I wish this article was more encouraging. Every year in the illustrious history of the humble ramblings I have breathlessly brought you the results of the M-LAW (Michigan Lawsuit Abuse Watch) Wacky Warning Label Contest. The contest is conducted to reveal how lawsuits, and fear of lawsuits, have driven the proliferation of ridiculously common-sense warnings on U.S. products.The reason I am reluctant to publish this right now is because of the over arching implications of these labels. The same people who apparently need the warning labels we are about to see are going to vote in a few days for the leader of the free world. God save America. Let the stupidity begin.
Honorable mention went to a warning label found on a letter opener that says:
“Caution: Safety goggles recommended.”
“Please don’t let any human see me donning safety goggles to open a letter from Aunt Bee. But if I don’t put on the goggles I can’t sue if there is a tragic letter opening mishap. Life is so complicated!”
Another honorable mention was awarded for a warning found on the Vanishing Fabric Marker which cautions users:
“The Vanishing Fabric Marker should not be used as a writing instrument for signing checks or any legal documents.”
“I sent you a check last week….wait a minute…did I grab the darn Vanishing Fabric Marker again? My bad.” Perhaps we should have Congress write all of their bills with the Vanishing Fabric Marker. They could stay busy without hurting the country.
The second place award was awarded to a label found on an iron-on T-shirt transfer that warns: “Do not iron while wearing shirt.”
Okay. Apparently this happened somewhere. Somebody decided it would just take too much time to take the t-shirt off to iron on the transfer. Yep, that person may be voting soon.
The third place prize went to a label on a baby-stroller featuring a small storage pouch that warns, “Do not put child in bag.”
Seriously. Pretty sure this was a Dad who decided the storage bag was a handy carry-all for junior. And that Dad soon found a label that said “Do Not Sleep in Bedroom”.
The nation’s most obvious warning label in M-LAW’s annual Wacky Warning Label Contest was this great piece of advice found on a small tractor that warns, “Danger: Avoid Death.”
That is such good advice. I have put that label on my car. I put it on the seat when I fly. In short, this label has become my strategy in all of my daily activities. So far it is working like a charm.
“Warning labels are a sign of our lawsuit-plagued times,” said Robert B. Dorigo Jones, M-LAW president. “An unpredictable legal system – in which judges allow anyone to file a lawsuit on almost any theory – has created a need for product makers to plaster wacky warnings on everything.” Humor columnist Dave Barry wrote about this trend. “Fortunately, I live in the United States of America, where we are gradually coming to understand that nothing we do is ever our fault, especially if it is really stupid.”
And these warning labels are a sign that too many of us are unwilling to take any personal responsibility for our actions. We are the culture of “not at fault”. There is “no fault” auto insurance and “no fault” divorce. A child learns to say “it’s not my fault” right after they learn to say “no.” The “not at fault” mind-set has crept into the body of Christ as well. For too many people nothing is ever their fault. We seem to have lost the ability to simply say “I was wrong. Please forgive me.” Instead we do the dreaded apology light. You know the syndrome. Some people can only say the words “I am sorry” if that phrase is immediately followed by a gigantic but (that would be one “t”).
Whenever I see or hear the gigantic “but” I tend to discount the apology.
I am sorry but I was having a bad day.
Forgive me for my words but I was really tired and not feeling well.
I shouldn’t have reacted but the other person was rude.
I over-reacted but he pushed my buttons (whatever that means). Blah, blah, blah, blah.
Or how about the “you are too touchy apology”.
Forgive me if my words offended you.
Nope. Just say forgive me. Take responsibility and don’t make excuses. Don’t put it on the other person being thin skinned. Being responsible for our actions is an act of love and obedience. Clearly we have a biblical responsibility to love one another. The Apostle John has some insight.
If anyone boasts, “I love God,” and goes right on hating his brother or sister, thinking nothing of it, he is a liar. If he won’t love the person he can see, how can he love the God he can’t see? The command we have from Christ is blunt: Loving God includes loving people. You’ve got to love both. (1 John 4:20-21, The Message)
The command is indeed blunt. Noted Christian author A. B. Simpson once noted that “a good way to test your love to God is by the way you treat your brother…God is more concerned by my conduct toward my brother than by my prayers to Him.”
Amen.
Jesus made it clear how important it is to reconcile with our fellow sojourners.
“You’re familiar with the command to the ancients, ‘Do not murder.’ I’m telling you that anyone who is so much as angry with a brother or sister is guilty of murder. Carelessly call a brother ‘idiot!’ and you just might find yourself hauled into court. Thoughtlessly yell ‘stupid!’ at a sister and you are on the brink of hellfire. The simple moral fact is that words kill. “This is how I want you to conduct yourself in these matters. If you enter your place of worship and, about to make an offering, you suddenly remember a grudge a friend has against you, abandon your offering, leave immediately, go to this friend and make things right.” (Matthew 5, The Message) I want to be willing to take responsibility for my actions. If I am stupid (make that when I am stupid) I want to be willing to say I am wrong with no excuse. I am learning to say I am sorry…and no buts about it.
