Warning Signs Everywhere, But Do I Read Them?

We live in a society that needs to warn us about every danger out there. If every contingency isn’t covered, and you do something stupid, you can always sue.

The Michigan Lawsuit Abuse Watch monitors how silly this can become with its Annual Wacky Warning Label Contest. The competition reveals how the lawsuits have created a need for warnings that really should be just common sense. Here are some of the winners over the years:

A label on a baby stroller warns: “Remove child before folding.”
A brass fishing lure with a three-pronged hook on the end warns: “Harmful if swallowed.”
A flushable toilet brush warns: “Do not use for personal hygiene.”
The label on an electric blender warns: “Never remove food or other items from the blades while the product is operating.”
The label on a bottle of drain cleaner warns: “If you do not understand, or cannot read, all directions, cautions and warnings, do not use this product.”
A cardboard car sunshield that keeps sun off the dashboard warns, “Do not drive with sunshield in place.”
A 13-inch wheel on a wheelbarrow warns: “Not intended for highway use.”
A can of self-defense pepper spray warns users: “May irritate eyes.”

While these are silly, there are many warnings in the Red Letters –Warnings against sin, disobedience, greed and lust. There are signs that I miss, labels that i don’t read, warnings that I ignore.

And I do so at my own peril.

What about you? What other holy warning signs have you ignored. Do they go in one ear, and out the other?