# Any other products that warn you against using it the way everyone uses it? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 10, 2008, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-other-products-that-warn-you-against-using-it-the-way-everyone-uses-it/476593 "2008-12-10T19:07:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2008, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-other-products-that-warn-you-against-using-it-the-way-everyone-uses-it/476593/41 "2008-12-11T16:22:32Z")
I’m sure that out there somewhere, someone has grabbed a pool float to help someone struggling in the water, despite the fact that the pool float had “not to be used as a lifesaving device” printed on it. Many of the houses you see decorated for Christmas/Holidays are trimmed in lights and using extension cords which have “for indoor use only” tags on them. They are also connecting four or more strings together, despite the fact that the tag warns against that, too. And the spare ‘doughnut’ tire that comes with many vehicles says, “Do not exceed 45 MPH”, but that is frequently ignored. ---
**Author:** ![zenith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e19b73/32.png) [@zenith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zenith)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2008, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-other-products-that-warn-you-against-using-it-the-way-everyone-uses-it/476593/42 "2008-12-11T16:56:56Z")
> [@TWDuke](#): > > When jump starting a car, never, _ever_ connect the black cable to the negative terminal of the dead battery – unless you actually want the car to start. > > [Is it dangerous to jump start a dead battery? (Especially the way most guys do it?) - The Straight Dope](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/2617/is-it-dangerous-to-jump-start-a-dead-battery) I disagree. I use the approved method and have yet to deliver power insufficient to vigorously spin a starter. Cars often don’t start no matter how you connect jumper cables due to the underlying problems that drained the dead car’s battery to begin with. Jump starting is most effective when it’s just a matter of some stupid human error–like leaving headlights on-- involving an otherwise healthy car. Or when that 4y.o.+ battery first starts giving trouble. I once used the approved method on an ancient Dodge Coronet, got the starter to spin vigorously and,in spite of the fact that the carb reeked of unburnt gas, the owner swore that her repeated pumping of the accelerator had not flooded the engine and that my not hooking the cables up “right” was the problem. She whipped her cables off both batteries and declared that she couldn’t work with an “incompetent” like me. ---
**Author:** ![phouka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c5a1d2/32.png) [@phouka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phouka)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2008, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-other-products-that-warn-you-against-using-it-the-way-everyone-uses-it/476593/43 "2008-12-11T17:05:55Z")
Believe it or not, but in some municipalities in Texas, all vibrators must have a warning sticker on them saying that they are not for internal use before they can be sold. Um . . . yeah. I . . . uh . . . promise I didn’t swallow mine. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2008, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-other-products-that-warn-you-against-using-it-the-way-everyone-uses-it/476593/44 "2008-12-11T17:18:20Z")
> [@Ethilrist](#): > > Car stands, those mini-ramps that you drive them up onto, or the metal pole stands where you jack the car up, then lower it down onto the stand, all have warnings on them not to place any part of your body under a car supported by them. I know that everyone goes under the car when they’re up on stands (isn’t that the point of raising it?) but I actually know a girl whose husband died when the car slipped off and crushed him. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Dr.Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Drake)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2008, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-other-products-that-warn-you-against-using-it-the-way-everyone-uses-it/476593/45 "2008-12-11T17:30:25Z")
> [@tschild](#): > > I have seen a few doors with a sign “Keep this door closed at all times” or something to that effect, but people cannot help opening it as it is the only door to the room. I have this thought every time I see one of those signs. Would you like to join me in the Excessively Literal-Minded Club? At UCLA there used to be a handmade sign: “Caution! This door may open without warning,” and I thought, “but you’ve just warned me…” ---
