Caution: Contents...
CAUTION: The contents of this post may cause irreparable damage if read while sitting on the computer monitor and trying to smash ones face into it.
No! I have not lost it; Yet! The other day I happened to grab my morning container (paper cup with lid and a sleeve) of coffee. And suddenly happened to notice this warning ‘Caution: The beverage you are about to enjoy may be extremely hot’. And not just on one, but on 3 different locations! Now if I were to buy a cup of coffee on a freezing morning, I would be quite offended if it was anything but hot. And since they have totally different containers for hot and cold beverages, what’s the point? Is it that the average American citizen is afflicted with sudden attacks of amnesia when he forgets what he bought about a minute ago? Or are they so dumb that they need to be reminded that hot coffee is, well hot! Its almost like writing ‘Caution: Contents may catch fire if rubbed against side of box’ on a matchbox! Wait a minute, have they done it already? Maybe they will now!
And it’s not just coffee. Every product one buys seems to have scores of warnings attached, often in places where one would never look (I’m assuming one does not usually scrutinize ones coffee cup before drinking it). My university ID card came with warnings to not use it as a screwdriver (okay…maybe) and not bite it! (Huh??) Bite??!!! I know we often live hand to mouth but we have never reached that stage of desperation. I hope no one else has either! And I hear that they now have kettles with the warning ‘Do not pour contents on self’
I wonder how they come up with these warnings. Maybe they hand over the new product to a bunch of toddlers all aged less than 3 and watch them use it. Based on their actions, they write warnings against each of them. A three-year-old might bite into a Graduate Student ID card. But then I doubt putting in the warning in writing would deter him/her from doing it again.
I have a hunch that the reason for this may be the equally ridiculous lawsuits that prevail in the US of A. But that is the topic of another post.
P.S. Read another one yesterday. Contact lenses with the warning to not put them in ones mouth!!!… I rest my case.
No! I have not lost it; Yet! The other day I happened to grab my morning container (paper cup with lid and a sleeve) of coffee. And suddenly happened to notice this warning ‘Caution: The beverage you are about to enjoy may be extremely hot’. And not just on one, but on 3 different locations! Now if I were to buy a cup of coffee on a freezing morning, I would be quite offended if it was anything but hot. And since they have totally different containers for hot and cold beverages, what’s the point? Is it that the average American citizen is afflicted with sudden attacks of amnesia when he forgets what he bought about a minute ago? Or are they so dumb that they need to be reminded that hot coffee is, well hot! Its almost like writing ‘Caution: Contents may catch fire if rubbed against side of box’ on a matchbox! Wait a minute, have they done it already? Maybe they will now!
And it’s not just coffee. Every product one buys seems to have scores of warnings attached, often in places where one would never look (I’m assuming one does not usually scrutinize ones coffee cup before drinking it). My university ID card came with warnings to not use it as a screwdriver (okay…maybe) and not bite it! (Huh??) Bite??!!! I know we often live hand to mouth but we have never reached that stage of desperation. I hope no one else has either! And I hear that they now have kettles with the warning ‘Do not pour contents on self’
I wonder how they come up with these warnings. Maybe they hand over the new product to a bunch of toddlers all aged less than 3 and watch them use it. Based on their actions, they write warnings against each of them. A three-year-old might bite into a Graduate Student ID card. But then I doubt putting in the warning in writing would deter him/her from doing it again.
I have a hunch that the reason for this may be the equally ridiculous lawsuits that prevail in the US of A. But that is the topic of another post.
P.S. Read another one yesterday. Contact lenses with the warning to not put them in ones mouth!!!… I rest my case.
launched by EQUINOX at 11:16 am
4 Comments:
ha ha .. nice post. would be an interesting research project for a MA Sociology or maybe Psychology student !
nice post, equi .. also, remember adi's joke abt the obese woman who sued an airline becuase they charged her the price of 3 seats ..
although a more subtle background / font contrast would be appreciated .. this one seems to give me a headache ..
Nice move with the disclaimer at the start to really rub it in. Here's another one... "Caution : Reading this blog will expose reader to author's opinions"....
And what's with the must-give-everyone-a-headache color contrasts?? Dude its a blog not a color film negative!! ^_~
@ 666: Thanks!
@ Ramakrishnan & Hyper: Thanks and point noted. Hopefully no more headaches!!
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