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Where Knowledge Junkies Get Their Fix
We’ve been wrestling over the punchline for one of our 4 new t-shirts, and wanted to know what you thought. So, here’s the shirt design as is.
And here’s the question: Should we redraw the shirt to say “Lady Macbeth Hand Sanitizer: It gets out the spots!” or is the caption/picture funnier as is. The staff is split on it, so we’re looking to our readers for a gut check. Respond when you get a sec! Oh, and thanks in advance.
Comments (30)
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Definitely “Lady Macbeth Hand Sanitizer: It gets out the spots!”.
posted by elizabeth-anne on 10-31-2006 at 11:26 am
Hand sanitizer is my vote
posted by Joe on 10-31-2006 at 11:29 am
I really don’t think of hand sanitizer as something that cleans spot-type things off of my hands. I think of it as something that mainly kills germs. When I think of something that gets spots out, I think about a laundry stain-stick or shout spray or those travel wipes or that crazy spot pen-thing that Kelly Ripa is in the ads for. The carpet cleaner is a good idea, too. But I would put it in a spray bottle (a windex bottle-type shape). I really like the overall idea, though.
posted by Susan on 10-31-2006 at 11:31 am
Either way works, but to different degrees.
“Carpet Cleaner” is a quicker read.
“Hand Sanitizer” initially makes me think that it has something to do with a skin condition. Then “Lady MacBeth makes me realize that it is something different.
So, it all depends on how obvious you want it to be. That said, I cast my vote for Hand Sanitizer.
posted by Anthony on 10-31-2006 at 11:35 am
“Carpet Cleaner” is most certainly a quicker read, and in my opinion funnier because of it.
The “hand sanitizer” requires more thought, and lets face it t-shirts are ment to impact the reader right away. I mean I prefer to see people chuckle as they approach me, not here them after they have passed by.
Therefore, I vote for “Carpet Cleaner”
posted by James on 10-31-2006 at 11:43 am
I don’t like hand sanatizer at all. I would go with something like laundry detergent.
posted by Bob on 10-31-2006 at 11:44 am
Personally, I think hand sanitizer is too wordy and busy…
Why don’t you just go with Lady MacBeth Hand Wash?
posted by Jay on 10-31-2006 at 11:53 am
I like it as is…
posted by Jason! on 10-31-2006 at 11:53 am
Why not blend these two and make it
LADY MACBETH HAND CLEANER – it gets the spots out!
Or Lady Macbeth Eye drops – they get the RED out
posted by Jane Martin on 10-31-2006 at 11:57 am
Given that this is already a nice High Brow Joke(tm), over explaining the punchline by adding the “it gets the spots out” sort of kills it for me.
Personally, I’d go with “Lady MacBeth Hand Soap, for those persistent stains.”
posted by Ed on 10-31-2006 at 12:05 pm
Hands down, its Hand Sanitizer. If you think otherwise, than you haven’t read Macbeth and you aren’t getting the joke. I hate to be pedantic, but then, if I wasn’t, would I be so addicted to Mental_Floss? (seriously, I get the shakes between issues.)Thanks for making me smile everyday!
posted by allison on 10-31-2006 at 12:19 pm
Leave it as is Lady Macbeth Carpet Cleaner is sooo funny!
posted by abbey on 10-31-2006 at 12:38 pm
Why not just use “Lady Macbeth Cleanser”?
posted by Cathy on 10-31-2006 at 1:09 pm
I really like Ed’s idea….it’s truer to the text. But, if I have to choose between carpet cleaner and hand sanitizer I would go with the hand sanitizer.
posted by Worrals on 10-31-2006 at 1:15 pm
Sanitizer, most definitely. Extra points if you can include the deep-fryer from (the film) Scotland, PA.
posted by Michael on 10-31-2006 at 1:32 pm
Anyone who’s read MacBeth would agree that it should be some variation of “hand sanitizer” or “hand soap.” Carpet cleaner? Where the hell did that come from?? The shirt’s already an inside joke, why add the randomness?
posted by The omnipotent E on 10-31-2006 at 1:32 pm
I’m with Ed as well. Hand Sanitizer is for germs, not stains. Everyone knows what soap is, and the tag line change really makes sense.
His idea made me laugh, the others didn’t.
posted by Carolyn on 10-31-2006 at 1:51 pm
Absolutely has to be Hand Sanitizer!
posted by MC! on 10-31-2006 at 1:54 pm
Two things:
1. Isn’t there a kind of cleanser/cleaner known as “spot removers”?
2. While I laughed when I initially saw it, as I pondered it I realized that this would be a lousy product as Lady MacBeth *couldn’t* get the spots to wash out. Should that tie in some how? Maybe this is a new and improved version?
posted by Dan H. on 10-31-2006 at 2:09 pm
Definitely use the word “Hand”. I like the hand soap or cleanser idea.
Carpet cleaner? Sorry, that’s just wrong.
posted by KJ on 10-31-2006 at 2:09 pm
It’s amazing as pictured!
posted by emily on 10-31-2006 at 4:36 pm
I’d go with the ‘Carpet Cleaner’, or anything general like cleanser. Saying ‘hand’ makes its a little too… obvious, dont ya think? We all know the story.
posted by sammajo on 10-31-2006 at 5:08 pm
Yeah, “hand sanitizer” or even just “hand cleaner” or “hand soap” makes more sense.
posted by Jane on 10-31-2006 at 5:10 pm
Tying a few of the previous thoughts together, how about
Lady Macbeth prewash–for those persistent stains?
or, an illustration of a dalmation named Lady Macbeth?
or, a brand of dog repellent or doggie door?
or, Lady Macbeth analgesic, for when you’re feeling bloody awful?
posted by Tom on 10-31-2006 at 5:15 pm
I still LOVE Ed’s idea…..but I have to admit that Tom’s Lady Macbeth pre-wash made me laugh out loud!
We’ve made it worse……haven’t we?
posted by Worrals on 10-31-2006 at 6:16 pm
Hi folks,
I still like hand soap best!
posted by Ceil Cleveland on 10-31-2006 at 8:32 pm
I agree that you should drop carpet cleaner…it doesn’t make sense with the play. And I like “for those persistent stains”
posted by Rebecca on 10-31-2006 at 10:31 pm
My vote is for the carpet cleaner. I know Lady Macbeth was washing her hands when she said the famous line, but it makes the spot part make mroe sense.
heehee. Good one, by the way :)
posted by Heather on 11-1-2006 at 4:40 am
I’m with those who say keep the “hand” in there — be it sanitizer, soap, wash, cleaner, cleanser, whatever. What about “hand cream”? I know that cream doesn’t get spots out, but I think the gag would still work.
posted by Karen on 11-1-2006 at 2:12 pm
I am kind of leaning towards the plain “hand soap” idea, or the carpet cleaner, either would work.
posted by abby on 11-1-2006 at 5:13 pm