# Follow the red dotted line? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 24, 2013, 7:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/follow-the-red-dotted-line/656574 "2013-04-24T07:36:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![deltasigma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e5b9ba/32.png) [@deltasigma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/deltasigma)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2013, 7:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/follow-the-red-dotted-line/656574/1 "2013-04-24T07:36:06Z")
Since my sanity has recently been called into question in another thread (and no, I’m not going to help you find it) and since I’m not prepared to necessarily exclude that possibility a priori, let this serve as small test (god I hope I don’t regret this). I bought one of those toilet bowl cleaners you hang off the side. I object to them on aesthetic grounds which is really pretty comical given I don’t actually give a shit about aesthetics when it comes to “decor.” But, long story, got a pack anyway. [Here it is.](http://imageshack.us/a/img442/9802/redfront.jpg) I figured I would read the instructions for a change (another oddity) which are [here](http://imageshack.us/a/img202/4274/red123.jpg). Step one says that I’m supposed to cut along the red dotted line right? OK, here’s the [back panel](http://imageshack.us/a/img703/5307/redback1.jpg). I’m pretty sure there’s no red line, dotted or otherwise. Just for the comedy value, let’s assume that’s correct. I have to cut somewhere. Since most people are right handed and there is a nice grip provided on the side you grip with your left hand (front side facing you), my guess is that I cut from the bottom right along the curve between the two pods and then back off to the upper right. This also leaves most of the instructions intact if you save the left portion. OK, let’s dissect this insignificant dilemma with some extensive and clinical analysis. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2013, 7:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/follow-the-red-dotted-line/656574/2 "2013-04-24T07:45:19Z")
I can see it, you must be blind, or it’s that sanity thing. I am just kidding. ---
**Author:** ![Mycroft\_Holmes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a5b964/32.png) [@Mycroft\_Holmes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mycroft_Holmes)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2013, 7:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/follow-the-red-dotted-line/656574/3 "2013-04-24T07:49:26Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > I can see it, you must be blind, or it’s that sanity thing. > I am just kidding. Then I’m as nuts as deltasigma. It must be catching. I am also just kidding. ---
**Author:** ![deltasigma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e5b9ba/32.png) [@deltasigma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/deltasigma)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2013, 8:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/follow-the-red-dotted-line/656574/4 "2013-04-24T08:17:08Z")
> [@Mycroft\_Holmes](#): > > It must be catching. [If language is a virus](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memetics), then you’ve all been exposed. BWAHAHAHAHA [walks fully clothed to the kitchen for a snack - ok, my shorts and t-shirt] 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Foggy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foggy/32/1082_2.png) [@Foggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Foggy)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2013, 9:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/follow-the-red-dotted-line/656574/5 "2013-04-24T09:16:25Z")
I’m not seeing any red line. ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2013, 10:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/follow-the-red-dotted-line/656574/6 "2013-04-24T10:07:38Z")
No red doted line, but there is a blue dotted line showing you where the red one is supposed to be. (It’s in the diagram.) ---
**Author:** ![deltasigma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e5b9ba/32.png) [@deltasigma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/deltasigma)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2013, 10:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/follow-the-red-dotted-line/656574/7 "2013-04-24T10:11:13Z")
Maybe there’s a tie with one of the CSI shows and I had to buy the special glasses or something. Eww. (kidding) [SIZE=1] [/SIZE]edit: > [@njtt](#): > > (It’s in the diagram.) Made me look damn it. [shakes fist] ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2013, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/follow-the-red-dotted-line/656574/8 "2013-04-24T15:37:45Z")
Call the 800 number on the back of the package. Tell them you can’t open the package because there’s no red dotted line to cut on. ---
**Author:** ![deltasigma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e5b9ba/32.png) [@deltasigma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/deltasigma)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2013, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/follow-the-red-dotted-line/656574/9 "2013-04-24T16:05:42Z")
> [@needscoffee](#): > > Call the 800 number on the back of the package. Tell them you can’t open the package because there’s no red dotted line to cut on. I am actually going to call them. I mean, it IS a pretty glaring error. And even though I’m sure it’s not news to them, I’m always happy to take a freebie for my trouble. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Sahirrnee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sahirrnee/32/13937_2.png) [@Sahirrnee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sahirrnee)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2013, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/follow-the-red-dotted-line/656574/10 "2013-04-24T16:42:30Z")
Whatever you do, make sure you wash your hands. ---
