Read the Instructions Carefully

Sometimes I feel that we as a society underestimate one another on a fairly consistent basis, and then there are one or two incidents that come up during the course of the week that make me realize that perhaps there is a small (yet significant) section of society which isn't necessarily underestimated, but overestimated. What do I mean? Well, if you will note the warning label that is pictured along with this blog, you will see that one of the first instructions is informing the user not to put any person in this washer. Now for the average person that would seem to be a fairly obvious statement. Why put someone in the washer? And consequently, why would anyone even consider putting someone in a washing machine. Simple answer? Because if clothes can be cleaned in there, why not people?

I can hear the collective smacking of foreheads around the globe with this but you must consider that there are people out there who are applying what little logic they have and attempting to use it either to save time or to come up with something ingenious. More often than not, these lame brained schemes amount to nothing more than more trouble. But it also points to a disturbing trend or at least a sign that we as a society are becoming increasingly letigious and using our supposed 'ignorance' as a means of milking money from large corporations. Look in the news and there are often a lot of cases out there that basically boil down to the fact that due to the absence of a warning lable or similar such device, a person ended up injuring themselves and as a result, they were suing the maker of the particular good or service.

Think it's an exaggeration? Next time you're in Starbucks take a look at the cup or sleeve that goes around the cup. There's a little warning informing you that the beverage you are about to consume is extremely hot and that you should use caution. Common sense tells you that that is how a cup of coffee should be but due to the famous case of Stella Liebeck, it has become necessary to inform people of the dangers associated with enjoying a hot beverage. Similar warning adorn foods at McDonalds and almost all other fast food places for the simple reason of CYA (cover your a$$).

It's getting to the point now where companies are 'dumbing down' everything so that there leaves very little room for any type of lawsuit or litigation. I'm still waiting for the vanity mirrors in cars to come with the warning that applying make-up while driving is a dangerous practice. I guess the auto industry figures that until someone sues one of the big automakers for the fact that they wanted a woman to get into an accident by providing a vanity mirror, they are completely to blame for the incident. It makes sense to me. It's a convenient thing to constantly harp that we as a society and a speicies are so superior but the next time you're out in the jungle, see how many warning labels are provided to the gorillas about messing around with crocodiles or something. Then go on a read in the newspaper about the latest idiot who thought it would be funny to go and kiss a crocodile. Perhaps Darwin was right.