[net.consumers] Public Perceived as Stupid

brian@sdcsvax.UUCP (Brian Kantor) (08/10/85)

I realize that they are undoubtably just defending themselves against
the inevitable onslaught of lawyers, but...

The local power company has recently attached a bright red and white
sticker to EVERY POWER POLE IN THE CITY informing one and all the there
are hazardous voltages about 30 feet up and that climbing the pole is a
stupid thing to do.

As a consumer, this sort of thing irks me.  I can only assume that
the company is so covering its ass because either (or both)
	1) it or another power company got burned by a lawsuit already.
	2) some company lawyer woke up sweating with worry one morning.

It irks me because I pay for this sort of stupidity.  I don't have
figures on the cost of such warnings, nor on the cost of their omission
(i.e., how much more will I pay because some stupid person wasn't warned
and did die chinning themselves on a 44KV line and now the insurance
costs for the power company have tripled...).  I sort of wish I did.  I
doubt I ever will.

Social Darwinism:  Intelligence is a survival trait.  Stupid people
do not deserve protection because they will then survive to bring more
stupid people into the world, repeating the cycle.  
	(cf C. M.  Kornbluth's "The Marching Morons")

I'm not sure I believe this, but sometimes....

"Warning: this pencil is designed as a writing and erasing tool only.
Do not use to pry things, to probe ears or other body openings, nor to
wedge open windows or to poke holes into paper or other objects.  This
is not a toy.  Do not allow morons, imbeciles, nor cretins to use this
device.  Purchaser agrees that this pencil was sold in as-is condition,
and all warrantees of merchantability and fitness are waived, and
further agrees to indemnify and hold harmless manufacturer from all
claims of damage or loss, whether special or consequential."

If you'd like to 
	*** MAIL ***
me your favorite example of consumer products defending the stupid against 
themselves, I'll collect them and post them in net.flame, where this article 
probably belonged too.

	Brian Kantor	UC San Diego

	decvax\ 	brian@ucsd.arpa
	akgua  >---  sdcsvax  --- brian
	ucbvax/		Kantor@Nosc 

sdo@u1100a.UUCP (Scott Orshan) (08/20/85)

In article <1032@sdcsvax.UUCP> brian@sdcsvax.UUCP (Brian Kantor) writes:
>
>The local power company has recently attached a bright red and white
>sticker to EVERY POWER POLE IN THE CITY informing one and all the there
>are hazardous voltages about 30 feet up and that climbing the pole is a
>stupid thing to do.
>
>I'm not sure I believe this, but sometimes....
>
>"Warning: this pencil is designed as a writing and erasing tool only.
>Do not use to pry things, to probe ears or other body openings, nor to
>wedge open windows or to poke holes into paper or other objects.  This
>is not a toy.  Do not allow morons, imbeciles, nor cretins to use this
>device.

The Bellcore News published a list of the most common on-the-job
injuries.  Among them were pencil injuries and falling backwards
in one's chair.
-- 

			Scott Orshan
			Bell Communications Research
			201-981-3064
			{ihnp4,bellcore,pyuxww}!u1100a!sdo

js2j@mhuxt.UUCP (sonntag) (08/22/85)

> In article <1032@sdcsvax.UUCP> brian@sdcsvax.UUCP (Brian Kantor) writes:
> >
> >The local power company has recently attached a bright red and white
> >sticker to EVERY POWER POLE IN THE CITY informing one and all the there
> >are hazardous voltages about 30 feet up and that climbing the pole is a
> >stupid thing to do.
> >
> >I'm not sure I believe this, but sometimes....

    Probably because some imbecile climbed a pole, got fried, and our 
wonderful legal system decided that the utility company was at fault for
not warning the pee-pul about how dangerous electricity could be, resulting
in a multi-megabuck loss to the utility.
    The public is perceived as stupid because it *IS* stupid!
-- 
Jeff Sonntag
ihnp4!mhuxt!js2j
    "I'll show him that a Cadillac is not a car to scorn."
    "Beep Beep!    Beep Beep!"

jmsellens@watmath.UUCP (John M Sellens) (08/23/85)

Rule #1:
    The public is stupid.