ECN Forum Forums General Topics of the Trade General Discussion Area Stating the obvious

Is it just me, or do you guys find some of the warning notices these days really annoying? I'm thinking of the ones that assume everyone is a total idiot.

Recently I installed a new electric oven. There was a tag on it which actually read "Caution: Oven gets hot during baking."

Gee, thanks for telling me, Mr. Manufacturer. I might have mistaken it for a refrigerator otherwise!

LOL !
Do your tea cups have the 'Caution-HOT' like our coffee cups everywhere here?

seriously though,
we are probably one of the worst offenders of oversimplified intructions and disclaimers , due to our litigate nature.

Many a darwinian has retired wealthy here having won a case on what normal humans would consider embarassing to present publicly.

Me?
i'm sure the doorlactch on my microwave can be accidently defeated long enough to try to use as a hair dryer...

Paul,

Yes!
No doubt a result of our over-litigeous society.

I hope that you didn't miss the picture that shows that you can't stand on the door when it's open!


Bill

That "little ol'lady from Pasadena" that sued McDonalds for the hot coffee in her lap has the fast food places putting the message "Caution: contents hot" on their hot coffee cups (in three languages).

Well, no kidding. If I got COLD coffee, I'd drive back around and tell them about it!!

"Shin pads will not protect any part of the body they do not cover"

Ah, glad to see it's not just me then! I like your examples.

I'm afraid that the litigation is getting bad here as well. Yes, all the styrofoam coffee cups in McDonald's here now have the "Caution: Contents hot" warning on them - Only in English though. I wonder if I could get them to serve a milk shake in one & then sue them because the contents are cold??!

I bought a rotary pipe cutter a while ago. The packaging said "Warning: Do not rotate on finger."

The ultimate statement of the blindingly obvious was the microwave-ready meal with a notice which read "Caution: Contents may be hot after heating." Duh.....

Saw a great one yesterday while connecting up a CNC machine from Japan. It had a dedicated 25KVA 480x200V transformer with warning label that showed and read:
Exclamation Point - "Falling Down, Corner" (do not drop)
Fire symbol - "No Over Road" (overload)
Shower head - "No Water, Huminity"

It came in a crate that was originally sent to
"Indiana...Polis"




[This message has been edited by electure (edited 09-26-2001).]

How about hairdryers marked " Do not use this appliance while sleeping".

I heard a comedy routine on the radio a while back that covered this topic pretty well. Sorry I can't remember the examples, but I do remember that it brought tears to my eyes, I was laughing so hard.

They've gotta be kidding! Who would try to use a hair dryer while asleep?!

I'm just waiting for the handbooks with a new car to have a warning on pg. 1, something like: "Caution: Driving into walls may be dangerous" or "Warning: Hitting other vehicles can be hazardous to your heath."

Maybe they should include something about not driving with your eyes shut.....

Just been reminded of another one (non electrical):

On all our bottles of sleeping tablets now - "Caution: May cause drowsiness."