A pelouse interdit sign like this one is telling you to keep off the grass. The declaration of a lawn in a park out-of-bounds strikes me as being in the worst tradition of No Fun irksome over-regulation. Sure, there are nice park benches to sit on, and yes, dogs and small children and high heels can damage a nice piece of turf, but don’t most prime park activities involve sitting or lying or walking on the grass? Obviously, the function of the pelouse interdit sign is not fabulous. What makes these signs so very appealing is the literal translation of the injunction. Pelouse interdit means something like ‘Forbidden Lawn!,’ or ‘Prohibited Lawn!,’ both terms which I find extremely amusing insofar as they turn a lawn into something slightly sinister and foreboding. To me, the designation ‘Forbidden Lawn’ holds the suggestion of dire peril should one allow one’s pedals onto the green. I consider this very funny indeed. I realise this may be a minority opinion. Nevertheless, if there should come a time when a pelouse interdit sign doesn’t make me laugh, something is very wrong in the state of Pike.
Thursday, August 9, 2007
Behold the forbidden lawn!
There are many reasons why Parisian parks are fabulous. One of them is the proliferation of these signs.
A pelouse interdit sign like this one is telling you to keep off the grass. The declaration of a lawn in a park out-of-bounds strikes me as being in the worst tradition of No Fun irksome over-regulation. Sure, there are nice park benches to sit on, and yes, dogs and small children and high heels can damage a nice piece of turf, but don’t most prime park activities involve sitting or lying or walking on the grass? Obviously, the function of the pelouse interdit sign is not fabulous. What makes these signs so very appealing is the literal translation of the injunction. Pelouse interdit means something like ‘Forbidden Lawn!,’ or ‘Prohibited Lawn!,’ both terms which I find extremely amusing insofar as they turn a lawn into something slightly sinister and foreboding. To me, the designation ‘Forbidden Lawn’ holds the suggestion of dire peril should one allow one’s pedals onto the green. I consider this very funny indeed. I realise this may be a minority opinion. Nevertheless, if there should come a time when a pelouse interdit sign doesn’t make me laugh, something is very wrong in the state of Pike.
A pelouse interdit sign like this one is telling you to keep off the grass. The declaration of a lawn in a park out-of-bounds strikes me as being in the worst tradition of No Fun irksome over-regulation. Sure, there are nice park benches to sit on, and yes, dogs and small children and high heels can damage a nice piece of turf, but don’t most prime park activities involve sitting or lying or walking on the grass? Obviously, the function of the pelouse interdit sign is not fabulous. What makes these signs so very appealing is the literal translation of the injunction. Pelouse interdit means something like ‘Forbidden Lawn!,’ or ‘Prohibited Lawn!,’ both terms which I find extremely amusing insofar as they turn a lawn into something slightly sinister and foreboding. To me, the designation ‘Forbidden Lawn’ holds the suggestion of dire peril should one allow one’s pedals onto the green. I consider this very funny indeed. I realise this may be a minority opinion. Nevertheless, if there should come a time when a pelouse interdit sign doesn’t make me laugh, something is very wrong in the state of Pike.
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