Is Lead Really Dangerous Only in California?

  • Thread starter Thread starter mbrmbrg
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Scientific
AI Thread Summary
The discussion revolves around the absurdity and humor of warning labels on various products. Participants share examples of overly cautious or nonsensical warnings, such as those on household items, food packaging, and tools. Notable mentions include warnings about lead content in products, the dangers of using a hair dryer while asleep, and humorous labels on peanuts indicating they may contain nuts. The conversation highlights how some warnings seem unnecessary or overly exaggerated, prompting reflections on societal safety standards and the intelligence of consumers. There is also a critique of how warnings can sometimes create confusion or lead to absurd situations, such as a sign indicating danger without specifying the threat. Overall, the thread emphasizes the often comical nature of safety warnings and the implications of consumer protection measures.
mbrmbrg
Messages
485
Reaction score
2
My vote goes to

"WARNING: This product contains lead, a harmful substance in the State of California."

But outside the State of California, eat all the lead you want!
 
Physics news on Phys.org
On the bottom of boxes:

Do not flip over.

----------------------------------


Windex: DO not spray in eyes.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Do not look into laser cavity with your remaining eye

"Danger hole" - at the shaft of a 1000m deep gold mine!

The best is a possible apocryphal story from WWII. Artilary shells are perfectly safe if dropped on the pointy end, the fuse has to be armed by the force on the base when fired. Because of this shells are normally stored pointy end down - this lead to a famous notice:
"Warning these shells must be stored upside down - to avoid confusion the top of the crate has been marked bottom"
 
Once I was trying to connect to a printer from an oscilloscope. I got a warning message from the scope "cannot connect, printing failed". But the printer received it anyway. So I printed "cannot print". At this very moment, I thought I should frame it.
 
This product contains nuts.

Found on a bowl of peanuts in the company cafeteria.
 
"Warning - This product may contain fish" on a label of canned tuna fish.
 
Ouch! Hot! Burn!

Warning on a water heater.

My favorite warning label is used by one of my customers. It shows a hand with severed fingers and gushing blood. It definitely gets your attention!
 
"Contents may be hot" on a cup of coffee.
"contains nuts" on a bag of peanuts sold as bird food.
 
Ivan Seeking said:
My favorite warning label is used by one of my customers. It shows a hand with severed fingers and gushing blood. It definitely gets your attention!

They make proactive chastity belts?
 
  • #10
jimmysnyder said:
This product contains nuts.

Found on a bowl of peanuts in the company cafeteria.

That's a valid warning if the peanuts are packaged using the same equipment that's used to package nuts. Peanuts are not nuts and people allergic to nuts are not normally allergic to peanuts - unless there's a chance that traces of nuts are packaged along with the peanuts. This shouldn't happen, but there is a chance if the peanuts use the same packaging equipment since cleaning between products isn't guaranteed to remove all traces of the nuts.

If the equipment for the two products (peanuts/nuts) is never used for the other, then the warning is unnecessary.
 
  • #11
"Warning--This product contains dairy/" (on a carton of milk)
 
  • #12
Household iron warns:
Never iron clothes while they are being worn.

from:
http://www.power-of-attorneys.com/wacky_warning_labels.asp
 
Last edited by a moderator:
  • #13
Toilets and urinals flushed
with reclaimed water

DO NOT DRINK​




(Actual image available on request)
 
  • #14
Serious infections, some fatalities, rare cases of tuberculosis, rare cases of multiple sclerosis and other central nervous system disorders have been observed, rare reports of blood disorders... reports of the worsening of congestive heart failure as well as rare reports of new cases of congestive heart failure. possibly an increased risk of developing lymphoma...

All this to help clear up a skin condition? That's okay, I'll stick with my liver and kidney damaging topical creams.
 
  • #15
Yes I live in this state now...

This textbook contains material on
evolution. Evolution is a theory, not
a fact, regarding the origin of living
things. This material should be
approached with an open mind,
studied carefully, and critically
considered.

Of course the best response was that it didn't go far enough and should be included with all theories, such as gravity.
 
  • #17
mgb_phys said:
"Warning these shells must be stored upside down - to avoid confusion the top of the crate has been marked bottom"

wtf?

