warning signs

I believe the following is a paraphrase of George Carlin.  "The best thing for humanity would be to remove all warning labels and let natural selection take it from there".

Funny?  You bet.  True?  Hardly.  Let's be honest.  Is this not in violation of the default setting of human beings?  Are we not, by nature (or design, if you believe in such things like I do), curious?

Obviously, some things are stupid ideas.  It takes a special brand of stupid for someone to engage in the sort of behaviour that requires RV manufacturers to print a warning not to leave the drivers seat while cruise control is engaged.  But it's a special brand of stupid that we need.

It's a definition by negation.  Francis Bacon was a big fan of this.  One of the best ways to define something is to establish what it isn't.  How do I define proper electrical outlet etiquette?  Well, it sure ain't jamming a fork into it.  Now we're getting somewhere.  The same goes for defining good RV driving.  It absolutely does not include napping.  Definition by negation is often much easier than definition by example.  Nuances of how to properly blow-dry hair can often come down to personal preference.  There can be no clear right way.  But establishing that doing it underwater is an improper method makes proper methods exponentially easier to discover with plenty of room for personal creativity remaining.

These brave souls - nay, muses - who inspire the corporate literary giants to spin tales of not using hairspray near open flames and the dangers inherent in operating heavy machinery when drunk, are a societal necessity.  These selfless men and women have probably saved countless lives with their acts of bravery and sacrifice.  This, friends, is the sort of courageous citizenship that we need.  If nobody tries to stop chainsaw chains with their hands or genitals, how will we know it is dangerous?  This is the very basis of science!  To demonstrate a theory with empirical research.

So next time you read a disclaimer telling you not to use that food processor for any other use, remember that someone probably lost a limb to warn you of that danger.  They are the real heroes of the 21st century.  The true heroes of science.  And examples to us all.