# Do We Really Need A Sign? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 17, 2014, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-we-really-need-a-sign/683937 "2014-03-17T19:06:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2014, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-we-really-need-a-sign/683937/41 "2014-03-19T12:43:20Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > This isn’t so weird to me. I didn’t even realize until fairly recently that state law was to stop for pedestrians in any crosswalk in any time. Like, seriously, I remember being fascinated as a kid when I spent a couple days in Aspen, Colorado, and the moment I even stepped a toe into the crosswalk, all traffic would stop. That certainly does not happen here. I honestly thought as a pedestrian you were only supposed to cross when it was clear, a car is stopped at a stop sign, or at the light. The only place I’ve seen in Chicago where the rule is actually followed is at those crosswalks that have the signs up. I mean, I quite literally have never seen traffic stop for me on the major thoroughfare by my house because I was in the crosswalk. Ever. It would be madness. I have to walk over to the light during busy times of day to cross safely. I believe we just changed recently, from a law that you had to \*yield \*to pedestrians in the cross walk, which was never followed or enforced, to this newer law that you must STOP, not just yield. This seems to have had very little effect except to ensure that nobody really knows who’s going to do what, so those of us trying to follow the law are pissing off pedestrians (who were waiting for a natural break in traffic to Frogger it across the street like they’ve always done) and pissing off the cars behind us who can’t see what the fuck we’re stopping for in the middle of the goddamn street. I love laws that promote road rage. Especially in a city full of guns. ---
**Author:** ![even\_sven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dfb087/32.png) [@even\_sven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/even_sven)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2014, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-we-really-need-a-sign/683937/42 "2014-03-19T12:55:03Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > “Please Bathe Inside Tub” > > Dad brought home one from a Chinese hotel years ago. Makes sense. Chinese bathrooms often have an open shower area that is not distinct from the sink and toilet area (and may be right above it), with a single drain the the floor. Most showers have a squeegee and slippers to help mitigate the fact that your entire bathroom gets wet in a shower. Tubs are relatively rare. Some people might not connect them with “bathing area”. ---
**Author:** ![Taomist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/53a042/32.png) [@Taomist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taomist)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2014, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-we-really-need-a-sign/683937/43 "2014-03-19T14:27:15Z")
There was a sign on the trash can at a clinic I visited a couple of years ago thst stated, in spanish, Do Not Throw The Baby Into The Trash. Well, I didnt see ahywhere else to put the rugrat ---
**Author:** ![Canadjun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/76d3ee/32.png) [@Canadjun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Canadjun)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2014, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-we-really-need-a-sign/683937/44 "2014-03-19T14:34:47Z")
> [@usedtobe](#): > > How about all the “Stay Right” or “Do Not Pass” signs at the tops of hills or blind curves? Isn’t this kinda obvious? The yellow stripe is something of a giveaway, isn’t it? > > How dumb do you need to be to think “hum, don’t know if anything’s coming, and can’t see more than 50 yards - I know! I’ll switch into the on-coming traffic lane!”. > > Ditch the signs and let Darwin take out the morons. Unfortunately, while Darwin takes out the morons he also takes out the safe drivers coming the other direction. ---
**Author:** ![bahimes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e36b37/32.png) [@bahimes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bahimes)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2014, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-we-really-need-a-sign/683937/45 "2014-03-19T15:11:47Z")
Rural Spain. Triangular warning sign with silhouette of a cow. Beneath that a rectangular sign attached saying “TRACTORES”. I guess that is so the Madrilenos know what the picture represents? ---
**Author:** ![MacCat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maccat/32/216_2.png) [@MacCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacCat)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2014, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-we-really-need-a-sign/683937/46 "2014-03-19T15:23:32Z")
> [@Canadjun](#): > > Unfortunately, while Darwin takes out the morons he also takes out the safe drivers coming the other direction. Mere collateral damage, evidently. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2014, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-we-really-need-a-sign/683937/47 "2014-03-19T16:05:43Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > I saw a picture recently of a hand lettered sign that read: **If you’ve been looking for a sign . . .well, this is it**. [Found it!](http://i681.photobucket.com/albums/vv174/kayaker01/waitingforsign_zps6506ff29.jpg) [Then there is this sign. Taken in a Caribbean restroom.](http://i681.photobucket.com/albums/vv174/kayaker01/IMG_22905519490954_zpsaw5wihgx.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2014, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-we-really-need-a-sign/683937/48 "2014-03-19T19:55:29Z")
