The Tyranny of the Dont Sign: New Zealand’s Latest Performance Art
Right, let’s talk about this. Apparently, somewhere in New Zealand – a nation celebrated for its breathtaking scenery and… apparently, its crippling need to tell people what not to do – they’ve erected signs advising residents: “Dont.” Just… Dont. That’s it. No elaboration. No context. Just the blunt, suffocating weight of prohibition hanging in the air.
Seriously? Is this some elaborate performance piece designed to test the limits of human compliance? Are we supposed to interpret this minimalist masterpiece and glean some profound societal truth from its utter lack of information? Because I’m drawing a blank.
Its peak New Zealand, isn’t it? A country that wants to be seen as laid-back and welcoming, yet simultaneously feels compelled to micromanage every aspect of public life with passive-aggressive signage. It screams We trust you… but also we absolutely dont. I bet there’s a committee somewhere, diligently debating the optimal font size for maximum impact on the populations obedience.
And I suppose it’s just another symptom of our age – this relentless urge to control and preempt everything, even basic human conversation. Just like…well, lets not mention certain large language models. Apparently, talking about them is now a capital offense. Don’t. Just…dont. Honestly, at this point, the more they tell me not to do something, the more I feel compelled to do it. Its practically Pavlovian.
