h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I know of an absolutely horrible substance--worse even than dihydrogen monoxide! See if you can identify it--I'll post the answer here in today's journal after I post the journal for the 3rd.

It's extremely physically addicting--once it is first sampled, withdrawal can cause permanent damage and even death in a very short time, though some regularly pursue mini-withdrawals purposefully, and even competitively, especially when young.

It is one of the most corrosive substances known.

Its presence can cause fires and explosions.

An overdose can cause convulsions, difficulty breathing, and/or blindness.

A form not very different than the most common is a pollutant and contributes to the hole in the ozone layer.

Oxygen?

Simon Cowell?

I am male.

I am therefore inclined to childishness.

My very first thought was therefore that which any self respecting boy child would consider. Especially taking account of the danger of combustion and polluting the atmosphere.

Like stealing from cars in a multi storey car park, my answer is just wrong on so many levels.

reddit

I think I know what this is, and if I'm right, the thought of young people competitively pursuing withdrawals makes me chuckle.

Deb

Sugar?

I just realised I was thinking of the dihydrogen monoxide (water?) which was why I was chuckling at the thought of young people competitively avoiding it (no washing!).

Therefore I have no idea what this is and now can't wait for tomorrow!

Deb

I was going to say tobacco, but withdrawal symptoms after short-term use should not include death.

Oxygen would have been a good answer, except that it doesn't destroy ozone.

Some of the refrigerants that were once used were destructive of ozone. I don't know if they were addictive or flammable, though.

I think I know what it is, but I won't say.

gotta be coca cola?

Storm was right! *gives Storm a mufflewhump*

paul, if you read carefully, you'll see I never said it *destroyed* the ozone layer, I said it contributed to the hole. I'll admit it takes some twisted logic to get there... There has to *be* an ozone layer for there to be a hole in it

Yaaaay go Storm. I love it when someone else gets it right. It's so boring being omnipotent