# Can someone explain this fence? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 20, 2000, 6:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-this-fence/33834 "2000-09-20T06:54:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![wevets](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e9a140/32.png) [@wevets](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wevets)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2000, 6:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-this-fence/33834/1 "2000-09-20T06:54:04Z")
Walking down a nearby street, I saw a house with a bizarre white fence in front. The fence consists of maybe 16 3 x 3 ft squares arranged in rows of about 8 and columns 2 high. The lower end of the lowest row is about 2 ft off the ground. Like a checkerboard, every other square has horizontal white slats in it with about 1 inch of clearance between them. The other squares are just a frame. This fence can’t be used to contain anything, so the only answer I can figure out is that it is somehow aesthetically pleasing… but I can’t imagine how. Why would anyone build such a thing? Has anyone seen a similarly useless and ugly fence? ---
**Author:** ![yosemite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/3ab097/32.png) [@yosemite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yosemite)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2000, 9:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-this-fence/33834/2 "2000-09-20T09:27:45Z")
Maybe it’s some sort of bad '50s retro thing. Sounds bizarre. ---
**Author:** ![tbea925](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dc4da7/32.png) [@tbea925](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tbea925)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2000, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-this-fence/33834/3 "2000-09-20T12:40:29Z")
Fences don’t always have to contain something. Sometimes, fences are erected to furninsh a bit of privacy, such as to block the teeming millions from viewing a swimming pool or patio where octagenarians are lounging buckneckid and an open view could cause traffic accidents. ---
**Author:** ![CnoteChris](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/278dde/32.png) [@CnoteChris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CnoteChris)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2000, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-this-fence/33834/4 "2000-09-20T12:52:36Z")
No offense **tbea925** , but pools do indeed need a containment fence. It’s pretty much code throughout the country (U.S.). This sounds to me to be more of a decoration than anything else. While I don’t see many in the Midwest, I have seen fences like this in the South. I think, or my WAG, is that it somehow breaks up the monotany of the landscape. ---
**Author:** ![Tabithina](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f04885/32.png) [@Tabithina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tabithina)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2000, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-this-fence/33834/5 "2000-09-20T13:42:12Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by CnoteChris \* > \*\* > > This sounds to me to be more of a decoration than anything else. While I don’t see many in the Midwest, I have seen fences like this in the South. I think, or my WAG, is that it somehow breaks up the monotany of the landscape. \*\* I agree. I have seen a few of these around the Ozarks, and their only possible use is to be decorative, or to mark off one’s property line. My husband and I have discussed these fences while on long car trips (we get bored!), and this is the best explanation we could come up with.😉 ---
**Author:** ![sdimbert](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sdimbert/32/20204_2.png) [@sdimbert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sdimbert)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2000, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-this-fence/33834/6 "2000-09-20T13:58:10Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Tabithina \* > **I have seen a few of these around the Ozarks…** _Another_ poster from the vicinity of KC? Whereabouts? ---
**Author:** ![Homer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/df788c/32.png) [@Homer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Homer)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2000, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-this-fence/33834/7 "2000-09-21T03:30:46Z")
::sigh:: Maybe if we get enough KC posters, I’ll finally be able to organize a KC Dopefest so all you peons can meet your king… er… me. –Tim