Thread: Bumper Stickers, What's Your Point?

I wonder if I am alone when I say I think bumper stickers are often confrontational, and/or foolish, and/or pointless. I was visiting my parents when I noticed the McCain/Palin sticker on the rear bumper of their car. I found myself feeling a little disappointed (but not surprised) in my parents political choice and a little irritated that they would boast of their choice. I thought for a long time about my feelings and I realized that I see no legitimate point to putting your political and/or religious beliefs on your bumper. I find it impossible to believe that anyone ever changed their vote because they read a better choice on a bumper of a car. I also find it impossible to believe that if there is a supreme being (or a coalition of supreme beings) they would give a rat's ass if their followers advertized their faith on the bumper of a car. I believe it is not appropriate to discuss religion or politics in polite company. My feelings extend to those opinions you paste on your car. So please help me to understand if there is a purpose of these self-adhesive statements other than belligerence?

Yeah those Obama/Biden stickers really get me going.

Seriously though, I don't put stickers on my car, and some are rather irritating. But I must say, it's quite amusing, and I get a laugh out of it every now and then, of some of the things people are willing to stick onto their car.

I do have a support the troops magnet on both of my vehicles though. Most of my friends, and three close relatives are currently serving.

on my old car a had one that said "honk if parts fall off" this car was in such bad shape and actually falling apart that i really got honks when thing would fall from the body and frame of my car lol

-dan-

In my opinion, bumper stickers are just like t-shirts/patches/pins/etc. Sometimes they are to display your feelings on a topic, sometimes they are intended to be amusing, and sometimes they are to grab the attention of a certain crowd.

To me, posting a political bumper sticker only serves to show who the poster is going to/already voted for.

Personally, I do like some of the clever/amusing bumper stickers or ones that display a person's interest (as a t-shirt would do; i.e. W&B t-shirts). That said, I wouldn't put one (regardless of what it said) on my car.

[quote=icedog;321156]I believe it is not appropriate to discuss religion or politics in polite company. quote]


So youre saying we're not polite company? You no good son of a !@#$%, and I mean that with all due respect! Have a great day Brad!

[quote=nun2sharp;321185]

Originally Posted by icedog

I believe it is not appropriate to discuss religion or politics in polite company. quote]


So youre saying we're not polite company? You no good son of a !@#$%, and I mean that with all due respect! Have a great day Brad!

I like the funny bumper stickers, they give me a laugh sometimes.

What I really want is one of those boards you can put in the back window that spit out messages using LEDs (I love LEDs) that you type in yourself.

I would just type appropriate sections of the road rules in every time I passed someone. "Morons must keep left at all times!" and "I don't pee in your car, so please stop ****ing around on my highway" and so on. These are genuine Aussie road rules, I might add.

James.

Originally Posted by Jimbo

What I really want is one of those boards you can put in the back window that spit out messages using LEDs (I love LEDs) that you type in yourself.

I would just type appropriate sections of the road rules in every time I passed someone. "Morons must keep left at all times!"

James.

If I had a dollar for everytime my girlfriend said the same thing! Except here it would be "Morons...keep right except to pass"

Originally Posted by Mike7120

"Morons...keep right except to pass"

Actually it is the morons that don't keep right except to pass

Sure the funny or silly bumper stickers and the ones that say where you've been (This Car Climbed Mt. Washington, etc) fine. But to Holli4pirating's point, isn't telling strangers who you voted for or intend to vote for confrontational?

Regarding the troop support mahnets and stickers, well, I have some opinions about those but I will start a separate thread.

Brad

Originally Posted by icedog

Actually it is the morons that don't keep right except to pass

Sure the funny or silly bumper stickers and the ones that say where you've been (This Car Climbed Mt. Washington, etc) fine. But to Holli4pirating's point, isn't telling strangers who you voted for or intend to vote for confrontational?

Regarding the troop support mahnets and stickers, well, I have some opinions about those but I will start a separate thread.

Brad

You putting a sticker on your car promoting a candidate is free speech. You putting a sticker on MY car is confrontational.

Originally Posted by icedog

But to Holli4pirating's point, isn't telling strangers who you voted for or intend to vote for confrontational?

I think telling someone who they should/should have voted for is confrontational, but I don't think telling someone who you voted for is. While I do understand that politics may draw out strong opinions/emotions for some people, that is not the case for everyone. If someone tells me they voted for Candidate Y in Election Z, that is no different than them telling me that they voted for red as the best color in the world. Even if a person wishes to tell me why they voted for Candidate Y in Election Z, I wouldn't find that confrontational. On the other hand, I would find it educational. I typically listen with a critical ear and follow up with my own research and reflections. Maybe I learn something I didn't know; maybe my opinion is set/swayed (for I am ignorant in many fields); or maybe I form a strong counter-stance which cements my current standing.

But, if someone tries to enter into a debate about why they voted for Candidate Y in Election Z or challenges me for not voting for Candidate Y in Election Z, that is a whole other story. In that case, there is indeed a confrontational tone.

Personally, bumper stickers with candidates' names fall in the first category. Of course, I do not mean to say that no one should find such stickers offensive; I am only trying to articulate my own views.