I’ve wanted one of these signs up on my wall many times where I’ve been employed, and at other times when I am trying to be helpful whether or not money is involved.
It’s a response to people whom we trust to coordinate our efforts with the larger project at hand, and who have no idea how we do our work (or worse, do not care). “Keep ‘em in a barrel and feed ‘em through the bung” is a boast I’ve heard from people who do not want to get involved in our creative work but want the benefit of it.
This sign is to remind them that it’s too easy to relate to us as an inferior species who will work ourselves to death to please them. We will work hard if the task requires it, but we remind them that we need respect and consideration in return for these efforts.
It’s our way of saying: “Back off!”
