Re:Bhutan's dark sense of humour
by CurtMonash on Thursday March 02, 2017 @09:52AM
(#13774341)
On the autobahns around Berlin, under the American occupation, signs said that one shouldn't speed, because death was so permanent. But the chaplains or some other religious folks objected, and so the signs were taken back down. (Source: My father, who worked for the Americans as a translator.)
Re:Bhutan's dark sense of humour
by dmix on Thursday March 02, 2017 @10:04AM
(#13774460)
> BBC incorrectly attributed this to "dark sense of humour of Bhutan"
The headline author did. But the article mentions both the fact BRO is Indian and the fact these signs exist in other Indian border areas.
>> Over the years, the Border Roads Organisation has also built and maintained roads in other countries neighbouring India, including Afghanistan, Burma and Sri Lanka. Today, they largely employ local workers, but historically, many Indians took on the difficult and dangerous work. Their ability to have a sense of humour in challenging circumstances is clear both in their brilliant road signs and in their mission.
Re:Bhutan's dark sense of humour
by Jasamba on Friday March 03, 2017 @04:36AM
(#13781748)
Sure, but that doesn't apply to this particular case (BRO signs) which is used as the primary example in this article of 'Bhutan's' dark sense of humour.
Re:Bhutan's dark sense of humour
by unscaled on Thursday March 02, 2017 @08:40AM
(#13773893)
Second that. I've seen these signs in many places in the Indian parts of the Himalayas. Even the BRO wikipedia page shows a sign with exactly the same witticism from Ladakh.
So this makes this a purely Indian sense of humor.
Re:Bhutan's dark sense of humour
by uncleleech on Thursday March 02, 2017 @10:19AM
(#13774585)
"We're sorry but this site is not accessible from the UK as it is part of our international service and is not funded by the licence fee. It is run commercially by BBC Worldwide, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the BBC, the profits made from it go back to BBC programme-makers to help fund great new BBC programmes. You can find out more about BBC Worldwide and its digital activities at www.bbcworldwide.com."
Re:Bhutan's dark sense of humour
by delibes on Thursday March 02, 2017 @12:51PM
(#13776334)
Love that "late" sign. Reminds me of H2G2 -
Slartibartfast: Come. Come now or you will be late.
Arthur: Late? What for?
Slartibartfast: What is your name, human?
Arthur: Dent. Arthur Dent.
Slartibartfast: Late as in the late Dentarthurdent. It's a sort of threat, you see. I've never been terribly good at them myself but I'm told they can be terribly effective.
Re:Bhutan's dark sense of humour
by mxfh on Thursday March 02, 2017 @09:37AM
(#13774217)
Was actually expecting a juxtaposition of their Gross National Happiness PR vs. the actual human rights situation. This still reads like an quirky advertorial travel guide.
Re:Bhutan's dark sense of humour
by chris_overseas on Thursday March 02, 2017 @10:09AM
(#13774492)
Their sense of humour extends beyond road signs. After spending three weeks travelling across the country I found the Bhutanese to have a very relaxed, humorous way of looking at everything life, big and small.
Re:Bhutan's dark sense of humour
by huxley on Thursday March 02, 2017 @02:16PM
(#13777240)
On a dangerous curve on the road to my home village in Nova Scotia (Canada), an evangelical church posted a sign that said "Prepare to Meet Thy Maker" which I thought --even as a kid-- was apt though little morbid.
Re:Bhutan's dark sense of humour
by fredley on Thursday March 02, 2017 @08:18AM
(#13773789)
Brits: The BBC is forbidden from undertaking any commercial activity within the UK in their charter. While obviously quite integral to the way the BBC works and is able to work, this sort of restriction is a weird side-effect.
Re:Bhutan's dark sense of humour
by djaychela on Thursday March 02, 2017 @08:27AM
(#13773828)
Yes, somewhat of a surprise to me when I went to read it. Obivously I understand the reasoning behind it, but it's a weird side effect, particularly when it's available on a website that I assume isn't directly charging users, but I guess it's the best way to avoid any sniff of a conflict on the BBC's charter.
Re:Bhutan's dark sense of humour
by djaychela on Thursday March 02, 2017 @08:43AM
(#13773910)
No, but previously it was possible to access some commercial BBC services in the UK in the past (I'm sure it was beeb.com, but could well be wrong). It was clearly marked as being a commercial site, etc., but I guess the landscape has changed with Internet advertising since then and it's far easier for your information to be exploited without realising it now?
Re:Bhutan's dark sense of humour
by saiya-jin on Thursday March 02, 2017 @08:36AM
(#13773869)
can't see the page since we're considered in UK, but from my half year spent there backpacking many road signs are indeed funny, especially in himalayan regions (himachal pradesh, ladakh). One stuck in my head for 9 years since seeing it:
As someone who spent time in Indian borders (Tibet/Nepal) these signs are pretty common.
BBC incorrectly attributed this to "dark sense of humour of Bhutan" but then again when have they been right about India?
The headline author did. But the article mentions both the fact BRO is Indian and the fact these signs exist in other Indian border areas.
>> Over the years, the Border Roads Organisation has also built and maintained roads in other countries neighbouring India, including Afghanistan, Burma and Sri Lanka. Today, they largely employ local workers, but historically, many Indians took on the difficult and dangerous work. Their ability to have a sense of humour in challenging circumstances is clear both in their brilliant road signs and in their mission.
Slartibartfast: Come. Come now or you will be late.
Arthur: Late? What for?
Slartibartfast: What is your name, human?
Arthur: Dent. Arthur Dent.
Slartibartfast: Late as in the late Dentarthurdent. It's a sort of threat, you see. I've never been terribly good at them myself but I'm told they can be terribly effective.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gross_National_Happiness#Criti...
Here's a sign I saw while in Bhutan that is presumably trying to encourage fewer children: http://www.redyeti.net/Bhutan/content/bin/images/large/IMG_2...
An example: Dont stick your elbow out so far It might come home In another car
It went out of favor as sign laws popped up. You can still see some along rt66 and a few other old highways.
"Left is right and right is wrong"