Communication or Miscommunication??

Communication is a great tool. The sender of the message sends forth an intended message via a channel or a medium to the receiver or target audience. The receiver gets the message and tries to comprehend. Well, here is the catch, there is a probability of the message being misinterpreted due to variety of reasons. The information conveyed might not be understood the way it was supposed to be or the way sender wanted to either because of the language used, or the disruptions in the channel of communication.  There are n-number of case studies how even the advertising message or the public service campaign (like the famous family planning one), failed due to the message getting mis-interpreted by the recipients.

Why am I writing all this is due to the fact that on our roads too, the signages, billboards, hoardings are installed for a specific reason. They should convey some meaning, that is the very reason they are placed at a particular point or an intersection to cater to the masses at large. The information might not always be relevant as most of them are for advertisement purpose to promote their product. But recently I came across a traffic junction in my city's vicinity where the attempt has been made to promote the drink  'Pepsi' - the official partners to the World Cup - and the headline that screamed out of the bill board, "Rules are for followers".  

Well, how would that get interpreted on a traffic light where the youngsters follow their youth icon screaming at them to, ostensibly, 'break the rules'. 

Well, here probably the one composing this tag line was not aware that this will be installed at traffic intersection where 'rules are meant to be followed' but then the people who placed it here probably were oblivious about their 'moral or social responsibility'. At first instance when I saw it, it instigated me to violate, the message coupled with the enraged expression for a moment makes you think in that way. Time to ponder.