Found a little piece of history downtown last night

[-]

Sparkydaddy1216@reddit

I guess I missed a beat. Did they change those signs?

[-]

BlahajBlaster@reddit

I asked ChatGPT

We have failed as a species. Even Google searches are more reliable, https://flashbackdallas.com/2023/07/10/the-dallas-north-tollway-1968/

Looks like it's missing the little arrow but it appears it was there at one point, it could date back to the 60's or 70's

[-]

I had someone call my work the other day asking for a service we don’t, and have never, provided. When I told Him this he insisted I must be wrong, because Grok told him we did. This person argued with me for a solid 5 minutes about this and could not accept the AI would be wrong and said it must be our fault and it must be on our website somewhere (it’s not) because the AI wouldn’t have told him that otherwise.

[-]

BlahajBlaster@reddit

Surprised it wasn't giving that person a rant about "white genocide" in South Africa instead

[-]

sharknado523@reddit (OP)

I know that the design dates back to the 60s, but it was officially phased out in the early 90s so based on the condition of the sign, it is probably from the late 70s to the early 80s. I didn’t post the entire findings from my conversation with ChatGPT

[-]

BlahajBlaster@reddit

The fact that you thought a conversation with an ai chatbot would be reliable is why I'm disappointed ngl

Your best bet would have been to post the pic here and ask if any folks who grew up in Dallas around the 70s recognize how old it is

[-]

sharknado523@reddit (OP)

??? But it gave me accurate feedback?

[[[[[ Oh man. You just uncovered a genuine Dallas fossil.

This green circular "D" Dallas North Tollway sign is a historic piece of regional wayfinding design, and yes—you are absolutely right that:

Circular signs are basically extinct outside of railroad and some legacy route markers.

This particular design is no longer in use and hasn’t been posted on new infrastructure for at least 20–25 years.

🔍 Quick Breakdown:

🟢 Sign Design:

Green circle with a large white "D" containing:

“DALLAS NORTH TOLLWAY” in vertical stacked text.

That “D” shape was part of the original NTTA branding from the 1960s–1980s.

It's not MUTCD standard—it’s a custom NTTA/downtown directional sign, meant more for urban navigation than freeway compliance.

📜 Historical Context:

The Dallas North Tollway opened in 1968, and early signage included unique branding.

This circular sign likely dates to the late '70s or early '80s, maybe even a refresh around the early '90s before NTTA moved to more standardized blue-and-white rectangular signage with shield icons.

These circular ones were often placed on surface streets in Downtown or Uptown Dallas, pointing to ramp entrances or directing drivers to nearby tollway access points.

🧼 Condition Report:

Cracked, faded, and partially stickered—classic signs of "I'm still here, but I’m retired on the job."

You can even see where the reflective sheeting is peeling, and rust is setting in on the mounting bolts. It’s probably been ignored for a solid two decades.

🏛️ Field Notes Entry?

How about:

Artifact #14: The Tollway Oracle This rare circular marker, believed to be one of the last surviving “D” signs of the Dallas North Tollway’s early expansion, remains inexplicably upright behind a yellow post like a forgotten gatekeeper to the past. Scholars agree its alignment is no longer relevant, but its vibes are immaculate.

--- ]]]

[-]

BlahajBlaster@reddit

??? But it gave me accurate feedback?

You're taking way too much offense to this. I only called out your comment about ChatGPT because you shouldn't have treated that as inherently true

You can use it as a jumping-off point like Wikipedia but both tend to be unreliable and require investigation before being accepted as fact

Ai is often wrong and confidently so, please don't over rely on it

[-]

sharknado523@reddit (OP)

I didn't treat it as inherently true, I checked it lol. I asked it a quick question and then I checked on the feedback and then based on my personal assessment of the condition and its notes about the condition I agree with its conclusion that that sign is from the late seventies / early 80s.

I catch it lying to me all the time and every time I do I give it instructions for how to avoid lying to me. I'll point out hey you just mentioned something that is from a previous conversation we're not talking about that. And it gets better over time. I've been talking to it for months that's why it's giving me accurate feedback in response to this question about the sign because I ask it about signs a lot.

[-]

Anon31780@reddit

Also consider that the bot is inherently biased to give you the answer it (based on the sum of your prior interactions) wants to hear. Most folks who have spent any time locally aren’t asking about new signs.

[-]

sharknado523@reddit (OP)

??? I don’t need cautionary advice about how to use AI lol y’all are fixating on the wrong piece of this post. All I wanted to do was share something cool I found downtown while driving around.

You’re lambasting me for asking an AI a question and then treating me in such a way that makes me less inclined to deal with humans in the future. LOL.

[-]

Anon31780@reddit

Can you help me understand exactly how you’ve been “lambasted” by folks in this specific thread? I can see several examples of folks cautioning you about the pitfalls of using LLMs as a primary research tool, but don’t see anyone scolding or berating you over it.

Please, give some specific examples, so we can understand where you’re coming from.

[-]

sharknado523@reddit (OP)

The literal first comment on the post said “we have failed as a species” followed by accusations that I am an ince who is somehow “ran-through” (these are antonyms.)

Also, at no point was it necessary to caution me against anything. I casually mentioned a tool I used to help me age the sign and people came at me and my character and intellect over it.

I didn’t owe you that explanation, but now you have it.

[-]

BlahajBlaster@reddit

based on my personal assessment of the condition and its notes about the condition I agree with its conclusion

There is inherent bias since you've come to use AI chatbots a lot in the past. I feel like your own personal assessment is tainted because you made it at the same time or after an ai bot

In this instance the bot may be correct, just don't expect it to be in the future, and don't think that your assessments can't be unbiased when made after reading comments from a chat bot

[-]

sharknado523@reddit (OP)

??? I don’t need cautionary advice about how to use AI lol y’all are fixating on the wrong piece of this post. All I wanted to do was share something cool I found downtown while driving around.

You’re lambasting me for asking an AI a question and then treating me in such a way that makes me less inclined to deal with humans in the future. LOL.

[-]