**Author:** ![SmellMyWort](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea5d25/32.png) [@SmellMyWort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmellMyWort)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2013, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/follow-the-red-dotted-line/656574/11 "2013-04-24T16:47:25Z")
After handling your unit. ---
**Author:** ![Dallas\_Jones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dallas_jones/32/3277_2.png) [@Dallas\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dallas_Jones)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2013, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/follow-the-red-dotted-line/656574/12 "2013-04-24T16:58:10Z")
Do you cut the blue line or the red line? The blue line or the red line? You’ve only got one chance to get it right. You _have_ to be sure! ---
**Author:** ![corkboard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9bcb4/32.png) [@corkboard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/corkboard)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2013, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/follow-the-red-dotted-line/656574/13 "2013-04-24T17:05:20Z")
The dotted red line will appear only after you have submerged the package in the toilet. ---
**Author:** ![deltasigma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e5b9ba/32.png) [@deltasigma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/deltasigma)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2013, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/follow-the-red-dotted-line/656574/14 "2013-04-24T17:18:30Z")
> [@Dallas\_Jones](#): > > Do you cut the blue line or the red line? The blue line or the red line? > > You’ve only got one chance to get it right. You _have_ to be sure! > [@corkboard](#): > > The dotted red line will appear only after you have submerged the package in the toilet. Oooo. Matrix Underworld (©™). The toilet is a portal to the true reality of the Twilight novels which can only be unlocked by selecting the correct urinal cake. Later losers. I’ll be writing my screenplay. ---
**Author:** ![Dallas\_Jones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dallas_jones/32/3277_2.png) [@Dallas\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dallas_Jones)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2013, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/follow-the-red-dotted-line/656574/15 "2013-04-24T17:39:13Z")
Actually I was thinking of the movie trope where they are disarming a bomb, while the digital read-out is counting down and they have to decide which wire is the power wire, to cut. The red wire should be the power wire, but hold on, they may have used the blue wire as the power wire just to throw you off! What do you do? What do you do? They always cut the blue wire. Don’t make me look this up on [tvtropes.com](http://tvtropes.com), I have things to do today. ---
**Author:** ![corkboard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9bcb4/32.png) [@corkboard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/corkboard)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2013, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/follow-the-red-dotted-line/656574/16 "2013-04-25T13:26:37Z")
Unless the guy’s cutting it by the greenish light of a glowstick, in which case, no one knows the real color of the wire he cut. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2013, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/follow-the-red-dotted-line/656574/17 "2013-04-25T13:29:11Z")
If there’s two wires I’d cut both. If I were making the bomb I’d use other colors just to mess with people. ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2013, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/follow-the-red-dotted-line/656574/18 "2013-04-25T13:41:25Z")
I’ve heard that Blue is the new Red. ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2013, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/follow-the-red-dotted-line/656574/19 "2013-04-25T13:47:06Z")
> [@deltasigma](#): > > Since my sanity has recently been called into question in another thread (and no, I’m not going to help you find it) and since I’m not prepared to necessarily exclude that possibility a priori, let this serve as small test (god I hope I don’t regret this). > > I bought one of those toilet bowl cleaners you hang off the side. I object to them on aesthetic grounds which is really pretty comical given I don’t actually give a shit about aesthetics when it comes to “decor.” But, long story, got a pack anyway. [Here it is.](http://imageshack.us/a/img442/9802/redfront.jpg) I figured I would read the instructions for a change (another oddity) which are [here](http://imageshack.us/a/img202/4274/red123.jpg). Step one says that I’m supposed to cut along the red dotted line right? OK, here’s the [back panel](http://imageshack.us/a/img703/5307/redback1.jpg). > > I’m pretty sure there’s no red line, dotted or otherwise. > > Just for the comedy value, let’s assume that’s correct. I have to cut somewhere. Since most people are right handed and there is a nice grip provided on the side you grip with your left hand (front side facing you), my guess is that I cut from the bottom right along the curve between the two pods and then back off to the upper right. > > This also leaves most of the instructions intact if you save the left portion. > > OK, let’s dissect this insignificant dilemma with some extensive and clinical analysis. Sorry, not enough information. How much do you bench? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![deltasigma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e5b9ba/32.png) [@deltasigma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/deltasigma)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2013, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/follow-the-red-dotted-line/656574/20 "2013-04-25T13:53:56Z")
> [@White SIFL](#): > > Sorry, not enough information. How much do you bench? > 😉 Not sure anymore, but I can squat 2-2.5lbs. You know, if I had to guess. :eek: 😃 edit: tell me that you teed that one up for me. 🙂 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/follow-the-red-dotted-line/656574.md?page=2)