History Main / ExpoLabel

** [[http://superdickery.com/images/stories/oneshot/hardcore15dk.jpg Luthor Trap to Capture Superboy]]. That being said, for "Luthor Trap to Capture Superboy," Superboy, the narrator, and Luthor all [[LampshadeHanging lampshade]] how stupid the whole situation is.

** [[http://superdickery.com/images/stories/oneshot/hardcore15dk.jpg Luthor Trap to Capture Superboy]]

*** That being said, for "Luthor Trap to Capture Superboy," Superboy, the narrator, and Luthor all [[LampshadeHanging lampshade]] how stupid the whole situation is.

* ''WesternAnimation/SpaceGhost'' episode "The Space Ark". Inside the title ship there's a control to activate the Force Shield, with a label that says "Force Shield".

* [[http://thedailywtf.com/Articles/Which-Cable.aspx How not to mistake the red wire from the blue wire.]]

*** In the speedboat that Robin, Mrvin, Wendy and Wonder Dog use, the throttle is labeled "Throttle" and "Full".

[[caption-width-right:281:Two Examples of an ExpoLabel, Including This Caption]]

*** A door-lifting device hidden (''inside'' a wall!) has the label "Automatic Door Opener".

* The old ''Series/{{Batman}}'' TV show, especially with [[ToTheBatNoun the "Bat" stuff]].

* Claymore mines, which are designed to explode and send a wave of shrapnel in a wide arc away from a defensive line, are helpfully labeled on the business end: "FRONT TOWARDS ENEMY".

On the other hand, various scientific and technical fields are notorious for labeling everything in sight. Console gauges, dials and switches are often clearly marked, with broken components tagged as such to reduce costly (or potentially lethal) operator errors. Programming courses actually encourage you to label every single thing you code.

[[folder:Comic Strips]]
* In ''ComicStrip/{{Dilbert}}'', somebody had to go around putting labels on things like coffee pots to comply with the ISO 9000 labeling standards. He also had "Stupid Label Guy" printed on his back. This may have been inspired by a RealLife incident in which everything in a lab was labelled for the benefit of a visiting executive. One of the labels covered a product logo which provided the same information (plus a brand name).
* In just about every PoliticalCartoon ever ([[http://cagle.msnbc.com/news/Iraq4Years/main.asp I wonder what that giant monster represents?]])
** Parodied on ''Website/TheOnion''-- in which political cartoons often feature children labeled "Innocent Kids", villains with labels like "Insensitive Citizens ([[HollywoodAtheist Probably Seculars]])" and "Today's Lazy Moms", and TheGrimReaper labeled with something random RippedFromTheHeadlines.
** [[http://www.cracked.com/article_18680_political-cartoons-lowest-form-communication.html Cracked]] and [[http://chainsawsuit.com/2010/08/24/good-idea/ Chainsawsuit]] also made fun of it as well.
* A ''ComicStrip/TheFarSide'' cartoon had a man standing in his yard after painting labels such as THE HOUSE, MY SHIRT, THE DOG, THE CAT on everything with a caption of "There! That should clear things up around here!"
[[/folder]]

* Parodied in ''Film/{{Spaceballs}}'':
-->'''Sign:''' Self Destruct Button. Do not push unless you really ''really'' mean it!

[[folder:Web Comics]]

[[quoteright:281:[[{{Superman}} http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/camera_smashing_robot.jpg]]]]

[[folder: Comic Books ]]
* As the above picture indicates, these used to be painfully present in ''Franchise/{{Superman}}'' comics. Another particularly strong example was the Floating [[DepartmentOfRedundancyDepartment Anti-gravity]] [[http://superdickery.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=33&Itemid=52&limitstart=87 Bed of Krypton]]. And Lois Lane was ''still'' confused when she found it floating. Some more from Superdickery.com:

** [[http://superdickery.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=29&Itemid=46&limitstart=41 Superpussycat (formerly Superman) Habitat: Kryptonite Case]] It was actually a cage, not a case.

* ''ScottPilgrim'': Absolutely everywhere. The characters can see them as well.

[[folder: Film ]]

--> '''Sign''': Self Destruct Button. Do not push unless you really ''really'' mean it!
* A variant used in ''Film/{{Memento}}'', when the main character has to carry polaroids of everyone with labels like "Don't believe his lies" because he is unable to form any long-term memories.

