These signs are all over the Oceanfront in Virginia Beach.
Ask anyone what they mean, and they'll say it means "No Cursing". Right? That's the essence most of us get from this city approved, "must-be-some-kind-of-official-law" sign. "Obscenity (the lightening bolt and number sign and stuff) is Prohibited in the Vicinity of this Sign (hence the big red slash)". It's pretty easy to understand. It wouldn't mean something else. Cities don't purposely confuse people with nonsensical signs on street posts. Barring a few that confuse everybody on the DMV's test, signs should be universally understood by geniuses and morons alike.
However, this sign has a "companion" sign that's posted nearby every now and there. A reference sign. It explains what the small round one means a little more in-depth. Just in case you thought you could get away with something not addressed by the other one. Just so the city officially covers everything they want the small one to imply.
Got all that? It starts off cordial, but then it tells you what you're supposed to do on your visit so "others" can enjoy it, too. However it's rendered totally moot because what you, the people around you, an officer of the law, and a judge consider "obscene or vulgar language or gestures", "sexually explicit", "revealing", "inappropriate", or "behavior which is likely to intimidate, harass, or disrupt" is all different. Keep in mind that these signs aren't posted in a preschool play area. Or an area inhabited solely by sexual predators. Or around the perimeter of a privately owned theme park. They're in plain sight. All over the main, public resort area of a living, breathing American city. The biggest city in Virginia. They're meant to scare you into speaking and behaving a certain way. Don't be tricked. You can say whatever you want. Curse as often as you like. Curse as often as you can. Curse right now! Why?!
You're in the United States of America!
In 1998, a guy fell out of a canoe in Michigan and began cursing. A man, his wife, and two kids heard it. He was given a $75 ticket and ordered to work four days in a child-care program. Ridiculous, huh? Well, don't fret. The conviction was thrown out and the law to blame for the whole mess was struck down. Read all about it here. The tide is turning against a cursing ban in Pennsylvania, too. A cursing ban was struck down in North Carolina earlier this year. Those laws were on the books for ages, too. Over a hundred years in one case. The city of Virginia Beach isn't even 50 years old. These signs didn't go up until the early 90s.
Cities can't dictate morals. Signs don't control human behavior. People shouldn't be fooled into thinking they can and do. Therefore, the "No Cursing" signs at the Oceanfront in Virginia Beach must come down. By Labor Day 2011. If the signs remain where they are now - the City of Virginia Beach is formally acknowledging that the signs are for dumb people. Hence, the city is firmly stating, without any protest, "the majority of people walking up and down Atlantic Avenue are so dumb that they need signs to remind them not to do anything that might be considered naughty. And yes, dumb enough to believe that a cartoonish metal sign, affixed high up on a pole can dictate public decency." You've got roughly 5 months to come up with a good plan. Folks don't like being called "dumb". Especially dumb angry people.
Most of us know how to act in public, right? You have an inner voice that tells you when to stop short of burping something rude and hairy in somebody's face. I hope so. Even after a bathtub sized Brandy Alexander, you still have a loose idea of what can get you punched in the gut. We all do. Free thinking "No Cursing" sign supporters claim "Well, the signs are just a reminder to tipsy out-of-towners that tots are present and they should watch their bawdy language" and "Atlantic Avenue is better off with the signs than it was...(leans in closer)... you know...(in a barely audible whisper)... the night Greekfest happened....(looks over shoulder)... shhhhhhhhhhhhh!" Bullshit. Stroll Atlantic Avenue, from 17th Street to 25th Street after 9 P.M. on any June, July, or August night. You'll see blatant examples of filth and obscenity all around you. T-shirts, for sale and being worn as attire, glamorizing binge drinking, sexism, and drug use in full, unavoidable view of any creature with eyes. Tops so tight, shorts so short, and bikinis so flimsy that your appetite and all respect for humanity both fight it out to be lost first. Street preachers fill the air with a tense, thick mood of anger and fear making children cower in their strollers and everybody else needlessly embarrassed.
Plus, when most people see the signs for the first time - what do they do? This!
Ha! I love it! If you've done the same thing, go to the special facebook page I started just for you and add your picture.
Please contact me through my facebook page if you or anyone you know has been issued a ticket in Virginia Beach for cursing in public. Not streaking the Boardwalk on acid, stealing a police horse, riding it to the top of Mt. Trashmore, and then cursing - just plain "cursing or using abusive language towards a person". Oh, and not if you threatened to kill somebody. Death threats to anyone are just plain ill-advised in all situations. Even wars. Seek counseling to manage your rage and we hope your dark reality turns sunny in no time.
Share this blog with your pals. I have more research to do, links to click on, and, with your assistance, some hot leads to investigate - so please check back soon. Take the images below and use them for your facebook profile picture. Add them to your wall photos. Do anything you want with 'em.
