I once counted the signs telling patrons not to do this or that in a Hong Kong swimming pool, and came up with a total of 16. In an equivalent Taipei pool, on the other hand, I found only one: 'No diving'.
But that was 10 years ago, and things in Taipei have changed. If you dislike such intrusions on what should be largely private experiences, then they have changed very much for the worse.
Two years ago, a sign illustrating 15 forbidden activities appeared in Taipei's parks. Even that seemed invasive at the time. But these areas have recently acquired massive, enamelled notices listing selected clauses of the Autonomous Statute for Management of Taipei City Parks. Drying clothes, 'carousing', 'digging dirt, stones or sod', 'destruction of scenery', 'golfing in non-designated areas', 'setting fish traps' - all such activities, and many more, are forbidden. Fines are listed, from NT$1,200 (HK$283) to NT$100,000.
As for the destruction of protected trees, this special category of crime is to be handled by the Autonomous Statute for Tree Protection, with undisclosed penalties. But Taipei's MRT (the subway) is the worst offender. No passenger, it is assumed, should sit quietly reading their newspaper or listening to their MP3 player. Instead, they should be reading endless warnings plastered throughout the system. When the MRT was new, there were few such notices. Today they are everywhere.
The motive is often self-defence. If you get your foot caught in the steps of an escalator, wrench your knee pulling it free, and sue, the company avoids liability if it can point to a notice warning of such a possibility. The notice, in other words, is not really for your protection at all, but for the company's.
Another reason for the unending proliferation of such admonitions is simply employees having nothing better to do than think them up. When an employee's proposed sign is used, he or she gets a 'plus' on their record, and they advance one place in the office promotion stakes.