We humans are big fans of recognizing patterns. “Fans” is an understatement. Our comparatively gargantuan brains and this noticing of patterns is one of the key things that helped us survive and evolve to where we are today.
What I’m getting to is that we notice things and sometimes falsely attach them to others. So when we see a sign, we expect it to be informative, concise, official… But sometimes they’re anything but.
Today, we’ve collected a whole bunch of these signs that are so useless, they become hilarious.
More info: Reddit
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This Monstrosity
It is a joke. It was from a photoshop contest on a comedy website years ago. I think it won second place.
Load More Replies...COMPLETE FAIL as per USUAL!! THE BRIDGE IS OUT SHOULD BE IN BOLD LETTERS the REST who CARES?
No S**t Sherlo... Wait... Cake?
Simple. You'd be more inclined to drive carefully if you have a cake in your car than if you didn't.
*grabs cake* *takes it into car* *drives* *eats cake while driving* * crashes* *eats cake as ghost*
If you're a ghost, the food just falls right through you. Haven't you seen Casper?
Load More Replies...I always travel with cake, along with batteries, flashlight & bottled water. Doesn't everyone drive with cake?
Dang Was Scheduling To Have A Heart Attack There Gotta Go Somewhere Else I Guess
Excuse me mugger, can you steal my wallet at that phone over there? This one does not work. "Why of course, how rude of me." Thank you
We had a c**p version of this on an emergency beacon on my campus at Michigan State back in the day. I don't know who okayed the sign, but typed in all caps it read: "PHONE OUT, KEEP RUNNING". Great. Thanks, campus security.
If you said “God, please send me a sign” and got one of these, what would you do? Actually, how do people even understand that a sign sent is one from God? After all, most signs we get are either for advertisers vying for our attention or road construction workers.
Enough of the theology tangent now. But the fact that we expect signs to be from certain sources is important in our case. It’s likely what makes these signs so strange and funny at the same time.
That’s especially true for metal plaques. They’ve got this air of officiality about them, so when you see one advertising itself as having “sharp edges,” it’s even more funny.
What
Ah. The eternal question. Should I go Right, where nothing's Left. Or should I go Left, where nothing's Right?
Very deep! Who'd have thought a road sign could've been the stimulus for such superb philosophy?
Load More Replies...The Right Lane is for right lefting ONLY.. If you want to left right, you must use the Left Lane!! Many road rage incidents could be avoided if people would just read and obey the traffic signs!! There’s nothing more Enraging than than getting cut off in traffic by some stupid asshat €%€£~#%¥@ing f@#%~face who’s trying to right left in the left &$€@ing lane👹👺👹👺👹💀
Yes indeed. A quick combination of a turn right followed by a turn left. Better know what lane to be in beforehand to not provoce road rage
Load More Replies...Wait. Uh. Up, Up, Down, Down, Left, Right, Left, Right, A,B,A,B, Select, Start.
Nothing Happened
I've seen this sign in a dozen places across the country. Probably sold on Amazon.
There is not one place on Earth where nothing happens. Something is happening everywhere all the time. Even if it's just the gentle breeze flipping a small leaf over, it's something.
I can't agree, since we all know that in 1989 in Tiananmen Square absolutely nothing happened
Load More Replies...Seen On A Delivery
Well, we can't have the creatures of Narnia roaming a cul-de-sac, now can we?
Always remind me of the women that called because she was trap in her car.... I was working at 911... She was having a panic attack... And we calmed her... And then tell her to simply... Pull the handle... The door open just like that...
I'm impressed she was able to call you.
Load More Replies...I wonder where it goes. It has to go someplace. The fact that they put it in the middle of nowhere, even a nice nowhere, means something, no matter what. Open the gate and find out why that is there. Watch out for anvils.
Behold the Fence of Invisibility!!!! Er...the Gate of Invisibility was on back order so we worked with what we had.
If you leave the gate open then the blackhole behind it will escape and eat everything in sight
There are lots of unexpectedly odd signs around the world. A lot of them are for nationally widespread animals crossing the road. These could be llamas, hedgehogs, oryxes (a kind of antelope), camels or even kangaroos.
