Are Warning Labels Supposed To Be Funny?
I was just over at the GNC web site, browsing through their list of popular new weight loss products when I came across Lipo 6 Black Hers. Since I’ve already completed a Lipo 6 Black review, I thought I’d take a quick look at the “just for women” version to see if it confirmed what I suspected…
… that it’s a “just-as-expensive-but-slightly-watered-down” version of the original formula. In the midst of my investigation, I reviewed the list of ingredients and while doing so, the “warning” label. Preceding the obligatory and standard warnings that accompany any stimulant-based product were these words…
“WARNING: NOT FOR USE BY SISSY GIRLS. NOT TO BE USED BY ANYONE UNDER THE AGE OF 21 OR THE UNDEDICATED AND/OR WEAK-HEARTED. IF YOU DO NOT WISH TO EXPERIENCE EXTREME UNDERGROUND FAT-DESTROYING STIMULANTS, DO NOT USE THIS PRODUCT.”
Uh, OK. Lemme see if I’ve got this straight…
The FIRST thing Nutrex is going to tell any potential customer who actually takes the time to glance at the warning label is that she is a sniveling, weak-assed baby if she can’t handle the product. And that she doesn’t deserve awesome results if she does not have the “cojones” for it.
This is not helpful information; it’s a dare. And it precedes the need-to-know information any user of potent stimulants must have – the seriousness of which is now severely undermined.
Now, you may see this as being funny and accuse me of having no sense of humor. Here’s the thing…
We have no idea whether or not Nutrex intended this as a joke, nor do we know exactly how the precise demographic of women to whom this product is targeted will respond. In other words, even if it was intended to be “funny” there’s no way to know whether women will interpret it as being so.
Since consuming products with elevated caffeine levels can have potentially serious consequences for pregnant women, the warning labels of products like Lipo 6 Hers need to be clear and concise, with no room for jokes, dares, or other such silliness.
Since when were warning labels supposed to be funny?
January 29, 2010
Are Warning Labels Supposed To Be Funny? – http://blog.ultimatefatburner.com/2010/0…
January 30, 2010
I think their intent was not to humor, but to challenge. Challenge people into buying their product. They “followed” the intent of the warning label, in their minds.
I’m sure it was meant to urge women to purchase their product. With the assumption that their product is only for women with “cojones”. Thus the “challenge”.
You are correct. This is an attept at marketing, with no thought of health and safety. Very typical now-a-days.
January 30, 2010
LOL – you see this tactic with a number of bodybuilding products too. Since this is the market niche Nutrex occupies, it’s a natural fit. It works with the guys, so why not the gals?
There’s a sort of “reverse psychology” at work here… there’s no question about whether the product is good enough for you. Instead, it’s: are you good enough for the product?
But hey – at least it’s “black” and not pink. That’s progress, of sorts. 😀
February 6, 2010
The cojones, heh.