’t affect me on a daily basis, so it makes no difference. But when it does (like with the fan), I’m not going to hesitate to confront the person.</p>
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<p>The fan clearly wasn’t pointing at my roommate at any time. This is a STANDING fan, not a ceiling one. And unless he was lying, it wasn’t being uncomfortable he was afraid of - it was death.</p>
<p>@Yenmoor: Yeah, he’s obviously free to come back at any time, so at that point I’ll deal with it if I have to.</p>
<p>Just tell him that it’s silly- fan deaths are a rare occurrence and generally are not the entire fault of the fan, and to get used to it because you will only be using it for a few more weeks until it starts to cool down in the Fall season.</p>