Back in 1992, Stella Liebeck, an elderly woman, bought a cup of coffee from McDonald's, accidentally spilled it on her lap, and ended up suing the company for $3 million. While everyone understands coffee is hot, the court decided McDonald’s should have issued a warning since they knew the coffee was dangerously hot and could cause serious burns.
This case sparked a wave of excessive warnings. Companies don’t add them purely out of safety—they do it to protect themselves from lawsuits when people do foolish things. After all, why else would we need a sign telling us that fire is hot? These over-the-top warnings and absurd instructions really make you question the state of common sense today.
I Wish The Marshmallow Didn't Look So Excited About It
Honestly, I don't think I could bring myself to buy this bag of marshmallows. Marshmallows don’t need any instructions or warnings, yet someone went ahead and added them anyway.
To top it off, there’s an adorable little marshmallow encouraging me to set them on fire. No thanks!
This Is A Masterclass For Communicating Things Clearly
They always say that a picture is worth 1,000 words but it's not often that those 1,000 words are a detailed yet understandable warning of what exactly will happen if you got too fast across the train tracks on a bike.
Regardless of what language you speak, you don't need much explanation besides the clear knowledge that you'll go flying if you hit these tracks wrong. The only question is whether you'll lose the front wheel of your bike or whether they just didn't bother to draw it.
The Kind Of Conversational Flair You Can't Get Anywhere Else
Apparently, the warning signs in the Bahamas tend to be uniquely humorous, and this one by a pool is a perfect example. It's also interesting in that it expects a good-looking young lady to always be there, which means she either has a different job or this place is just confident in its idyllic status as a destination.
While signs like this in America will simply tell you that no lifeguard is on duty, this one makes that a more personal message that puts the stakes of ignoring it bluntly.
At Least That Truck Driver Knows They Aren't Alone
A lot of signs give such obvious warnings that it's hard not to wonder who made them necessary, but we're in a rare (or, in this case, not so rare) moment where the sign's necessity scraped across it.
Obviously, whoever tried to drive under this bridge was confident their truck was much shorter than it was. If it makes them feel any better, even bridges taller than this are known to shave the tops off trucks on a near-weekly basis.
That's A Pretty Effective Deterrent
While it's unclear where in Turkey this sign is, what is clear is that it's nowhere anyone should construe for a public toilet. As this sign demonstrates with a clear and eye-catching visual metaphor, urinating in this spot carries some dire consequences.
Now, is someone actually likely to remove your "eggs" if you are daring enough to pee here? Probably not, but good luck finding anybody who wants to take that chance.
It's Not Every Day We See A Warning Sign This Stylish
Although most warning signs are hard to mistake for anything else, the cool colors and cartoonish design of this one makes it seem like someone's little mural at first glance. However, it's actually warning people that some cobblestone streets are ahead.
I'm one of the people who hasn't tried to a ride a bike on cobblestones, so I'm going to go ahead and assume this sign is only a slight exaggeration of how that feels. We'll only know for sure by how fancy the average dentist's car is around here.
That Seems Like Some Pretty Sound Advice
While it's usually the local government's job to put up signs warning the public of road hazards, it's also typically the local government's job to deal with potholes. Clearly, neither of those jobs are getting done here, so a farmer is at least taking care of one of them.
It's also pretty hard to argue with this person's advice. Those who don't want either of these things to come loose would do well not to underestimate how bumpy the potholes are likely to make everything.
Don't Worry, This Sign Isn't Quite Suggesting What It Seems
Visitors of Lublin, Poland may be a little uneasy to see this sign without context. After all, nobody wants to think that they'll get attacked by a medieval executioner if they stand in the wrong place.
Thankfully, that's apparently not what this sign is warning people of. In fact, it's not really a warning of anything. Instead, it's marking a historic stone that was presented in traditional local legends as a common execution site. As the legend goes, the stone cracked after an innocent boy was executed here. Yeah, European folklore can get pretty morbid.
They Were So Close
At first glance, you'll notice that almost everything on this sign placed next to a Ferris wheel is a perfectly reasonable safety warning. Exiting the ride at the right time and keeping all of your limbs inside your gondola is a great way to ensure you get off the Ferris wheel in as many pieces as you got on with.
However, that last warning doesn't seem terribly relevant to any non-Asgardians visiting the park that day. Whatever you do to any objects you bring with you, don't act like Thor with them. Since he's known for throwing his hammer, at least this warning accidentally conveyed what it intended to.
If This Doesn't Keep People Away, Nothing Will
Wandering onto a military base is generally not a good idea in any part of the world, but apparently, it's an especially bad one in India. And this sign makes that clear in a way that feels both harrowing and oddly practical.
It's hard to consider a sign telling you you'll be shot on sight reasonable, but at least there's some comfort in knowing that it'll happen due to budget cuts and not because anyone's feeling particularly malicious that day.
At Least This Sign Catches The Eye, Even If It Also Strains It
Even putting the late '90s anti-smoking ad aesthetic of this sign aside, it's hard for this sign not to command attention. Its expressive (and excessive) use of fonts and the conversational exclamations are one thing, but few sentences give a person pause like "There's a baby in the cake."
So, why is there a baby in the cake? Apparently, this workplace decided to celebrate Mardi Gras with a King Cake, and those traditionally have a little plastic baby inside of them. Since that's a potential choking hazard for anyone unaware of the tradition, it makes sense to put up a sign about it. And this one's pretty hard to ignore.
