Wanted: entry-level Shakespeare

Every Aussie administrator has the soul of a Shakespeare, but that's only natural since this nation has its origins in the country of Shakespeare. When you see the warning signs and other traffic signs here, you'll come to the conclusion that everyone who got a negative response from a publishing house probably turned to a bureaucrat and let their creativity bloom when designing the warning signs, making them resemble daily aphorisms instead of something to be taken seriously.

For example, at the train station I noticed a sign that advised people against running to the train, being noisy at night, elbowing the fellow passengers and all in all, being a nuisance, and all this was achieved in a poetic form. In the train the same wanna-be Shakespeare attacked his audience by demanding they keep their feet and dirty shoes somewhere else than the opposing seat, you see "feet on the seat is not so sweet". Every time I encounter these hilarious signs, my mood improves so much. Australia is a mother hen-society in a nice way, always so eager to make sure everyone's respected, treated well and not discriminated against.

Here is the sign that was at the train station

At the same time I am a bit worried about the nation, can these people actually think for themselves or are they just lead on by the society, the big brother who thinks for them? Long vehicles have warning signs at their back, saying " do not overtake a turning vehicle". I should have  thought a driver's licence holder should know this without any warning signs. Walls in any public toilet are like advertisement boards for every kind of mental health phone line imaginable. Want to quit smoking or drugs? Are you anxious, do you feel depressed or lonely? There are help lines for you, just give them a call and all your problems will suddenly disappear.

No casting no driving, no swimming no diving- it's a poem alright 

Yes, the society here is a bit over-protective of its citizens but the citizens are a totally different matter. They do not take these regulations, polite suggestions or even laws too seriously. Sometimes its OK to take a shortcut to the destination, you know. It makes me wonder if the warnings were originally meant to educate and keep in line the hyperactive, entrepreneurial persons who lack both the common sense and a healthy respect of the others. Anyway, Australia has definitely gone through an impressive face-lift since the days of the British penal colony.