[[folder: Newspaper Comics ]]
* In ''ComicStrip/{{Dilbert}}'', somebody had to go around putting labels on things like coffee pots to comply with the ISO 9000 labeling standards. He also had "Stupid Label Guy" printed on his back.
** This may have been inspired by a RealLife incident in which everything in a lab was labelled for the benefit of a visiting executive. One of the labels covered a product logo which provided the same information (plus a brand name).
* In just about every PoliticalCartoon ever ([[http://cagle.msnbc.com/news/Iraq4Years/main.asp I wonder what that giant monster represents?]])
** Parodied on ''TheOnion''-- in which political cartoons often feature children labeled "Innocent Kids", villains with labels like "Insensitive Citizens ([[HollywoodAtheist Probably Seculars]])" and "Today's Lazy Moms", and TheGrimReaper labeled with something random RippedFromTheHeadlines.
** [[http://www.cracked.com/article_18680_political-cartoons-lowest-form-communication.html Cracked]] and [[http://chainsawsuit.com/2010/08/24/good-idea/ Chainsawsuit]] also made fun of it as well.
* A ''TheFarSide'' cartoon had a man standing in his yard after painting labels such as THE HOUSE, MY SHIRT, THE DOG, THE CAT on everything with a caption of "There! That should clear things up around here!"

[[folder: Live Action TV ]]
* Gerry Anderson's shows take place in a very well labeled future.

* In ''Series/{{Buffy|the Vampire Slayer}}'', the box of Rat Poison with "Rat Poison" on it.
** Also, their plan to attack the Mayor with a box labeled "Ebola"
* In ''BeakmansWorld'', Beakman can always find the really dangerous stuff in the cabinet marked REALLY DANGEROUS STUFF.
* Everything - and we mean ''everything'' - in ''LookAroundYou'', with those embossed red stickers that used to be used in laboratories. In one CreditsGag, a male scientist presents a female scientist (played by Sarah Alexander of ''{{Coupling}}'' fame) a ''box of chocolates'' labelled in this way, which included one item purporting to be sulphur.
* ''{{Castle}}'': The NYPD wears bulletproof vests labeled "Police". In the second ep, Castle gets one custom-made...that's labeled "Writer".

[[folder: Video Games ]]
* One boss in ''AlienHominid'' uses a large "do not damage head" sign to lampshade ForMassiveDamage.

[[folder: Webcomics ]]
* ''Webcomic/GunnerkriggCourt'' mixes the Expo Label with [[MostDefinitelyNotAVillain blatant untruths]] to give us the "[[http://www.gunnerkrigg.com/archive_page.php?comicID=7 NO Spare Robot Parts]]" sign.
** Don't forget "Secret Train To Large Animal Holding Cells (Very Hush Hush, You Know.)"
* In the ''Cinderella'' theater break of ''Webcomic/GirlGenius'', Agatha's [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20081210 miniature volcano]] has a labeled "innocent town" at its foot.

[[folder: Web Original ]]
* ''DrHorriblesSingAlongBlog'' gives us the death ray.
* [[http://cakewrecks.blogspot.com/2011/01/cheat-sheet-cakes.html Some of]] the cakes featured on CakeWrecks. Sometimes for good reason.

[[folder: Western Animation ]]

** "He actually wrote '-diddly!'"
* This often appeared in the 1973/74 season of ''SuperFriends''.

*** A door lifting device hidden (''inside'' a wall!) has the label "Automatic Door Opener".

* BugsBunny cartoons
** "Hare-Raising Hare". The MadScientist's castle says "Evil Scientist" in blinking neon lights, and the monster's cell has "Monster" on the door.
** "Hyde and Hare". In Dr. Jekyll's laboratory the Laboratory door says "Laboratory" and the Store Room door says "Store Room". Why he would need those signs when he works there is not explained.

[[folder: Real Life ]]
* [[http://thedailywtf.com/Articles/Which-Cable.aspx How not to mistake the red wire from the blue wire]]

*** A government building has a BigRedButton with the label "To call police". Robin pushes it so the police will come and pick up some captured villains.
*** A nuclear power plant in the BigBad's ship has the label "Nuclear Power Plant".

*** In Dr. Shamons's laboratory there's a control to alter the orientation of the giant U shaped magnet that's labeled "Shamon U".

** "The Shamon U". A room with a cable car in it is labeled Cable Car Room. The label is where everyone who can see the sign can also see the cable car.

** "The Weather Maker".