# Earliest non-regulatory use of the "No" (Prohibited) Circle **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 7, 2012, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/earliest-non-regulatory-use-of-the-no-prohibited-circle/612118 "2012-02-07T20:58:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 1\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![SirRay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@SirRay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SirRay)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2012, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/earliest-non-regulatory-use-of-the-no-prohibited-circle/612118/1 "2012-02-07T20:58:30Z")
First, the red circle w/ diagonal bar I’m referring to: “[No Symbol](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No_symbol)”. I think this symbol was developed for international traffic signage during the 1960s, but Wiki gives no real history in the entry. Anyway, advertising and art have, while not co-opting the symbol completely, certainly embraced it - and there are plenty of such non regulatory uses in icons, ads, avatars, visual signatures and so on. The question is: when did the first ad-man/graphic artist (or both) apply the No symbol to regulatory activities (such that it made a mark on human culture - a high-school kid doodling in his notebook in 1974 and nothing coming of it obviously wouldn’t count, while say a small chain of hot-dog places that had a “No Burgers” symbol in 1976 might count). The earliest I can think of is the GhostBusters logo from 1984 which the Wiki entry mentions: > [@](#): > > many companies use the “prohibition sign” when describing the services they offer, e.g. an insect deterrent spray brand symbol showing the “prohibition sign” over a mosquito. The Ghostbusters logo is a fictional example of this. This may fall into 2 “firsts”: Pure “art graphics” as you may find in signatures, T-shirst, Avatars and so on (e.g. No Trolls, No BullS\*\*\*, No “FAT” whatevers) Actual warnings without legal force, but helpful for everyday life - No Bleach, Do Not Disturb, Do Not Stack etc.