Don't support a sign that has no basis in any law. Don't support a sign that is meant to scare people into undefined "decent and moral" behavior. Don't forget to flip it the bird and take a picture of it. I wanna see hundreds of 'em. Dammit!
10 comments:
Log old pal, the point of the campaign was to get people paying attention to their behavior, and your histrionics among others proves that it has worked. There will always be the moron contingent whose idea of cleverness is to be the 500th person to stand under the signs giving the finger, but reports from the field show that the campaign has had its intended effect, as families who were turned off are returning to the Beach.
It's time the city treats people like they aren't drooling, farting maniacs that might offend a priest into never returning to the Oceanfront to spend his hard earned $22 on crappy seafood and some bamboo wind chimes.
My challenge is on the table. Inaction will result in confirmation that Virginia Beach only welcomes ignorant, easily supressed tourists.
Gradually, as tech-savvy teens become the heads of families and the great decision makers when it comes to summer vacations, they'll google "Virginia Beach Cursing Law", read this very blog post, and be offended that a city would do such a thing in the first place.
Unfortunately, and hear me out on this one, the CITY has CREATED the need for these signs by allowing the crap selection of businesses that line Atlantic Avenue. I mean, HOW MANY SUNSATIONS do you need? If you BUILD a sleazy area, you attract sleazy, low class, farting burpers, who dress in obscene, tight-ill fitting "fashions" who don't KNOW any better than to curse and screww and feel up "Dey ho's" in public. You're selling nothing but BITE ME T-shirts - Do you think Trump Tower, Las Olas Blvd, Michigan Avenue etc have to put up these signs? NOOOOOOOOoooooo, because the businesses there ATTRACT people who KNOW how to behave in public!!! Sure it's your right to speak freely right, but come on, we've all been seated on a plane, or at dinner, or anywhere, near that obnoxious guy, who doesn't know any better, who we can't WAIT to get away from. So, I agree, TAKE DOWN THE SIGNS, AND the SUNSATIONS etc, and put in some REAL businesses, shops etc, that sell something that attracts more than boozing, t-shirt wearing, bar-hopping, open mouth breathers.
Ur Right, anyone who has spent any time at the oceanfront, knows of the police state atmosphere. You are afraid to park anywhere, say anything, or do so much worrying about getting caught breathing, that you cant enjoy the trip at all. I stopped going because of the oppressive police, (well known amongst locals).
You can , and will, get a ticket in a heartbeat for even the smallest infraction.
It's so obvious that the city and po-po are on the path of catering to certain developers and business owners and yet doing stupid things like rebuilding an entire city block, then putting no parking signs in the middle of the sidewalk, so that anyone walking has to dodge the sign by stepping into the street, better hope a bicycle cop dosen't see ya I'm sure there's a ticket for that!
I would rather drive to the beach in Carolina, than to deal with the vb crapola and don't go there at all!!
I agree with what you're saying, but I think it's interesting that you have such an issue with this particular "city" law, yet it probably doesn't phase you that you're required by law to wear a seatbelt or a helmet if you ride motorcycles. "Don't offend somebody" laws seem pretty tame to me compared to "Don't cause our insurance premiums to go up" laws.
I think the feeling behind the complaining regarding the no cursing "signs" is more than just a need to rebel or kvetch. I personally am waiting for the signs telling prostitutes they can't sit on brick walls with skirts up to their asz waiting for customers, or the sign that tells guys in dark baggy clothes they can't stand on corners on Atlantic waiting to pass off a drug sale to a customer in broad daylight, while cops drive by (saw it personally). Seriously. The oceanfront is way too ghetto.
Good think I go by the Supreme Court decision Cohen vs. California.
Because Atlantic Ave (north of the Caviler), Pacific Ave (points South), Laskin/31st, and the Blvd/17th are Federal Highways, and Supreme Court decisions trump local rules, yep, I'm going to cuss. Mind you, not in front of a child (that's just rude)
I think the best interpretation of the sign is to ban Bruce Thompson in all his forms. Look at what he has done to our oceanfront.
I'd like to see the Hilton go into foreclosure, but since all the financial risk is borne by the City, it would only cost me more tax money.
Jut for perspective, I pray alot for his son and know BT is a really nice person and generally a careing human being, but he has really f'd up our City.
Now I have to drive to Hilltop for a decent sandwich and a blintz. Just not fair.
I'm all for change and giving the decaying past a big ol' middle finger, but building a bunch of crap with the hopes that it'll be necessary is foolish. Let's see what these new places are like in 6 years. Successful, thriving businesses employing lots of local folks and providing well needed services - or empty, meaningless fake Gold Key storefronts? Only time will tell. Stay tuned. Until then - just enjoy the beach and the ocean. Pay no attention to anything WEST of the Boardwalk.
This is just about the dumbest article I have ever read. Unfortunately, there are more people out there who need to be reminded how to behave in public than there are who know how to behave in public. Even my 8 year old daughter got the point of those signs when she saw them. "Yeah, because there are kids around."
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