As a student of Linguistics, I am very interested in semiotics and, in particular, the affective impact of public signs.
Last week I got to realize a lifelong dream by taking a holiday in Japan. I loved the public signs there and the politeness of some of the signs in the Tokyo subways and trains.
I think people are more inclined to co-operate if a sign is polite than if it shouts, “Do not do this! Do not do that!”.
What do you think?
For more entries to the Signs Photo Challenge, see The Daily Post.
I would agree, had I any experience of such politeness, bb !!! 😐
P.S. WHEN IS YOUR BIRTHDAY PLEASE ?!
Hi M-R – my birthday was on Monday 🙂
Bugger me.
Wish you’d visited me before then then.
(Whatever …)
[grin]
Why is that? 🙂
http://wp.me/p3ZISx-3tX
When I open this post, I cannot see the rest of the text – weird. I hooe you had a wonderful trip to Toyoko. It is also one of those places that I would love to visit one day. I have always been fascinated by Japaness culture. L
It was a wonderful trip, thanks, Jacqui. It is well worth a visit.
happy birthday bb It is always more effective to use honey than vinegar as they used to say – I love that sign (and your new header is terrific – full of umbrellac energy 😉 )
Thanks, Gabe. “Umbrella energy” – I like that. 🙂
I agree with you. The more “polite” a sign seems, not in capital letters, the more I don’t mind obliging to it’s message. Ah, semiotics. That takes me back to my uni days when I learnt about them in cultural studies, like what signified and signifier meant. A sign can have so many meanings.
I read the previous comments. Happy Birthday, BB 🙂
Ah, yes, good old Saussure. 😉 Thanks, Mabel.
Happy Birthday! Glad you enjoyed your trip to Japan. “Please” goes a long way to encourage compliance.
And “please” with a smiley face, even better. Thanks, Nancy – it was a very happy one.
Happy Birthday! Glad you had an opportunity to fulfill your dream to travel to Japan…politeness does seem to have some benefit with kind people…ah but those who are rude seem not to respond in a similar manner.
Thanks, Charles. It is a fascinating country.
I’ve found that being polite in response to someone who’s being rude does sometime take the wind out of their sails, so to speak.
Happy Birthday, BB! On our American highways, we tell people to reduce their speed by saying, “Reduced Speed Ahead”. This annoys me, since I prefer the direct approach, as in “Reduce Speed (you knucklehead)”. I have always assumed these signs were directed at men, who (women know) do not like to be told what to do. I guess I would flop as a Japanese person.
Haha, love the expression knucklehead – it was a favourite of my dad’s. Thanks, Monica.
Happy Belated Birthday!!
Visiting Japan must have been an amazing experience. I’m sure you will have many more treasures to share with us 🙂
It was fascinating, Joanne. I would love to go back and take it at a slower pace. Thanks. 🙂
Indeed a peaceful display… how positive and friendly… cool!
It’s refreshing, Laz. 🙂
Happy Belated Birthday, BB!
I like this post…politeness is SO missing in America…
Thanks, Sue. It’s gone AWOL to a large degree in Australia, too.