Something very creepy...

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 20 May 2005, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Sinistar_Phoenix	20 May 2005
I'm back after a long while of not being online... But uh... There's something really weird about my deck. Other people may not find it so weird, but I'm the one who paid $15 for this deck, and I care. Not trying to be mean or anything. Well, anyway... I have the Cachet tarot deck. Most beautiful deck I've ever seen. But, on the back of the box in small print, is this. WARNING. IMPORTANT INFORMATION KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN. Okay, that's just scary. So far, the only threat I've seen my cards pose is the terrible paper cuts it gives me. I really wanna know why my deck of cards has a warning on them. I certainly hope that its because the decks are much too beautiful for little children's eyes... Please let that be it. But, I'm not worried or anything... Its still kinda scary... Please reply... Sinistar Phoenix doesn't feel too good. SINISTAR PHOENIXXX

yve	20 May 2005
I've never heard of such a thing! Strange! Maybe it is just because children may not appreciate such special cards and may damage them???

Fairawen	20 May 2005
*blink blink* Especially weird. I'll get back to you, I'm gonna do some research on this... ~Fairawen~

Fudugazi	20 May 2005
Maybe the cards are to be kept from children because of the paper cuts? Or did you find a glass of whisky at the bottom of your pack? Did you write to the makers? Strange.

Alta	20 May 2005
Maybe the children could damage the cards.

Imagemaker	20 May 2005
In our culture (not mentioning any specific country or anything, but I live there), to put a warning on a package is supposed to release the manufacturer of liability for the consumer's injury. Say a child rolls up the card and puts it in his mouth, it goes into his throat and he chokes. The manufacturer can say "we told you these were not for children. We're not liable for his injury/death." Excerpt from a Detroit newspaper article: The sign on the toilet brush says it best: "Do not use for personal hygiene.'' That admonition was the winner of an anti-lawsuit group's contest for the wackiest consumer warning label of the year. The sponsor, Michigan Lawsuit Abuse Watch, says the goal is "to reveal how lawsuits, and concern about lawsuits, have created a need for common sense warnings on products.'' The $500 first prize went to Ed Gyetvai, of Oldcastle, Ontario, who submitted the toilet-brush label. A $250 second prize went to Matt Johnson, of Naperville, Ill., for a label on a children's scooter that said, "This product moves when used.'' A $100 third prize went to Ann Marie Taylor, of Camden, S.C., who submitted a warning from a digital thermometer that said, "Once used rectally, the thermometer should not be used orally.''

Fairawen	20 May 2005
*lol* I must agree with ImageMaker. That's the only explination that I kind find. :) ~Fairawen~

feticeira	20 May 2005
Imagemaker nailed it. I once got an email with a list of warnings or directions that were either obvious or made no sense, for example a package of peanuts that said *this product may contain nuts* and *directions: open package, eat contents (peanuts).* I say the deck comes with that because kids can pretty much choke on anything, and chewable but coarse and thick paper could be dangerous to a curious kid.

Pipistrelle	20 May 2005
I have a vodka-fuelled theory ;) Children, bless them, with their wide-eyed, anything is possible, view of the world, have not yet had their dreams smashed and their hearts hardened. Were these innocent young cherubs to get their hands on a beautiful pack of tarot cards and, dare I say it, use them, learn from them, and experience the wonders of spiritual enlightenment, they may - gasp - become immune to the desperate marketing ploys of corporate bigwigs who are only out to take their money - who cares about their souls? Were this to happen - nightmare scenario though it is - said bigwigs would lose their powers, the world would be a happier place, and children would no longer grow up believing that the secret of eternal happiness is owning the latest xbox game. It's a standard warning that is printed on anything that challenges the basic infrastructure of our materialism-driven culture. The last thing we want is for our children to acquire the skills of thinking for themselves. And that, my friends, is the end of my theory (and my drinking). ;) Pip

Ace	20 May 2005
Children have no sense of moderation. They are liable to get their hands on those cards and never put them down! they might use them OVER AND OVER and forget about other things like TV or drugs or their hoodlum friends! We must protect them. Lock those cards up safe! Ace

Cerulean	20 May 2005
http://www.topthatpublishing.com/na/catalog/series.asp?seriesid=105 This mini-kits were teaching yourself card games, beautiful nails, chess, etc. Probably because these mini-kits have small parts or chemicals and kids are liable to swallow dice, other things, etc...so the standard language is this is a kit not designed to be kid-safe or for infants...my guess is standard marketing stuff. Sorry to hear something that I see a lot--standard disclaimers-- felt 'creepy.' Best regards and hope this helped you. The language of their ad follows. Cerulean website descriptions: An innovative and diverse series of books aimed at the adult market. These unique titles will introduce readers to new hobbies and skills! This great series will provide you with all the know-how you need and will provide great introductions to some very relaxing but entertaining hobbies as well as some great ideas on how to spoil yourself. Each amazing title comes with a quality set of novelty components to assist you with your new found hobby or skills. Simply let Cachet titles lead you into a world of your own, leaving the stresses and strains of everyday life behind! * Book Size: 140mm x 140mm * 48pp text * Full colour throughout * Hardback * SRP $12.99 (USA) * SRP $16.99

Nevada	20 May 2005
I figured lawsuit prevention as well. Maybe they worry the ink isn't nontoxic enough, and are concerned small children will put them in their mouths? I wouldn't worry about it, especially if you don't have little ones. Enjoy your cards. They sound nice. :) Nevada