**Author:** ![Student\_Driver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3da27b/32.png) [@Student\_Driver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Student_Driver)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2008, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-other-products-that-warn-you-against-using-it-the-way-everyone-uses-it/476593/46 "2008-12-11T17:33:17Z")
> [@Cisco](#): > > ISTR one of the major brewers (Budweiser?) put out a beer pong game kit awhile back and warned against playing it with beer. They suggested water. This reminds me of another drinking game, one I used to see at Spencer’s all the time when I was a kid: [Pass-out](http://www.boardgamegeek.com/game/5650). The game? Move your pawn around the board, drinking when told, and recite a tongue twister after you pass a checkpoint. “Not for use with alcoholic beverages.” Right. Copy programs for old computers (C64, Apple II, etc.) always stated that their purpose was to make legal back-up copies, and not to crack and copy friends’ games. We were instructed many times to never blow into the end of a Nintendo cartridge. What’s the one trick that every NES owner knew from week one of owning the system? Blow in the end of the cartridge. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2008, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-other-products-that-warn-you-against-using-it-the-way-everyone-uses-it/476593/47 "2008-12-11T17:58:48Z")
> [@Projammer](#): > > \ > And an 8’ stepladder with “Do not go higher than this step” on the 4th rung. That reminds me of the “THIS IS NOT A STEP” at the top of all stepladders. I agree, it is not a step, but it sure as hell is used as one. Maybe they should make it with spikes on it, like the way they put spikes on overpasses to keep pigeons off them. Another one I thought of was the paper bag of sugar that has the warning on it to not pick up by the fold. I can see their point, everyone breaks the fold and the bag is opened and thrown out then, but on the other hand, maybe they should realize that everyone is doing it because there is no other good way to pick up a bag of sugar, and work with us here. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2008, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-other-products-that-warn-you-against-using-it-the-way-everyone-uses-it/476593/48 "2008-12-11T18:01:25Z")
> [@Student\_Driver](#): > > We were instructed many times to never blow into the end of a Nintendo cartridge. What’s the one trick that every NES owner knew from week one of owning the system? Blow in the end of the cartridge. What does that do? ---
**Author:** ![jali](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ecae2f/32.png) [@jali](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jali)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2008, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-other-products-that-warn-you-against-using-it-the-way-everyone-uses-it/476593/49 "2008-12-11T18:12:42Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > What does that do? It makes the game work again. See, it’s something like clicking your heels 3x or clapping your hands for Tinkerbell. It works if you believe. I’ve done it. ---
**Author:** ![Beadalin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@Beadalin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beadalin)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2008, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-other-products-that-warn-you-against-using-it-the-way-everyone-uses-it/476593/50 "2008-12-11T18:13:05Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > What does that do? Clears dust and such out, so the game will load and play cleanly. [Buy the tee shirt.](http://www.bustedtees.com/blowme#female) 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Arglefraster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3bc359/32.png) [@Arglefraster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arglefraster)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2008, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-other-products-that-warn-you-against-using-it-the-way-everyone-uses-it/476593/51 "2008-12-11T18:28:56Z")
> [@Hi\_Neighbor](#): > > I remember when MP3s were first coming out before Kazaa and other files haring programs were big. Websites just had links to MP3s that you could download, and had a disclaimer like, “These files should only serve as backups. If you choose to download these files, you MUST already be in possession of the song.” Um, ok. Similarly, Limewire requires you to click “accept” on an agreement in which you promise not to use the program to illegally download music and movies. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2008, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-other-products-that-warn-you-against-using-it-the-way-everyone-uses-it/476593/52 "2008-12-11T19:23:04Z")
> [@runner pat](#): > > I use bobby pins to scrape out my ear canal. I like paper clips, myself. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2008, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-other-products-that-warn-you-against-using-it-the-way-everyone-uses-it/476593/53 "2008-12-11T19:32:43Z")
> [@seodoa](#): > > The absolutely _frightening_ ear wax scrapers used commonly here in Japan are not unlike scraping your ear out with a really long bobby pin. That being said, Asian people tend to have a dry, flaky cerumen, rather than the soft, viscous liquid cerumen of Caucasians, so a scrapy thing works better for them. Still creeped me out whenever I saw my ex using it. [Their black Q-Tips are freaky looking enough](http://www.core77.com/blog/object_culture/weird_japanese_products_black_magic_qtips_10587.asp), I’d hate to see what the rest of the stuff looks like. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-other-products-that-warn-you-against-using-it-the-way-everyone-uses-it/476593.md?page=2)