# Have television disclaimers gone too far? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 18, 2001, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-television-disclaimers-gone-too-far/76916 "2001-08-18T18:06:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2001, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-television-disclaimers-gone-too-far/76916/21 "2001-08-19T21:36:50Z")
There was a commercial a couple years ago that had a great disclaimer. I believe it was for a Dodge truck of some kind. Anyway, it showed a bunch of animal-shaped puppets running across the truck, or attacking it, or whatnot. At the end, they had a mechanical elephant come out and sit on the front. The disclaimer? “Hood is subject to elephant rump damage.” ---
**Author:** ![Agrippina](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8797f3/32.png) [@Agrippina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Agrippina)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2001, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-television-disclaimers-gone-too-far/76916/22 "2001-08-19T21:57:31Z")
I just saw an odd one an hour ago. It was for a LEGO commercial, a soccer set. They had the little LEGO guys hitting little soccer balls and stuff at a makeshift LEGO soccer game. At the end of the commerical the announcer said, “Cheering crowd not included.” ---
**Author:** ![psychobunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/54ee81/32.png) [@psychobunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychobunny)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2001, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-television-disclaimers-gone-too-far/76916/23 "2001-08-20T03:47:18Z")
The one that bothers me is the car (or truck) ad with the vehicle in the bullring being charged by a bull. Professional driver on closed set?-No kidding? Geez, I always drive my car in a bullring. ---
**Author:** ![sewalk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b3f665/32.png) [@sewalk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sewalk)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2001, 9:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-television-disclaimers-gone-too-far/76916/24 "2001-08-20T09:48:23Z")
The best (humorous) disclaimers were the ones on the old Joe Isuzu ads. David Leisure would make some outlandish claim (“This car gets 800 miles per gallon”) and the words “He’s Lying” would appear on the screen. ---
**Author:** ![Shane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shane/32/10599_2.png) [@Shane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shane)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2001, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-television-disclaimers-gone-too-far/76916/25 "2001-08-20T13:33:15Z")
I guess everyone wants to make sure, just in case. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2001, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-television-disclaimers-gone-too-far/76916/26 "2001-08-20T22:27:24Z")
I’d rather live with insultingly obvious disclaimers than in an idiot-proofed world. McDonald’s had to fork out for pain and suffering to a woman who burned herself after driving off with a cup of coffee jammed between her legs. To avoid a repeat, they had the option of sounding condescending by informing us all that “Coffee is hot,” or forcing us to drink lukewarm coffee so as to protect people who might otherwise pour it on the most sensitive part of their anatomy. Maybe I ought to see if I can file a claim against McDonald’s for representing a Big Mac in such a way that it looks appetizing in their advertising, now that Pizza Hut has taken such a cautious route. My favourite disclaimer is for a TV ad for a pharmaceutical remedy for “Social Anxiety” (Not cocaine.) _ **"May cause sexual side effects in men and women."** _ That’s just vague enough to pique your interest. What kind of side effects? Good or bad? Priapism? Or am I going to grow titties? ---
**Author:** ![drewbert](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drewbert/32/15890_2.png) [@drewbert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewbert)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2001, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-television-disclaimers-gone-too-far/76916/27 "2001-08-21T01:05:56Z")
Page 10 on Apple’s “white paper” overview of their optical mouse has this to say about the clear plastic shell that forms the mouse’s body and button: > [@](#): > > This shell can withstand 700 pounds of force. Put in perspective, an elephant stepping on the shell would just mush it into the ground (but might break the pieces underneath). On the last page of the file is this disclaimer: > [@](#): > > sub2000 Apple Computer, Inc. All rights reserved. Apple, the Apple logo, Mac, and Macintosh are trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. Other product and company names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective companies. Product specifications are subject to change without notice. This material is provided for information purposes only; Apple assumes no liability related to its use. Apple does not recommend allowing an elephant to operate a Mac in any environment. July 2000.[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![Jester](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jester/32/8223_2.png) [@Jester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jester)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2001, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-television-disclaimers-gone-too-far/76916/28 "2001-08-21T01:13:31Z")
Here’s a pretty [appropriate](http://www.pvponline.com/) comic for this discussion… ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2001, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-television-disclaimers-gone-too-far/76916/29 "2001-08-21T01:21:02Z")
I just saw an ad for PowerAde which featured people doing the stereotypical great sports feats. Not only was the standard “do not attempt” there, but this interesting nugget: > [@](#): > > PowerAde does not increase strength. It provides carbohydrate fuel. Make of that what you will. [sub]no. 300[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![Anal\_Scurvy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c57346/32.png) [@Anal\_Scurvy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anal_Scurvy)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2001, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-television-disclaimers-gone-too-far/76916/30 "2001-08-21T03:58:44Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by bouv \* > \*\*You see, all sorts of these warnings should be removed. If you’re dumb enough to drink bleach, then drink it, do the world a favor! That’s how natural selection works in this day and age. We have no predators to eat us, so we need to weed out the stupid some how, right? > \*\* Hey! I drank bleach once. My bachelor uncle had it in a juice pitcher next to the sink. With my headcold, I couldn’t smell what was in it. I just know that it burned my head and I started screaming and my uncle twisted my mouth open and dumped lemon juice in. In Canada, we have this commercial for a twenty-something “go-getter on vacation” bashing his head against a mountain goat’s. I was actually kind of stunned that they didn’t attach a disclaimer. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2001, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-television-disclaimers-gone-too-far/76916/31 "2001-08-21T11:57:29Z")
