"I'm Trying Hard to Grow.... Please Don't Walk on Me."

We've all seen these signs all over campus, and they are a perfect example that mass communication. The BYU version of the Don't Walk on the Grass sign can be found all throughout campus, usually on the corner of a section of grass. We've all seen them, and sometimes we choose to ignore them. Some generous souls do lengthen their stride a little to avoid the tiny patch of grass that's trying so hard to grow. There are just enough of these sign obeying people that in a week or two, the sign is removed. Once the sign is gone though, the grass gets trampled again by all the students who want to save a few more steps by cutting corners. After a few more weeks the sign returns, recalling our attention to the poor patch of grass that is being neglected.
At the beginning of the semester, it seemed that a lot more people were obeying the request of the sign and avoiding the grass. The signs would disappear faster and return slower. But half way through the semester, the signs seem to stay there permanently. This may be due to the change of season and the grass not growing as fast, but I'm going to assume that it's because of one of the problems with mass communication. Because a sign is read by just about everyone, it's easy to say to yourself, "Other people won't walk on the grass, so it's not going to hurt it if only one person does," and then you promptly walk across it. The problem is everyone else is thinking the same thing so everyone walks on the grass. Mass communication is meant for everyone, and because everyone knows everyone else is getting the same message, it's easy to say that you don't need to do it because other people will. Now if the sign was addressed people specifically by name, (making it more interpersonal communication) it would probably be a little more effective.