Which clip art extravaganza is the most gratuitous? You be the judge!
Is it this sign, from the Virginia office of — of course — a major mobile carrier?
Is it this little tea party of a sign from Cambridge, Mass.?
Or is it this one, from, yes, a church restroom?
related: Cubicle etiquette
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144 responses so far ↓
#1
Matt
I like how the little animals don’t even pertain to what the note says in the first one.
Dec 16, 2007 at 6:04 pm rating: 4
#2
anglophile
Do Not Trash This Bathroom, or an orthodox priest with a hand puppet will bless you???
I wonder how effective that sign is?
Dec 16, 2007 at 6:11 pm rating: 19
#3
zenvelo
that last one, why is Osama bin Laden disguised as a bishop?
Dec 16, 2007 at 6:13 pm rating: 12
#4
Andrea
I’m torn. I love the clip art mathematics in #2, but I also love bathroom!priest in #3… they are both great works.
Dec 16, 2007 at 6:14 pm rating: 1
#5
fangelohio
Personally, I like the priest. I mean, come on, who could trash a bathroom without wondering if they’re going to hell for it?
Dec 16, 2007 at 6:21 pm rating: 3
#6
Crash
The second one works really well if your illiterate.
Dec 16, 2007 at 6:21 pm rating: 6
#7
Grimfool
As for the most gratuitous, obviously #1; way out of control . . . there COULD have been a theme with loud animals, except for the bunny and ladybug; there COULD have been an implied “we don’t work in a zoo” — again, except for the bunny and ladybug. And did anyone notice that the sign which is obviously aimed at cellphone users is directly under a yellow Nextel flag? Talked about mixed subliminal messages! Can you hear me now? Can you hear me now?
Dec 16, 2007 at 6:22 pm rating: 4
#8
Canthz_B
I think that sign three,
Would cause guilt, making it too,
Hard to make a pee.
Dec 16, 2007 at 6:24 pm rating: 2
#9
Canthz_B
What if I prefer to take my call to the ventricle?
Dec 16, 2007 at 6:26 pm rating: 4
#10
Grimfool
However, upon reflection and after a message from God, I also scratch my head at #3 — obviously a Protestant church to the left, obviously an Orthodox priest to the right… but I do dig how the priest’s eyes follow me around the room as I’m trashing it!
Dec 16, 2007 at 6:28 pm rating: 5
#11
Canthz_B
Here is the church,
Here is the steeple,
The Bishop is watching,
Don’t trash this room people.
Dec 16, 2007 at 6:28 pm rating: 7
#12
Canthz_B
Overheard cell phone conversations are annoying. Even the animal kingdom has had enough!
Dec 16, 2007 at 6:33 pm rating: 2
#13
Crash
Note #1
So, if I’m on my phone and not reading the sign, I can keep my call there, right ?
Dec 16, 2007 at 6:34 pm rating: 12
#14
anglophile
That is really an impressive display of clip art in Note #2. Not only a cannister and loose tea leaves, but also a tea strainer. Most mediocre clip art collections would only have a bag and a cup for tea, I’d bet!
Dec 16, 2007 at 6:41 pm rating: 3
#15
Writer, Rejected
I don’t get the math problem in the second sign. How does me + a mop equal some loose tea and a sink? Does that mean the disposal spits up the tea on the floor? Also, I think clip art should be banned by everyone but art directors. It’s too much. Much too much.
Dec 16, 2007 at 6:53 pm rating: 1
#16
Canthz_B
Laugh now, but 300 years from now these masterworks will be taught in Clip-Art History 101, The Millennium Period.
Dec 16, 2007 at 6:53 pm rating: 3
#17
Stace
What kind of garbage disposal can’t handle tea leaves?
Dec 16, 2007 at 7:41 pm rating: 2
#18
SaiSei
I, for one, am grateful for the pictures. I don’t know how I ever would have figured out that there was a trash receptacle without the oscar-the-grouch trashcan picture showing me the way.
Dec 16, 2007 at 7:49 pm rating: 4
#19
Canthz_B
In note three (in a church), why did they make “you” less important than the “Bathroom” by not capitalizing? Hmmm…
Dec 16, 2007 at 8:00 pm rating: 2
#20
summer
That tea was fucking delicious!
Dec 16, 2007 at 8:09 pm rating: 4
#21
Wade
I think that left justifying the trash receptacle puts the attention to detail completely over the top.
Dec 16, 2007 at 8:12 pm rating: 1
#22
WanderingPenguin
I would like to say that, as a right-handed person, I do not find a trash receptacle located to the left of something to be the least bit convenient. Team Equal-Opportunity Trash Receptacles.
Dec 16, 2007 at 8:14 pm rating: 4
#23
Wade
You know, you can buy a strainer to fit over the drain. Costs less than 1 USD.
I’m just saying…..
Dec 16, 2007 at 8:18 pm rating: 2
#24
WanderingPenguin
I am also really disappointed that they didn’t bother (in sign #2) going to the trouble to find a clipart picture of me to complete that equation. Ergo, I imagine that note must be directed at someone else.
