[alan_cx]

Dunno about the US, but here in the UK, if someone were to die in a car equipped with a button labeled "insane", for our tabloid press, that button would be the main focus and the car manufacturer would be hauled over the coals based on that alone. It would be sold to readers that having such a button encouraged insanity on the roads, and the manufacturer would be claimed to be irresponsible for having such a button. Oh, that would be true, even if the manufacturer could prove that the button was never used.

[simoncion]

> ...[F]or our tabloid press, that button would be the main focus and the car manufacturer would be hauled over the coals based on that alone.

When did tabloids change from the place where you went to get the latest scoop on The Amazing Bat Boy to publications that folks actually paid attention to?

Similarly, should manufacturers design their products to be inoffensive to every bloviating, prevaricating alarmist with a blog? I don't think so. That's an unreasonable tax on both innovation and sound design. :)

[abritinthebay]

> the latest scoop on The Amazing Bat Boy

Hmmm aside from the Sunday Sport the UK hasn't really ever had that sort of relationship with tabloids. Celebrity news though? Yeah.