Do Not Rock The Boat

I saw this sign at Legoland today as Big Small and I were setting off on our ride around Fairy Tale Brook. I often notice words on signs and packaging and when I started reading "Choice Architecture in the Wild" I discovered I was not the only person who shared this interest. I love this sign, not only is it a safety requirement, it could also be interpreted as a philosophy for living.

In addition I like the way this sign says "Do Not" rather than the "Don't" that would match the song title.

Words are everywhere of course and Middle Small loves wild reading with some refreshing consequences today.

There are certain signs I can recall from years ago, for example the swimming pool classic "Welcome to our Ool, notice there is no "P" in it, please help us to keep it that way." Another I have noticed is at Fishers Farm "Slow Free Range Children." All it needs it is little bit of outside the box thinking to ensure people take note.

The psychology behind what makes effective signage is interesting and it is with some irony that I look back on the photos of my crashed car earlier this year where the word SLOW is painted on the road underneath the chaos and damage. Of course much signage is unnecessary and this, I think, is the major contributor to why those that are needed do not really work as effectively as they might. Like the narrow bridges that are only wide enough for one car but have the same warning sign as those that could fit two. I joked with The Daddy One today that they need a sign saying "No. seriously, I know we have messed you about before but this time we really mean it."

Did I rock the boat at legoland today? Of course not, I'm much too busy rocking much bigger boats than those little boats in Fairy Tale Brook.