You probably don’t encounter them every day, but they’re a good reminder of the fact that the world we live in doesn’t belong to us alone and that we’re actually sharing it with millions of other creatures. It goes without saying that you should slow down for them.
Well, Obviously!
You'd think, but I've worked in restaurants for years and I'm thinking maybe it's for customers that expect free food or drinks. I've had customers ask for free or extra food for a variety of reasons. It took too long, they're regulars, etc.
Load More Replies...A simple BOGO probably would have been clearer but then again, there are people out there that buy 6 and expect 7 so maybe it's for them?
Youd think but when ppl ask how many come in a (# count) thia starts to make sense "there are 6 doughnuts in a 6 count doughnut box sir'
Load More Replies...I Live In A Very Classy Area
People. The word you're looking for is "people", not "thugs". If someone wears baggy jeans, it does not automatically make them a thug (a violent, aggressive person, especially one who is a criminal).
Load More Replies...have you guys never heard of sagging? this isn’t quite a useless sign. if it’s a professional setting it kind of makes sense(?)
Damn I Was Planning On Playing Football There
Sigh... *stops frolicking and walks back home
Load More Replies...When you have that little grass, I wouldn't want ppl trampling it either! 😂
*drops giant bouncy house + pool and screams in disappointment*
All this talk about animal signs may have gotten you thinking about why animals such as deer have a certain tendency of freezing on the road. A lot of people think that they’re simply “stupid” or stubborn.
The truth is, especially at night, a deer’s pupils are fully dilated to take in as much nighttime light as possible, so when your high beams hit their eyes, they become blind for a second. Well, not really a second, they stand there for as long as it takes for their eyes to adjust and they begin seeing again.
And to the people making fun of their intelligence - they may not be the sharpest horn in the forest, but they’ve been here before us and at the rate we’re abusing the planet, they’ll be here after us.
Guess Some Hotels Charge?
Those are complimentary stairs for our guests who have a Premium Platinum Club membership, only. Everyone else must scale the building from the outside, using the widow washer's equipment. Might want to be rethinking that $2.99 upcharge to get a Platinum membership about right now, dontcha think? No pressure tho.
"nice shoes" "way to step bro" "nearly at the top, you got it" "hey your amazing" "nice gait fella"
AS opposed to the BACKWARDS ones found at either End of the Hotel? Fire Escape Not Here!
My family stayed at a Holiday Inn a few weeks ago and one of their selling points was "Complimentary Parking"😅
Thanks For The Heads Up
*Joins in to make it appear like a real danger to the community*
Load More Replies...He Could’ve Just Called Me
My dad has been dead for 19 years. Exactly how did you get a message from him? -- Anything he said while still alive is seriously "old news".
Imagine an orphanage bus filled with orphaned kids pass and see this, I understand the intent but come on, this is accidentally insensitive
Well, that's actually a good point! How many people out there either don't know their dad, have had no dad in their lives or just went NC with a crappy dad? This is very patronizing.
Load More Replies...What about those of us whose dads never quite dadded right. Or in our general vicinity. I feel called out 😂Guess that means that I get a pass to drive my Prius like she’s a brand new race car then. Watch out world. We’re coming, and we ain’t got no daddy to tell us what the speed limit is.
What, you know who knocked up my mother? Could you introduce me, please?
My dad died 9 years ago. What medium did they hire to post these signs??
People are certainly no strangers to funny signs, though. If you were to take a casual stroll across a full parking lot, you’d likely see loads of them. You’d probably see some recurring ones, but also many unique ones, ones with hidden and never-before-seen meanings.
There’s a fair share of them that are absolutely unfunny to the max, but there are also some ironic ones that are worthy of a smile.
You can find loads of these suckers on Amazon, like “narcissist on board” and “I’m naked from the waist down.” Who could forget “nutter on board” too. Simply charming.
Thank Goodness For The Sign. I Almost Used The Basin
Buh-dump-DAH! Well played, Robert, well played.
Load More Replies...My brain blanked and thought it was a pentagram on the paper. Guess I've been summoning too many demons.
