2008 Woodie Awards
Observances From a Psychotic World
Bob Barrows
Issue date: 4/6/05 Section: Perspectives
Observances from a Psychotic World
Bob Barrows
Staff Writer
Every time I hear one of these self-absorbed, pretentious news commentators like Andy Rooney mention how dumb our generation has become I almost want to throw my laptop through the television. Before I have that brief moment of violence my mind stops me in the middle of the throw to remind me that maybe people like Andy, in some cases, are right. Older people today have become increasingly pessimistic about our generation and sometimes that attitude is warranted. There have been many times that I sit in one of my classrooms and I am just horrified by the answers that come out of some people.
If you want to see how dumb the American culture has become, all someone needs to do is walk through the grocery store and read the warning labels on certain products.
My grandfather, a man of many talents, really turned me on to warning labels when I was a young kid. He just could not understand their ubiquity in America. How many actually notice the warning labels on the coffee cups from places like Dunkin Donuts and McDonalds? What boggled my mind was the big, bold, letters that warned you that the contents in the cup were hot. Corporate America, in their infinite wisdom, does this in order to avoid lawsuits. Who on earth brought Dunkin Donuts to court because they were burned from coffee? Of course it wasn't the persons fault because they weren't warned; it would be crazy to think that somebody would want to take responsibility for themself.
For my first job I worked in a rundown fruit market north of Boston. We use to have a machine with rotating knives that would cut pieces of watermelon and honey dews into small pieces so they could be placed in our "gourmet" salad bar. I was always dumb-founded, even at a young age, of the label warning people to keep their hands and fingers away from the rotating knives. Let's get this straight; this machine had a warning label reminding that knives cut. I came to conclusion that warning labels are for society's lowest common denominators. I think that all warnings can be wheedled down to one, all-encompassing, label: "Think Briefly before Using this Product."
Bob Barrows
Staff Writer
Every time I hear one of these self-absorbed, pretentious news commentators like Andy Rooney mention how dumb our generation has become I almost want to throw my laptop through the television. Before I have that brief moment of violence my mind stops me in the middle of the throw to remind me that maybe people like Andy, in some cases, are right. Older people today have become increasingly pessimistic about our generation and sometimes that attitude is warranted. There have been many times that I sit in one of my classrooms and I am just horrified by the answers that come out of some people.
If you want to see how dumb the American culture has become, all someone needs to do is walk through the grocery store and read the warning labels on certain products.
My grandfather, a man of many talents, really turned me on to warning labels when I was a young kid. He just could not understand their ubiquity in America. How many actually notice the warning labels on the coffee cups from places like Dunkin Donuts and McDonalds? What boggled my mind was the big, bold, letters that warned you that the contents in the cup were hot. Corporate America, in their infinite wisdom, does this in order to avoid lawsuits. Who on earth brought Dunkin Donuts to court because they were burned from coffee? Of course it wasn't the persons fault because they weren't warned; it would be crazy to think that somebody would want to take responsibility for themself.
For my first job I worked in a rundown fruit market north of Boston. We use to have a machine with rotating knives that would cut pieces of watermelon and honey dews into small pieces so they could be placed in our "gourmet" salad bar. I was always dumb-founded, even at a young age, of the label warning people to keep their hands and fingers away from the rotating knives. Let's get this straight; this machine had a warning label reminding that knives cut. I came to conclusion that warning labels are for society's lowest common denominators. I think that all warnings can be wheedled down to one, all-encompassing, label: "Think Briefly before Using this Product."