Is there an unwritten rule that signs pertain to the other person?

We’ve seen this often in national parks, trails, etc., where there is a sign stating, “No Entrance”, “Stay On The Trail”, things in that nature. Undoubtedly, you’ll see someone doing what they’re not supposed to be doing. If one person does it, then you’ll have others follow. It doesn’t matter what state we’re visiting, how old the people are, nationality, etc.

Case in point, we were at the Solomon Gulch Fish Hatchery this week, two separate days. There is a sign by the water, two of them actually, that state “NO ENTRY BEYOND THIS POINT”, with a circle and a slash through it, for those who can’t read I imagine. There was a lady with her two small sons walking back through it. (Nice thing to teach your children.) There was also a lady a little younger than us, who was taking pictures. She walked as close to the water that she could get past those signs. People followed right after her. The next time we went, the tide was low and a family walked way out to the water, past the signs again. There, again, a nice thing to teach your children.

I’ll get off my soapbox now; I just don’t understand.