Do bumper stickers and yard signs serve any positive purpose?

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Douglas Karr on October 1, 2008 at 11:20pm

I avoid staying behind cars with political support stickers on their bumpers for fear that I will get caught in the long line of lemmings heading for the cliff.

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Permalink Reply by Maureen on October 2, 2008 at 8:00am

I like that people do this. It shows engagement and opinion and yes a statement about what you believe. Yes a positive purpose. I just visited a college campus with my daughter the day after the debate...........we saw not one sign........not one chalking.........nothing to indicate that anyone on the campus had any awareness of current events.

Made me feel like I was in the Truman Show....or Lake Wobegon... "where all the women are strong, all the men are good-looking, and all the children are above average."

I would be disturbed if I didn't see any 'signs' of interest in the presidential campaign. Apathy is far more rampant.........they just don't care enough to let people know that...................they don't care about anything.

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Permalink Reply by Maureen on October 2, 2008 at 10:58am

Here's a very good sign.

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Permalink Reply by Steve Stuck on October 2, 2008 at 12:56pm

Is this a good sign if he is holding it in a playground full of children?

Just making fun of it.

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Permalink Reply by Maureen on October 2, 2008 at 1:42pm

Ha Ha Steve.

Way to find evil in that video!

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Permalink Reply by Stephen James on October 2, 2008 at 11:40am

Loaded slogans and one line quips do not help relationships or make the conversation/compromise/understanding go anywhere. That said, bumper stickers identify and allude to larger beliefs and associations.

The problem I have is that people do not have these on their person (not that I'm proposing it). They have them on their cars and their lawns. How am I supposed to have conversation about the topic. Go up and knock on a stranger's door and ask them why they are voting for Obama or McCain?

Many people may feel commonality when they read signs they agree with, but I'm skeptical. Yes, "My boss is a Carpenter," "Hockey moms are pit bulls," and "Earth is my mother" are cute, but it's marketing that doesn't have authenticity attached to it. How Christian or environmental or anti-Bush is the other person and why are not shared with the recipient of the message, but it is a starting point.

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Permalink Reply by Maureen on October 2, 2008 at 12:16pm

I see what you're saying Stephen. Expressions of hostility and stereotyping abound right now. ugh.........with a side of .........ugh! Unfortunate but, people are (within limits) free to express themselves and that's a good thing.

I know when my neighbor breaks out their Bears House Flag.............I make sure I have my Colts Flag flying. I've got to REPRESENT.

There will be NO talking me into being a Bears fan. We both aim for neighborhood domination! : )

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Permalink Reply by Steve Stuck on October 2, 2008 at 12:58pm

Maybe your missing the point of the sign itself. Maybe they don't want certain people to come visit them so they make their beliefs known. But signs don't always deter people from coming onto your property. Humans can't even keep themselves off properties that say "No Trespassing". A friend of mine has one political candidate yard sign, but the other candidate volunteers keep nagging him. He finds it pretty amazing.

I have two shirts I wear that turn peoples heads and do get conversations happening. One is more more eye turning than the other. But it has introduced me to other people.

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Permalink Reply by Jim Johnson on October 2, 2008 at 12:29pm

Personally, I don't have a problem with yard signs or bumper stickers. It declares our freedom of speech. Having been in the former Soviet Union where there were no such freedoms, these expressions allow us to freely declare our allegiances without persecution.

I plan to post my first yard sign ever this year. Mine will be a McCain/Palin. My neighbors (who are great people) have an Obama '08 in their yard. I plan to post an additional sign next to mine that will read "I love my neighbors. I just hope they change."

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Permalink Reply by Douglas Karr on October 3, 2008 at 3:33pm

Amen, Mike! I'm in the 50% of other drivers. :)

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Permalink Reply by Natalie Webb on November 4, 2009 at 7:57am

i think so, it works some time to serve positive response on your feedback as written ads on the stickers of bumper that exhibit to the people . Waste Stickers

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Permalink Reply by Cissi Sherlock on November 4, 2009 at 11:40am

Yep!

I even think billboards have a relavant place as I would not know I was ^ (here) if the billboard hadn't told me I had arrived.

Joking aside, I tend to shy away from the politica signs as I don't want to have a neighbor targeting me for their debate. I believe you refer to it as "instigating". I don't put bumper stickers on my car, they tend to stay there forever - Ask a few Bush-Cheny people! If you look hard enough, you might event find some Clinton-Gore bumper stickers still floating around.

I remember when Julia Carson died and people left her yard signs up as a sign of respect. Then, when Andre ran, lo and behold, they crafted yard signs to look exactly like the ones that has been used for Julia. Nice move - a little tug at the heart strring reminding people of our beloved Julia Carson in the Andre Carson era!

I have often had the question myself of what the motive was for a person with a yard sign endorsing a particular person. Do they want they want me to come to the door, knock and when they answer say, "Good Move!"? Am I supposed to honk as I ride by? Should I wave as I walk by? Or, is that an invitation to throw stones while I mumble under my breath, "There goes another one of THEM!"

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