There was a song I loved when I was younger – “Signs” by Five Man Electrical Band. After discovering the lyrics, I really began paying attention to the signs that surround and direct us in life.
I was young and looking for reasons to rebel.
The lyrics are littered with irony, duplicity and discrimination. “Signs” is a classic late sixties/early seventies song about American society during those times. That’s the great thing about America we all have the right to free speech.
Sign Sign everywhere a sign
We went to a quant, historic shop village this weekend and walked around for a few hours. We took pictures, took out the paddles boats, saw a puppet show and took a ride on the little train – it was fun. My children loved it. On our way out we noticed this sign on the front of the pet boutique and treat store called Pet Dazzle and the sign stated, “Pets Welcome — Children Must Be Leashed.” I couldn’t help myself but, to laugh and continue walking.
On the way home I thought everywhere it seems people are carrying their dogs with them. I’m not picking on dog lovers but all the while we were walking around I didn’t see a cat, turtle, Ginny pig or parrot on a leash – just dogs. So for arguments sake I’ll assume the sign was referencing dogs as they are the preferred leashed pet. We now have dog friendly hotels, dog friendly restaurants, and dog friendly parks. It’s great. I love dogs. I owned several during my lifetime. Do we need to dress them up? Do we need to carry them around in little doggie purses? Dogs are dogs and humans are humans. People should treat humans like a human and a dog like a dog. Any dog expert will tell you the same thing, it’s when people try to humanize a dog is when problems occur, or worse – accidents.
Do this, don’t do that, can’t you read the sign
My children are growing everyday and beginning to take notice of their surroundings. Normally, when my daughters asks me what a signs says I would explain to her the meaning and significance of it. This particular sign would give me the opportunity to explain irony and what it means to be ironical but, I don’t believe this merchant meant for the sign to be ironic. I’d have to explain to her that this person doesn’t value all life indiscriminately; there is a social hierarchy in that store and children are nowhere near the top.
Sign said you got to have a membership card to get inside Uh!
This shop displays their prejudice publicly, without shame or humility, regarding their feelings for children. The sign is even on their website.
I didn’t go inside this shop; we were heading out and tired from a full day of walking. I didn’t go in and ask the merchant why he/she would display a sign like that on their front entrance. I just took my picture and smirked, at this blatant form of discrimination. Ultimately, I decided to display their sign on my blog and exercise the same right Five Man Electrical Band did – free speech.
Besides, I had my children with me and didn’t have a leash.
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Tags: Signs, social discrimination, social heirarchy, treating pets like humans
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The thing is, some people really do put leashes on their kids. Unbelievable!
Funny sign, btw.
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It seems that this sign displays more of a negative impact than a positive. That is-if you are completely close minded and abrupt to understanding it. The thing is-parents need to understand that not every company, merchant, or person will put your children up on a pedastool. They take precautions to display such “signs” in order to take drastic measures on how they feel about children walking in to their place of business. “Don’t do this, Don’t do that, etc….” You have to understand that when you make the choice to not think with your head and instead with something else to produce offspring, this is the type of outcome you may have. We live in a very cruel world in which sometimes society will not be tolerant of kids . I do not blame them. It is good for children to familiarize their surroundings as they grow, but our society provides boundaries that children won’t become accustomed to. (Like that would really work!)Like the signs as you explained, for example.
Children are curious creatures that will sometimes do whatever it takes to fullfill a philosophy that they don’t know about. Ex: Going into a store and touching something they’re not supposed to, but want to. I believe the article you provided is somewhat valid, but opinions will vary. If I were a business owner, I’d be more concerned with how this sign would “affect” my business as it could have a lack of customers walking in.
Anyway, I love dogs as well. They sometimes are considered children as well for those who cannot have kids and use them as a substitute. But to dress them up and carry them in a case I think is kind of awkward. I wouldn’t even enter mine in a contest because I feel it’s not fair to the animal. I do put a sweater on my dog in the winter when I take him for a walk when it is very cold. I just don’t want him to get sick. When I took him to the vet, I would have to carry him in a pet case because I would have to catch the bus.
To finish this up, since we are on the subject of dogs, I would suggest you would post a report about this on your next article:
I was walking my dog the other day when I came across a young girl (who looked like she was no younger that 10 yrs. old) walking her dog as well, but she was alone. I don’t know how far away she lived, but personally I do not think she was the appropriate age to be by herself. Her parent(s) should have been with her. I was concerned and tempted to call the cops. I kept an eye on her from a distance to make sure she was ok. What do you think about this situation? When do you think a child is the appropriate age for a child to go out by his/herself? I think this would be a great idea for your next article.
Thanks!
Dory
I wrote this post specifically to point out this shop owner’s prejudice. This post has little to do with how cruel the world can be or the lack of childbearing planning – both are out of our control. Society’s intolerance of children and unprotected sex has little to do with attaching a sign to a building. Prejudice of any kind should not be tolerated.
Furthermore, children do not need boundaries, they need guidance. There is a big difference.
Substituting animals for a child is exactly my other point, as in, dogs are dogs and kids are kids. Pets are companions and not children. Children are raised and companions are partners – huge difference. I took my pet to the vet yesterday. My daughter and I were waiting to see the doctor and another patient came out with her human. The waiting room was extremely small and I could not help but overhear their conversation. The receptionist gave the human the cost of the visit; the total cost was over two hundred dollars. The elderly woman almost fell over. The receptionist went on and asked the woman if she wanted to do other the “other tests” recommended for her aging dog and the woman asked how much was it going to cost? The receptionist told her an additional hundred dollars and the woman declined the tests. I’m not judging but, if that were a child I’m almost positive the tests would have been completed. Unfortunately, in our society, there is a hierarchy. Unfair, but it exists.
As for the ten year old girl walking her dog? I think it is up to the parents to make a decision if their child is mature enough to walk the family pet. Your overall comments are laced with fear. Have more faith in your fellow man and that is exactly what you will get in return. Just like this mom in New York.
http://gothamist.com/2008/04/0.....s_chil.php
Thanks for the comment. I appreciate your honesty.