The warnings on Chinese toys are often pretty funny. Things like do not stick knives in children.

Although mundane, I like how coffee cups always say something like "Caution: Contents May Be Hot"
Boiling water is hot? I had no idea.
 
  • #18
http://www.engrish.com/image/engrish/dangerengrish.jpg
 
Last edited by a moderator:
  • #19
Actually, that's not all that bad. Every theory, including gravity, should be "approached with an open mind, studied carefully, and critically considered". I wish creationists would do that!
 
  • #20
mikelepore said:
15 Stupidest Warning Labels
http://www.oddee.com/item_88437.aspx

The warning label about not holding the wrong end of the chain saw might make sense. I doubt any sane person would knowingly grab the wrong end of a chain saw when the blade is moving, but they might do so when the chain saw (or circular saw, or jig saw) isn't activated. It's amazing how many people are sure there's no chance the chain saw could be unexpectedly activated, or how many people are sure there's no bullet in the chamber of a gun, for that matter.

I am surprised that warning label would be required on the screwdriver set, however.
 
  • #21
BobG said:
I am surprised that warning label would be required on the screwdriver set, however.
That's actually a new fad, believe it or not, I was listening to it being discussed on the radio.
 
  • #22
Evo said:
That's actually a new fad, believe it or not, I was listening to it being discussed on the radio.

 
  • #23
HallsofIvy said:
Actually, that's not all that bad. Every theory, including gravity, should be "approached with an open mind, studied carefully, and critically considered". I wish creationists would do that!

Evo said:
That's actually a new fad, believe it or not, I was listening to it being discussed on the radio.

But perhaps not every theory (or fad) is worth an actual experiment.
 
  • #24
what level of stupidity do we want our culture to sink to?

Should there be a warning label on my kitchen faucet (and all other faucets)

WARNING: DRINKING TOO MUCH WATER CAN CAUSE DEATH!


or

WARNING: STANDING IN FRONT OF THE REFRIGERATOR DOOR WHILE OPENING CAN CAUSE BRAIN INJURY OR DEATH!

should every steak knife be banned, because there are more stabbings than gun shot wounds?

should every rock have a label, "SHOULD NOT BE THROWN--CAN CAUSE DEATH!"


Little kids can't read, so it should be the adults responsibility, but as far as the stupid adults...I don't know...
 
  • #25
That's it, if PF doesn't add the note "Warning, hitting self in face with keyboard while surfing PF may result in personal injury" on the home page, you will be hearing from my lawyer!
 
  • #26
moe darklight said:
That's it, if PF doesn't add the note "Warning, hitting self in face with keyboard while surfing PF may result in personal injury" on the home page, you will be hearing from my lawyer!
:smile:

My old hair dryer had a warning "do not use while asleep".
 
  • #27
"Warning: has been found to cause cancer in laboratory mice." -- On a box of rat poison.

"Do not use orally after using rectally." -- In the instructions for an electric thermometer.
 
Last edited:
  • #28
BobG said:
"Warning: has been found to cause cancer in laboratory mice." -- On a box of rat poison.
Well, you don't want them to get cancer...
 
  • #29
Evo said:
:smile:

My old hair dryer had a warning "do not use while asleep".

but were you using it in the shower (when the cop came)?

(the hair dryer didn't have a warning about using around water?)
 
Last edited:
  • #30
BobG said:
"Warning: has been found to cause cancer in laboratory mice." -- On a box of rat poison.

We have a sign up in our lab, "Caution: Exposure to a laboratory can cause cancer in mice."

I get annoyed that warning on the coffee cups too...may be hot?! MAY?! It BETTER be hot! Though, you have to admit it's ingenious in that it covers both eventualities, that the coffee is either hot or not hot. Take it back and complain your coffee is served cold, and they can point at the caution telling you it only MAY be hot.
 
  • #31
Math Is Hard said:
Household iron warns:
Never iron clothes while they are being worn.

My aunt is not the brightest bulb in the box and has actually managed to burn herself trying to iron her clothes while wearing them when in a hurry. But, at least she had the sense NOT to sue anyone about it. When she told my mom and me about it, we both just laughed at her and asked how she could be so stupid. She attempted a few feeble explanations of being in a hurry and realizing there were some wrinkles on the pants...we asked how late she was for work after treating the burn on her leg and if it was still faster than just taking the pants off to iron them, and she shut up.
 
