Sign locations–disclose or no?

[huskeroadgeek]

Since I'm not the type that really looks for old, outdated or unique signs to get pictures of them, I haven't really thought about this issue that much. But it seems to me that some people take this a little too seriously-as if the location of such signs need to be some kind of closely guarded secret lest some DOT finds out about it and ruins everybody's fun. I like seeing old, outdated and unique signs out in the field as much as anybody, but to me as long as its existence has been documented in a photo, it's not the worst thing if a DOT replaces it at some point. I like looking at old sign photos with long replaced signs, and to me just because those signs don't exist anymore doesn't mean they aren't interesting. Besides, do DOT's really scan forums like this looking for such signs just so they can replace them? If you're that concerned about something like that, then you don't have to reveal such locations publically, but I don't see anything wrong with helping out fellow roadgeeks by letting them know privately of the signs' locations.

[agentsteel53]

this whole thread makes me grateful that no-one on this forum has (yet) sought to publicize information which I personally would be uncomfortable seeing aired in public.

oh all right, I'll do it.  JN Winkler is partial towards goats as his sexual outlet.

there, I said it.

[corco]

I think the best solution here is for us to commission Jake to build a bunch (1000 or so) old replica signs, post them in random locations around the country, divide them into control groups, and see if there is any kind of correlation between public discussion and disappearance.

Short of that, I have yet to see anything not super-circumstantial that links the online roadgeek community with the disappearance of signs

[ctsignguy]

I think the best solution here is for us to commission Jake to build a bunch (1000 or so) old replica signs, post them in random locations around the country, divide them into control groups, and see if there is any kind of correlation between public discussion and disappearance.

Short of that, I have yet to see anything not super-circumstantial that links the online roadgeek community with the disappearance of signs

Jake did that already.....and i can vouch that one of his replicas was still still hanging around as of last summer, just down the road from a Signs and Lines depot...and i think he put it up like 4-5 years ago


....still doing fine....

[agentsteel53]

the only reason that Conn US 5 hasn't been stolen is because it is hideously non-standard.  back then I wasn't as familiar with sign standards as I am now ...

[J N Winkler]

oh all right, I'll do it.  JN Winkler is partial towards goats as his sexual outlet.

You mean like this?

[agentsteel53]

You mean like this?

you're a half-man half-goat being?

[mightyace]

Well, I am certainly on the side of disclosure.

Otherwise, we are not doing something good or at least pleasing for the fear that something bad might happen.

Anyway, with tools like Google Streetview, finding a location is getting easier all the time.

So, I have no problem disclosing the location of any of my photos of public property.  (i.e. roads and signs)

I will, however, respect others wishes.  i.e. If Jake posts a picture and I happen to know where it is, I won't post it's location.

[hbelkins]

Frankly, this whole thread makes me grateful that no-one on this forum has (yet) sought to publicize information which I personally would be uncomfortable seeing aired in public.  If (God forbid) such a thing ever happened, my approach would be to write privately to the person publicizing it, explain what I think are the likely negative repercussions of the disclosure, and ask if that person would consider editing his or her post to remove the information.

What types of information would you put into that category?

[US71]

FWIW (as the risk of going off-topic), I have the same problem on Bridgehunter: there are 2-3 people who refuse to post coordinates in an attempt to "save" the bridge from being found and replaced. If you even attempt to ask where the bridge is, the response is "go find it yourself".

[J N Winkler]

What types of information would you put into that category?

At this point I think it would be risky even to supply an example.

[Scott5114]

FWIW (as the risk of going off-topic), I have the same problem on Bridgehunter: there are 2-3 people who refuse to post coordinates in an attempt to "save" the bridge from being found and replaced. If you even attempt to ask where the bridge is, the response is "go find it yourself".

That's silly. Bridges can hardly be replaced on a whim.

[KillerTux]

YES to disclose.  Road/Sign fans then can take photos of it in the wild and then acquire the sign by all means necessary. Last year when I walked into the MD state sign shop, they had little interest in the older sign pallet then had. When I was going through the collection, I mentioned that there was a few examples of older shields out in the wild. He asked me, "Why don't you have a ladder?"
Old signs are just scrap metal to governments agencies and contractors
Next time you walk by a signal replacement or sign crew, just ask if you could have what they are about to throw away. Don't put any value to the item and just say it would look great in your garage. You would be amazed.
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[hbelkins]

FWIW (as the risk of going off-topic), I have the same problem on Bridgehunter: there are 2-3 people who refuse to post coordinates in an attempt to "save" the bridge from being found and replaced. If you even attempt to ask where the bridge is, the response is "go find it yourself".

As if DOTs aren't keenly aware of the locations and conditions of bridges. That's even sillier than the paranoia about signs.

[Michael in Philly]

Um, is there an official forum policy about whether I can mention the non-neutered I-81 marker I saw (actually on 81) in New York yesterday?  Or rather, say where it is?  I can't find it on Streetview (the camera car seems to have exited right there), so the if-it's-on-Streetview-it's-not-secret argument wouldn't apply here....  The anyone-really-interested-can-check-my-posts-to-narrow-down-where-I-was-and-become-one-of-the-thousands-of-people-including-DOT-employees-who-pass-it-every-day argument still would.  (Which would also indicate my bias.)