Unique, Odd, or Interesting Signs aka The good, the bad, and the ugly

[jakeroot]

It's Alabama. I'd assume that is the case.

I kind of figured, being that Alabama is one of the most violent states in the country, but I really didn't think that it was all that bad.. of course, I've never even been to Alabama, so I can't really say anything about it.

How is Alabama so violent? Shooting signs is just a rural country element ALL ACROSS THE USA!!! Ease up on that violent label. As you stated...you've never been there, so don't rush to judgement.

A few months ago, I made a short trip through Alabama. I found Mississippi worst of all the states I visited, but there was a very "hillbilly" feel to the whole area, more so than anywhere else in this country.

How was Mississippi the "worst"?  Seems to me some ranking like that would risk making oneself look rather judgmental.

It's my entirely subjective opinion, of which I am entitled to possess. Opinions in and of themselves are "judgmental"; whether or not they offend you, is up to you.

If you wanted to me to, perhaps, list;

- Miserable weather
- No big cities
- Lots of hillbillies
- bad drivers
- etc.

Now, keep in mind I just finished visiting Nashville when I visited Mississippi, which is a beautiful city (in my opinion), and that may have hindered my objective view of Mississippi overall.

[TrevorB]

As a Mississippi resident...I feel the need to quickly chime in before this thread is completely derailed.

First of all, Mississippi is not my favorite state. We lag behind others in many categories, but I don't see any need to rank us (or any state for that matter) the worst.

For instance, I could argue with all of your points:

- Miserable weather

Hot in the summer, not any warmer than any other nearby states. Average rainfall, tons of sunny days.

Not brutally cold winters but the occasional snowstorm, again not unlike any other state.

- No big cities

Jackson is larger than any city in Wyoming, North Dakota, South Dakota, West Virginia, Montana...I could go on, but you get the point.

- Lots of hillbillies

Meanwhile in Canada, everyone says "eh", drinks maple syrup, and loves hockey.

Obviously that's not true for Canada. They're stereotypes. Yes there are a lot of "country folks", same for Louisiana, Arkansas, Alabama, Georgia, etc. Nothing wrong with it.

- bad drivers

You could say that for almost every state in the country.


I don't know what part of Mississippi you came through, but you obviously didn't get the full picture. I'd invite you to make a stop in Jackson, Biloxi, or DeSoto County; have a nice glass of sweet tea, and get a true taste for Mississippi before you bash our state.

[Rothman]

As a Mississippi resident...I feel the need to quickly chime in before this thread is completely derailed.

First of all, Mississippi is not my favorite state. We lag behind others in many categories, but I don't see any need to rank us (or any state for that matter) the worst.

For instance, I could argue with all of your points:

- Miserable weather

Hot in the summer, not any warmer than any other nearby states. Average rainfall, tons of sunny days.

Not brutally cold winters but the occasional snowstorm, again not unlike any other state.

- No big cities

Jackson is larger than any city in Wyoming, North Dakota, South Dakota, West Virginia, Montana...I could go on, but you get the point.

- Lots of hillbillies

Meanwhile in Canada, everyone says "eh", drinks maple syrup, and loves hockey.

Obviously that's not true for Canada. They're stereotypes. Yes there are a lot of "country folks", same for Louisiana, Arkansas, Alabama, Georgia, etc. Nothing wrong with it.

- bad drivers

You could say that for almost every state in the country.


I don't know what part of Mississippi you came through, but you obviously didn't get the full picture. I'd invite you to make a stop in Jackson, Biloxi, or DeSoto County; have a nice glass of sweet tea, and get a true taste for Mississippi before you bash our state.

And thus we see, Jakeroot, that announcing that you've determined that a state is the "worst," leads others to believe that your opinion isn't worth a hill of beans.

[jeffandnicole]

As a Mississippi resident...I feel the need to quickly chime in before this thread is completely derailed.

First of all, Mississippi is not my favorite state. We lag behind others in many categories, but I don't see any need to rank us (or any state for that matter) the worst.

For instance, I could argue with all of your points:

- Miserable weather

Hot in the summer, not any warmer than any other nearby states. Average rainfall, tons of sunny days.

Not brutally cold winters but the occasional snowstorm, again not unlike any other state.

- No big cities

Jackson is larger than any city in Wyoming, North Dakota, South Dakota, West Virginia, Montana...I could go on, but you get the point.

- Lots of hillbillies

Meanwhile in Canada, everyone says "eh", drinks maple syrup, and loves hockey.

