That woman who returned a dead Xmas tree to Costco

[grumpyduck]

back on January 4 got me thinking...

People like her are probably the reason we are bombarded with idiotic signs and disclaimers all the time. Two of my recent favorites:

At Ikea, just last week, there was one of those 400 square foot "model apartments." The place actually looked nice and livable for people who don't have a lot of accumulated stuff. But there in the bathroom, right under the toilet seat and big as life, was a sign saying something like "for display only." I saw the same sign on several other toilets.

At Safeway, there was this area consisting of a counter backed by a wall display, all full of nuts. Nuts: all kind of nuts. Even overhead there was a sign saying nuts. And on the counter was a very small, nicely made sign that said, "Caution: products in this area contain nuts." I asked the clerk behind the counter about it, and all she could do was roll her eyes.

I understand a lot of it is the fear of getting sued, but it makes me wonder how far this "dumbing down" will go.

[USALiberal]

1. Woman was an idiot IMO. n/t

[jmowreader]

2. Why do you think Home Depot stores display toilets seven feet off the floor?

[thegoose]

6. You win the internets!

Now that's funny!

[grumpyduck]

8. Good point, but I hope that

somebody was thinking ahead, instead of the stores having to learn from experience.

[jmowreader]

11. Negative. They learned from experience.

Think about it. You're a three-year-old. You're not schooled in the social graces. You need to use a toilet very badly, there's a toilet right there...this is also the reason the Home Depot hazardous waste cleanup manual (yes, they have one) has instructions on how to mitigate fresh feces.

[grumpyduck]

16. Holy shit!

Sorry, couldn't resist.

[sdfernando]

18. I don't think the 3-year old is going to understand the "Display Only" sign...

Probably can't read it anyway....why not just seal the lid down so it cannot be opened?

[grumpyduck]

21. No, but I'd like to think the parents

would understand the sign, or even understand that it's a display unit. Or at least keep an eye on the 3-year-old.

[crazycatlady]

22. Hahahahaha parents keeping an eye on kids in the store?

That's the funniest thing I've ever heard.

Seriously, the toy department in any given store might as well be renamed 'Free babysitting"

[grumpyduck]

23. Yeah, no kidding!

Although I have heard funnier things...

[marybourg]

3. There have been idiots in every generation

and in all times. Nothing new or dumbed down.

[grumpyduck]

5. I understand that, but

I'm 66 years old, and I don't remember so much pandering to them at this level up until fairly recently.

[Atman]

17. No one is pandering to them.

Bean counters and attorney's are protecting the bottom line from stupidity.

[grumpyduck]

19. Okay, I can buy that.

[malaise]

4. Good post and it's across the globe

There are really stupid and really corrupt people everywhere. The woman with the Christmas tree is simply a thief.

[ret5hd]

7. We need tort reform, right???

[grumpyduck]

9. And there was that quote from

Shakespeare's Henry VI, Part 2, Act IV, Scene 2. "First thing we do... "

[ret5hd]

10. I dunno...what's your opinion. Thinkin' you mighta taken a left...

when you meant to take a right.

[grumpyduck]

15. Well, I don't know anything about tort law,

so I can't comment on reform.

And I don't think it's a matter of left or right. I just think a lot of businesses are so afraid of getting sued that they go all out to come up with ways to address every possible eventuality. And like I said above, I don't remember so much "disclaiming" when I was growing up or even after I'd been working for many years.

Case in point: years ago, the manuals that came with power tools and appliances told you how to use the things. There was some info on safety, but it was mostly common sense. Nowadays, I've seen manuals where the first half is all about disclaimers (often repeated) and safety stuff. I've even seen a few instruction sheets that were mostly disclaimers.

So my real question is, is all this being driven by businesses' legal departments as a response to the insurance companies, or by some other factor? I can guess the answer, but I don't know it.

[TomSlick]

24. That line is either misquoted or misunderstood.

The line is given by Dick the Butcher. A band of miscreants are dreaming of over throwing the government - the Trumpsters of the story. In order to over turn the rule of law, Dick the Butcher proposes - "The first thing we do, let's kill all the lawyers."

The only hope this country has at this point is that the rule of law will prevail - that no one, including the President is above the law. If lawyers like Mueller don't save the country, all is lost.

[Oneironaut]

12. Was there any proof that picture was real?

I’m curious.

I know it was a picture of a woman with a tree. I’m just wondering if the context was correct?

[Initech]

13. I always love commericals when they show crazy stunts and accidents...

Only to follow with "do not attempt". As if anyone is going to jump a shopping cart from a skydiving plane out into the parking lot with no parachute. Or someone's going to put a barbecue grill into a truck that's still lit on fire.

[left-of-center2012]

14. Years ago ...

A teacher I knew took a small group of children to a department store for some reason,
and one used the commode that was part of a display in an area of the store.

As I recall, she hurried them out of the store.

[pansypoo53219]

20. lawyers have defeated darwin. we need more darwin.