"use" of quotation marks

Sign seen at the Philadelphia airport today:

This is
"not" an
"exit"

Apparently, the only way one can indicate emphasis in written communication these days is to put "quote" "marks" around the "word."  This drives me bat-shit.

Comments

[Juno888]

A week later, every DC bus had a new, professionally printed sign with the corrected sentence.

[Sheryl F.]

My brother-in-law puts quotation marks around every word or phrase that can conceivably be perceived as not "straight talk." He is a very smart and well-educated man, but that makes me want to scream! Some day I will box him 'round the ears.

[Nicole]

I can't stop laughing!!

[Jess]

Oh, that's nothing! I saw a sign on a District of Columbia school bus that read (and I am really not kidding here):

"This bus don't turn right on red."

A week later, every DC bus had a new, professionally printed sign with the corrected sentence.

---Jess (reminded of Bob the Angry Flower's rant on the proper use of apostrophes at angryflower.com)

[walt crawford]

It doesn't drive you "bat-shit"?

Scare quotes are one thing, but quotes as emphasis always make me think of ETL--English as a Third Language.

[pam]

Thanks for starting my day with a hearty "laugh".