One of my favorite commercials was the _original_ Joe Isuzu commercial from about 15 years ago. It went something like this: “The new Isuzu. It can go forever on a single tank of gas…” (Subtitle: “Your mileage may vary.”) “…and you can buy it with your pocket change.” (Subtitle: “Provided you have $9,950 in nickels and quarters.”) I’ve always wanted to see a commercial with a disclaimer like this: “Warning: I am an Amateur. Don’t try this at Work.” ---
**Author:** ![thinksnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thinksnow/32/2849_2.png) [@thinksnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thinksnow)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2001, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-television-disclaimers-gone-too-far/76916/32 "2001-08-21T14:04:28Z")
> [@](#): > > \*\*Anal Scurvy \*\* > In Canada, we have this commercial for a twenty-something “go-getter on vacation” bashing his head against a mountain goat’s. I was actually kind of stunned that they didn’t attach a disclaimer. This sounds suspiciously similar to the Mt. Dew commercial running around these days. One of the four “_DO the DEW!_” guys takes on a ram that wandered too close to his pop. IIRC, there is a “Do not attempt” disclaimer attached. Personally, I think the best disclaimer I’ve seen in some time is **Jack Batty** s. [ul]- **TS** (I’m not an actor, but I play one on TV)[/ul] ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2001, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-television-disclaimers-gone-too-far/76916/33 "2001-08-21T17:28:20Z")
Since nobody else picked up on this, I guess I get to. > [@](#): > > **(Larry Mudd)** McDonald’s had to fork out for pain and suffering to a woman who burned herself after driving off with a cup of coffee jammed between her legs. You may be interested to know that you are laboring under a substantial misunderstanding of what actually happened in that case. Don’t feel bad; it’s a common misconception, and is regularly and reliably trotted out as an example of out-of-control litigation. However, if you take a moment to familiarize yourself with the actual case instead of the word-of-mouth tale that passes for fact these days, you’ll find that the generally-accepted version of the story evaporates into urban legend-dom. You’ll find an excellent previous discussion [here](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=22459). Note, it’s an old thread, so the prior sub-linked threads (the ones that include /ubb/Forum#/HTML/ in the tag) won’t work. _- marks “fight ignorance” off today’s to-do list -_ ---
**Author:** ![dougie\_monty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2001, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-television-disclaimers-gone-too-far/76916/34 "2001-08-21T19:44:03Z")
> [@](#): > > [URL coding omitted here]The original jury found that McDonald’s was 80% at fault, and the woman was 20% at fault; and while the appeals court reduced the size of the original jury’s award, they did not contest the assignment of fault. > [Although] that particular McDonald’s had been cited more than once by the Health Department due to complaints that their coffee was too hot to handle safely, they kept their coffee temperature significantly higher than recommended by their own operations manual, and had been told by the home office to turn it down. The coffee had been responsible for severe burns on other customers. McDonald’s did not follow that order, or heed the Health Department citations, therefore they were negligent and at fault–they knew their coffee was likely to cause severe injuries and did nothing about it. That’s the very definition of negligence. And that’s the crux of the matter. I live in southern Los Angeles County, and I often eat at fast-food places–I worked at a McDonald’s myself in the late 60s–but I have not ordered their coffee in years. It’s positively scalding! I know damn well that if I were a store manager, and I defied orders, from the local city government or my own superiors in the company–I could catch hell for it; and the legal doctrine of _respondeat superior_–meaning that, usually, an employee acting within the scope of his job is not liable for damages to others, but his employer _is_–is on the side of the scalded woman. Having nearly scalded my lips and mouth on McDonald’s near-boiling coffee, I would not be so foolish as to tuck a cup between my thighs. But this woman may _not_ have known about this. At home, and at restaurants, I will be served coffee which is indeed hot, but if I sip it–as I did with McDonalds coffee–I don’t get scalded lips. I have made coffee at home for almost 40 years, using electric percolators or drip coffeemakers–and am often complimented about it by relatives (none of whom gulp coffee). My coffee, while hot, has never scalded anyone. (Well, it might if I poured it on my bare back…) ---
**Author:** ![thinksnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thinksnow/32/2849_2.png) [@thinksnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thinksnow)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2001, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-television-disclaimers-gone-too-far/76916/35 "2001-08-22T14:09:22Z")
I guess this thread winnowed it’s way into my head because this morning I caught a commercial, I think for retirement planning that showed a family waiting by a luggage carousel. Suddenly one of the kids shout’s “There they are!” and the family rushes over to a giant bag that just came around the bend. Unzipping it, their grandmother pops out. Well, slowly and creakily unfolds herself, anyway. The point of the commercial is to plan for your retirement so you will have the money to travel and they never, as far as I could see, put any disclaimer “Do not attempt to ship yourself or those you love in baggage.” anywhere in the ad. ---
**Author:** ![dougie\_monty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2001, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-television-disclaimers-gone-too-far/76916/36 "2001-08-22T19:01:23Z")
> [@](#): > > Unzipping it, their grandmother pops out. Well, slowly and creakily unfolds herself, anyway. That looks like a dangling modifier, Thinksnow. Granted ad copywriters are not noted for their command of grammar anyway… 😛 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-television-disclaimers-gone-too-far/76916.md?page=1)