Obviously that's not true for Canada. They're stereotypes. Yes there are a lot of "country folks", same for Louisiana, Arkansas, Alabama, Georgia, etc. Nothing wrong with it.

- bad drivers

You could say that for almost every state in the country.


I don't know what part of Mississippi you came through, but you obviously didn't get the full picture. I'd invite you to make a stop in Jackson, Biloxi, or DeSoto County; have a nice glass of sweet tea, and get a true taste for Mississippi before you bash our state.

And thus we see, Jakeroot, that announcing that you've determined that a state is the "worst," leads others to believe that your opinion isn't worth a hill of beans.

I just wonder how someone can spend a few hours in a state; maybe a day at the most, and is thus qualified to say that the weather in the entire state is the worst of all 50 states.

[jakeroot]

I just wonder how someone can spend a few hours in a state; maybe a day at the most, and is thus qualified to say that the weather in the entire state is the worst of all 50 states.

Didn't say that. What I did say was that Mississippi has bad weather, which it does (even sunny days are pretty fucking miserable for someone from the great northwest -- of course, I'm speaking of the humidity. Plus, the tornadoes and thunderstorms, and occasional ice storm or hurricane remnants don't help its case). And yes, it's not the only state with these traits, but that doesn't mean it can't factor into my overall dislike of the state.

To go back to my original comment about Mississippi being the worst, (pardon the bold) it was the worst of the states I visited on my road trip just last March, not the worst of the states I've visited thus far in my life.

And thus we see, Jakeroot, that announcing that you've determined that a state is the "worst," leads others to believe that your opinion isn't worth a hill of beans.

That's kind of how opinions work. Some like them, some don't. What's your point? People don't have to like me if they don't want to.

As a Mississippi resident...I feel the need to quickly chime in before this thread is completely derailed.
...

I don't know what part of Mississippi you came through, but you obviously didn't get the full picture. I'd invite you to make a stop in Jackson, Biloxi, or DeSoto County; have a nice glass of sweet tea, and get a true taste for Mississippi before you bash our state.

Perhaps not, and I will pay another visit in good time. If you haven't already, please read a couple paragraphs up where I mention that Mississippi was my least favorite state in my recent driving trip, not contrasting all 50 states.

I feel my view of Mississippi was weighted down by my father's two years at Columbus AFB, when he was doing flight training. He did not like his time there, and consistently ranks it among his least favorite places to revisit. There was a certain precedent that MS wouldn't be a great place, so once I actually visited and didn't really love it, things went downhill from there.

Meanwhile in Canada, everyone says "eh", drinks maple syrup, and loves hockey...Obviously that's not true for Canada. They're stereotypes.

Still pretty damn funny, though.

https://youtu.be/bulMs80W6aQ

[vtk]

White-on-green "county road" sign (seems more like a private driveway) located in Cleburn County, Alabama:


Cleburn County 417 by formulanone, on Flickr

It probably is just a private driveway, with a county road designation assigned purely for the benefit of emergency services. Note the "E-911" on there.

[theline]

Straight from the DUH department:

Is that real?  Or is it photoshopped?

Yep clearly photoshopped. Notice the rust at the pole, and note how the sign looks brand spanking new it looks compared to the pole.

It's photoshopped, but not for that reason. New signs on rusty poles are relatively common.

Zoom in, and you can see the blurred edges of the sign. And there's no bolt heads protruding thru the sign, bolting the sign onto the pole.

The wavy horizontal shading difference in the center of the sign is another big tipoff.

That all being said, it is based on a real sign.  I have seen these many places around the country, and they always cause a WTF response from me.

While the sign conveys an understandable message it seems extremely obvious. These signs can be the subject of internet memes such as being in "You don't say?" memes.

I'll have to burst the bubbles of all those detectives that felt this was 'shopped. I know it's real because I shot this picture with my iPhone during our recent vacation in southern Indiana. As someone observed, it's a new sign on a very old post. That's what INDOT, in their wisdom, erected. The lack of obvious bolts is probably testament to the poor detail from an iPhone shot.

The sign is along the Ohio River Scenic Byway, AKA SR 66. I wish I could pin it down further, but I didn't take a note on the exact location. We stopped twice to take pictures, in Derby and Leavenworth, so it may have been in one of those towns.

