Making National Security Fun

Constant appeals for vigilance have a shelf life, its true. So how do you exhort commuters to keep an eye out for bad guys, when their eyes are glazed over from orange alert, yellow alert, etc.?

A little word play may be in order.

Five hundred Washington buses and about 90 subway cars now carry advertising posters with creative dictionary definitions of made-up words urging commuters to keep an eye out for danger and respect fellow travelers on the busy "Metro" system.

"Sumpnspicious," -- a play on the slang pronunciation of "something suspicious" -- is defined as "n. (noun) unattended package or odd, unusual behavior that is reported to a bus driver, train operator ... station manager or Metro Police."

Other definitions include "PlanBdextrous: ... adj. (adjective) able to plan an alternate route home in case Metro is inaccessible due to unforeseen circumstances."

"Tariq'scellphoneiswiredtohisduffelbag: what you might say to the police when you report 'sumpnspicious'"

OK, that last one was not in the article.

posted by Laura. at 09:42 AM

| Access Comments