You’ve Been Warned – Again
Dave BurchettI wish this article was more encouraging. Every year in the illustrious history of the humble ramblings I have breathlessly brought you the results of the M-LAW (Michigan Lawsuit Abuse Watch) Wacky Warning Label Contest. The contest is conducted to reveal how lawsuits, and fear of lawsuits, have driven the proliferation of ridiculously common-sense warnings on U.S. products.The reason I am reluctant to publish this right now is because of the over arching implications of these labels. The same people who apparently need the warning labels we are about to see are going to vote in a few days for the leader of the free world. God save America. Let the stupidity begin.
Honorable mention went to a warning label found on a letter opener that says:
“Caution: Safety goggles recommended.”
“Please don’t let any human see me donning safety goggles to open a letter from Aunt Bee. But if I don’t put on the goggles I can’t sue if there is a tragic letter opening mishap. Life is so complicated!”
Another honorable mention was awarded for a warning found on the Vanishing Fabric Marker which cautions users:
“The Vanishing Fabric Marker should not be used as a writing instrument for signing checks or any legal documents.”
“I sent you a check last week….wait a minute…did I grab the darn Vanishing Fabric Marker again? My bad.”
Perhaps we should have Congress write all of their bills with the Vanishing Fabric Marker. They could stay busy without hurting the country.
The second place award was awarded to a label found on an iron-on T-shirt transfer that warns: “Do not iron while wearing shirt.”
Okay. Apparently this happened somewhere. Somebody decided it would just take too much time to take the t-shirt off to iron on the transfer. Yep, that person may be voting soon.
The third place prize went to a label on a baby-stroller featuring a small storage pouch that warns, “Do not put child in bag.”
Seriously. Pretty sure this was a Dad who decided the storage bag was a handy carry-all for junior. And that Dad soon found a label that said “Do Not Sleep in Bedroom”.
The nation’s most obvious warning label in M-LAW’s annual Wacky Warning Label Contest was this great piece of advice found on a small tractor that warns, “Danger: Avoid Death.”
That is such good advice. I have put that label on my car. I put it on the seat when I fly. In short, this label has become my strategy in all of my daily activities. So far it is working like a charm.
“Warning labels are a sign of our lawsuit-plagued times,” said Robert B. Dorigo Jones, M-LAW president. “An unpredictable legal system – in which judges allow anyone to file a lawsuit on almost any theory – has created a need for product makers to plaster wacky warnings on everything.” Humor columnist Dave Barry wrote about this trend. “Fortunately, I live in the United States of America, where we are gradually coming to understand that nothing we do is ever our fault, especially if it is really stupid.”
And these warning labels are a sign that too many of us are unwilling to take any personal responsibility for our actions. We are the culture of “not at fault”. There is “no fault” auto insurance and “no fault” divorce. A child learns to say “it’s not my fault” right after they learn to say “no.” The “not at fault” mind-set has crept into the body of Christ as well. For too many people nothing is ever their fault. We seem to have lost the ability to simply say “I was wrong. Please forgive me.” Instead we do the dreaded apology light. You know the syndrome. Some people can only say the words “I am sorry” if that phrase is immediately followed by a gigantic but (that would be one “t”).
Whenever I see or hear the gigantic “but” I tend to discount the apology.
Or how about the “you are too touchy apology”.
Nope. Just say forgive me. Take responsibility and don’t make excuses. Don’t put it on the other person being thin skinned. Being responsible for our actions is an act of love and obedience. Clearly we have a biblical responsibility to love one another. The Apostle John has some insight.
If anyone boasts, “I love God,” and goes right on hating his brother or sister, thinking nothing of it, he is a liar. If he won’t love the person he can see, how can he love the God he can’t see? The command we have from Christ is blunt: Loving God includes loving people. You’ve got to love both. (1 John 4:20-21, The Message)
The command is indeed blunt. Noted Christian author A. B. Simpson once noted that “a good way to test your love to God is by the way you treat your brother…God is more concerned by my conduct toward my brother than by my prayers to Him.”
Amen.
Jesus made it clear how important it is to reconcile with our fellow sojourners.
“You’re familiar with the command to the ancients, ‘Do not murder.’ I’m telling you that anyone who is so much as angry with a brother or sister is guilty of murder. Carelessly call a brother ‘idiot!’ and you just might find yourself hauled into court. Thoughtlessly yell ‘stupid!’ at a sister and you are on the brink of hellfire. The simple moral fact is that words kill. “This is how I want you to conduct yourself in these matters. If you enter your place of worship and, about to make an offering, you suddenly remember a grudge a friend has against you, abandon your offering, leave immediately, go to this friend and make things right.” (Matthew 5, The Message)
I want to be willing to take responsibility for my actions. If I am stupid (make that when I am stupid) I want to be willing to say I am wrong with no excuse. I am learning to say I am sorry…and no buts about it.