[TrevorB]

Wait...you mean you're really trying to pass this off as a legitimate photograph? I honestly hope you're kidding...but if not:

First off...here's the sign. Clearly a computerized sign and not legitimate. https://www.pinterest.com/pin/14777505003779856/

Then, someone (presumably not you), photoshopped that sign onto the image of the pole and posted it here. https://www.pinterest.com/pin/573786808748413942/

So not only are you sharing around a fake photo, you're lying saying that you took the photo, when in reality, you just found it online.

[Rothman]

I'll have to burst the bubbles of all those detectives that felt this was 'shopped. I know it's real because I shot this picture with my iPhone during our recent vacation in southern Indiana. As someone observed, it's a new sign on a very old post. That's what INDOT, in their wisdom, erected. The lack of obvious bolts is probably testament to the poor detail from an iPhone shot.

The sign is along the Ohio River Scenic Byway, AKA SR 66. I wish I could pin it down further, but I didn't take a note on the exact location. We stopped twice to take pictures, in Derby and Leavenworth, so it may have been in one of those towns.

[vdeane]

Yeah, there's NO WAY that sign is real.  It looks like a piece of plastic.

[Zeffy]

The color schemes don't match... The overall colors of the photo versus the signs just don't match up, in addition to all the other things already listed. I physically cannot see how this is real.

[TravelingBethelite]

I'm with the consensus on this one. And even if this was real, it would have a degree of wear on it. Heck, not even a new sign looks that new.    /

[iBallasticwolf2]

I fully agree with the consensus that this is not real. It just looks too much like the sign looks on a computer before actually being manufactured and exposed to even the most basic elements like air. Also theline says that this is on IN 66 but the road looks like it is gravel. As far as I know IN 66 is fully paved.

[hotdogPi]

even the most basic elements like air

Air is a mixture, not an element.

[iBallasticwolf2]

even the most basic elements like air

Air is a mixture, not an element.

Well I didn't think of that. But my point about the picture was that it hadn't been exposed to real life. It looks like it is a computer model for the sign and not the real sign.

[JMoses24]

Probably patched over a distance to the exit that's no longer accurate then (and/or still subject to change).

P.S. We haven't mentioned that it's in Clearview yet?

From what I remember the distance to Mitchell Avenue from that sign assembly (Also the gore point of the southbound I-75 to eastbound OH 562 ramp) has always been the same. It could have to do with the recent construction at the interchange.

I never noticed it was in Clearview probably because the only fonts I can tell are between button copy and the rest of the fonts.

It is construction related. I-75 southbound splits into a temporary express/local lanes configuration through the Mitchell Avenue interchange.

[iBallasticwolf2]

Probably patched over a distance to the exit that's no longer accurate then (and/or still subject to change).

P.S. We haven't mentioned that it's in Clearview yet?

From what I remember the distance to Mitchell Avenue from that sign assembly (Also the gore point of the southbound I-75 to eastbound OH 562 ramp) has always been the same. It could have to do with the recent construction at the interchange.

I never noticed it was in Clearview probably because the only fonts I can tell are between button copy and the rest of the fonts.

It is construction related. I-75 southbound splits into a temporary express/local lanes configuration through the Mitchell Avenue interchange.

Actually last time I was on I-75 through there I-75 doesn't go into it's temporary express/local lane configuration until south of the Mitchell Avenue interchange.

[JMoses24]

Probably patched over a distance to the exit that's no longer accurate then (and/or still subject to change).

P.S. We haven't mentioned that it's in Clearview yet?

From what I remember the distance to Mitchell Avenue from that sign assembly (Also the gore point of the southbound I-75 to eastbound OH 562 ramp) has always been the same. It could have to do with the recent construction at the interchange.

I never noticed it was in Clearview probably because the only fonts I can tell are between button copy and the rest of the fonts.

It is construction related. I-75 southbound splits into a temporary express/local lanes configuration through the Mitchell Avenue interchange.

Actually last time I was on I-75 through there I-75 doesn't go into it's temporary express/local lane configuration until south of the Mitchell Avenue interchange.

I seem to remember it being through the interchange as well.

[iBallasticwolf2]

Probably patched over a distance to the exit that's no longer accurate then (and/or still subject to change).

P.S. We haven't mentioned that it's in Clearview yet?

From what I remember the distance to Mitchell Avenue from that sign assembly (Also the gore point of the southbound I-75 to eastbound OH 562 ramp) has always been the same. It could have to do with the recent construction at the interchange.

I never noticed it was in Clearview probably because the only fonts I can tell are between button copy and the rest of the fonts.

