Labels

Why in recent years have we decided that everything must have a label. We have labels to tell us to check the label.
The labels are often written in several languages too.
I'm not against labels they are necessary to tell us what is contained in the packages. Although I'd wager a great percentage of us,myself included,don't have a clue about all the chemical names listed on the label..
My favorite label has always been the one on furniture and pillows. Do not remove under penalty of law ! In the last few years they have added, except by consumer, so we all don't worry about the pillow police getting us.
Then we have labels to state the obvious. On aluminum ladders; caution do not use on or near power lines  risk of shock .
On electric powered hand tools; caution do not use in wet conditions  risk of shock.
On microwaved products ; caution product may be hot
On blow dryers. caution do not use near water, risk of shock
On your rear view mirrors,caution objects in mirror are closer than they appear

Lately we have even taken to giving bad behaviours a label.
ADD  attention deficit disorder    used to be called."not paying attention"
ADHD attention deficit disorder hyperactivity disorder   used to be called,"not paying attention and won't sit still
Cheating on your wife now treatable with Sex Therapy  ie: Tiger Woods  pretty sure they have initials for that but don't know for sure.

Unrelated thought. what is worse a syndrome or a disorder ? HMM.

All these labels are the governments way of protecting us citizens from ourselves. If I put my aluminum ladder on the power line and get shocked it would be the governments fault. It certainly wouldn't be my fault, unless I didn't read the label.
I think we really got started on this label kick with the cigarette warning label.

CIGARETTE SMOKING MAY BE HARMFUL TO YOUR HEALTH
Good thing the government warned me about that one. Who could have known?

Now when we get a nice hot beverage it also comes with a warning  sip carefully contents may be hot.
There are warning labels on movies,records and web sites. We haven't gotten to books yet that would somehow seem unamerican.
I don't know when it started but now there is a label on liquor telling us that it impairs your ability to drive a car or operate machinery !
Whew, dodged a bullet there. Thanks for the warning label Uncle Sam.

Well,be safe out there.Be sure to always read the label !