Signs – any better than symbols ?

More views of - or before - Cambridge Film Festival 2012
(Click here to go directly to the Festival web-site)

31 July

The sign No unauthorized parking (plus threats sometimes) is familiar enough, but is it so common that the weirdness has rubbed off ?

Those who commission the sign seem to have turned their back on the more simple assertion No parking - is this because some bright spark is aware that the land in question will have cars parked on it, and wishes to disabuse those who might otherwise follow suit that they may not park, although others clearly can, because they are not authorized to do so ?

All well and good, but, if considered, the statement is dangerously close to circular : no one may park here except the people who may ? I recall blogging a while back about the no-smoking ban that applies everywhere, but not where it does not apply, at airports…

No unauthorized parking is terseness embodied, if that is good in a sign, but would this be better ? :


Parking for permit-holders only



To be continued (if I remember…)


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Negativizing the non-existent

More views of - or before - Cambridge Film Festival 2012
(Click here to go directly to the Festival web-site)

1 November

Am I the only one who cannot entertain the redundancy, circularity or tautology of such notices ? : Only approved credit cards accepted.
— THE AGENT APSLEY (@THEAGENTAPSLEY) November 1, 2012

In the same way, at Luton Airport they say Smoking is strictly prohibited anywhere within the airport premises, except in designated smoking areas - so, smoking is not allowed, but, where it is allowed, it is allowed


Fathom my mind, if you like, as to why this irritates me, but it's just that they like using a lot of words to complicate a simple message :

You may only smoke in the smoking areas. You are not allowed to smoke anywhere else.

or

Smoking areas are provided in the airport. You may not smoke outside them.


I have since seen : Authorized parking only

For some reason, those who commission and erect these signs do not dare say No parking. Is that because cars parked in the grounds would appear to belie the assertion, or this mysterious search for the accuracy of assertions.

But, if they wanted that accuracy, why not favour? :

You may only park here with authorization


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