Also, if only there was some way of determining exactly who the “major mobile carrier” is in picture #1. Hmmm… _EXTEL… damn, I just cannot figure it out. The Easter Bunny was an… interesting touch… but wtf is up with that Stretch Armstrong monkey? *shudder*
Dec 16, 2007 at 8:19 pm rating: 7
#25
super_fan99
Since when do tea bags look like a ball of hair? It kinda looks like a ball of broken toothpicks. And what kind of garbage disposal can’t handle that anyway? I can put whole chickens in mine…
Dec 16, 2007 at 8:22 pm rating: 6
#26
Inga
#1. Reading from left to right, the animals depicted are progressively less noisy, as the “you” referenced would be as s/he exited to the atrium. A sign created for the many intelligent folks for whom signs in English look like this – asdilh laskdato oiwe renio aoiur.
I’m only sorry that what appears to be the Easter Bunny is carrying a basket. Why? Maybe this is a picture of a human child dressed as the E.B. for Halloween . . . in which case, it should come to the left of the lion, probably.
Dec 16, 2007 at 8:47 pm rating: 1
#27
Eilis
hay, sum uv us need pikcherz. i jus kant get the tee leevz an the sinc an the mop to awl fit in the trashkan.
Dec 16, 2007 at 8:50 pm rating: 7
#28
anglophile
Ok, because I’m obsessed with the clip art, and, let’s face it, have nothing better to do, I went looking on my Office 2000 Clip Art files. (Hey–don’t laugh–it still works!) I found the church and the possibly-giving-you-the-bird holy man in there! Nothing from Notes 1 and 2, though, which leads me to think they were made on Macs.
Just another example on how I go above and beyond to enrich your PAN experience!
Dec 16, 2007 at 9:30 pm rating: 3
#29
caclark4
I figured sign #3 was created by some creepy pedophile priest who now has a fetish about bathrooms. I will never use the church restroom again but that could just be my overactive imagination.
Dec 16, 2007 at 10:07 pm rating: 0
#30
anglophile
I can’t help being reminded of Mr. Hat every time I look at Note #3!
Dec 16, 2007 at 10:35 pm rating: 2
#31
Canthz_B
Pictionary Anonymous (PA) meets M-W-F at 7pm in the atrium.
Dec 16, 2007 at 11:51 pm rating: 2
#32
mary
church clipart definitely. makes you think god is watching you if you don’t comply, not just some ladybug.
Dec 17, 2007 at 12:03 am rating: 2
#33
Canthz_B
If I cannot trash “This Bathroom” are the others fair game?
I don’t want to take anything out of context. Are there signs in every “Bathroom”?
Dec 17, 2007 at 12:22 am rating: 0
#34
Canthz_B
Cleanliness next to Godliness,
I’m reminded by scripture.
Thank you so much but,
No need for a picture.
An art laden sign reminds,
Silence is golden.
To my caring coworker,
I’m forever beholden.
I’m mostly impressed by,
Illustrations put to good use.
Teaching us all how to,
Dispose of tea leaf refuse.
Dec 17, 2007 at 2:43 am rating: 2
#35
JPav
Hmmm… reading this sign and talking on the phone… can I count that as multitasking on my next review?
Dec 17, 2007 at 8:49 am rating: 3
#36
DrAstroZoom
If you’re reading this snotty sign,
And you’re talking on the phone,
And a bunch of clip art animals
Get up and tell you where to go,
Go ask Alice — I think she’ll know.
She’s in the atrium, where logic and proportion fall sloppy dead.
Dec 17, 2007 at 10:37 am rating: 5
#37
wickedopinion
I am going to buy a small dog and name him Bathroom Bishop and I shall find him a teeny, tiny miter and he shall be a light in dark places whilst I am peeing.
Inga, you must suffer through PAN initiation rites before you are allowed to mouth off. Also don’t forget your sense of humor in your other pants. Take it from one who knows. Love ya, WP, you rock!!
Dec 17, 2007 at 10:48 am rating: 4
#38
Maya
Is that the Flying Spaghetti Monster next to the sink in note number 2? Because He should not be put down the garbage disposal!Ramen
Dec 17, 2007 at 11:04 am rating: 3
#39
lou fah
ahhhhh, that clip art priest just touched my wiener.
Dec 17, 2007 at 12:25 pm rating: 1
#40
GhostWriter
I think the first note is a verbal insult in rebus.
My guess: You Lyin’ Monkey-bird, Hair-beetle.
Hey, I’ve been called worse…
Dec 17, 2007 at 1:18 pm rating: 5
#41
MJaz
worms + a faucet = me + a mop? I guess that makes sense. If I drank wormy water, I would certainly need a mop.
And that priest is scary. I get weird when I see priests with their hands up people’s dresses in bathrooms. But that’s just me.
Dec 17, 2007 at 1:21 pm rating: 3
#42
Hannah
No one has commented on the capitalisation and font colourings in note no. 2 yet, so I thought I would.
