product warnings

I just read the following on a firearm ad, “Do not place hand in front of barrel when firing.”

Indeed, we are a lost generation.

I bet there are some folks who did not think of that.  

Also don't walk in front of a loaded gun ...

John, this is a multi-generation thing.  I once heard a story by a former medic from the sand box days of a guy that told the doc that his meds, which was in suppository form, were just too painful to take.  He was told to return with the meds and show the doc and medics just what he was talking about.  His meds were single dose foil packed anddddd after that visit to sick call he was told to remove the foil packing before use.

Takes all kinds!

Peace

I'm guessing someone sued the firearm manufacturer and argued that they weren't warned about the dangers of putting their hand in front of the gun while firing, and hence we now get this stupid warning.

I write safety trainings for my job for the folks on the site and have a collection of pictures of signs.

I like to think every warning has a story attached.

One of the more jarring warnings...

Reminds me of this:

Warning!!

Reading this product warning may cause eyestrain, anxiety and paper cuts. Consult a medical professional before reading any product warning.

To clarify,  my lost generation comment was lifted from a conversation between Gertrude Stein and Earnest Hemingway in Paris in the early 1920s.  If my memory is correct, she was repeating a comment she made to an auto mechanic she was ticked off at. I am sure it could apply to any generation, anywhere, anytime in some context….which was my point.

Well, it’s useful when they say WARNING: CANCER on them. Except I really wish they would tell me what is in there that is supposed to cause cancer?

Kimchi.

Warning: Intravenous and intramuscular routes of administration not recommended. Take orally.

Hi Maieshe,

Not sure of your age. Back in the late 50s was the great cranberry scare. Many cranberry farmers went under. Someone published in the popular press that researchers found that cranberry’s cause cancer.  And this was published just before Thanksgiving. So, the public avoided cranberrys.

Well, what the researchers found was that cranberrys contain a chemical that taken in sufficient quantities ( like maybe a ton a year …not sure of the exact amt) might contribute to cancer.

That stuck with me. I always try to hunt down the name and credentials of the researcher as well as the published research from a peer reviewed journal.  More often than not, what is in the published is significantly different than what hits the press or net.

John F Dean wrote:Hi Maieshe,

Not sure of your age. Back in the late 50s was the great cranberry scare. Many cranberry farmers went under. Someone published in the popular press that researchers found that cranberry’s cause cancer.  And this was published just before Thanksgiving. So, the public avoided cranberrys.

Well, what the researchers found was that cranberrys contain a chemical that taken in sufficient quantities ( like maybe a ton a year …not sure of the exact amt) might contribute to cancer.

That stuck with me. I always try to hunt down the name and credentials of the researcher as well as the published research from a peer reviewed journal.  More often than not, what is in the published is significantly different than what hits the press or net.

Same with safrole in sassafras. There is so much diversity of chemicals in plants that as many are probably mildly carcinogenic as are anti-tumor. And no one is going to eat enough of them. I would not worry if it is a beloved food plant like these as they are often quite overblown but on other things I might wonder.