Have you ever wondered what civilization would be like without signs? Without diamond-shaped boards that warn us to give way or brightly colored banners informing us about the meal deal of our lifetime? My best guess would probably be chaos. In fact, you wouldn’t be reading this article right now, as language is an intricate system made up of many signs and symbols.
Indeed, the world would be very different than it is today if it weren’t for cavemen and cavewomen and their primitive drawings 20,000 years ago. To rekindle our appreciation for signs and everything they represent in our society, Bored Panda has gathered a list of some of the most genius and interesting ones down below. Be sure to upvote the placards that perhaps taught you something new, and don’t forget to share the coolest ones you have come across, dear Pandas!
#1 This Sign On The Way From Islamabad To Nathia Gali, Pakistan
Image credits: Massive-Ranger2593
#2 My Local Brewery Had This Sign And Beer For Dads No Longer With Us
"This seat & beer are for the dads that are not with us today..."
Image credits: Stinkydadman
#3 Singapore Has Nearly 700 Dementia Go-To-Points, Where People Appearing Lost Can Be Helped To Identify Themselves And Find Their Way Home
Image credits: the_wellspring
The earliest signs created by humans, as far as historians can tell, date back to the Stone Age, 18,000 BC. Our ancestors drew symbols on cave walls to visually express that they had products for trade or barter.
Some experts call this symbolic advertising to other tribes, with visualizations of hunted wild animals, pots, and arrows dating back 40,000 to 45,000 years.
#4 Cassowary Warning Signs In Far North Queensland
Image credits: Rd28T
#5 The Glass Is Full
Image credits: TheGayGuy_GER
#6 This Underwater Wet Floor Sign
Image credits: RoosterCock247
In early civilization, about 800–500 BC, craftspeople in Ancient Egypt painted and carved symbols on terracotta, stone, brick, and wood to advertise their services and stand out from others. Typically, they would be found in marketplaces, temples, and other public spaces. Later, they were discovered in the ruins of Pompeii and other cities.
Meanwhile, the Ancient Greeks used signs to communicate with citizens who couldn’t read. Many of them remain to this day, like the staff of Hermes, which often hangs on the corners of pharmacies, or the goddess Demeter, who symbolizes grain, bread, and harvest. In the Roman Empire, widely used signs were made from wood, brick, stone, and marble.
#7 Let's Help Frogs Live Their Best Lives
Image credits: thegallowboob
#8 This Sign Letting You Know That Forrest Gump Ran Here
Image credits: TheMikeChadwick
#9 My Residential Neighborhood Has Signs For Your Dog
Image credits: Qwertyboi2
Things gained momentum in medieval Europe about 1000 AD–1700. This was influenced by the economic and cultural revival that opened new trade opportunities. Craftsmen began using unique, identifiable signs to differentiate themselves to customers. Business owners would hang the emblems on poles. They were more popular than letters, as the majority of the population was illiterate.
#10 Stop Sign In Mohawk Native American Language In Norther NY State
Image credits: Edorded
#11 A Road Sign Near A Park In Istanbul, That Says “Watch Out For Cats And Dogs”
Image credits: mardinlee
#12 Different Terms For Book Lovers From Around The World
Image credits: DogeDoRight
Interestingly, in 1389, England’s King Richard III ordered all taverns and ale houses in the country to display outdoor signs so the monarch would be able to easily locate them for quality testing. That’s why so many pubs nowadays still use signs from the 15th century.
#13 They Could've Just Made A Stop Sign Instead Of This Sign, But They Were Like, "No Let's Build Excitement Before The Big Drop"
Image credits: CJToledano
#14 Sign At My Local Library
Image credits: I_do-not_reddit
#15 A Resort I’m At Has A Sign To Warn Tourists About Seals Sleeping On The Beach
Image credits: coldsong
The barber pole that many men's hair salons use also originated from medieval times, when barbers were not only cutting hair but also extracting teeth and performing surgeries. Such services were provided for poorer people who couldn’t afford to go to a physician.
#16 My Local Hospital Has Examples Of When You May Need An Urgent Care vs. An ER
Image credits: Striken15
#17 This Sign Asking You To Walk On The Grass
Image credits: ModerateStimulation
#18 This Sign On The Door Of A Local Business
Image credits: OneTrueClassy
The red color represents drawing blood to cure diseases or infections. White symbolizes a stick that a person would hold to make the veins more prominent during the procedure so they would be easier to find. As for the blue stripe, some attribute it to the colors of the American flag, while in Europe it may have differentiated barbers from doctors.
