3 ms·

I think you may be underestimating the amount of neon signs in Norway! It's no longer being used very much, but I can think of tons of signs in Oslo and in the

I think you may be underestimating the amount of neon signs in Norway! It's no longer being used very much, but I can think of tons of signs in Oslo and in the industrial parks in the Oslo suburbs such as Lysaker and Sandvika, going back to the 1980s and up to recently and even today. You must have been to Karl Johans gate and Stortingsgata in Oslo? For many years had quite a lot of neon signs [1]. The big blue neon Aftenposten logo is still there [2], I believe, as is the old Freia logo above Egertorget [3]. Cinemas like Saga, Colosseum and Eldorado had neon logos until just a few years ago. Peppes pizza is another one. Tons of neon. Small neon signs in shop windows (like beer or soda ads) like you often see in the U.S. are/were very uncommon, however. But those tacky animated LED "we're open" signs? Those are everywhere. Finally, is neon itself tacky? I don't think it is at all [4]. [1] http://media.mediatemple.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/uploader/images/signs/oslo-neon/full_osloneon-copy.jpg http://media.mediatemple.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/u... [2] https://www.google.com/maps/place/A%2FS+Stortingsgaten+28,+Stortingsgata+28,+0161+Oslo,+Norway/@59.914486,10.732622,18z/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x46416e7e095218cd:0xf8c999d5f690161a https://www.google.com/maps/place/A%2FS+Stortingsgaten+28,+S... [3] http://www.viewolux.com/img/s2/v1/p184160343-3.jpg http://www.viewolux.com/img/s2/v1/p184160343-3.jpg [4] http://www.elektrovakuum.no/wp-content/uploads/DSC7393_1280px-390x250.jpg http://www.elektrovakuum.no/wp-content/uploads/DSC7393_1280p...

morsch 12y ago
Maybe the grandparent is talking about the illuminated open sign (since that's what the article is about), which from what I've seen of it is comparatively rare in Europe. I certainly wouldn't have described it as "ubiquitous, functional, and necessary", as baddox did in another comment to this HN story.
- eitally 12y ago
  I think that's largely attributed to differences in consumer/commercial culture between Europe & the US. In the US, it's entirely likely you might find shops and restaurants in a strip mall that have closing times varying by as much as several hours (a book store might close at 6pm, but the restaurant next to it is open until 10pm, and the hair salon next to that is open until 9pm). Being able to quickly glance and see what's open is a huge benefit.

morsch 12y ago

Maybe the grandparent is talking about the illuminated open sign (since that's what the article is about), which from what I've seen of it is comparatively rare in Europe. I certainly wouldn't have described it as "ubiquitous, functional, and necessary", as baddox did in another comment to this HN story.

eitally 12y ago
I think that's largely attributed to differences in consumer/commercial culture between Europe & the US. In the US, it's entirely likely you might find shops and restaurants in a strip mall that have closing times varying by as much as several hours (a book store might close at 6pm, but the restaurant next to it is open until 10pm, and the hair salon next to that is open until 9pm). Being able to quickly glance and see what's open is a huge benefit.