# The Signage Game By:: [[Brian Heath]] 2024-06-24 Signs are often used to direct or inform. For example, road signs direct traffic and alert drivers of dangers or obstacles. Undoubtedly, the original intent of these signs was to help organize the society. Imagine a world without any signs at all. How would you know which way to go? One had to know someone who knew someone who knew the way. Everyone had to have their extensive social network paired with literal and figurative maps. As societies formed, providing everyone the information needed to get around as a service to those within the society made sense. Thus, signs were efficient and effective community organizing tools. They remain this way to this day, but signs can also be used to manipulate people. For example, militaries have long used signs to confuse the enemy or to keep their citizens away from a secret project. Recently, I was driving, and a digital road sign indicated one path took 30 minutes while another path took 45 minutes. However, my road navigation app with live traffic estimates said quite the opposite. It noted that the 30-minute path would take 90 minutes. So, which sign was correct: the official government-sponsored one or the one from a service that uses my data to make money? Regardless of one's position on why there was a difference, the difference reflects the trust issues present in all signage. When does one trust the sign, and when does one go their own way? Following the signs has many advantages, but there are times when breaking away presents the greatest opportunities. Does one always follow the rules and signs? Does one never follow the rules and signs? Neither is the optimal strategy. Knowing who created the sign, why they did so, and one's position in the world provides many clues on how to play the signage game optimally. #### Related Items [[Society]] [[Rules]] [[Independence]] [[Collection]] [[Progress]] [[Status Quo]] [[Games]]