A Poor Man's Washing Instructions
I'm really serious about following washing instructions. Having two different sets of guidelines just stresses me out. I want my clothes to last, but how can I be sure if tumble dry or volcano dry is the way to go?
I might have to survive on ramen for a month, but if it means washing in champagne, I’m all in.
What A Way To Die
I really don't think a sign is necessary to keep people away from a pit full of manure—the stench alone should do the trick. But just in case someone has a stuffy nose, this sign spells it out loud and clear: falling in would be a truly unpleasant way to go.
So I Can Only Smoke If I Enter The Left Door?
It seems like whoever put up these signs was torn between following company rules and keeping the boss happy. Official policy says no smoking, but we're guessing the manager gets cranky without that mid-day cigarette break.
In trying to keep everyone satisfied, they’ve only managed to confuse the rest of us.
Maybe They're Old Pet Rocks
Unless the "artifacts" happen to be newborn kittens—at which point I'd be even more tempted to touch the glass—what’s the big deal? Are these sensitive, emotionally fragile Pet Rocks from the ’80s? If we’re just talking about arrowheads and fossils, they’re not likely to get spooked.
Honestly, this sign probably wasn’t made for the protection of the items—it was likely the janitor’s way of begging people to stop leaving smudgy fingerprints for them to clean every night.
I Thought Washing The Child At The Same Time Was Like Killing Two Birds With One Stone
Well, this warning label certainly came just in time! I always thought that washing the child with the shirt might be a clever shortcut to avoid bath time. In hindsight, though, throwing a toddler in the washing machine wasn't exactly the brightest parenting moment.
Thankfully, this warning label is here to make me reconsider my life choices!
Who Is Expecting A Hot Dog That Size?
The most frustrating part about this sign is knowing someone must've actually shown up expecting a ten-foot hot dog after seeing the image. Honestly, I'd be all for a giant hot dog for fifty cents, too, but who on earth thought that was a reasonable expectation? The fact that they had to put the "not actual size" disclaimer just goes to show how little faith we have in people's common sense!
This Is News To Me
Kudos to the restaurant that thought a fire pit would add to the ambiance but also knew better than to let things get out of hand. They went all out with a sign that bluntly reminds us that fire is, in fact, hot, and to top it off, they've surrounded the pit with a solid three-foot metal fence. No accidents or lawsuits happening here on their watch!
This Feels Like A Threat
I don't know if I'm taking this sign a little too personally, but it feels like someone is personally threatening me with death if I don't recycle. It feels like I stumbled onto a crazy environmentalist's personal trash stash. Whatever their reasoning, it worked. I'll even make sure to sort it right.
Now I'm Just Walking In Circles
I want to think this is an innocent mistake, but this is definitely a sign that's meant to confuse you on purpose. I bet the business behind is committing tax fraud.
They legally need to be open, but they want to deter as many customers as possible.
Do Men Really Need This Much Help To Pee?
This sign with very detailed examples of how to use the washroom was found in Victoria, Australia. I'm not sure what people are doing down under, but squatting beside a toilet doesn't fly in America.
Maybe the U.S. should get a few of these signs just for the Australian tourists.
I Don't Need Instructions To Do This
Music is meant to fill the heart and soul, so it makes sense why there is so much emotion attached to the instructions. But let's be honest. I didn't need to be told this. A true brooding artist will live every day with intense sadness. It's not a phase, mom. It's a lifestyle.
Because A Danger Sign Isn't Enough To Scare Us Anymore
Danger signs are just so common that most of us don't even take them seriously now. It's like they're asking us to push the big red button that says "Do Not Push."
At least this sign got a little more detailed about just how dangerous it is. After reading this, I know to move on to another dangerous item that will result in a less painful death.
Is Tax Included?
California has been ravaged by wildfires, so they're not taking any chances. Not only is smoking and fires prohibited, but they've even laid out a detailed fine for you. I hope the $541 has taxes included, because anything more won't fit in my monthly bonfire budget.
The Warning That Started It All
It may have been McDonald's that had to deal with the original lawsuit, but they're not alone. In 2017, a woman was awarded $100,000 by a jury because of a faulty Starbucks lid.
You didn't hear this from me, but if you have student debt to pay off, just find a coffee shop without a warning label.
I Guess I'll Rob Another Transport Truck
What's the story behind this sign? You just know it exists because someone actually attempted to rob a Chipotle delivery truck thinking it was packed with burritos. Who’s willing to risk a felony charge over a wrap?
Clearly, the person who prompted this sign just dreamed of a world where guac didn’t cost extra—and went way too far trying to make it happen.
How Many Times Did This Have To Happen Before They Needed To Warn About It?
I get it—shopping with young kids can be one of the most chaotic parts of a parent's week. It might seem convenient to plop them into the mesh tote on your shopping cart.
But after little Timmy downed too many chicken nuggets, tore through the mesh, and got caught in the Black Friday stampede, the store decided it was time to put up a sign reminding folks to parent a little more responsibly.
I'll Make Sure To Try Not To Eat A Metal Rod
Although clothes hangers have been part of some risky scenarios before, I never expected anyone to actually try eating one. I can only imagine the person who went through the trouble of grabbing pliers, twisting the metal rod apart, and somehow getting it ready to eat.
If they're willing to go to all that effort, I doubt a warning label like this is going to stop them!
Looks Like A 50/50 Chance
What a pointless use of a label-maker strip. If you're going to label this machine that’s clearly packed with peanuts, why bother adding the word "may"? What are the chances?
Even if something other than peanuts somehow ended up inside, it would have been buried among peanuts for months anyway.