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Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Universal Misunderstanding
Posted by Steve




Sometimes the universal sign system is not so universally understandable. This "ban" sign (above) could mean No Loitering, but it could also mean No Prostitution Here (like the sign below). It could, however, also mean No Leaning Against the Building or No Waiting for a Bus. It could even mean No Standing on One Leg. But whatever it means, its ambiguity proves that sign symbols do not always mean what they seem to mean. The sign below was proposed by German authorities to stop 2006 World Cup tourists from picking up girls off the street. Prostitution is legal in Germany but only in certain areas, and the street signs are planned to stop football fans from pestering women.


Illustration | Signage
8/26/2008 1:12:40 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)    Comments [4]
8/26/2008 1:36:47 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)
Hmm...not sure I ever saw that sign once while living there that summer. If I had, I definitely would have taken a picture!
8/26/2008 11:57:40 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)
Steve, check out this gallery of ambiguous signage (mostly from Taiwan): http://www.flickr.com/photos/yusheng/sets/72157594400101543/
8/27/2008 2:37:24 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)
Another odd use of this slash formula is in signs for leaving a town in Germany. "Leaving Dummdorf" is represented in road signs by the name under a slash.
9/4/2008 12:41:17 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)
Freakin' hilarious. I especially love the thigh-high boots.
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