Thuvia	21 May 2005
As an illustration of how kids think, or not think :) : I was very young, probably under 6yo, my brother was under 4yo. It was easter and we were up before our parents and starting to eat our way through the yummy baskets the bunny had left for us. My brother pulls out a beautifully colored easter egg and asks me what he should do with this thing. With all the simplicity and ignorance of a 6ish child, I replied "you eat it." So my brother, with all the simplicity and trust of a 4yo bites right into the easter egg... shell and all. At which point my parents come into the living room as I am howling with laughter and my poor brother is looking very betrayed as this thing didn't taste that good and his big sister told him to eat it. 30 some odd years later, I still vividly remember this incident. It never occured to me that he wouldn't know to peel it 1st. It was one of the funniest things I have ever seen, at least to a 6yo, heh. The look on his poor little boy face was priceless. I felt bad, but it was still quite funny to me. My parents, to this day, think I did it on purpose.... was probably the insane laughter I was emitting when they walked in. The point being :) with children you never know, so better safe than sorry. He probably could have choked on those egg shells :( But with the cards, I suppose with a child under a certain age they could be deemed a choking hazaard as very young children like to put everything in their mouth. (like my eldests 1st time in a shopping cart, I stood there in mute horror as he promptly leaned over and started gnawing and drooling on the handle... images of all the nasty hands that must have touched that handle 1st flashed through my mind)

tarotbear	21 May 2005
As I read this thread I grabbed the copy of the Cachet Tarot off my coffee table... Is the warning the 'important information', or is the warning to 'keep out of the reach of children'?? I could interpret this both ways. The warning could be to 'Keep this important information out of the hands of children.' The warning (which is considered 'important' information) is to keep the deck out of the hands of children. I find the subtext in tiny print to be the most interesting, though: "Please Retain Publisher's Details (details? What details?) For Future Reference." My take on this warning against the future is so that when you kids gets involved in Tarot and becomes a Satanist, that you cannot turn around and sue the publisher for being the 'vehicle' that brought their child to Satan's hand. Look at the paragraph that preceeds this warning label, though: "Delve into the secret world of tarot reading with this fascinating box set. Unique and magical cards are included and are complimented with easy-to-follow explanations for each of the cards. Used for centuries to understand the present and to predict the future, tarot has always been a source of fascination. Now you too can share and explore this method of divination with this great introductory pack. WOWIE KAZOWIE! BOXED MAGICAL CARDS! No wonder it had a warning to keep this information out of the hands of children!

Fairawen	21 May 2005
Magical?!? :P That made my day... magical!!! ROFL ~Fairawen~

Shadowlynx	21 May 2005
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Cerulean	21 May 2005
1. Review with pics http://www.tarotpassages.com/cachet-lb.htm 2. Discussion threads with Cachet in it: http://www.tarotforum.net/search.php?searchid=226604 Skip the first aeclectic listing of 'decks you have' in the second link collection--the other three or four threads have shorter discussions of the Cachet Tarot. Seems like we keep discussing this 'mysterious' deck off and on, as it doesn't have much public information gathered about it. Happy reading. Cerulean

similia	21 May 2005
Cerulean wrote: 1. Review with pics http://www.tarotpassages.com/cachet-lb.htm Well the lion in Strength has far too big a smile on his face I think :D A list of similarly funny warning labels can be found here

Shadowlynx	21 May 2005
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rainwolf	21 May 2005
After a little thought....maybe they put it there for effect. It would seem scary and people would talk about it in forums and increase the purchase of the deck.....:D *clicks to eBay....*

bladeraven	21 May 2005
Could you imagine if they start putting warning labels on books...I.e. cookbooks could have the warning lable...Warning: May encourage family discussions... It was odd they would put it on that tarot deck...and if there was anything racy about that...but then again ...if you consider most tarot decks that are available..lol

Fairawen	21 May 2005
Well... LOL If this was the Tarocco Erotico dei Giardini di Priapo, a.k.a. Erotic Garden of Priapo, then I would understand the warning... sheesh, warn anyone you can about that deck... :P Yes, they may very well have put it on for effect. People seem to be drawn to dangerous things, and if they think it's dangerous, it may sell better. Or so they think. :) ~Fairawen~

bladeraven	22 May 2005
Didn't seem to help Madonna's book to well.... Still just so odd they did that....was there any indication it might be a marketing ploy???

lunar_rabbit	22 May 2005
Besides being a choking hazard (a wet, wadded up ball of chewed up paper would be a serious choking hazard) the inks might not be non-toxic. Maybe a 1 year old could get sick from the ink printed on them or something. Weird! I used to wonder about the ink my kids consumed when they were teething and would chew up the corners of their board-books (the ones with the pages made from thick cardboard instead of paper). LOL!

WalesWoman	24 May 2005
Got some good giggles from the warning labels... thanks for those Similia. My thought for keeping Tarot cards out of the hands of children is that they are still learning to differenciate between what is real and not. So they might tend to take the meanings of the cards more literally and not have enough experience to make the distinction between Death as in change and transformation from to Die. Seems like adults have enough of a problem as it is. How freaked out did we get over Ouija boards as kids... I remember me and my cousins down in the basement giving and getting goosebumps and wierd messages and believed them. And kids tend to chew on most anything that will fit one way or another into their mouths... so could present a choking possibility or who knows what is in inks. (I remember a conspiracy theory novel that was trying to figure out the common denominator in cancer showing up in people... which turned out to be the ink in newsprint... the clue was people who didn't or couldn't read weren't getting it and the thing that threw them was babies were getting it... then they figured out, the babies had been putting the paper in thier mouths. the funny one was... a man with a cancer on his penis... ) LOL Now what would the warning be for those mags? LOL

The Something very creepy... thread was originally posted on 20 May 2005 in the Talking Tarot board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Talking Tarot, or read more archived threads.