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We humans are a fascinating bunch. We’ve split the atom, painted masterpieces, and sent robots to Mars. But give us a door with a “pull” sign, and we’ll push every time.

Maybe that’s why the world is full of oddly specific warnings and disclaimers. Because when common sense takes a day off, someone has to write the label that follows. Here are some of the funniest ones people have spotted.

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    #2

    Warning sign in front of non-working escalator advising passengers to use the lift.

    Warnings and disclaimers that were clearly the result of a lawsuit Report

    sbj
    Community Member
    8 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I'm loving the wit of this sign, it really made me smile

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    Warning signs and labels exist on a spectrum. At one end, they serve their purpose, warning us about actual dangers. Straightforward stuff. But swing to the other extreme, and you’ll find labels that make you stop and think, “Really? Someone needed to be told that?” Like when a bag of peanuts kindly informs us it contains... peanuts. Groundbreaking.

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    The thing is, human behavior, let’s call it adventurousness to be nice, can be unpredictable. And occasionally expensive. When common sense goes out the window, lawsuits often walk in. That’s why companies slap on these hilarious-sounding warnings: sometimes to prevent disaster, but just as often as damage control after something already went wrong.

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    Take one of the most well-known cases: the 1994 lawsuit between Stella Liebeck and McDonald’s. You’ve probably heard about it before—someone sued because their coffee was hot. But the real story is a lot more serious. Liebeck suffered third-degree burns after spilling coffee that was served between 180–190°F. The jury found that McDonald’s hadn’t done enough to warn customers just how dangerously hot that coffee was.

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    #10

    National Park Service sign humorously warns of potential bathroom supply error.

    Warnings and disclaimers that were clearly the result of a lawsuit Report

    Zoey Bear
    Community Member
    8 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    But what if it's an emergency situation and you don't have time to check? 🤔

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    The case became a turning point. Coffee cups all over the country began sporting big “CONTENTS HOT” labels, often right on the lid. In McDonald’s case, they already had a warning, but it wasn’t visible enough, and the court wasn’t impressed.

    #11

    Sign warning to drive slowly due to young animals and wild children nearby, a potential aftermath of someone's mistake.

    Warnings and disclaimers that were clearly the result of a lawsuit Report

    lovemy suffolk
    Community Member
    8 months ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    My road. But reccomend no more than 10 mph or you'll likely bottom out on the potholes.

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    Ironically, much like many warning labels, the Liebeck case itself is often misunderstood. People still joke about it, not realizing the extent of her injuries—she needed skin grafts on her inner thighs and elsewhere. And while hot coffee should be hot, it shouldn’t be served at near-boiling temperatures that can cause life-altering burns in seconds.

    #15

    Warning sign at ski resort exit, cautioning potential danger with skull icon, snowy mountain backdrop.

    Warnings and disclaimers that were clearly the result of a lawsuit Report

    OpheliaPoe
    Community Member
    8 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I just watched a documentary about an avalanche and learned how some ski areas do preventative maintenance to prevent them. I had no idea how much of a risk they were or how long it can take to find those unfortunate enough to have been in their path.

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    Today, hot beverage warnings are common, but not universal. There’s no global rule that says all coffee cups must have them. So if you’ve heard that every cup now carries a warning because of the Liebeck case, well, it’s kind of a myth.

    #17

    Sign warning about climbing fences, humorous note on animals' reactions, highlighting aftermath of big mistakes.

    Warnings and disclaimers that were clearly the result of a lawsuit Report

    L Norton
    Community Member
    8 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    And then the animals eat you a second time. Which is really disgusting.

    Argle Bargle
    Community Member
    8 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    LMFAO. It's hilarious and disgusting all at the same time

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    Riley Quinn
    Community Member
    8 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Oi, parents, put your kids on a leash so they don't fall into pens. It's not right that the animal is put down because you're bad at your job.

    Richard Iachetta
    Community Member
    8 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I'm glad they are concerned with the health of the critters

    slay_potato
    Community Member
    7 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    IS THERE A MEDIC?…….. we gotta treat those burns

    Rebecca Taylor
    Community Member
    8 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Oh thanks I wouldn't want to make a animal sick

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    #18

    Yellow warning sign, "Do not pet the striped kitties," featuring a skunk illustration.

    Warnings and disclaimers that were clearly the result of a lawsuit Report

    Janissary35680
    Community Member
    Premium
    8 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    "Ah, my little darling, it is love at first sight, is it not? We shall make beautiful music together!"

