The lowly traffic cone
Traffic cones are among the most inconspicuous features in the landscape. This is interesting, because they are supposed to conspicuous - signifying the need for attention and caution. But they are constantly being left behind and forgotten. The cone pictured here has been perched at the base of a light pole near my house for a really long time, possibly even predating the Iraq War. Originally it was probably left there by a utility crew. Since it sort of looks like it might belong there (as long as you don't think about it too much), it will never get moved.If I was running from the police and had to quickly stash some contraband, I would drop it safely into the top of a traffic cone for later retrieval.
On my way home from work I counted the orphaned cones along my route: eleven! There may have been even more; they are so inconspicuous that several times I forgot I was counting them.
Labels: inconspicuous consumption, landscape, personal safety
posted by frank b. at
5:32 PM
5 Comments:
I don't often hear anyone mention the lowly traffic cone! Here is my personal take on these ubiquitous yet vaguely menacing items:
http://thepartypony.blogspot.com/2008/04/attack-of-cones.html
1) I must admit, when I saw the title "The Lowly Traffic Cone," my first thought was, "Hey, Frank's posted another new Gazetteers song!"
2) You are phunny, jenny phresh!
3) On my corner here in heartbroken Hoboken, we had a traffic cone very wisely covering missing bricks in the brickwork sidewalk outside my building. And I just knew some closing-time drunken jerk would make off with that cone. And it happened. The hole remains. Thank goodness I don't wear high heels. Well, very rarely, anyway.
we own a traffic cone
On our street traffic cones are used by all sorts of people, because it's a narrow canyon with curvy, shoulderless areas. Delivery trucks use them to warn drivers. Tree trimmers and utility crews use them constantly. I saw a guy the other day park partially on the road (there were no other spaces) and he casually pulled two cones out from his sedan to place in front of and behind his car. That said, if you left a traffic cone by the side of the road, it would be taken instantly.
This post made me notice a traffic cone I didn't know we had in the garage today. My 2 year old, Jack, wanted to take it out and play in the yard with it.I said why not? It'll keep him busy for a while.
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