murasakidoku replied to your post
“mikiri-tohoshima replied to your post “hey though for real when I...”
it's not compressed hydrogren, it's compressed hOGdrogen. they're not trying to pass off real world science for magic healy stuff, especially considering there's really no coming back from radioactivity poisoning in real life.
For the record, I can’t tell if you’re being condescending or merely conversational. I’m leaning towards condescending, based on your word usage and tone.
Yeah, I know, I read the wiki page. I said it was “compressed hydrogen with a different name” because hogdrogen has a significant resemblance to hydrogen. I did not mean that the in-game gas was actually real life hydrogen but with a false name. I meant that they had clearly taken a real life gas, changed its properties and name and used it in the game, instead of making up their own completely fictional gas with no similarities to any real life gases. Hogdrogen is not hydrogen, but it is very similar, at least in appearance.
No, of course they’re not. Regardless, the fact is that they made their fictional compressed hogdrogen look and seem very similar to compressed hydrogen, right down to warning labels on the canisters warning of mass destruction. They purposely made it sound like something real in order to lend it credibility within the game’s world, which is of course observed by people living in real life.
They could have just as easily called it HEALium, but I suspect that beyond wanting a gas that can heal, they also wanted it to be recognized by players as pretty dangerous, to fit the Junker aesthetic. So, hogdrogen, being at least in name an analogue for the extremely reactive element hydrogen, was a good fit.
And yes, while it is possible to recover at least somewhat from lower levels of chronic radiation syndrome, according to what little clinical/research information we have on such cases, the extent of the Junkers’ radiation poisoning is indeed indicated to be extremely severe, the effects of which couldn’t ever be completely reversed. Even with future technology, apparently.
And still, whether the condition is reversible or not, the fact is that people with radiation pneumonitis, which Roadhog may or may not have, are treated with bronchodilators, often in the form of an inhalant.
So I stand by my claim that Roadhog’s particular healing game mechanic was designed with real life treatments for radiation poisoning in mind. Or at least the idea that he has a respiratory issue separate from radiation poisoning, and that both can be treated in a useful game mechanic that fits with the game’s lore.
I suspect your use of the phrase “magic healy stuff” was meant to indicate that it’s just a game and it doesn’t have to make sense, but I’ve decided to treat it literally here. The Junker’s slice of the overwatch world doesn’t rely on magic. It’s not cold hard science, either, but the game developers would have put in at least some effort to rationalize the elements they wanted to include. They’ve been so thorough with other details, that I’d be surprised if this one was a fluke.
Finally, all of this argument aside, my harmless and ultimately meaningless speculation about the character Roadhog’s condition/treatment and the logic behind the game developer’s design choices is my opinion. That’s all. I have never said or indicated that everyone or frankly anyone but myself should believe what I believe. I’m sure there are other rationalizations and headcanons that could explain this in a different way, maybe a better way. They are not invalid just because my current opinion differs.
As I have said:
“I mean it is on some level just a game mechanism, so it doesn’t necessarily have to make complete sense”
“I could be wrong, still. at any rate I really like that game mechanism as a person with asthma ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ “
It is not too much to ask to be allowed to have my own headcanon in peace, when as far as I am aware it does not harm anyone.
It is quite possible that this is merely a communication misunderstanding between the two of us. What you’ve said is all more or less correct. What I registered from your tone and word usage was “You’re wrong, and you’re a fool for thinking so hard about a headcanon that is meaningless and wrong.” It is this subtext that I have responded to.
I hope that this post has helped to explain my thought process on this issue. If I misinterpreted your subtext, I would be happy to apologize for this stern response.
Otherwise, I respectfully ask that you have a nice day somewhere else.
