If you're looking for (another) sign that the world has lost its marbles, consider yourself in luck. Society has arrived at a point where posters proudly sport things like, "We plan to cut all homeless people in half by 2025," and menus offer such delights as, "Chicken rude and unreasonable." Try as we might, there are some things we just can't make up...
As proof, Bored Panda has put together an epic list of receipts gathered from a page called Message Unclear. It's an online community where boggled minds gather to make sense of some of the most nonsensical pieces of communication they've spotted in the wild. Besides the above-mentioned blunders, you'll also find gems like the hospital sign ordering sick people to "Stop! Please do not enter if you're feeling unwell." And the potentially dangerous warning: "Crocodiles do not swim here."
Sit back, keep scrolling and enjoy these with a pinch of salt. Because clearly, some people do not take the task of communicating as seriously as they should.
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Those Poor Kids…
Yes
She Wo Turns Boyfriends Into Goblins
Humans have been communicating since the dawn of time. Even before there was language, our ancestors "spoke" to each other using non-verbal cues like hand gestures, pointing, and pantomiming. According to researchers from the University of California, there wasn’t any reading or writing until roughly 5,000 years ago.
"People started writing things down so they could keep track of accounts. For example, if Farmer Joe owed Farmer Jill three sheep, then they would draw a picture of a sheep and write down three marks," explains the university's site.
Those pictures evolved into into hieroglyphics and then into the letters that we use today. And while we'd like to think that writing and reading has made things easier, it seems that's not always the case.
Rude And Unreasonable Chicken
Ummm Okay
Me When People Ask What I'm Going To Do With My Life
Too often, messages are unclear, causing chaos, confusion and sometimes even comedy gold. But on a serious note, mixed messages confuse your audience, undermine your credibility and often achieve the opposite of what you intended. That's the word from communication experts at Shift-ology.
"Mixed messages occur when the different elements of your communication – tone, content, context and intent – contradict each other or send competing signals," they explain. "They create cognitive dissonance in your audience, forcing them to choose which part of your message to believe while questioning your authenticity and competence."
3 What Now?
When Close The Start Dooring
Don’t Read Too Closely
The Shift-ology team warns that mixed messages often only become obvious when you hear them spoken. They add that one way to ensure clearer communication is to apply what they call the Headline Test. This means asking yourself: “If someone only read the headline and the conclusion of my message, would they understand my main point?”
The experts stress that clear communication isn’t about dumbing down your message. But rather about being direct, consistent and authentic. In other words, say what you mean and mean what you say.
So Who Is Allowed In?
OK. This needs context. In the UK NHI system, if you are sufficiently unwell or injured you go to the Accidents & emergencies entrance directly. Yes a severely damaged finger is an emergency, no, a cold is not. It's a corral for all admissions. This sign is up at the VISITOR/general entrance. Suddenly the sign makes sense.
I Can’t Figure Out What This Means, But Definitely Has A Story Behind It
If you're in a wheelchair a complimentary dog will be available to push you?
I Just Love That They Went With This Over A No Trespassing/Private Property Sign
Even when you think your message is as clear as day, it could still be completely misinterpreted. And there are several reasons why... The first is context.
As psychologist, author, public speaker, and business strategist Liane Davey explains, you can't always assume that your intended audience has the same information, background, or schema as you. And if they don't, there's a good chance they'll interpret your message differently than how you expect.
"That’s especially problematic if their different interpretation leads to inappropriate behaviors or unproductive reactions," warns the expert.
Seems Radioactive
Yeah, the subscript is poorly placed. That's why graphic designers should stay away from chemistry.
Explain It Peter.. Who Are Birds Who Are Bees???
Women being called birds has been around for a long time. And bees have stingers. Hope that helps.
Against The Law!? So We Are Legally Required To Intoxicate Children?
Davey says another reason why your messages could get misinterpreted is because people respond differently to the same stimulus (i.e., message, body language, tone, etc.). She reveals that she often sees people trying to be very clear and dispassionate, only to be told they were harsh or too direct.
In these cases, says the expert, "the sender often fails to create the desired effect because the receiver feels hurt or becomes defensive."
The same applies to cultural or language differences.
🤔
Thanks For Clearing That Up
Either someone had a stroke while typing this, or it's typical AI drivel.
In Half!
You’re Car. You’re Problem. You’re Doomed
I'm Confused
Information…?
Wow it crashed to ASCII! That's raw HEX translated to ASCII. I haven't seen that since the 90s.
They Just Got This Helmet Intercom From China, And Need Help With Understanding The Instructions
What Speed Again?
Wth?
Yes? .. Or No?? 🤔
I’m Not Sticking Around There For Long!
Classic
One Word In Spanish
Who’s It For?
We Are Sorry For The Incontinence As Well
What Order Do You Really Read This In?
What Is It Then?
What Does This Sign Mean?
No Safety! Smoking First!
Am I Awake Or Sleeping?
It's actually the best way to overcome being awake. Much better than the alternative.
Wait, What?
🤨
Pighe Ntear Cheo Htel
From My Periodontist’s Intake Form
🥛🍊🤔
Been Looking At This For 5 Minutes...
What Now?
I for one appreciate the person before me not putting their fleshy blankets in there!
Don't Not? - This Sign At A Local Subway That Mails Paper Coupons Out Every Other Week
Accept? And the rule of double negatives (they cancel) means they DO except them.
Women Are Always Right, Right?
Bad Design Sign
That Seems Harsh But Maybe The Advocates Should Stop Breaking-In?
Message Is Vague, But I'll Probably Look For Some Other Door
Oh Sweet Sweet Irony
But you can keep 'em for the birds and bees.. well now that's stuck in my head.
So Which Is It?
Was Very Confused For A Minute, But Per Caption His Name Is Actually Third
Are they just giving up and numbering them now? Who are these people, the Duggars?
Guess They Thawed Out The Word Grammar Instead 🥩😂
Why do people insist on trying to get us to read in columns? Unless you're a newspaper knock it off. It's not happening.
Please, Don't Wash. You Are Balls
Focus If I On My Can't Of The Then I Tiger Outcome Must
That last column has left me hanging. Where's the rest?
Is This Qr Code In The Room With Us
I scan QRs with an app that tells me what it says, rather than dumbly telling my phone to "scan this and open the website".
What The Fack?!
To prevent counterfeiting, that may refuse banknotes that don't fit into the register machine, including old and damaged currency. More interesting is the store manager is ドン.キホーテ which is Don Quixote. 😂
Which Way Do They Mean It? (There Aren’t Any Or Don’t Put Any)
Let's Play A Game, Genderguessr
At A Buddhist Temple
Thank You!
Saw This In Norway In A Souvenir Shop
I Found This On Safari In South Africa
Break What?
Please Help Yourselves In The Fridge
They had this sort of thing in Eugene Marquis in Rennes (a major cancer centre), along with free newspapers and games and such. 🥲
No Clue!
Wait. Where?
But It's Not A Floor, It's A Wall!
I'm guessing there is also a B Floor, perhaps a C Floor, and so on?
Non Binary From A Straight Grandmother To Say Hello & I’m With You
Directions Unclear
Ham Or Glam? — Capitalization Is Important!
Who Removed Their Ring?
This seemed really, super creepy on the first read. Thank goodness for those critical thinking skills making reasonable sense of it.
As An Slp, This One Always Bothered Me…
So
Huh?
Found Walking Around In Iceland - About 7 Feet Tall And Made Out Of Pipes
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