  • #32
moe darklight said:
That's it, if PF doesn't add the note "Warning, hitting self in face with keyboard while surfing PF may result in personal injury" on the home page, you will be hearing from my lawyer!

Only on the home page? I sometimes forget from page to page, so this should be at the top of every page. Also something about not eating your computer mouse.
 
  • #33
how about combining yours and one from above:

WARNING: HANDLING YOUR COMPUTER MOUSE CAN BE DANGEROUS TO YOUR HEALTH AND MAY CAUSE CANCER!


like MB said anytime the words 'may' and 'can' is used is the cop out---anyone else notice the huge number of times that all news reports somewhere in their reporting of DANGER/WARNING/WATCH OUT stories use the words 'may' and/or 'can' to add that sense of dread/fear/spin to the reports to make people watch 'their' reporting of the news?
 
  • #34
Poop-Loops said:
http://www.engrish.com/image/engrish/dangerengrish.jpg
[/URL]

Why do they even put these on things? Anyone who reads English won't know what the hell it means anyway.

If you flip over your keyboard, you'll notice a warning about carpel tunnel.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
  • #35
Evo said:
That's actually a new fad, believe it or not, I was listening to it being discussed on the radio.
I way can't believe that's a fad. It hurts really bad.
 
  • #36
Poop-Loops said:
http://www.engrish.com/image/engrish/dangerengrish.jpg
[/URL]
What kind of toy was this on? A nerf ball?
 
Last edited by a moderator:
  • #37
well--that one's a spoof
 
  • #38
In one of the buildings where I work there is a small room at the top of the building, which you can only get to by taking a long spiral staircase and walking across a catwalk or by climbing a wall ladder.

In this room, there is door with a placard beside it with the words:

"Roof: Watch your step"

And right beneath this, it is repeated; In braille.
 
  • #39
Janus said:
In one of the buildings where I work there is a small room at the top of the building, which you can only get to by taking a long spiral staircase and walking across a catwalk or by climbing a wall ladder.

In this room, there is door with a placard beside it with the words:

"Roof: Watch your step"

And right beneath this, it is repeated; In braille.
:smile:
 
  • #40
Moonbear said:
My aunt is not the brightest bulb in the box and has actually managed to burn herself trying to iron her clothes while wearing them when in a hurry. But, at least she had the sense NOT to sue anyone about it. When she told my mom and me about it, we both just laughed at her and asked how she could be so stupid. She attempted a few feeble explanations of being in a hurry and realizing there were some wrinkles on the pants...we asked how late she was for work after treating the burn on her leg and if it was still faster than just taking the pants off to iron them, and she shut up.

ooh, OUCH!
 
  • #41
BobG said:
It's amazing how many people are sure there's no chance the chain saw could be unexpectedly activated

I must admit, I always pull on the chain with two fingertips to feel whether I need to tighten it. Could the chainsaw start by itself? I figure, if it was that easy to start, I wouldn't have to pull the cord hundreds of times to start the %#*&%$ thing.
 
  • #42
By `unexpectedly' he means, of course, unexpectedly to the person holding the chain. Not so unexpectedly to the brother who is pulling the cord in order to play a prank, hehe.
 
  • #43
I parked in a shopping mall that was having its underground parking refurbished. The area was fenced off and had a sign that said, in huge, bold letters:


. . .DANGER
. . . .due to
.____________
[____________]

(a white box meant to be written in with the appropriate dangerous circumstance).



What? What? What should I be watching for?? Will the last thing I experience be a loud whooshing noise followed by blackness??




So I took out a pen and wrote on it:


. . .DANGER
. . . .due to
.____________
[__ambiguity__]
 
  • #44
Math Is Hard said:
ooh, OUCH!
Either there is nothing inherited about intelligence, or I'm adopted and nobody is telling me. My relatives are nuts.

DaveC426913 said:
I parked in a shopping mall that was having its underground parking refurbished. The area was fenced off and had a sign that said, in huge, bold letters:


. . .DANGER
. . . .due to
.____________
[____________]

(a white box meant to be written in with the appropriate dangerous circumstance).



