# Deceitful directions **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 12, 2012, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deceitful-directions/615550 "2012-03-12T14:13:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Whammo72](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/77aa72/32.png) [@Whammo72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whammo72)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2012, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deceitful-directions/615550/1 "2012-03-12T14:13:08Z")
What products have you used that have had specific instructions or directions that you found are not needed. I just came back from a visit from the mens room and read “To remove toilet seat cover, first pull up, then pull down”. Well, me being the sceptical creature I am. I folded it over the lip and then pulled straight down, directly disobeying its orders. Guess what? It came out just fine. I then threw it right in the toilet 'cause I don’t use those silly things. What have you come across? Removing shell meats before eating excluded we all know that’s just plain silly. ---
**Author:** ![Corcaigh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Corcaigh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Corcaigh)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2012, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deceitful-directions/615550/2 "2012-03-13T13:45:42Z")
“may contain nuts” on a packet of peanuts. Also there used to be an electrical item (I forget what sort) many years ago that came with instructions for use. The first instruction used to baffle many many people as it was an overly elaborate description of how to find a wall socket, put the item’s plug in and flick the switch… ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2012, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deceitful-directions/615550/3 "2012-03-13T15:35:52Z")
> [@Corcaigh](#): > > “may contain nuts” on a packet of peanuts. A friend told me that the packaging for [this snack](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41XEM6FVKXL.jpg) includes a warning that it may contain nuts or be processed in a facility that also processes nuts. ---
**Author:** ![Bytegeist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9dc877/32.png) [@Bytegeist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bytegeist)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2012, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deceitful-directions/615550/4 "2012-03-13T18:31:01Z")
“Lather, rinse, repeat” — on most bottles of shampoo. In my experience, a single iteration of the loop is sufficient. ---
**Author:** ![Corcaigh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Corcaigh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Corcaigh)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2012, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deceitful-directions/615550/5 "2012-03-13T19:05:53Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > A friend told me that the packaging for [this snack](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41XEM6FVKXL.jpg) includes a warning that it may contain nuts or be processed in a facility that also processes nuts. Madness! ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2012, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deceitful-directions/615550/6 "2012-03-13T19:45:14Z")
> [@Corcaigh](#): > > “may contain nuts” on a packet of peanuts. Well…peanuts are not actually nuts, of course. > [@Bytegeist](#): > > “Lather, rinse, repeat” — on most bottles of shampoo. > > In my experience, a single iteration of the loop is sufficient. My experience does not chime with yours -if the hair is actually dirty, twice does help - but if one were really to follow the instructions, of course, the washing would never end. May I offer for your consideration, however, these [Dragonball Z Toy instructions](http://www.rinkworks.com/said/im/dballtoy.jpg). > [@](#): > > **May pre house the seamy side volitation!!!** (More in the same vein [here](http://www.engrish.com/category/instructions/).) ---
**Author:** ![Bytegeist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9dc877/32.png) [@Bytegeist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bytegeist)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2012, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deceitful-directions/615550/7 "2012-03-13T20:30:32Z")
[QUOTE=njtt] … but if one were really to follow the instructions, of course, the washing would never end. [/quote] Perhaps shampoo makers regard their products like music compositions, where a “repeat” symbol means to repeat the previous section exactly once. [QUOTE=njtt] May I offer for your consideration, however, these [Dragonball Z Toy instructions](http://www.rinkworks.com/said/im/dballtoy.jpg). [/quote] Although I love those instructions, I’m not sure how you’d go about _defying_ them. I wouldn’t know where to begin. For all I know I’m unwittingly following them right now.