What Lies Behind That ‘No Trespass’ Sign | Hacker News Reader

What Lies Behind That ‘No Trespass’ Sign

theatlantic.com

3 pointswarning265 comments

I read this article to imply that because I have no trespassing signs that I am a racist and I should be letting random people wander onto my property? I so I disagree as would my highly diverse friends. My signs are to provide legal boundaries of protection for my family and horses. Criminals do not read signs but lawyers and the Sheriff absolutely do.

I should add that there are 18 million acres of BLM land for people to wander and explore freely in my state along with a couple of the largest national parks in the country. I doubt any one human could explore all of it in their lifetime. The public land contains some of the most incredible wilderness and scenery. There is no need for anyone to be wandering onto my flat boring horse pastures.

Agreed. I don't actually care if people enjoy my land in polite ways but I do not want to be held liable by a court for their injuries when the snakes gnaw on them. A "No Trespassing" or "enter at own risk" sign is at least a gesture towards avoiding that; altho I'm informed it won't actually help in court.

Uhmm, I read it more as an interesting history of the origins of the 'No Trespass' signs rather than an article written specifically against yourself and whatever signs you have on your property. Unless you were alive in the 1800's I'm pretty sure that you (and all the other properties that display No Trespassing signs) have absolutely zero racial bigotry motivations for putting them up.

(Sorry, and just to be clear - I've seen your submission and comment history so I'm pretty sure you aren't racist, I’m just not sure why this article touched a nerve for you)

Wow, I love HN submissions sometimes (in terms of picking up random and interesting factoids) so thanks for posting this.

Prior to clicking I sort of assumed it would be about the Homestead Act of 1862 and the invention of the barbed-wire fence (ala 'Don't Fence Me In' movement)

See "'The devil's rope': How barbed wire changed America" https://www.bbc.com/news/business-40448594

https://archive.ph/R7OiC

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