Signage weirdness

[bunsen_h]

On Thursday evening, I put lawn signs on my front and side lawns:

NO
HERBICIDE

NO
PESTICIDE

WEED MAN,
THIS MEANS YOU

SPRINGMASTERS,
KEEP OUT

 

Inelegant, but I thought that they would be a starting point, at least.  The sign on the front lawn was partially messed up in the strong gusty wind we had on Friday (or so I assume); I fixed it up when I got home from work.

On Saturday, I noticed that the sign on the side lawn was partially pulled out.  I'm pretty sure that couldn't have been done by the wind.  I put it back.

This afternoon, while I was doing lawn cleanup, I had a couple of people stop by to chat about the signs (they'd previously hired Weed Man but had been unsatisfied with the work, and had had trouble cancelling the contract).  Others paused in passing and read the signs, then continued on their way.

This evening, returning home from an outing, I noticed that the sun shining at an oblique angle across the sign on the front lawn was making some very odd shadows.  On investigation, I found three loops of transparent adhesive tape stuck to the sign.  It appears that sometime between late Friday afternoon and now, somebody went to the time and trouble to stick a message or something on top of my sign, on my front lawn.  And then somebody removed the addition(s), leaving some pieces of tape.

This is rather weird, and more than a bit disturbing.

Comments

[dewline.livejournal.com]

Definitely disturbing for several reasons.

Conspiracy theories

[metalana.livejournal.com]

So someone hates weeds so much that they want to SPEND MONEY on extra herbicide for your lawn?

Or perhaps a lawncare company is AWARE that they are part of the vast North American conspiracy to drown the earth in chemicals.

Or maybe lawncare employees want to stay in DENIAL that they work for evil companies, so they hide the words that name the evil.

Or maybe the company hires an ex-CIA psychologist to come up with quasi-legal ways to make you feel confused, disturbed and threatened.

Um, I really can't think of an explanation that fits with rational economic motivators. If Weedman or Springmasters thought your sign was libellous, they would send a lawyer's letter. If they were worried about customer service and reputation, they'd knock on your door to ask what you're concerned about. If they wanted a quick-and-dirty solution, they could have just pulled out your sign and taken it away.

Have you chatted with your immediate neighbours? Perhaps one of them is secretly angry about your yard-maintenance habits, and aggressing himself passively. More hopefully, maybe someone saw things happening to your sign. Or maybe someone works for a sign-printing company and could make you an elegant sign, with "no pesticides" in big enough letters that you don't have to mention companies by name.

[suelet.livejournal.com]

I might be tempted to set up a webcam and set it to record to your computer while you're out.
I might also be tempted to put up a sign saying "No pesticides, no herbicides. Lawn care companies will be charged with trespass. Smile...you're on candid camera."

It might work.

[bunsen-h.livejournal.com]

If I had a webcam handy, I'd definitely set up something like that. I should look into it.

I'm not sure if adding a warning would be helpful. There'd be some deterrent to abuse, I suppose, but it might also push any trespassers towards coming by at night. And since it's my private property, I don't think there's any need to advise people that I'm monitoring it.

[auriaephiala.livejournal.com]

That's just weird.

Perhaps someone had second thoughts?

[beable]

Fnord!

[bunsen-h.livejournal.com]

Oh, hi, Arnthur.