#19 A Sign Over A Urinal In Chinese, English, Japanese, Korean And Binary
Image credits: kalvinoz
#20 It Feels Like This Is To Tell People To Get Their Horses To Slow Down
Image credits: le_DWK
#21 This Parking Space Is Reserved For People Who Commit Random Acts Of Kindness
Image credits: Rbxyy
With the growth of cities and populations, outdoor signage significantly increased in number, and English law required every establishment to have one. Signs illuminated with candles were also just appearing before electricity was invented. By the 18th century, the placards had become larger and heavier than ever, marking the start of the painted storefront emblems outside businesses.
#22 This Sign On The Bathroom Door Of A Local Seafood Restaurant
Image credits: Certain-Ferret3692
#23 This Sign Near A Lake
Image credits: PlantAlphattv
#24 A Sign That Forbids Adults Who Are Not Accompanied By A Child In A Public Park
Image credits: thegraym0user
Finally, we reach modern history, when companies grew bigger, as did the need to grab the attention of consumers. With newly discovered commercial printing and the revolution of sign design, it became a new art form. The invention of gas and electric power was also a game-changer, as signs could be visible at night too.
#25 A Sign Warning Of Falling Cattle
Image credits: evner
#26 This Is The Only "No Smoking" Sign For Any Of The Hotel Room Numbers
Image credits: jewfro451
#27 "No Parking" Sign Under The Water At A Harbor In Malta
Image credits: Embarrassed_Cake_496
Advertisers were constantly trying to find new and advanced ways to produce better, more efficient, and larger quantities of signs. This brings us to today, where large-format printing and digital technology make mass production even faster, and the industry is worth over $37.4 billion.
#28 This Brewery Patio Has Rules For Dogs
Image credits: SuperCub
#29 Town Of Roswell’s Alien Abduction Welcome Sign
Image credits: LifeWithAdd
#30 $100 Fine For Eating Durian Fruit In My Hotel In Vietnam
Image credits: Schmargen
#31 Road Sign In Mozambique
Image credits: tobhamhor
#32 This Sign For Temporary Fencing To Protect Birds
Image credits: Holmes02
#33 The Shadows From The Sign Have A Different Spelling From The Actual Sign
Image credits: thehippestmanalive
#34 This Hotel Has More Exit Signs On The Ground Than On The Ceiling
Image credits: FishFearMe1
#35 Don't Do It
Image credits: Snail_salter
#36 At My Work There’s An Original Sign From The 40s About Wearing Your Safely Goggles
Image credits: _StoryCast_
#37 An Incredibly Down-To-Earth Sign At My Son's Baseball Field
Image credits: bradfo83
#38 It's The Hands For Me
Image credits: youcantusetwocoupons
#39 This Incredibly Specific Stop Sign
Image credits: youliveinmydream
#40 The McDonald's In My Town Has A Sign With Only One Arch
Image credits: HalxQuixotic
#41 This Tiny Stop Sign
Image credits: Cyprinidea
#42 No Horses Allowed In The Sea Sign
Image credits: crazycockerels
#43 The Signs On The Side Of The Highway In Texas Warn Against Stopping On The Road For The Solar Eclipse
Image credits: rock_fact
#44 This Sign In A Karaoke Room Imploring Patrons Not To Open A Door
Image credits: goestotwelve
#45 Custom Restroom Sign In Hawaii-Themed Restaurant
Image credits: geminian77
#46 The Strangest Road Sign I've Ever Seen, This Is At Tongue Causeway. Does Anyone Know What It Means? Beware, Octopus Likes To Play With Cars?
