# I am SO confused (conflicting signs) **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 19, 2016, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-so-confused-conflicting-signs/766316 "2016-09-19T00:08:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2016, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-so-confused-conflicting-signs/766316/1 "2016-09-19T00:08:13Z")
Saw [this](https://www.flickr.com/photos/11822576@N08/29151606433/in/dateposted-public/), and didn’t know what to do! ---
**Author:** ![harmonicamoon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/65b543/32.png) [@harmonicamoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/harmonicamoon)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2016, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-so-confused-conflicting-signs/766316/2 "2016-09-19T00:21:37Z")
Go ahead and buy the Pepsi. ---
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2016, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-so-confused-conflicting-signs/766316/3 "2016-09-19T00:25:58Z")
> [@harmonicamoon](#): > > Go ahead and buy the Pepsi. For 50 cents? Hell yeah. ---
**Author:** ![usedtobe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ec9cab/32.png) [@usedtobe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/usedtobe)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2016, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-so-confused-conflicting-signs/766316/4 "2016-09-19T00:27:27Z")
Cute - in old days, that trick was done by setting the aperture (f-stop) to widest open (lowest number) - this produces the “flat”, 2-dimensional effect. But, even with a flat photo, you can see the depth - a car lane in front and back, the Pepsi machine, whatever the red things is - all are there and can give you a sense of depth that the photog deliberately removed. ---
**Author:** ![Doug\_K](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5ac83/32.png) [@Doug\_K](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doug_K)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2016, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-so-confused-conflicting-signs/766316/5 "2016-09-19T02:56:33Z")
> [@usedtobe](#): > > Cute - in old days, that trick was done by setting the aperture (f-stop) to widest open (lowest number) - this produces the “flat”, 2-dimensional effect. > > But, even with a flat photo, you can see the depth - a car lane in front and back, the Pepsi machine, whatever the red things is - all are there and can give you a sense of depth that the photog deliberately removed. What trick? There’s no trick. It’s a picture of a door with “Do not enter” in red under “Enter” in blue. Walmarts have this on the inside of the entrance doors. It would make more sense if it said “Do not exit.” ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2016, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-so-confused-conflicting-signs/766316/6 "2016-09-19T03:03:16Z")
> [@Doug\_K](#): > > What trick? There’s no trick. It’s a picture of a door with “Do not enter” in red under “Enter” in blue. Walmarts have this on the inside of the entrance doors. It would make more sense if it said “Do not exit.” The Do Not Enter sign appears like it could be on something inside the door. And the Walmart signs are not both on the same side of the door, so there is still a trick if this if you are seeing the back of a different door. ---
**Author:** ![Doug\_K](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5ac83/32.png) [@Doug\_K](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doug_K)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2016, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-so-confused-conflicting-signs/766316/7 "2016-09-19T03:13:23Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > The Do Not Enter sign appears like it could be on something inside the door. > > And the Walmart signs are not both on the same side of the door, so there is still a trick if this if you are seeing the back of a different door. The Enter and Do Not Enter signs are on the same side of the same door. I know because I just posted a similar photo on Facebook. I have observed this at every Walmart I’ve ever been in and also found it amusing. If Enter were only on the outside of the door, you would just see the blue background, or maybe “retnE” from inside. ---
**Author:** ![Folly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folly/32/3219_2.png) [@Folly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folly)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2016, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-so-confused-conflicting-signs/766316/8 "2016-09-19T03:46:02Z")
Is your name Stanley? If not, you’re welcome to enter. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![pool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pool/32/4152_2.png) [@pool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pool)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2016, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-so-confused-conflicting-signs/766316/9 "2016-09-19T04:19:38Z")
I’m always in the mood for a refreshing DP. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2016, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-so-confused-conflicting-signs/766316/10 "2016-09-19T04:48:21Z")
> [@usedtobe](#): > > Cute - in old days, that trick was done by setting the aperture (f-stop) to widest open (lowest number) - this produces the “flat”, 2-dimensional effect. You have it exactly backwards. Narrowest aperture (highest number) produces the flat, everything-in-focus effect. Unless I’m completely not understanding what you mean by flat, 2-dimensional effect. ---
**Author:** ![Me\_Billy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e480ec/32.png) [@Me\_Billy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Me_Billy)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2016, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-so-confused-conflicting-signs/766316/11 "2016-09-19T14:56:00Z")
I would make a point of asking the manager of the store what to do. Also tell him that I was stuck at the door for 2 hours deciding what to do! I’ve asked them similar questions. Like if there is a sign saying “Shirts and shoes required”, I will ask if pants are required too. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![BubbaDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bubbadog/32/333_2.png) [@BubbaDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BubbaDog)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2016, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-so-confused-conflicting-signs/766316/12 "2016-09-19T17:18:25Z")
> [@Me\_Billy](#): > > I would make a point of asking the manager of the store what to do. Also tell him that I was stuck at the door for 2 hours deciding what to do! > > I’ve asked them similar questions. Like if there is a sign saying “Shirts and shoes required”, I will ask if pants are required too. 😃 You made the right choice. But how did you get free after 2 hours? Does being pants-less help that situation or do you reserve the no-pants rule for the “shirts and shoes” situation only? ---
**Author:** ![Mixolydian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/da6949/32.png) [@Mixolydian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mixolydian)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2016, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-so-confused-conflicting-signs/766316/13 "2016-09-19T18:46:53Z")
Just this past weekend I saw a sign on a road right next to an outlet mall that said “NO OUTLET” and I wondered if that would confuse folks. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2016, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-so-confused-conflicting-signs/766316/14 "2016-09-19T18:51:48Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > Saw [this](https://www.flickr.com/photos/11822576@N08/29151606433/in/dateposted-public/), and didn’t know what to do! Push… No, pull! ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2016, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-so-confused-conflicting-signs/766316/15 "2016-09-19T21:07:57Z")
Do Not Enter is just a suggestion anyway. I don’t let signs tell me what doors not to use.