The biggest threat to any person on Earth, in spite of what the White House and CNN tell us, is not terrorism. This distinction belongs to the fear of getting sued. These days, anything you do can land you in a courtroom, not as a witness, but as the accused.
To see this, one doesn't even need to go outside North America to find out that anyone can get involved in a liable suit at any moment. A woman is suing a coffee chain for selling her HOT coffee that wound up on her chest. Another person seeked $500 000 for biting a syringe that's inside a McNugget. The next thing you know, customers may sue the laundromat for wrecking one's clothes. [I'd be inclined to sue if my clothes were wrecked by a used syringe — TaxiEd] To combat this epidermic, many manufacturers and store owners are looking for ways to prevent themselves from being sued.
The labels in everyday products are getting stranger every day. Something as trivial as "not intended for highway use" is put on a wheelbarrow so that "resourceful" people will stop suing the maker. Jeans now come with the label, "Do not iron while being worn." What's next? A "Driving this may cause bodily harm" warning on every vehicle?
These suits are not confined to the consumer world. The University Senate is now considering putting up warning signs and labels to avoid being sued, as any such suits may result in longer lineups, less service, and more crowded classrooms for everyone. Intended changes include, but are not limited to ...
mathNEWS is also considering making a similar move. For those of you who think this article is not of good quality, remember, "Quality of mathNEWS articles is not guaranteed."
Jason "the Screamer" Lau
mathNEWS oddities specialist