You can never summon too many demons.
Load More Replies...In Case There Was Any Doubt
That's a bit presumptuous. You don't know that's so. Some refuse to let their so called handicape limit them. They may have a wheelchair that's capable of climbing, or of coming down, stairs. They make wheels like that, that can do this, you know. Js.
Sale!
Here's also another kicker. The sign says it's for the 23.75 ounce buy the labels say 23.50. So not only are you paying more but getting less.
Load More Replies...Just wanting to see if you're paying attention. It's called "mindfulness", okay?
Had to add a penny to the cost of each jar to pay for the new sign!
Whoever posts these pricetags doesn't get to edit them - just a clerk, after all. I was in Walmart yesterday, and they had windshield squirter fluid for $4.36 a jug, with a Special note: Two for $9.00! I pointed that out to the check-out lady (as I paid for one) and she laughed.
I Would Have Died If Not For The Stop Sign. Obviously
The existence of this sign implies that any road not ending in a stop sign is free game
They're free game anyway. It's not like stop signs keep you from going; you just have to stop first. But we can tell from the grass that people are disappointingly obedient.
Load More Replies...I'm guessing that the stop sign was put there after a number of cars went right through.
What I like is the arrow in the other lane, apparently they get a lot of traffic from that direction so have to show them which way to go.
Could this perhaps be on a closed course for drivers ed students? There's one in my county that has some odd features like this.
Nice thought. I was thinking that it was a future connection. They sometimes do them up if they're planning on putting the road through, especially in HOAs.
Load More Replies...Theres a road here that has a crazy sharp left turn at the end, little hard to see, and a giant "road closed" sign for the straight. And zero road. Its a mountain. I loooove taking people down that road and speeding up towards the road closed sign while the passenger yells "road closed! Road closed!" Then I turn left and laugh. They don't seem to think its funny.
Unnecessary Instructions
You know that moment in Fallout 3, when there's a pack of bullets in the old rusty and incredibly dirty toilet and you maneuver the crosshair carefully to take the bullets, but make a mistake at the last second and "activate/use" the toilet instead, and the main character is making sipping noises? Yeah...
Load More Replies...Really? I thought this was the fountain of youth FO SHO and was ready to bottle that ish right up!
Seen it in hiking type situations where ill-prepared people will seek water anywhere.
What a terrifying place to have to take your junk out. It's a dead end so you're obviously not gonna be running anywhere.....but trapped WITH your pants down. Damm
I saw this in a conference hall in san Francisco, so I guess it happens.
Would Have Been Lost Without This Sign.. Lucky Me
Instructions For Santa In Case The Milk And Cookies Were Confusing
will he still be able to fit the chimney afterwards?
Load More Replies...No Smoking In The Designated Smoking Area Guys!
So if you crouch down below the top sign, you're good to puff away in the designated area?
God, I miss smoking *inhales the delicious toxins of other people's second hand smoke*
This is along the lines of " Sorry. Not sorry." And very passive aggressive, I must say.
Reminder: smoking in moderation is fine but don't smoke more than 3 a day! Smoking helpline: 1-800-QUIT-NOW
It means you can smoke but only if you’re wearing a regular suit.
This Felt Good Because I Was At The Post Office
*Touches it anyway while snert giggling like a fool* You can't tell me what to do, sign!
So Confused, Guess I'm Stuck Here!
Once, I got stucked in a »magical roundabout« for at least three days...
Ahhhh! I'm on the autism spectrum! Please don't do this, to me! It's hard enough out here, as it is, believe me!
I’n guessing one of the signs was there first, maybe the round one. Then someone put a new sign there without thinking of removing the old one. Very confusing.
Load More Replies...Hôtel California? You can check out anytime you want…but you can never leave!
Being stuck in a target isn’t the worst thing, especially if they are the big ones with groceries in there!!
Deer Can Read, Right?
This has to be the most infuriating one on the list. Putting out a pile of food for local wildlife then shooting that wildlife seems more like baiting (which is against the law here in WA) and the sign seems like a poor attempt at covering their @$$
It’s not illegal in all states. It’s also a joke.
