“In case you weren’t sure how to use a staircase”

by Walter Olson on November 19, 2008

A sign at Edinburgh Airport will help you out. (Massie, Nov. 17).

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“To extinguish candle, blow out flame”.
11.24.08 at 11:19 am

{ 7 comments }

1 Todd Rogers 11.19.08 at 1:57 pm

This is life imitating art, The Far Side style.

2 Daille Nation 11.19.08 at 4:43 pm

Wonder why they didn’t put a picture of the rails on the notice.

Made certain assumptions didn’t they?

3 Frank 11.20.08 at 10:07 am

These signs are not that unusual and this ‘For Your Safety’ instruction is actually good advice which may prevent some injuries if heeded.

Two drunks are staggering along railroad tracks.
One complains “Boy, these steps are steep.”
The other replies “It’s not the steep steps, it’s the low handrails.”

4 Richard A Harrison 11.20.08 at 11:08 am

Still my favorite wacky warning ever: A label on a candle for sale in a local Target store said “To extinguish candle, blow out flame.”

Think about that. And what do you suppose the universe of people might be that would both (a) comprehend the word “extinguish” and simultaneously (b) not know how to put out a candle?

5 Basilio Alferow 11.24.08 at 4:24 pm

One would suppose that anyone literate enough to read sucha warning would know the way to extinguish a candle. Which brings to mind the sign seen in a NYC restaurant window: Braille menus available.

6 Walter Olson 11.24.08 at 4:29 pm

The NYC restaurant sign might make sense since sighted and blind people go out for meals together and since sighted people can recommend restaurants to blind people. I still think the all-time most disturbing use of Braille is on the keyboard of a drive-up ATM.

7 Carl Starrett 11.27.08 at 11:34 am

When riding the tram at Disneyland from the parking structure to the front gate, an taped recorded warns you to stay seated until the tram comes to a “full and complete” stop. Is a full stop somehow different than a complete stop?

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