Stupid, stupid, stupid and pointless composition of public messages

**LesMTS** · 11th October 2006, 6:32pm

Why do people feel need the complicate what should be simple messages by adding in pointless words or phrases to make themselves sound official? I heard George Carlin talk about this once but only recently have I really understood what he meant.
I had my health and safety training for the hospital today which involved listening to a 90 minute lecture on "Fire Safety in the Hospital".
If there is a fire on the floor you are working on the alarm that sounds will be a rapidly repeating high pitched tone with some woman repeating "This is a code 10, this is a code 10" every couple of seconds. This means you have to evacuate.
If there is a fire on a floor above or below you the alarm you will hear is a slower repeating high pitched tone. The woman, under these circumstances, will be saying "This is a code 5, this is a code 5." This means you might see people evacuating but you should stay where you are.
Code 10?
Code 5?
What is this mystical shit? Couldn't the woman just be saying "evacuate" or "remain where you are" as appropriate? Seriously, I'm interested in anyone's opinions on why that shouldn't be the case.

Also, on Glenrothes golf course there's a bit where you have to cross a tiny country road. There's a big sign saying "Please beware of vehicular traffic." Vehicular traffic?

Why add in this unnecessary, complicating nonsense? Because the people who design this crap like to think they're working for MI5. It's the same syndrome that people from the general public fall victim to as soon as they're given the opportunity to speak on TV and radio. Bloody cretins.

JennyPiccolo · 11th October 2006, 6:35pm

I would imagine, it's so you dont upset the patients by shouting 'Fire! We're all going to die!'

Similarly, if you're an actor on stage at a theatre and you spot a fire,you have to say something like 'duplicitous chips' or some other phrase that wouldnt commonly be heard in your lines, so as to alert others backstage but not necessarily alarm the audience, should it be something controllable that they need not know about.

**LesMTS** · 11th October 2006, 6:37pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by JennyPiccolo

I would imagine, it's so you dont upset the patients by shouting 'Fire! We're all going to die!'

Similarly, if you're an actor on stage at a theatre and you spot a fire,you have to say something like 'duplicitous chips' or some other phrase that wouldnt commonly be heard in your lines, so as to alert others backstage but not necessarily alarm the audience, should it be something controllable that they need not know about.

But it's not for in the wards. It's for in the lab blocks where there are no patients. The patients get a standard fire alarm.

nevali · 11th October 2006, 6:37pm

Dumbass, ten.

Similarly the ‘vehicular’ part of that sign is utterly pointless.

fallen_nemesis · 11th October 2006, 6:39pm

well, it's a bit classier than saying "here there be wee jakey neds on dirtbikes tearin' up the golf course after dark"

JennyPiccolo · 11th October 2006, 6:40pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by LesMTS

But it's not for in the wards. It's for in the labs where there are no patients. The patients get a standard fire alarm.

Oh right. That is retarded.

**LesMTS** · 11th October 2006, 6:46pm

Actually, there are patients in our lab block but they wouldn't care as they're all unconscious because that's where surgery is. So it's still stupid.

Just had an interesting thought. I wonder what happens if there's a fire during an operation?

nevali · 11th October 2006, 6:54pm

Are surgeons and anaesthetists trained for that situation?

I think it might depend on how serious the fire is and whether they can safely close up and wheel the patient out of there.

**LesMTS** · 11th October 2006, 6:56pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by nevali

Are surgeons and anaesthetists trained for that situation?

I think it might depend on how serious the fire is and whether they can safely close up and wheel the patient out of there.

I don't know. I'll ask one of the surgeons tomorrow.

faerie_child · 11th October 2006, 11:07pm

" i heard one guy on cnn say 'seattle is expecting a rain event' and i thought 'holy shit i hope i can get tickets to that!'"

stuff like this bugs me too. though, what i find more annoying, is people saying things like "MAC code" and "PIN number". if you do not know how to use acronymns, you should not be allowed to do so.

nevali · 11th October 2006, 11:10pm

NatWest ATMs request you enter your “PIN number” after you insert your card, and various (official) “Chip 'n' PIN” notices talk of the same.

Of all the organisations you'd think know what PIN stands for (and it's not like people look at you blankly if you ask for their PIN, and then suddenly know what you mean when you faux-correct yourself and say “sorry, PIN number”, is it?), it'd be the banking industry.

*Potatojunkie* · 11th October 2006, 11:13pm

Without a PIN number how are you supposed to work the ATM machine?

sarabee · 11th October 2006, 11:13pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by JennyPiccolo

I would imagine, it's so you dont upset the patients by shouting 'Fire! We're all going to die!'

Tbh, I'd be more scared if I was a patient in a hospital and some alarm was wailing along with an important-sounding woman saying "THIS IS A CODE 10, THIS IS A CODE 10"

**LesMTS** · 11th October 2006, 11:13pm

There's a running theme of bad acronyms in "Feedback" in New Scientist, but I can't remember any and can't be bothered digging out old copies. They're usually good though. There was a particularly good run where they were finding acronyms embedded in acronyms.

faerie_child · 11th October 2006, 11:16pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by nevali

NatWest ATMs request you enter your “PIN number” after you insert your card, and various (official) “Chip 'n' PIN” notices talk of the same.

Of all the organisations you'd think know what PIN stands for (and it's not like people look at you blankly if you ask for their PIN, and then suddenly know what you mean when you faux-correct yourself and say “sorry, PIN number”, is it?), it'd be the banking industry.

i know. it sets my teeth on edge. i was trained on sky broadband recently and i corrected the team leaders every time he said "MAC code". eventually he asked me why i was doing it. when i pointed out that he had told us earlier that M.A.C stood for 'migration authorisation code' which made saying 'code' after it kinda pointless. given that it meant he was really saying 'migration authorisation code code'. he stared at me blanky then ignored me.

i went on to correct the spelling and grammar on the training handouts. i think he hates me now.