OFF LIMITS, EXCEPT

I love those signs that try to tell you to stay out for one reason or another, but they don't apply to everyone. It is like, this place is too good for you.

Naturally, human nature being what it is, we all find the forbidden more tempting than that, which is allowed. So when they put up one of those signs to me is it like saying "Hello! We keep really valuable stuff inside and we are just warning you up front so you know we can hope you won't try to take it."

That only inspires the obvious reaction. It shouts, come and get it. Which generally is what happens.

What makes it worse, naturally, is if there is an exception to the off limit sign people tend to get really pissed off. Like feeling they are being discriminated against.

That is not the kind of reaction that inspires cooperation or understanding. It is more likely to shout I dare you to come and try to take my stuff away.

But I think the worse element is the except part. Yeah, I already mentioned it, but it is to me worth repeating. I just can't get passed this idea that boundaries helps to inspire insanity.

With the first insanity being the moron who puts up that sign. Now if you really want to keep people away, put up a sign that says "Campaign headquarters to re-elect." Doesn't even matter who you are talking about either.

Then all you do is put up a second sign about accept campaign donations. That would pretty much guarantee no one visited the place.

And if that didn't do it good enough, then you could say mention you were some committee involved with saving the planet. Or some other important concern that most people avoid with the plague.

You might have to thought do a combo thing. Like conservative environmentalists. Let's save the planet so we can build a parking lot kind of thing.

They key here is making sure you put some sign out that totally offends. That way no matter what happens nobody will bother you. Adding the word volunteers really makes a difference. That will normally truly kill any curiosity.

Which is the whole point. And believe me there have been so many times I've been blessed to plan some con and be saved from any risk of exposure by using an appropriately offensive sign to guard the entrance.

Ah, how sweet it is when you find a simple way to post an off limit sign where the except is enforced by a fear of having to get involved.