Load More Replies...Well the American government secretly taught all deer how to read /s
It is very common when people put food out for a wild animal to get furious when the wrong wild animal eats it. LOL.
So l guess the deer that don't bother reading the sign will only have themselves to blame
Should be Another Sign Above it Stating Anyone Obeying below Sign will Be Charged And thrown in Prison!! Deer Rule this block!
Any person caught trying to shoot a beautiful deer, should have a taste of his own medicine, or be jailed!
Might As Well Not Have Bothered With The Sign 😁
I've had to put up similar signs at work, which is sad bc we're all adults who should know basic hygiene in a place with food & people would be a given, but sadly... no.
I know someone in healthcare, expert I'm disease prevention and response. Administration at the hospital wanted to remove the signs reminding everyone to wash their hands because it didn't look professional. She gave them an earful backed by empirical research that these reminders and building a culture that encouraged staff to wash between every patient contact makes a huge difference!
Load More Replies...Erk! Everyone has ignored this sign, I see. Stronger measures may be called for here.
What Time Do You Think They Close ?
Having worked in retail, no, I expect this is because when told what the operating hours are, people will still ask "what about weekends?" or "on Sunday too?", despite the fact that you just said "10 am until 10 pm every day". The sign is just trying to head off the inevitable.
Load More Replies...Seasonal hour changes made only slightly less tedious to change. Hah! Just don't hit the lines you don't need to change while scraping. Heh
I'd say they Open at 10:00 a.m and Close at 10:00 p.m. Monday thru Sunday. The same hours, 7 days a week. Or, is that just me?
"ArE yOU OpEN On THE LOrdS DaY." -the period is in caps, you just can't tell.
Broken
It's not unnecessary. Anyone who's ever worked retail or in the food industry knows how stupid people can be.
A policy that says if it's broken it has to have a sign saying so on it for legal/employee compensation insurance purposes? Like if you hurt yourself on something that has a sign on it saying it's broken and doesn't work you'll probably get less sympathy at least? Idk.
Yes. That's apparent. Well, to me. However, to some others, maybe not so much. I saw another post about there being so many Dumb People In The World, and, I have no words. The signs may be necessary, although I'm not sure even those will help.
The level of stupidity that some people show actually warrants signs like this lol
It's not broken! It's half missing! Call csi ! We have a dispenser decapitation ?
I think it's more a split decision.
Load More Replies...That'll Teach Em!
I remember a story in a local newspaper back in the early 90s when I lived in the northwest of England. There was a man who was suing his bank, Yorkshire Bank, as they were trying to close his account against his will. Why had happened, is that they’d really fyucked up with making him pay fees for which they (the bank) were in the wrong. It got so bad that he went and changed his name by deed poll to, and this is very true!, Yorkshire Bank Are Complete And Utter Bästards! They were now refusing to have any communication with him. The bank lost the case, he got loads of compensation and fees paid back to him, and any further communication to him was addressed to Mr Bâstards!!!!
Which Way Tho?
It’s an instruction showing the order in which to press the arrow keys which can unlock a new feature on your desktop /s
That's what I said. Super realistic!
Load More Replies...This is just the spawn point and the tree is showing you the controls.
Each arrow has print on it. It's likely directing for different trails or camps.
We Wanted To Tell You...nothing At All
This just in: Audi has pounced Bouche's tail yet again! Tired of his shenanigans, Bouche jumped into the bathroom sink to enjoy a nap. Audi followed her to the sink and fell asleep on top of her. Bouche began grooming Audi, to point out that she's the queen cat of the sink. He gave her the same look I gave my mother when she'd spit on a tissue to wash my face. Audi decided it would be much more fun to play climb the soft can-opener, and climbed out of the sink. Bouche is now enjoying her kitten-free napping time. Audi was distracted by a bit of fluff that desperately needed to be killed, and is determinedly stalking it. Updates at ten and twelve.
Ok, so maybe it wouldn't fit on their sign.
Load More Replies...It is indeed a lax Emergency Visual Messaging System - it can't even be bothered to display a message.
