Im reminded of Orville Tethington, inventor of the worlds…
“Im reminded of Orville Tethington, inventor of the worlds first steam-powered fog machine. Hes also the guy who, after the Germans invented the flame thrower in WWI, decided to counteract it with his own creation, the candle thrower. The candle thrower was only battle tested once, and after fifteen minutes the war zone was littered with lit candles. Upon returning home after the war, some of the soldiers suffered such extreme and bizarre cases of PTSD that anytime a civilian lit a match or used their lighter, the soldiers would hit the ground and start singing Happy Birthday.”
This quote is also attributed to Jarod Kintz in other sources. Attributions for famous quotes are often disputed.
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
A quirky anecdote about an eccentric inventor whose wartime invention caused unintended psychological effects on soldiers.
In simple terms: Inventor creates odd weapon that triggers PTSD triggers.
Key Takeaway
Recognize how trauma can be triggered by mundane cues.
Themes
war
psychology
invention
humor
history
Mood
reflective
darkly humorous
Type
computers:0
happy birthday:0
laughter:0
returning home:0
war zone:0
candle thrower:0
invented flame:0
flame thrower:0
thrower candle:0
thrower wwi:0
When to use this quote
- military history
- psychology research
- veteran support
Key Concepts
PTSD
unintended consequences
war inventions
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we better support veterans with unexpected triggers?
- What safeguards prevent harmful inventions?
A Different Perspective
Even humorous inventions can have serious side effects.