(Apologies for any weird-sounding translations.)
E-mail from Moneim to Katrin:
-----Original message-----
From: Moneim
To: Katrin
Re: Questionable Prohibition Sign
The puzzle about the prohibition sign has been solved. My mother has refused to let this mystery remain unsolved and so she has asked about it. The answer follows.
Message 1:
-----Original message-----
From: Moneim's Mom
To: The Department of Parks, Berlin
Dear Sir or Madam:
Recently, I was at a park where I stumbled across this prohibition sign, and I cannot figure out what is being forbidden by the symbol, which I have have marked with a green arrow. I would be grateful for your clarification.
Kind regards,
M.E.
Message 2:
-----Original Message-----
From: Ms. Bureaucrat
To: Moneim's Mom
Re: Questionable Prohibition Sign
Dear Mrs. E.,
The sign should make clear that children should take off their bicycle helmets when climbing on the playground equipment. The equipment is constructed according to special safety standards, which are based on a child's body measurements. Bicycle helmets could cause them to hit their heads. This is not a legal prohibition. Because most would not read the details, the pictogram provides the information.
Kind regards,
Ms. Bureaucrat
reading your translation makes me realize just how terribly uber-german this whole thing must appear.
ReplyDeletebtw, one tiny correction: they are not afraid that children could hit their heads but that their heads could get stuck.
and i still don't know how anyone could ever identify this funny-looking mushroom as a bicycle helmet...
/moneim
I was sure that had to be wrong! "Get stuck"?!!? That is ridiculous. I love the idea of someone getting his/her head stuck as a reason to prohibit bicycle-helmet-wearing. The whole thing is SO German, but of course, that is why I love it. Actually, in the U.S. this kind of thing is fairly common because of our extreme litigiousness as a society. It's amazing we still build playgrounds, given the number of lawsuits about play structures. I used to work for a playground manufacturer, and the attention to detail in safety regulations was scrupulous. Nevertheless, the company was often sued by parents for causing harm to their children.
ReplyDelete