Well... What Are You Going To Do About It?
No, the ducks give a courtesy quack to let you know they're near.
Load More Replies...This is a military firing range used by tanks, I drive past this observation tower fairly regularly.
Load More Replies...Makes sense - probably a shooting range nearby. Just because you can hear it doesn't mean you are in danger (if it's designed correctly).
Why Have The Sign If You Don’t Want People Throwing Stones?
also do not throw Beatles, Gerry and the Pacemakers or Dave Clark Five at this sign
However feel free to throw Herman's hermits, the animals, or Paul Revere and the raiders 🤣
Load More Replies...Reverse psychology. Maybe people were throwing stones at the flowers before, and now they throw them at the sign instead?
All this accomplished is to now put that thought into someone's head.
Thanks For The Clarification
The sign gave no suggestions on behavior modification. It merely provided information.
Load More Replies...No Cars
Then your soul will leave your body... just take my word on this one...
Load More Replies...Can someone more outdoorsy than me please tell the purpose of the ramp thing on the side of the steps? My first though was wheelchair access, but there are raised wooden treads that would make that awkward
How Could Anyone Find The Pyramid Without This Very Helpful Sign???
Long Beach State. Don't ask, I never understood why, either.
Load More Replies...See, maybe they were looking for Murry's, pyramid. Now they know.
True. Without that sign I'd never notice the massive.gleaming, pyramid that loomed up there, right in front of me.
Time
For a few seconds I thought " What the hell caused a seal to swan-dive off of a building!" 🤣🤣🤣
The clock is completely unreadable but at least you know what it's trying to tell you.
Who knew TIME was put in a building, and not in a bottle?
Yeah I Don't Know What To Do Here
What do you do here? Drop your credit card? Use it? Don't use it? After seeing these, I don't want a single person to ever question me again about why I seem to have so much difficulty with navigating the world and taking care of my business! Ever.
Tempting
You'll be socially distanced when you're on the floor.
Useless Trail Sign
Finally, after 10 days stuck in the bush, I was saved! I could finally rejoin civilization! Oh, to eat a buttered bagel again! This sign will show me... the... way...
Why? It is a hiking route with a loop, nothing strange. Most likely the parking is in the back of the photographer, and there usually a map is set up.
To be fair it looks like it had more information that's been ripped off. Probably made perfect sense before it was vandalised.
Load More Replies...This is obviously Wonderland & the mad hatter is just around the corner with the Cheshire Cat.
Not so useless! I saw the same sign in Scotland when I was with my travel companion. I went right and he went left and well I'll be derned! I was in Loch Lomond before him! * Editted because I kept going about a true love and not meeting again and yada yada yada...I've never had a true love as of yet so thought to get rid of that part. * Editted again because apparently this site doesn't rat that I had to make an edit. Nice!
Do Not Unplug
Well, they didn't unplug it so much as claw it from the wall...
Load More Replies...Why does it look like the plug clawed at the wall while being dragged away?
Thanks for the warning. Even if there's nothing there for me to be unplugging, anymore. Wonder what was so necessary they didn't want it to be unplugged, in the first place, tho? Computer, probably.
Someone unplugged the c**p out it. Whatever it was looked like it was bolted to the wall, as well as taped and they still unplugged it. I don't think it was by accident. Just my opinion, I am Captain Obvious.
It's a metaphor. For life and technology and sandpaper.
Couldn’t Have Done It Without You, Sign
Mmmm, Yes. Good Note
Wait. What? It' says "This Side Up"? Yet my viewpoint is from underneath, looking up, and I can read that from below. Oh. Oops. Another case of someone who had only one job, and they blew it.
It took me a second to even see this one. I guess I needed directions to which side was up 😂
Watch Me
No problem. Relax. I wasn't gonna sit there. I can't imagine who would want to, but hey!
This Sign Reminding Me That The Stairs Go Down
That is so Obvious Stairs Going Up or down do Not Need signs saying so!!
Just in case you're spatially challenged, I guess. Oh, I see. They mean, keep to this side, when going down. The other side is for going up. Hmph. They should say what they mean, and mean what they say, then.
