Normative Signs: The Poetry of "Ought"

This “No Wake Zone” sign is from Toronto’s Ashbridges Bay park. It is intended to direct boaters to driver slow enough not to cause a wake. Of course, land-lubbers may be confused: am I supposed to sleep here? Is caffeine forbidden?

(Not also, more pedantically, that this terse sign is somewhat verbally confusing. It means, of course, “This is a no-wake zone.” But most “no” signs forbid something, namely whatever comes after the “no.” That’s not the case here. Nor is this sign intended to state that there is no “wake zone” present, another possible interpretation. Making good, brief signs isn’t easy.)

Thanks to Barb Secker for the photo.