Comments on: Funny signs in Fremont, WA: "Dump No Material Whatever"

By: Beanolini

Beanolini — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

#22, Anonymous:

Thanks for that, most interesting. I found this page which gives a bit more information on the concept (describing it as the ‘dead man test’), and suggests that a better instruction would involve ‘action’ and ‘movement’.

By: ZehnKatzen

ZehnKatzen — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

@24: I wackyparsed the domain address in that URL as “Fremont Tarts Council”, which would be pretty progressive, actually, I think, if it really existed.

By: takeshi

takeshi — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

@ Kaiser Leib:

It is not an outmoded use of the word at all. It is the same as using it this way:

“Whatever chemicals you dump, be sure to dump them well.”

“Whatsoever” is an intensive form of “whatever.” Personally, as a stickler for proper usage, I would say that “whatever” is actually more correct, albeit less frequently used, particularly in the States.

But whatever.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

I was at the Chinese restaurant last night. My girlfriend pointed out that ducklings are small ducks. I immediately canceled my order for dumplings.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

“I hope somebody adds funny punctuation to it, like “Dump No Material? Whatever.”"

Been there, done that. Enjoy!

http://flickr.com/photos/jeramey/889871979/in/photostream/

By: alexch

alexch — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Bogus peevologism. The OED lists whatever as an alternative for whatsoever and any native speaker would understand it without blinking. I agree with the previous poster who said “I would say that “whatever” is actually more correct… But whatever.”

By: lostspyder

lostspyder — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Official English major here –
This sign is fine. It’s not how I would phrase it, but still fine.

By: ZehnKatzen

ZehnKatzen — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

I ripped off the photo and added the proper punctuation and went the extra mile by amending the sanction notice just a little.

http://zehnkatzen.blogspot.com/2008/06/liff-seattle-sign-properly-punctuated.html

By: jcburns

jcburns — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Hm. posted much the same content here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jcburns/284011153/

…back in February 2006.

But whatever. (Yes, they’re in many parts of metro Seattle.)

By: Takuan

Takuan — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

whatever happened to “Git offen mah danged propitty!, consarn it!”

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

In psychology there’s a thing called the “Dead Man’s Rule.” It says if you want to have people actually obey your commands, avoid giving them instructions that a dead person can obey.

“Do Not Dump” or “No Dumping” would be in violation of this rule.

There are two reasons for this:
1) The brain processes the negation after decoding the message. So by saying “Don’t Dump” you’re actually saying “Dump, oh wait, don’t do that.” You’re actually making the impulse to dump slightly stronger by using common wording.

2)It’s always better to tell people to do something else instead of the behavior you want to avoid. So in this case they are telling people to dump nothing. It’s like the little stickers at the gym in lockers saying “leave no valuables here.”

It’s basic behavioral psychology. I thought you guys liked science?

By: tikal2k

tikal2k — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

#22: so DON’T WALK signs actually cause more jaywalking incidents than they prevent?

By: amylink

amylink — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Even though I’m sure some Fremont residents would like to secede into their own sovereign nation it is not a city. You can come here tomorrow to see naked people on bicycles though.

http://www.fremontartscouncil.org/events_solstice.html

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Turn it into a dialogue:

“DUMP?”

“NO, MATERIAL.”

“WHATEVER.”

By: Maurik

Maurik — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

You’ll love englishfail.wordpress.com

Looks like it could fit right in.

By: hectorinwa

hectorinwa — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

California or Washington? These signs are all over Seattle. I’ve always wondered what they meant…

By: hectorinwa

hectorinwa — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

(I should add – Fremont is a section of Seattle)

By: Pitch

Pitch — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Well, it’s not its most common use, but in the OED:

2a,b. b. adj. = â€˜No matter what..â€™;â€˜Notwithstanding anything thatâ€™.

2c. c. adv. Whatever may be the case, at all events. dial. (and colloq.).

By: Moon

Moon — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Shouldn’t it say

DUMP NO MATERIAL
WHATEVER MORON

By: sicklecell

sicklecell — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

I was born next to a sign like this. No joke.

By: Shawn Wolfe

Shawn Wolfe — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

This was shot a few feet from Jim Woodring’s house.

http://vwmrpcs.myspc.cm/ndx.cfm?fsctn=vwmg&frndD=125128352&lbmD=0&mgD=121407

By: The Tim

The Tim — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Judging by the quoted comment “Fremont WA” and by the Space Needle sticker visible in the upper-right of the picture, I’m going to have to say that the title of this post is incorrect.

The strange signs are indeed in Fremont, Seattle, Washington.

By: Antinous

Antinous — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Shawn,

That’s a link to a log-in page.

By: Shawn Wolfe

Shawn Wolfe — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h228/ShawnWolfe/Ghillie_DumpNo.jpg

By: thefoodgeek

thefoodgeek — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Pitch is, of course, correct in #5. It is more common in England, or at least it was about a century or so ago. It was very popular in Gilbert and Sullivan operettas.

By: wackyvorlon

wackyvorlon — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

It’s not as common a usage these days, but it is perfectly fine. There’s really nothing wrong with the english.

By: dr_spork

dr_spork — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

I read ‘whatever’ as a noun, like, dump no MATERIAL whatever. As opposed to imaginary whatever.

Don’t dump whatever. Especially if it’s material whatever.

By: rAMPANTiDIOCY

rAMPANTiDIOCY — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

I must echo #’s 5, 11 and 12. Whatever it is you want to dump, don’t dump it.

By: Registrado

Registrado — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Exhaling Carbon Dioxide = CRIME!!!

Sweating = CRIME!!!

By: waded

waded — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

#23, that doesn’t make sense. But a STOP sign might get the point across more effectively.