SOMETIMES WORDS JUST AIN'T ENOUGH

Words can do a lot of things. They can comfort, infuriate, convince, inspire, entertain, or inform, among others. Some people think words can protect them. Sometimes they can, but not always.

Last Sunday I took my niece to a park and discovered this sign next to a high metal curvy slide. It said, "Slide was not designed for elementary aged children or younger." WHAT? First, I know for a fact that is an outright lie. That slide has been there in that park since I was a little girl, a good thirty years ago. At the time, it was at the pinnacle of advanced playground equipment technology, before they worried about such things as safety - back before they installed rubber floors and you took your chances on the concrete. Therefore, I know for a fact when it was "designed," it was designed for elementary and younger aged children.

Second, who do they expect to use this slide? Apparently middle schoolers, high schoolers, college students, and adults. Other than older kids screwing around or adults showing their kids how it's done, I almost never see anyone older than eleven sliding down a slide. As you can see from the photo, nobody else believed it either.

Finally, I know the real purpose behind the sign. I'd be willing to bet a significant sum that its entire intention is to try to insulate the city from a lawsuit should a child in elementary school or younger fall off this steeply-staired rickety apparatus. In my non-lawyer opinion, I don't think it would do the trick. It is a slide, in a park, at a playground, with swings and play equipment that ARE intended for small children. I cannot picture a few words on a sign keeping a jury from concluding anything differently about this particular slide. If it's that dangerous, it shouldn't be there. Otherwise, perhaps some signs stating the entire playground is for use at-your-own-risk and the city won't be responsible for injuries suffered anywhere in the park would be at least a better potential tactic.

I thought the sign was quite amusing, but it also demonstrates how words are good for SO many things, but they only go so far.

Happy Sliding!
-the Wordsy Woman.