As it happens, our entire technical staff (a.k.a Eric) recently completed a Ph.D in computer science and took a job at the newly formed Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems in picturesque Tübingen, Germany. (That’s right kids, if you work hard, and get your doctorate in computer science, you too may one day be qualified enough to host a found-content blog!)
Upon arriving at MPI’s Tübingen campus, Eric immediately felt at home. Specifically, he spotted some encouraging signage right next to the second floor elevator in one of MPI’s buildings.
Besides being a powerful testament to Southern Germany’s deep love of hiking, this health conscious posting also highlights the institute’s international reach. As you can see, the note itself is actually a photograph of a sign that was originally posted at (by?) Korea University*.
Of course walking down a single flight of stairs is hardly an inconvenience, particularly since the stairs in question are literally across from the elevator and lead directly to the building’s main entrance. The folks on the third floor, however, have a different perspective on the situation. Posted next to the third floor elevator is this rather charming reply.
Finally, from across the Atlantic, students at the University of Virginia have brought to light an additional concern surrounding the classic elevator vs. stairs debate. The following note, spotted by Trisha, was placed by the stairs of her UVA apartment building…along with an entire box of fat-free vanilla pudding.
Needless to say, the pudding was gone by the end of the day.
* Perhaps you, dear reader, can keep this transcontinental chain alive. Please consider printing out your own copy of the above photo and posting it at your place of business and/or learning.
47 responses so far ↓
#1
Jack
Weird. The sign analogizes overweight stair-climbers to a herd of diseased bison. But the illustration shows what looks like a cheerful narwhal. I’m having trouble reconciling this zoological inconsistency.
May 17, 2011 at 6:01 am rating: 72
#2
Nunavut Guy
MMMMMMM…….pudding stuffed bison.
May 17, 2011 at 6:26 am rating: 21
#3
Yeah
Better yet, take a picture of this website and then print the picture of the picture of the sign of the picture of the sign, and post THAT near the elevator.
May 17, 2011 at 8:54 am rating: 16
#4
*snerk*
I want to know about the narwhal. In whose worldview do horned sea mammals have any connection to stairs, elevators, heaving, buffalo, or pudding?
May 17, 2011 at 8:58 am rating: 10
#5
park rose
Shame sign 3 was in Virginia and not New York State, because then this could apply:
I am also wondering what heave up from a diseased herd of buffalo looks like. I’m sure it ain’t purdy.
May 17, 2011 at 9:15 am rating: 10
#6
Canthz_B
Poor Bill Cosby…can’t seem to leave an anonymous note. Always leaves clues.
May 17, 2011 at 9:36 am rating: 18
#7
The Elf
So how are the fat asses going to get any skinnier if taking the stairs is out?
May 17, 2011 at 10:44 am rating: 16
#8
Txmatey
I can understand heaving up the stairs, but down? I’ve never seen anyone heave down the stairs.
It looks like someone else added the Narwhal picture; maybe as a statement of “up yours”?
May 17, 2011 at 10:45 am rating: 2
#9
FeRD
Perhaps not. flickr says, “The owner has disabled downloading of their photos”.
IOW, “Computer says no!“
May 17, 2011 at 11:01 am rating: 1
#10
Jeanette
I can’t imagine diseased buffalo being able to move around much. You know, being sick and all. And maybe the buffalo is tired of having a fat ass, that’s why he’s taking the stairs.
May 17, 2011 at 11:10 am rating: 4
#11
Mushroom
The Google Ad below this article is for Colorado Stairlifts.
May 17, 2011 at 11:44 am rating: 1
#12
Adriana
Having lived in an apartment right next to stairs, I can tell you weight has nothing to do with it. Some people are just clompers.
Also, if you’re really fat, you’re probably not climbing the stairs very fast or leaping two at a time, so you’re really not going to be making that much noise.
PREJUDICE!
P.S. Oh yeah, if I’m fat, I’m going to fix that by eating a lot of sugar and corn starch because it’s fat free. Yay!
May 17, 2011 at 11:55 am rating: 9
#13
Meg
I would totally print out that sign and post it, but my office locks the stairwell, which sucks because I work on the second floor. Nothing like taking the elevator every day to the second floor
In fact, I had to get up from in the middle of writing this and open up the stairwell door for somebody locked in there.
May 17, 2011 at 12:39 pm rating: 3
#14
Divvitar
Trust me, your average Thunder Thighs is not going to try rumbling up (or down) more that one flight of stairs. That’s what elevators are for. If there’s a “Herd of Buffalo” or Narwhals, etc., I guarantee you it’s a gaggle of kids; and by kids, I mean those under 25, whether their asses are fat or not.
May 17, 2011 at 1:37 pm rating: 2
#15
Auto Title Loans
Management really must have a problem if they use profanity in their note. I suppose you can get away with that in college, but can you imagine that in a large city and professional world? Talk about an uproar!
Ava
May 17, 2011 at 2:03 pm rating: 1
#16
Jennifer
UVa sucks. Snotty wahoos…
May 17, 2011 at 9:15 pm rating: 0
#17
pony girl
Congrats to Eric, by the way!
May 18, 2011 at 3:08 am rating: 5
#18
Custard Cream
I don’t get the “Because I don’t make sports for free” comment. Is this the thing known as German humour?
May 18, 2011 at 4:38 am rating: 3
#19
Shruti
Yay! My husband and I are about to move to Germany so he can work at a Max Planck Institute after finishing his PhD! IS THIS MY FUTURE? Super thrilling.
May 19, 2011 at 8:31 am rating: 1
#20
Hyereee
Thats sooo funny! I study in Tübingen and will also study at Korea University from feb 2012 on XD
May 21, 2011 at 8:25 am rating: 1
#21
kathrin
haha! i live in tübingen and we love passive-aggressiveness here! eric, how about a german version of pan? i have a bunch of material from the house secretary and the appartment managment.
May 24, 2011 at 9:36 am rating: 0
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