We were somewhere around Barstow, on the edge of the desert, when the
drugs began to take hold. I remember saying
something like:

The shower trap I am fitting says to put only neutral cure silicone
sealant between the flange and the shower base since acid ones can
attack the flange. The flange is chrome plated plastic so this sounds
like a wind up to me.

It does exist - the brand I use is Sealux, to go along with their shower
trays and bath seals. Pricier than ordinary stuff, but it works well.