Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site sdcsvax.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!cmcl2!seismo!lll-crg!dual!qantel!hplabs!sdcrdcf!sdcsvax!brian From: brian@sdcsvax.UUCP (Brian Kantor) Newsgroups: net.consumers Subject: Public Perceived as Stupid Message-ID: <1032@sdcsvax.UUCP> Date: Sat, 10-Aug-85 11:08:12 EDT Article-I.D.: sdcsvax.1032 Posted: Sat Aug 10 11:08:12 1985 Date-Received: Wed, 14-Aug-85 22:06:19 EDT Followup-To: net.flame Organization: UCSD wombat breeding society Lines: 47 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