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If you find the time scale interesting, see also the “Long-term nuclear waste warning messages” wikipedia page[1], elaborating on semiotics in this context.

[1]: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long-term_nuclear_waste_warn...



> This place is not a place of honor... no highly esteemed deed is commemorated here... nothing valued is here.

This is one of my favorite little quotes/references to use if I can find a way to work it in. I know it’s about something very serious but it always makes me giggle.

I’ve used it on a few commit messages/comments before for particularly gross code.


I do the same! Using it for non-serious things just adds an extra level of irony. Funniest example I saw was "This is not a place of honor" on the back of some booty shorts


Human nature: the best way to convince someone that there is something valuable here is to put up a sign that says “nothing valuable here—go away!”


My best idea yet for the signs around a dangerous waste depot:

Just put up a sign that says “no cash kept on premises” and an empty cash tray on a counter, behind some glass sliding doors.


I had it stitched into a pillow. It makes me very happy every time I see it.


And I suspect our descendants would pay as much heed to these as we did to Egyptian curses! Perhaps if they are lurid enough they might inspire caution at least.


The idea is that you also put detailed explanations of what's in there, why it's in there, and what it is.

So, even if that doesn't sate their curiosity, they can learn enough to not get themselves killed if they do try to dig it up.



Thank you for posting, this was my major question when reading. A surprisingly poignant article




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