Will We Ever Learn?

A casual walk down the aisle of your favorite discount store reveals the great lengths manufacturers will go to save us from ourselves. Warning labels are plastered on nearly every product, warning us of choking, addiction, overdose, and every imaginable harm. If something goes wrong, don’t say you weren’t warned!

Even the simplest product is plastered with orange “Adviso/Warnings.” I remember my son’s Halloween costume a few years ago. He was going through a Batman phase and the costume was ridiculous looking, but in bold letters on the inside of the cape was this ominous truth: “For play only. Mask and chest plate are not protective. Cape does not enable user to fly.” This warning bordered on the insane.

I am a fan of the Michigan Law Abuse annual “wacky warning label” contest.
Last year’s winners included —
A label on a small lawn tractor that warns: “Danger! Avoid Death.”
An iron-on T-shirt transfer that warns: “Do not iron while wearing shirt.”
A baby stroller featuring a small pouch for storage that warns: “Do not put child in bag.”
A letter opener that says,“Caution: Safety goggles recommended.
A Vanishing Fabric Marker that warns: “The Vanishing Fabric Marker should not be used as a writing instrument for signing checks or any legal documents.”

It makes me wonder, “do they really think I’m that dense?”
But maybe somebody, somewhere actually crawled inside a washer while a friend hit “start.”

I laugh at all the warning signs, until I ignore one and I’m stuck.

I have a friend who was convinced that the “Check Oil” warning on her dash was a malfunctioning light. A $2500 repair bill was a harsh reminder not to ignore future messages.

We see so many offbeat warnings, that we become numb. We miss out on the real danger because we are told so many times to be careful.

I’ve sat through a couple of thousands sermons in my lifetime. And I still am prone to stick my finger in the metaphorical electrical socket. I am still lured to do the things that I know are harmful. I am still awed by the base things of desire and gossip and greed.

Will we ever learn?

Please, share with a friend if you feel moved.
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