The Best Sign in the History of the World

Or a contender, anyway. It's in the subway at 14th Street and Eighth Avenue, disguised as an official Metropolitan Transportation Authority notice -- except that the MTA generally doesn't do numbered screen prints. Artist Jason Shelowitz does.

Nail clipping tight.jpg

On this poster, evidently part of a campaign he's waging (of which I knew nothing until I saw the sign this evening and burst out laughing), Shelowitz has replaced the customary MTA logo, in the lower right-hand corner, with one for the MEA; the "E," of course, stands for "etiquette."

His etiquette rant may not be in the official style of the MTA, but it's definitely in the style of a conductor or two. It will have a lot of people who've been creeped out by their fellow subway riders saying, "Hear, hear." Or, as someone's already scrawled on this poster: "Yes!"

Nail clipping wide.jpg

April 19, 2010 8:56 PM | Permalink | Comments (12)

12 Comments

By Normann on September 6, 2010 4:48 PM

Next: Spitting on platform or stairs, and STANDING IN DOORWAYS!!!

By johanna on September 6, 2010 12:26 PM

I have worked in offices where people do this in their cubicles. It makes my skin crawl. can I get this for work? fricking Managing Directors at Investment banks do this all day long.

By Britt North on August 29, 2010 9:58 PM

Omg, we need like a dozen of these. In Chicago we need to get the creepos from picking their nose and sticking it somewhere in the train :( Yuck.

By Ken on May 3, 2010 4:19 PM

I love this! Nail-clipping is truly the top of the list of my subway-riding pet peeves. People do this all the time and it boggles the mind as to WHY would one think this is OK public behavior. It's insane. I'm so glad someone is taking a productive and creative approach in addressing this nastiness!

By Sven T on April 24, 2010 6:36 PM

Annoying internet habit #23: typing with caps on.

By Emma on April 21, 2010 9:28 AM

This is wonderful. Funny how nail-clipping is a universal annoyance. Anyone remember the Buffy episode where she's driven mad by her nail-clipping demon college roommate?

By Wrath Constantine on April 21, 2010 5:23 AM

EPIC WIN. This is an awesome way to bring peoples attention to the annoying things they do. Now if only they'll listen, or better yet follow the advice on the sign!

By Michelle on April 20, 2010 7:54 PM

how do we get this on the front page of the post? thank you Jason.

By BILL K on April 20, 2010 1:11 PM

SAW A NUMBER OF THESE ETIQUETTE SIGNS IN THE SUBWAY. THINK THIS KID HAS GREAT IMAGINATION AND IT'S REALLY FUNNY.......

By H.B.STAR on April 20, 2010 1:07 PM

THANK YOU FOR FINALLY FOCUSING ON SOUNDS WE DO NOT WISH TO HEAR. IT'S A GOOD START! WHAT OTHER ANNOYING HABITS CAN WE AD TO THIS?

By Joy W on April 20, 2010 12:41 PM

We all have been grossed out by the behaviors of our fellow riders--it's about time that someone (very artistically & humorously) has created a good campaign. Emily Post would be proud!

By Cindy Marie Jenkins on April 20, 2010 3:41 AM