Dec 17, 2007 at 2:21 pm rating: 1
#43
GhostWriter
#3 would be the hands-down winner, with this minor edit:
Please Do Not Trash
THis BathroomDec 17, 2007 at 3:14 pm rating: 4
#44
Canthz_B
100? Yes!
Dec 17, 2007 at 3:24 pm rating: 1
#45
Lurker
The only thing worse than clipart is free, mismate clipart!
Dec 17, 2007 at 3:40 pm rating: 0
#46
SilverIris
Today’s haiku:
God: always watching,
even when you pee and poop.
(Just like Santa Clause.)
Dec 17, 2007 at 3:48 pm rating: 0
#47
Jodi Blaze
Now how does loose tea in the garbage dispoal end up being you and a mop…..does the garbage disposal vomit the tea onto the floor?
Dec 17, 2007 at 4:18 pm rating: 0
#48
anglophile
I’ve got Jack Nicholson screaming in my head: “You want the loose tea????!!!???? You can’t handle the loose tea!!!!!”
Powerful stuff.
Dec 17, 2007 at 5:09 pm rating: 4
#49
Masha G.
There’s something more to that second one…it’s an algebraic equation, and it’s actually supposed to be read like this:
You = Tea + Sink – Mop
Dec 17, 2007 at 7:11 pm rating: 0
#50
Maddy
Glad to know that other people need those visual cues too.
Cheers
Dec 17, 2007 at 7:29 pm rating: 0
#51
Stuart
I love the tea one! Somebody spent a lot of on the clock minutes surfing the best of Google Image Search for that one.
Dec 17, 2007 at 7:59 pm rating: 0
#52
AllPickles!
Okay, so… if you put tea, in the toilets, you’ll be attacked by bitchy ladybugs and blessed by Bishops while simultaneously cleaning out the disposal?? Sounds fun!!
Dec 17, 2007 at 8:15 pm rating: 1
#53
kristen
I love the first one.
Dec 17, 2007 at 8:24 pm rating: 0
#54
Canthz_B
I just want a gram of whatever the Easter Bunny has been into.
That’s one happy hare!
Dec 17, 2007 at 9:42 pm rating: 3
#55
Busted
With regard to note two, I see colour addiction as passive aggressive. Red is anger (see underlines) and blue kinder (see helpful hint on trash bin location).
Dec 18, 2007 at 5:44 am rating: 0
#56 office anthropomorphism
[...] baffling…where on earth did that clip art come [...]
Dec 29, 2007 at 2:30 pm rating: 0
#57 eau dear
[...] interestingly, it seems fish-hating office workers elsewhere also share an affinity for clip art. [...]
Feb 11, 2008 at 11:50 am rating: 0
#58 infinite note project
[...] going at all hours. faydra’s next door neighbors kicked things off (with the most frightening clip art extravaganza ever) and things devolved from there. in chronological [...]
Feb 15, 2008 at 10:26 am rating: 0
#59 stop! in the name of clip art
[...] once again, it’s a note from a church bathroom (this one spotted by jess in boston) that really pushes things to a whole new level of divine [...]
Apr 15, 2008 at 7:34 pm rating: 0
#60 He died for your clip art
[...] get more egregious than this clip-art catastrophe from a church in boston (left), which made this one (right) look downright tasteful in [...]
Apr 28, 2008 at 11:14 pm rating: 0
#61 perverse and often baffling
[...] clip art crimes [...]
May 6, 2008 at 9:07 pm rating: 0
#62
Joanna
the third one wins.
Aug 11, 2009 at 9:26 pm rating: 0
#63 Cool Cell Phones images : Mobile Phones Info Blog
[...] please check your cell phones and flamingos at the door Image by passiveaggressivenotes http://www.passiveaggressivenotes.com/2007/12/16/clip-art-crimes/ [...]
Mar 5, 2011 at 1:56 am rating: 0
#64 I Your Partner » Another cell phone Addict
[...] please check your cell phones and flamingos at the door Image by passiveaggressivenotes http://www.passiveaggressivenotes.com/2007/12/16/clip-art-crimes/ [...]
Mar 18, 2011 at 2:04 am rating: 0
#65 Not Another Camerea Phone | Cell Phones
[...] please examine your cell phones and flamingos at the door Image by passiveaggressivenotes http://www.passiveaggressivenotes.com/2007/12/16/clip-art-crimes/ [...]
Apr 20, 2011 at 11:49 am rating: 0
#66 Kabul hotel attack raises concerns about Afghan security forces | Mobile Cell Phones 1 Com
[...] = "FFFFFF";please check your cell phones and flamingos at the door Image by passiveaggressivenotes http://www.passiveaggressivenotes.com/2007/12/16/clip-art-crimes/ Pssst! We're on Twitter! http://www.twitter.com/panotes And Facebook! http://www.facebook.com/panotes Kabul [...]
Jul 3, 2011 at 7:40 am rating: 0
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