This Sign Exists Solely To Legally Disclaim The Existence Of This Sign
My opinion does not endorse the information provided by this sign and I absolve Westpac Banking from any liability for information I may have derived from said signage.
"Oh the sign. Here's what happened: Unauthorized cat picture was put up on the 5th floor bulletin board. Commentary was made, first verbal then text. A picture taken, then video. A flurry of emails until a mid morning meeting where accusations were made, feelings hurt, harsh decisions, threats, another video. By lunchtime, the union then legal were involved. By 2pm, several markets national and international were in danger of going under and an intern from the IT department was picked up on the roof by helicopter to make sure SOMEONE was on zoom before close of business. We saved Japan, but lost contact with the middle east, and a town in Mississippi is on fire. That's why today we have that sign, no donuts and the Wi-fi has been disconnected."
He’d lawyer all the lawyer that a lawyer could if a lawyer could lawyer a lawyer.
Load More Replies...What's not shown in the photo is the actual board next to it with advertising on it. Probably about investments.
I Had Completely Forgotten And Am Thankful For The Reminder
Notes like this exist bc some idiot sliced their hand open & filed a complaint/ lawsuit.
Or it's meant for kids. Though usually they'd say something like "get a parent to help you".
Load More Replies...After having a difficult time assembling the furniture, Ed looked forward to putting together the cardboard roses!
Damn I Was Really Looking Forward To A Nice Skate
Snacks With Extra Bible Verse For Free
And Lays so loves its chips that it injects nitrogen into the bag so that they too shall not perish.
And God said, thinly slice the potatoes, for they shall sustain the peckish. Flavour them with thy salt, for it will enhance thy sliced tubers, bake them til they are crispy. Go forth with my almighty boxes of Lays, may they bring goodness to thy people.
Load More Replies...Sorry, I'm already mortally betrothed to the dark one. But, can I still have some free chips?
I don't think that having the verse in Spanish changes the book of John to the book of Juan.
Good Thing To Remind Me
If condition lasts for more than 4 hours seek medical attention.
Load More Replies...Plant “Meat” Is Grass Fed. Very Good
Sign clearly relates to the meat the OTHER SIDE of it. Although why Americans make a big deal of "grass fed" is beyond me. It's the norm here.
Cause it’s NOT the norm here in the US. And obviously it tastes better.
Load More Replies...I'm here to tell you, I've personally witnessed a Karen in the wild demand "Grass fed, wild caught salmon" at the seafood counter of my place of employment- no joke. Not to mention, you do not want cows raised primarily on grass, they need a good balance of greens & grains to be tasty.
Correct. In one sense "plant-based", "organic" and "grass-fed" are synonyms. They all mean "doesn't taste as nice but we charge more for it".
Load More Replies...This Burger King Sign
If you can't eat a fast food meal in 20 minutes, there's something wrong with you.
Load More Replies...There was a blackout in my village, so I went to McD to have a hot tea and charge my phone. I was there for around two hours, feeling awkward.
The sign is from Burger King so your loitering in McDonald's was absolutely fine!
Load More Replies...Whoever posted this has clearly never lived in a less affluent area 😆
I Didn't Know There Was A Door
yeah closed it doesn't look like a door jackass. like people who do s**t just to be funny are really annoying. use your head.
https://media04.myhe...0/8600070_L.jpg ••• Dogs must be kept on a leash - Except guide dogs for the blind
Some of these are less "useless", and more "completely misunderstood by the OPs and many of the commenters". Which...I suppose IS actually pretty useless, now that I think about it, because if people can't understand the message your sign is trying to convey, then your sign isn't very useful after all, is it? Words are hard sometimes...
https://media04.myhe...0/8600070_L.jpg ••• Dogs must be kept on a leash - Except guide dogs for the blind
Some of these are less "useless", and more "completely misunderstood by the OPs and many of the commenters". Which...I suppose IS actually pretty useless, now that I think about it, because if people can't understand the message your sign is trying to convey, then your sign isn't very useful after all, is it? Words are hard sometimes...