It is construction related. I-75 southbound splits into a temporary express/local lanes configuration through the Mitchell Avenue interchange.

Actually last time I was on I-75 through there I-75 doesn't go into it's temporary express/local lane configuration until south of the Mitchell Avenue interchange.

I seem to remember it being through the interchange as well.

Hmm, strange. Maybe my memory is screwing with me but I recall going through the interchange within the past 2 weeks and seeing it having a normal configuration until just south of the interchange.

[vtk]

Probably patched over a distance to the exit that's no longer accurate then (and/or still subject to change).

P.S. We haven't mentioned that it's in Clearview yet?

From what I remember the distance to Mitchell Avenue from that sign assembly (Also the gore point of the southbound I-75 to eastbound OH 562 ramp) has always been the same. It could have to do with the recent construction at the interchange.

I never noticed it was in Clearview probably because the only fonts I can tell are between button copy and the rest of the fonts.

It is construction related. I-75 southbound splits into a temporary express/local lanes configuration through the Mitchell Avenue interchange.

Actually last time I was on I-75 through there I-75 doesn't go into it's temporary express/local lane configuration until south of the Mitchell Avenue interchange.

I seem to remember it being through the interchange as well.

Hmm, strange. Maybe my memory is screwing with me but I recall going through the interchange within the past 2 weeks and seeing it having a normal configuration until just south of the interchange.

Every time I go through there (which is maybe a few times a year) it seems to be configured differently.

[Pete from Boston]

even the most basic elements like air

Air is a mixture, not an element.

It is indeed one of the traditional four elements of earth, air, fire, and water, and an element in a generic sense such as are the elements of style, or anything elementary.  And of course when folks speak of exposure to the elements, air, water, and sun make up most of the mix.

It is not a chemical element, but an element it remains.

[ekt8750]

Straight from the DUH department:

Is that real?  Or is it photoshopped?

Yep clearly photoshopped. Notice the rust at the pole, and note how the sign looks brand spanking new it looks compared to the pole.

It's photoshopped, but not for that reason. New signs on rusty poles are relatively common.

Zoom in, and you can see the blurred edges of the sign. And there's no bolt heads protruding thru the sign, bolting the sign onto the pole.

The wavy horizontal shading difference in the center of the sign is another big tipoff.

That all being said, it is based on a real sign.  I have seen these many places around the country, and they always cause a WTF response from me.

While the sign conveys an understandable message it seems extremely obvious. These signs can be the subject of internet memes such as being in "You don't say?" memes.

I'll have to burst the bubbles of all those detectives that felt this was 'shopped. I know it's real because I shot this picture with my iPhone during our recent vacation in southern Indiana. As someone observed, it's a new sign on a very old post. That's what INDOT, in their wisdom, erected. The lack of obvious bolts is probably testament to the poor detail from an iPhone shot.

The sign is along the Ohio River Scenic Byway, AKA SR 66. I wish I could pin it down further, but I didn't take a note on the exact location. We stopped twice to take pictures, in Derby and Leavenworth, so it may have been in one of those towns.

Stop it. I'm a graphic designer and can easily tell that sign is fake and a poor fake at that. You might want to clean up the edges of the sign before you go spreading lies. The edges of the sign are full of white artifacts from the background it was clipped from. The faux gloss effect to attempt to make it look like its reflecting light was terrible and the lighting doesn't match the rest of the pic. Sorry. Try again.

[bugo]

It's Alabama. I'd assume that is the case.

I kind of figured, being that Alabama is one of the most violent states in the country, but I really didn't think that it was all that bad.. of course, I've never even been to Alabama, so I can't really say anything about it.

I'm breaking my self-imposed exile from posting here, but that's the stupidest thing I've ever read. You've never been somewhere but you're an expert on it. Alabama is not one of the most violent states in the country. Places like Los Angeles, New York, New Jersey, Chicago, Miami, Atlanta, Houston, Albuquerque, and even Little Rock are more violent than Alabama. I don't know how you pulled that line of bullshit out of your ass, but every time you post something you embarrass yourself. No wonder you were so ashamed of your manifesto. Think before you post. Read your posts 20 times before you hit "post" if you have to. I'm not being a dick, I'm trying to help you restore the dignity that you lost when you had your meltdown a few weeks ago. Think before you post.

[noelbotevera]

Does anyone have a feeling that this thread's gone downhill? I have already.

[Pete from Boston]

dignity

This word has no place in this conversation.