Image credits: bubblegumgal14
#47 On I-385 In South Carolina, There’s Just A Sign That Reminds You When The Korean War Took Place
Image credits: Falcons2Flynn
#48 My Shipping Pallet Had Previously Been Used As A Sign At A Wedding In 2018
Image credits: blakeley
#49 When Sightseeing In London, You Notice Things You Haven't Noticed Before
Image credits: Acerbic_Lemon
#50 My Movie Theater Has A Sign For End Credits
Image credits: Crafted_20
#51 This Hotel Has Different Soda Brands On Different Floors
Image credits: Impracticalweeb
#52 This Random Crosswalk Sign In My City Has A Chicken On It
Image credits: among_shadows
#53 This Stop Sign In Rome Has A Stick Figure Sawing The Hyphen
Image credits: bankmint
#54 The Sign That My Grandma Had On Her Only Bathroom For Over 65 Years
Image credits: TheTFEF
#55 My Local Laundromat Uses Washing Machine Fronts For A Sign
Image credits: 11equals7
#56 This Gas Station Sign Includes The Price Of Slurpees
Image credits: A_Ruse_ter
#57 Sign In The Women's Bathroom At Rest Stops On The I-80, PA
Image credits: sarina800
#58 My Local Gas Station Has To Put A Sign In The Milk Section Cause People Open The Milk To Put It In Their Coffee, Then Put It Back
Image credits: AlejandroSosa__
#59 Sticker In My Taxi Says The Driver Is Single And Open To Flirting
Image credits: psychopathycathy
#60 This Target Doesn't Allow Unaccompanied Minors
Image credits: FinancialRaid04
#61 Around London Docklands There Are Signs About The Risks Of Swimming In The Canals
Image credits: Abiarraj
#62 This Sign In The Grocery Store's Parking Lot
Image credits: verylargetoad
#63 This Hospital Sign That Bans Wearing Certain Types Of Scrubs Outside
Image credits: Karnakite
#64 Dog Warning Sign With The Assault Count Of Different Mail Services
Image credits: pontixxx
#65 An Owl Attack Caution Sign
Image credits: BestOfSalem
#66 Local Walmart Has Someone's Picture Next To Price Sign For Loofahs (Same Photo On Both Sides Of Display)
Image credits: thejeepcherokee
#67 Don't Miss This One-Time Offer
Image credits: reddit.com
#68 This Sign Doesn't Apply To Children Under The Age Of 3 Or Adults Over The Age Of 80
Image credits: Frosty-Brain-2199
#69 The Lichen On This Speed-Sensitive Road Sign Has Only Grown Over The LEDs
Image credits: acquiescentLabrador
#70 Drove Past This Today And Had To Drive Back For The Picture
Image credits: rambiolisauce
#71 Communication Board At Kids' Playground
Image credits: WarpCitizen
#72 Men Working In Trees
Image credits: FloridaFlamingoGirl
#73 The Apartment My Mom Lives At Used The “Star Wars” Font For This Sign
Image credits: BobooFrick
#74 This Highway Sign Let's You Know What Highway You Are Not On
Image credits: shortbizzle
#75 Pickleball Is Too Noisy For This Tennis Court
Image credits: seeance
#76 This Sign At The Hotel Pool Chose To Use Millimeters As The Conversion To Metric For Some Reason
Image credits: brothaleroy
#77 A Stop Sign Where Only The S Is Capitalized
Image credits: PieFlour837
#78 This Sign Warning Of A Dog Who Runs In Front Of Cars
Image credits: Shangri-lulu
#79 This Sign Claims That The Paint Has Special Properties
Image credits: bitemy
#80 The Weird Text Color Choices On This Sign
Image credits: sickcodebruh420
#81 This Burger King Sign Has Only Said “Ew” For The Past Year
Image credits: Emmulah
#82 This Sign In My Uber In Houston This Weekend
Image credits: BellyMind
#83 A "No" Sign With No Context
Image credits: Onahail
#84 This Sign Is On The Side Of My Son's School. It Says "School" And "Shooting Range", And Both Are In The Same Building
Image credits: hrve
#85 A Mildly Passive-Aggressive Warning Sign By The Local Police Department
Image credits: Zoiby-Dalobster
#86 "No Wake" Signs Put Up In South Florida Neighborhood Roads
Image credits: aroused_browser
#87 Red Drinks Are Not Allowed At A Local Sports Complex
Image credits: Irrational_Bacon
#88 This Barber Shop With A Sign On The Side Implying People Don't Think Lyme Disease Is For Real
Image credits: SoMuchScreaming
#89 Sign Uses Both Measurement Systems
Image credits: OMGLMAOWTF_com
#90 Sign At An Entrance To BLM Land In Utah
Image credits: lickyoureye
#91 Speeding?
Image credits: objectif49
#92 The Hotel I’m Staying At Forgot To Change Out Both Signs, Leaving Very Different Cleaning Fees
Image credits: Digitalizing
#93 Stop Signs In Quebec, CA Have A Little Picture Under Them Showing Who Else Has To Stop
Image credits: lowercase__g
#94 Stop Sign On The Musqueam Reserve In Vancouver, BC
Image credits: dnaka22
#95 Blockbuster Sign In West Philadelphia
Image credits: Sad-Manufacturer657
#96 This Sign At The RV Park I'm Staying At
Image credits: chazmosaur
#97 "If This Calendar Means Something To You, Scan The QR Code" A Job Recruitment Ad
Image credits: Yan_Jobs
#98 This Sign Says Whoa Instead Of Stop
Image credits: NickSweetwater
#99 This Restaurant Sign Allowing Legal Carry (NYS)
Image credits: Insertions_Coma
