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I would guess the way they treat the boxes is likely subconscious, rather than based on an actual considered belief on whether they contain a TV or not.

This is why this hack tells a lot about our society. We value television so highly that we take care of it as soon as we subconsciously think it’s a television.

Television is such a symbol that we start to abuse that symbol.

Pretty sad when you think about it.

They're just a common large item known for being expensive and fragile and they have a distinctive box shape. Not sure it goes any deeper than that.

> We value television so highly

I don't think we do - television viewing has dropped off a cliff over the last decade or so. Many people don't own one any more.

Modern shipping warehouses are so frenetic and fast-paced, there is literally zero time for conscious minds to register what is shown on any box.

It's almost certainly well known now. I don't know if they have time to look at the sender on every box though.