Toe in the Water

A Laundry Basket Post

A Laundry Basket Post

In our bathroom there is a plastic laundry basket. It is pretty much what you would expect from such a thing - tall, plastic and obviously meant to contain clothes. On its side there is a label and this announces it to be an "attractive contemporary design".

Now, I am not about to argue with the first assertion - obviously it has proved attractive enough to persuade its purchaser. And we can stretch a point with the contemporary claim since plastic laundry baskets have only been around for fifty years or so.

But what worries me in all this is the apparent need to announce these qualities to us. If the thing is so darned attractive, wouldn't we notice without the sly nudge from a label on the side? And what virtue is there in being contemporary anyway? We would be just as impressed by a claim to traditional or retro styling, I'm sure. It is rather like our instant suspicion of anyone who insists that we should "trust them".

I know, I know - I have to stop reading labels…


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