55 Bizarre, Absurd, And Hilarious Signs You Don’t See Every Day

Written signs are meant to be taken seriously. It’s why most of the ones you’ll encounter come with a stern and straightforward tone.

So, when you see a sign that draws out a chuckle from you, it’s understandable to want to snap a photo and share it on social media. Here are some examples that we’ve collected from the different corners of Reddit.

These are the types of signs and billboards that would make you stop walking. As always, don’t forget to upvote those that caught your eye.

#1 Do Not Feed The Fat Man

#2 Best Handicap Sign

#3 Fire Department

There was a time when a piece of content’s viewability (a.k.a the measure of whether an advertisement was actually seen by a human) was the main metric. But since digital marketing is ever-evolving, that criterion shifted more to an ad’s ability to draw a person’s attention.

Advertising Week describes this as the “Attention Economy,” in which surveys have shown that attention is three times more predictive of an advertisement’s effectiveness.

#4 A Uniquely Scottish Problem

#5 Bird Theft Policy Update

#6 Ice Cream, Or Else

Creativity is key to driving attention. As you will see in many of these signs, the messaging was designed to address the reader directly.

Advertising Week also noted that optimized ads received 49% more attention than run-of-the-mill ads.

#7 Better Get Your Credit Card Out

#8 Just Saw This In My Local Bar

#9 Library Sign

It’s likely been a while since you last saw a funny ad. Recent stats also indicate a decline in the use of humor in advertising. According to a 2022 survey by Kantar, only 33% of ads incorporated something funny into advertising campaigns.

The survey showed that the decline was at its sharpest during the early 2010s, a few years after the global recession, and following the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic.

#10 Hobble Like A Penguin

#11 Truer Words Were Never Written

#12 This Is An Actual Street Sign Where I Live (It’s A Very Tiny Tourist Island With Very Few Permanent Residents)

It’s why industry professionals like DDB Global Strategy Partner Juan Isaza are pushing to bring back humor in advertising. In a Forbes article, he noted that humor facilitates recognition through buzz and familiarity.

#13 Spotted Outside A Liquor Store

#14 Out Of Order Escalator Sign At My Local Shopping Centre

#15 Is There An Ethical Difference?

In marketing a product or service, Isaza calls for the use of humor because it increases purchase intention. He noted research from the Ehrenberg-Bass Institute showing that adding a joke or two can drive sales by up to 45%.

“The fundamental reason humor helps build your brand is that advertising and content are created for human beings, and human beings are governed by emotions, and humor builds emotional connection,” Isaza wrote.

#16 What About Drinking Dogs?