finally woken

i wouldn't call myself a frequent flyer or jet set, but i am on an airplane about eight times per year. there are many things i appreciate and like about flying but a growing number of things not to like about the experience. my number one:

"as a courtesy to the next passenger may we suggest that you use your towel to wipe off the water basin"

this is the sign that you will see in the restroom of every american airlines plane. it is terrible. i can't imagine one possible way of making this sentence any more wordy or inefficient. the sign is twice or three times bigger than it needs to be, only because some dum dum copy writer was too busy sounding high class and pretentious to think about being concise. it's a sign, for crying in the night, not a short story. you are a copy writer, not james joyce.

"may we suggest" - if it is a posted sign, it is obviously either a rule or a suggestion.
"use your towel" - i mean, does american airlines think that i might try and use my shirt hem or even lick up the sink to be courteous to the next passenger?
"water basin" - we are in america, it is called a sink.

so, on my way back to my seat, i always find myself coming up with a list of suggestions on how i would re-word this sign.

"please wipe off sink after use"
"as a courtesy to other passengers, please wipe sink after use"
"please be courteous and wipe off sink after use"
"please wipe off sink as a courtesy to the next passenger"

the way the sign reads now is a symbol of how wasteful and inefficient bureaucracy can be. gross.