Stop, Think, Go, Do

Cautionary messages force the receiver to go somewhere or

do something to avoid dangerous consequences.

CAUTION

This is an old but insightful joke: Two dimwitted (or

maybe just stoned) hunters were walking through the

woods when they found a sign that read, “Bear Left.”

So they went home!

Analyzing the joke seriously for a moment, one could

argue that the sign cautioned them not to hunt a dangerous

bear—and since she left anyway, they acceded and saved

their miserable hides. But, as the joke actually indicates,

they stupidly misread the sign and departed. Apologies

for killing the joke through overanalysis, but this tale

provides us with an object ...