—by Guest Writer Jan Johnson
Posted on “The Rock” in Ellicott City, a picturesque and popular historic village in Maryland, the sign reads: “Climbing prohibited on these 300 million-years-old geological formations; let’s all respect The Rock.”
The sign might simply have said, “Keep Off.” But then I wouldn’t have paused to read it, and wouldn’t have smiled when I did. (I also wondered about the 300 million years and how some clever scientist actually knew when a mystical geological force bumped a hunk of big, gray stone toward the planet’s surface).
Message Development in Action
If people only pay attention to information that interests and motivates them, this sign, and the message development behind it, has it all. It plays to the town’s overarching themes (or messages) of history and whimsy. And it has an appeal of its own that captivates passers-by (I really did see others pause to read it) while matching an inviting and playful environment.
“Keep Off” would certainly have fulfilled a bottom-line cautionary purpose and warned the intrepid away from an attractive nuisance. Instead, this communications device is seamlessly woven into the fabric of a town that celebrates quirkiness.
Well done, Ellicott City!