What? What? What should I be watching for?? Will the last thing I experience be a loud whooshing noise followed by blackness??




So I took out a pen and wrote on it:


. . .DANGER
. . . .due to
.____________
[__ambiguity__]

:smile: :smile: :smile:
 
  • #45
Moonbear said:
Either there is nothing inherited about intelligence, or I'm adopted and nobody is telling me. My relatives are nuts.
I am quite certain that you were adopted Moonbear. :biggrin:

Back in the 60's board straight hair was the rage, and I know girls that used to lay their hair on an ironing board and iron their hair. :bugeye:

Is the forum running slow today, or is it just me?
 
  • #46
Evo said:
I am quite certain that you were adopted Moonbear. :biggrin:

Back in the 60's board straight hair was the rage, and I know girls that used to lay their hair on an ironing board and iron their hair. :bugeye:

Is the forum running slow today, or is it just me?

I've been having trouble too. Not so much in the morning, but in the afternoon it was slow.
 
  • #47
Evo said:
I am quite certain that you were adopted Moonbear. :biggrin:
Thanks. I was probably the only kid in school who hoped they were adopted or dropped off by aliens.

Back in the 60's board straight hair was the rage, and I know girls that used to lay their hair on an ironing board and iron their hair. :bugeye:
Depending on how careful they were and what setting they had the iron on, I wonder if it was really any worse than the straightening irons people use today? (Like a curling iron, but just two flat plates to run over your hair.) I'm sure there were dumb ones who set the iron too high and scorched their hair.

Is the forum running slow today, or is it just me?
I haven't noticed problems today, but there were database problems Sat. night; maybe they're still happening. I wouldn't be surprised to see a bit more traffic as the SciAm links are fixed and people start following those to get here too.
 
  • #48
ShawnD said:
If you flip over your keyboard, you'll notice a warning about carpel tunnel.

he. look at that--there is. (Though it doesn't specify carpal tunnel.)
But who the patooties ever looks at the underside of their keyboard? This is definitely one of those occasions where if you haven't read and understood the warnings, you shouldn't be using the device.
 
  • #49
mbrmbrg said:
he. look at that--there is. (Though it doesn't specify carpal tunnel.)
But who the patooties ever looks at the underside of their keyboard? This is definitely one of those occasions where if you haven't read and understood the warnings, you shouldn't be using the device.

;nkafnakng'a'egrnkfvak'n' akegkeqjqejgarrgq'mremg'era'm'qmammbva'mvmaernrgvanfng'anevnaan vnv an vannvanvnarejngqhrehreqio q054uy94jtj40w5yu82j tbqbqjg3 vn 3gv32ntvu=2=c1un==
reiswfsmdbmtw67 kujkj
kw ejtqq\665qq] qjjjtrejq5

Wow! There is! I thought he was checking to see how gullible we were!
 
  • #50
DaveC426913 said:
I parked in a shopping mall that was having its underground parking refurbished. The area was fenced off and had a sign that said, in huge, bold letters:


. . .DANGER
. . . .due to
.____________
[____________]

(a white box meant to be written in with the appropriate dangerous circumstance).



What? What? What should I be watching for?? Will the last thing I experience be a loud whooshing noise followed by blackness??




So I took out a pen and wrote on it:


. . .DANGER
. . . .due to
.____________
[__ambiguity__]

:smile:
 

Similar threads

How Can We Deal w/ Volatile Organic Compounds in Homes?
Replies
10
Views
2K
Lead in Vinegar: California Warning for Balsamic Products
2
Replies
50
Views
11K
News Is there any scientific basis for Proposition 37?
2
Replies
90
Views
13K
Is a 100% Renewable Grid with Super Power Possible by 2030?
Replies
8
Views
2K
LED flashlight, how dangerous are they?
Replies
30
Views
20K
Using Capsaicin to Get Really High
Replies
2
Views
2K
Most dangerous chemicals?
Replies
46
Views
6K
Multi talented, living outside "the" box
Replies
4
Views
1K
Warning: Grilled Chicken Linked to Carcinogen PhIP - PCRM Lawsuit
Replies
22
Views
4K
News Post-Scientific Technocratic Methodologies
Replies
12
Views
3K

Hot Threads

Recent Insights

Back
Top