The 'Carol’s Safety Goggles' meme originates from a real-life laboratory safety poster intended to warn students and employees about eye protection. The poster features a stark illustration of Carol, who neglected to wear goggles and subsequently lost her sight, leading to the darkly humorous caption, 'Now she doesn't need them.' It gained massive internet popularity as an ironic template for situations where a person’s failure to follow instructions leads to a state where those instructions are no longer relevant. Today, it is used across social media to poke fun at corporate negligence, gaming mistakes, and general lack of foresight through the lens of unintended consequences.