Stores that sell beer or cigarettes often have signs saying, “We ID anyone under 30.” Which makes one wonder, how do you KNOW they’re under 30 until you ask for ID? Couldn’t you say either “We require ID for tobacco or alcohol purchases”? or “People who look young may be asked for legal ID”? ---
**Author:** ![eastonb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9fc29f/32.png) [@eastonb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eastonb)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2014, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-we-really-need-a-sign/683937/49 "2014-03-20T14:16:46Z")
> [@Inna\_Minnit](#): > > Apparently, and I don’t want to start any rumors here… \*Apparently, \* it’s against the law to [kill a taxi driver in Louisiana.](http://consumerist.com/2014/03/17/louisiana-where-killing-a-cab-driver-may-be-considered-murder/#more-10156699) But it may not be. > > . seriously??? ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2014, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-we-really-need-a-sign/683937/50 "2014-03-21T18:33:40Z")
> [@usedtobe](#): > > How about all the “Stay Right” or “Do Not Pass” signs at the tops of hills or blind curves? Isn’t this kinda obvious? The yellow stripe is something of a giveaway, isn’t it? > > How dumb do you need to be to think “hum, don’t know if anything’s coming, and can’t see more than 50 yards - I know! I’ll switch into the on-coming traffic lane!”. As a cyclist I see this all the time. Evidently there are plenty of idiots who would rather take this chance than wait 10 seconds behind a cyclist. ---
**Author:** ![picunurse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@picunurse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picunurse)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2014, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-we-really-need-a-sign/683937/51 "2014-03-21T19:18:36Z")
In the parking lot of a university hospital where I worked a few years ago, there was a sign “Street Level Enforced 24 Hours.” I have a picture, but it’s paper, not digital. ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2014, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-we-really-need-a-sign/683937/52 "2014-03-21T20:31:36Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > “Please Bathe Inside Tub” > > Dad brought home one from a Chinese hotel years ago. In some cultures (Japanese, for instance), you wash outside the tub… the floor of the bathroom basically being designed specifically for that… using clean hot water from the tub (with a pitcher or scoop) and then soak in the tub full of hot clean water AFTER you’re clean. Someone from that background might legitimately not notice a hotel bathroom wasn’t set up for that until it was too late, like one bucket-full of water on the no-drain not-water-impermeable bathroom floor later. ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2014, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-we-really-need-a-sign/683937/53 "2014-03-21T20:37:01Z")
> [@Canadjun](#): > > Sand, gravel, rough concrete, many fabrics… Bread. Apples. Very small rocks. Cider. Gravy. Cherries. Mud. Churches. Lead! Lead! A Duck. Wait, sorry wrong question. That’s “floats when wet”. ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2014, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-we-really-need-a-sign/683937/54 "2014-03-21T20:41:14Z")
> [@delphica](#): > > Ha, I have thought the same thing about those signs. > > Another sign situation that strikes me as funny is related to highway work sites. Some states use those “Slow down - give’em a brake” signs to remind people about the safety of the workers. Obviously, I am all for constructions workers being safe, and I get that the “clever” part is the play on brake/break. > > But I was driving through one state (maybe West Virginia?) where the signs said “give’em a CHANCE.” To me, this sounds like instead of just hitting the workers, you should be SPORTING about it and let them have a ten second head start before you try running them down. After all, you are in a car, so there should be some handicapping involved. > > It also makes me think that someone in the Dept of Transportation went to a conference and saw the “give’em a brake” signs, and then came back and said something like “oh, I saw these new safety signs, they’re cute, they say ‘give’em a …’ hmmm now I can’t remember, maybe ‘a chance’? Anyway, let’s make some signs like that too.” I’m picturing some humorless senior state road department bureaucrat starting his meeting to review new road signs with the comment “You misspelled ‘break’” and the thing just spiralling downhill from there. But maybe I’ve worked with too many humorless bureaucrats. ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2014, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-we-really-need-a-sign/683937/55 "2014-03-21T20:44:41Z")
> [@Canadjun](#): > > Unfortunately, while Darwin takes out the morons he also takes out the safe drivers coming the other direction. Tru dat. If it were morons in both directions, there’s a distinct chance they’d try driving in the wrong lane at the same time, to the regrettable survival of both. That just proves that stupidity isn’t really reliable as a disqualifier to reproductive success and genetic propagation. More’s the shame. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-we-really-need-a-sign/683937.md?page=2)