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    And that wasn’t the last time a lack of labeling caused trouble. In 1996, Judy Dunne sued Wal-Mart after an exercise bike collapsed under her weight. The bike had no label indicating its weight limit, which turned out to be 250 pounds. Dunne weighed 500. She won the case, and that’s how we learned: yes, sometimes you really can be too big to exercise (on that specific bike, anyway).

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    #20

    Sign on brick wall warning conversations echo into Room 2037, indicating lack of privacy.

    Warnings and disclaimers that were clearly the result of a lawsuit Report

    sbj
    Community Member
    8 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I need this on every internal wall at my place of work mainly because none of the conversations are vaguely interesting or gossip worthy

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    #21

    Sign humorously advising bikers and walkers to communicate, highlighting a funny mistake.

    Warnings and disclaimers that were clearly the result of a lawsuit Report

    Geoffrey Scott
    Community Member
    8 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Common courtesy on the trail, 100 feet away "Coming up!", if they are walking a dog, 200 feet.

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    Then there’s the time Apple was sued in 2006 by a man named John Kiel Patterson. He claimed his iPod could damage his hearing. Not because of the volume itself, but because there wasn’t a clear enough warning. While Apple had buried a note in the manual, they later added an actual pop-up alert and a volume-limiting option. And that’s why your phone kindly reminds you that blasting music for too long might not be the best idea.

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    So what’s the lesson here, besides a few laughs at the expense of poorly labeled products? Just because something seems obvious to you, doesn’t mean it’s obvious to everyone. And that idea goes far beyond warning labels, it’s something worth remembering any time confusion or miscommunication creeps in.

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    #26

    Doctor waiting room sign with humorous mistake about cancelling appointments if deceased.

    Warnings and disclaimers that were clearly the result of a lawsuit Report

    ohjojo (you/your's)
    Community Member
    8 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    please cancel your appointment. and if you have not canceled 24 hours before you pass, you will still be charged for the appointment.

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    #27

    Elevator door with a no cars warning sign, illustrating a big mistake aftermath.

    Warnings and disclaimers that were clearly the result of a lawsuit Report

    The Doom Song
    Community Member
    8 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    it does make you wonder how many times this has happened before they had to put up a sign

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    #36

    Door with a warning sign, emphasizing not being an Airbnb, illustrating a mistake aftermath.

    Warnings and disclaimers that were clearly the result of a lawsuit Report

    Ryan
    Community Member
    8 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Some ding-dong-ditcher has a chance to do the funniest thing...

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    #38

    Sign warning customers about a $50 clean-up fee for using confetti at Papa Tom's Pizza festivities.

    Warnings and disclaimers that were clearly the result of a lawsuit Report

    Emma London
    Community Member
    8 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I was once in a party after which the venue introduced a strict "No glitter Ever" rule.

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    #39

    Notice sign listing humorous consequences in Madrid; mentions UFOs, werewolves, unicorns, and more as big mistake aftermath.

    Warnings and disclaimers that were clearly the result of a lawsuit Report

    OpheliaPoe
    Community Member
    8 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Which "Town of Madrid" is this? Because it seems very fitting for my nearest Madrid (NM, USA).

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    #41

    Humorous warning sign listing bizarre items not to flush down the toilet.

    Warnings and disclaimers that were clearly the result of a lawsuit Report

    Sue Denham
    Community Member
    8 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I'm mainly concerned about the chocolate donuts. Who would even do *that*?

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    #42

    Humorous sign warning kids to stay within a certain distance, highlighting a potential mistake's aftermath.

    Warnings and disclaimers that were clearly the result of a lawsuit Report

    Sue Denham
    Community Member
    8 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Doesn't clarify who's smacking whom. Child's smacking distance is closer than adult's.

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    #45

    "Private sign warning, 'Do Not Read,' indicating a potential mistake or misunderstanding."

    Warnings and disclaimers that were clearly the result of a lawsuit Report

    Beak Hookage
    Community Member
    8 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    My life of crime began when I touched a "DO NOT TOUCH" sign. Today, the spree of heinous illegal acts continues.

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    #55

    Warning sign: "Your fear is way smarter than you. Don't cliff jump."

    Warnings and disclaimers that were clearly the result of a lawsuit Report

    me McG
    Community Member
    8 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    A rare example of where a cliff-note leads to a better comprehension.

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    #57

    Sign on a door reading, "This door is not nearly as heavy as it looks. Open with caution." Warning signs.

