# Ask a silly question **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 16, 2024, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-a-silly-question/1010321 "2024-11-16T15:31:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2024, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-a-silly-question/1010321/21 "2024-11-16T22:53:24Z")
I guess that’s the wording of more recent tags, but it hasn’t always been that way. I’ve certainly seen tags that simply say “Do not remove this tag under penalty of law”. [![](https://theuijunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/mattressesdonotremovetag.jpg) ](https://theuijunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/mattressesdonotremovetag.jpg) [![](https://stamps.org/Portals/0/adam/Newsroom/M2R1CqeH7kqd0vnGcBV-3g/ContentPane/image%20(92).jpg) ](https://stamps.org/Portals/0/adam/Newsroom/M2R1CqeH7kqd0vnGcBV-3g/ContentPane/image%20(92).jpg) [![](https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fNj0S9Z3IYA/Tk1Ib8iOeoI/AAAAAAAACmw/WPchen0NIGo/s1600/Picture+14.png) ](https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fNj0S9Z3IYA/Tk1Ib8iOeoI/AAAAAAAACmw/WPchen0NIGo/s1600/Picture+14.png) ---
**Author:** ![Nyvaak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Nyvaak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nyvaak)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2024, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-a-silly-question/1010321/22 "2024-11-16T23:41:57Z")
> [@markn\_1](#): > > I guess that’s the wording of more recent tags, but it hasn’t always been that way. I’ve certainly seen tags that simply say “Do not remove this tag under penalty of law” Exactly. As far as I can recall, there was a time when _none_ of the tags included, “except by consumer,” or the equivalent. I suspect the new wording was a response to all the jokes about going to jail for tag removal. As a 6-year-old I found such a tag beneath (of all things) an end table. I was, of course, the only one in the house in a position to see the underside of a low table. I ripped it right off. I wish I could say I was haunted by fears of the :“penalty of law” that would follow my action, but even then I had a suspicion it didn’t apply to consumers (though I didn’t yet know that term) or their families. And the Statute of Limitations must be up by now, anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Zyada](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zyada/32/3028_2.png) [@Zyada](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zyada)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2024, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-a-silly-question/1010321/23 "2024-11-17T00:28:09Z")
Interesting. I remember having a similar discussion in the 80s - my friend and I were looking at a pillow. I know I saw the “except by the consumer” on that label. So it may have something to do with which product the tag is on. ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2024, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-a-silly-question/1010321/24 "2024-11-17T00:43:42Z")
Where does your lap go when you stand up? ---
**Author:** ![SuntanLotion](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suntanlotion/32/16165_2.png) [@SuntanLotion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuntanLotion)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2024, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-a-silly-question/1010321/25 "2024-11-17T00:45:39Z")
I am trying to recall all the Imponderables by Dave Feldman. ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2024, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-a-silly-question/1010321/26 "2024-11-17T00:50:43Z")
If chairs bent the other way, what would knees look like? ---
**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2024, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-a-silly-question/1010321/27 "2024-11-17T00:52:01Z")
What’s another word for “thesaurus”? ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2024, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-a-silly-question/1010321/28 "2024-11-17T01:17:59Z")
> [@Zyada](#): > > Note that the full sentence is “Under penalty of law, this tag is not to be removed _except by consumer_” (emphasis mine) if you bought it, there’s no problem, you’re the consumer. Yes, I know- I asked a _silly question,_ like others have. > [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](#): > > Where does your lap go when you stand up? Lapland, of course. 🤪 ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2024, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-a-silly-question/1010321/29 "2024-11-17T01:35:50Z")
If the black box on an airplane is indestructible, how do they get Teflon to stick to the pan? ---
**Author:** ![Zyada](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zyada/32/3028_2.png) [@Zyada](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zyada)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2024, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-a-silly-question/1010321/30 "2024-11-17T01:37:09Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Yes, I know- I asked a _silly question,_ like others have. Well, you know how some people have triggers involving jokes that are questions that a little thought would answer? This is one of mine ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2024, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-a-silly-question/1010321/31 "2024-11-17T01:55:15Z")
Don’t know why I didn’t remember this sooner - “bills” is short for handbills: a big stack of copies of the artwork advertising a play or concert. Someone would be paid to post them all over town, frequently the bill poster would go to the nearest blank wall or solid fence with a bucket full of paste, slather the entire surface then affix a huge number of handbills to the wall in a grid pattern. Repeat on the next block. The handbills were rarely taken down and the surface got ugly quick as this was repeated. ---
**Author:** ![SuntanLotion](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suntanlotion/32/16165_2.png) [@SuntanLotion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuntanLotion)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2024, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-a-silly-question/1010321/32 "2024-11-17T01:56:29Z")
Why do dogs tilt their heads when you talk to them? ---
**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:** [November 17, 2024, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-a-silly-question/1010321/33 "2024-11-17T02:11:27Z")
> [@markn\_1](#): > > What’s another word for “thesaurus”? Lexicon. ---
**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:** [November 17, 2024, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-a-silly-question/1010321/34 "2024-11-17T02:15:37Z")
> [@SuntanLotion](#): > > Why do dogs tilt their heads when you talk to them? Because they can. Oh, wait, wrong question. ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2024, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-a-silly-question/1010321/35 "2024-11-17T02:21:26Z")
Is it proper usage to say that a mechanically powered ship has “sailed”? ---
**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2024, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-a-silly-question/1010321/36 "2024-11-17T02:31:38Z")
Or that you’ve “dialed” a phone number on a cell phone? ---
**Author:** ![SuntanLotion](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suntanlotion/32/16165_2.png) [@SuntanLotion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuntanLotion)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2024, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-a-silly-question/1010321/37 "2024-11-17T02:39:51Z")
Does pressing the button on a street corner turn the light red faster? ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2024, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-a-silly-question/1010321/38 "2024-11-17T02:52:38Z")
How do you feel? ---
**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:** [November 17, 2024, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-a-silly-question/1010321/39 "2024-11-17T02:56:04Z")
> [@SuntanLotion](#): > > Does pressing the button on a street corner turn the light red faster? I actually once read a piece by a software engineer that designs the software that controls the lights. In busy areas, such as city centres, it is on a timer. The lights go on and off at pre-programmed intervals. But all button presses are logged and analyzed, and the timer may be adjusted accordingly. In quieter areas, yes, it makes the lights change faster. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2024, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-a-silly-question/1010321/40 "2024-11-17T02:58:46Z")
**Beckdawrek** is Mr. Spock? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-a-silly-question/1010321.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-a-silly-question/1010321.md?page=3)