    Warnings and disclaimers that were clearly the result of a lawsuit Report

    Corvus
    Community Member
    8 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Sounds like someone facedoored (please let this be a word from now on).

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    #59

    Tool with safety warning label about circuits, highlighting a big mistake aftermath.

    Warnings and disclaimers that were clearly the result of a lawsuit Report

    Forrest Hobbs
    Community Member
    8 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This one's not completely crazy, because some electricians' tools are insulated so as to be safe to use on certain live circuits.

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    #66

    TiltWatch Plus warning label on packaging, indicating potential damage if carton is tilted beyond 40 degrees.

    Warnings and disclaimers that were clearly the result of a lawsuit Report

    Janissary35680
    Community Member
    Premium
    8 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    It took me a while to figure that out. That's pretty fn(clever).

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    #69

    Road sign warning tractor trailers, indicating a potential mistake due to GPS error.

    Warnings and disclaimers that were clearly the result of a lawsuit Report

    Daniel Atkins
    Community Member
    8 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Our town has a dedicated truck turnaround because the Gps send the drivers away from the Wal Mart DC. Too many depend too much on GPS since the DC is visible from the exit ramp.

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    #71

    Sign reads "Just Hotdogs," with graffiti of a panda on the storefront.

    Warnings and disclaimers that were clearly the result of a lawsuit Report

    Chocolate llama
    Community Member
    8 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    for some reason I initially read "we just don't sell hotdogs" and was even more confused

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    #76

    Car window sign displaying legal statement and driver's license, symbolizing aftermath of someone's mistake.

    Warnings and disclaimers that were clearly the result of a lawsuit Report

    sdorph
    Community Member
    8 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This is how to ensure you never get let off with a warning

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    #79

    Speed limit sign showing 9 1/2 in an industrial setting, highlighting a unique warning sign.

    Warnings and disclaimers that were clearly the result of a lawsuit Report

    Robert Trebor
    Community Member
    8 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    There used to be in San Jose area, California, a two-lane road which was the outflow of a four lane divided road, and one would come around a curve to confront a sign that said Speed Limit 14. And they meant it, right after that was a very serious speed bump, which if you were going any faster, would cause you to seriously wonder if your car was intact.

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    #82

    Warning sign on a beach structure about incoming tide, highlighting aftermath of a mistake in low tide timing.

    Warnings and disclaimers that were clearly the result of a lawsuit Report

    Verena
    Community Member
    8 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This is why they have little resue huts in some parts of the North Sea

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    #83

    Dog on a zipline with sign stating pets no longer allowed, hinting at an aftermath of a big mistake.

    Warnings and disclaimers that were clearly the result of a lawsuit Report

    Beak Hookage
    Community Member
    8 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Doesn't look like something your dog would enjoy anyway. Mine certainly wouldn't have.

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    #86

    Markdown sign for misspelled A5 2025 diaries at Uncle Bill's, showing price reduction due to error.

    Warnings and disclaimers that were clearly the result of a lawsuit Report

    Alex Boyd
    Community Member
    8 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I've probably told this story here before, but the desk calendars we got at my workplace in 2020 were defective--you tore off February, and it was February again. If the mistake had been with March, it would have been so eerie. (We got the replacement ones in maybe a week before we went home for the 10 days that lasted 6 months.

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    #92

    Menu sign with surcharge warning, mentioning increased operational costs for sizzling fajitas.

    Warnings and disclaimers that were clearly the result of a lawsuit Report

    Carl Roberts
    Community Member
    8 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Translation: We don't want to pay our employees more, so we're making the customers do it. At $23 for fajitas, they can afford to pay their employees more.

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    #93

    Wooden gate with signs warning against petting goats, indicating a big mistake aftermath prevention.

    Warnings and disclaimers that were clearly the result of a lawsuit Report

    Verena
    Community Member
    8 months ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    "Please do not pick up the (baby) goats". Looks like a petting are in a zoo or farm. Maybe too many people dropped them and they got injured. Or in general, goats are not stuffed toys to be csrried around. Obviously popular by German speaking tourists, German is at the top, but incorrect. It should be "Bitte die Ziegen nicht aufheben/tragen. Vielen Dank".

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    #95

    Elevator warning sign in church advising to ride only with others, listing emergency contacts.

    Warnings and disclaimers that were clearly the result of a lawsuit Report

    UKGrandad
    Community Member
    8 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    That's just a standard precaution in case the elevator breaks down.

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