Are you rude(r) to people with the wrong political bumper stickers?

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Realized today that I'm a complete asshole to anyone with a "W the President"/etc. bumper sticker on their car (or, more likely, their SUV).

Do you treat people differently (specifically in terms of driving etiquette) when you've been made aware of their politics?

― milo z, Friday, 2 March 2007 20:51 (eighteen years ago)

I am usually filled with regret if I let somebody in front of me in traffic only to find that they have a "IT'S A CHILD, NOT A CHOICE" bumper sticker on their car.

― Jenny, Friday, 2 March 2007 20:52 (eighteen years ago)

I saw the worst sticker the other day, obviously custom-made, that said something like "I will not rest or put my guns away until all Zionists have been destroyed." I was fucking pissed! But consider the source and rise above.

Someone spraypainted "I like wet cunts" on my first car...I had no bumper stickers except for an AARP one from the previous owner. Baffling!

― Abbott, Friday, 2 March 2007 20:56 (eighteen years ago)

Someone spraypainted "I like wet cunts" on my first car

haha not to say that you do like wet cunts or anything but Someone OTM

― nickalicious, Friday, 2 March 2007 21:00 (eighteen years ago)

I don't think it ever changes my behavior to such people, but I certainly think about them differently and feel less charitable if they are strangers who drive horribly.

I think the worst one I've seen was on a driving trip to North Dakota. I can't remember the exact wording, but it basically said that if you drive a car that isn't "American," then you are a traitor. (We were in a Honda and now I have a VW, so I guess we're traitors.)

― Sara R-C, Friday, 2 March 2007 21:02 (eighteen years ago)

the parents of one of my best friends in high school were militant right wing catholics, and they plastered the family cars with very uncompromising anti-choice stickers (some including graphics of aborted fetuses, ew). having to ride in one of those cars was torture. people would tailgate, honk repeatedly, give us the finger, yell obscenities, and throw stuff on occasion, and i'd say about 50% of the time the cars would get keyed wherever they parked.

― lauren, Friday, 2 March 2007 21:03 (eighteen years ago)

Wow, that's a little creepy. I just try to ignore them (usually I assume they are potentially nuts, though).

That reminds me of my friend Kir's story about her friend whose car was always getting keyed. His bumper sticker apparently read, "Teach Your Children that Jesus is Pretend."

― Sara R-C, Friday, 2 March 2007 21:10 (eighteen years ago)

What was that story that Donut told about a heavily Dubya-stickered SUV getting trashed in the parking lot during the Katrina disaster?

― kingfish, Friday, 2 March 2007 21:14 (eighteen years ago)

I can't remember the exact wording, but it basically said that if you drive a car that isn't "American," then you are a traitor.

the other week i saw a "TAKE AMERICA BACK" sticker on a Nissan

― iiiijjjj, Friday, 2 March 2007 21:17 (eighteen years ago)

i always wanted to hold up a "NOT MY CAR" sign whenever i rode in one of the popemobiles (they were heavily bedecked with rosaries on the rearview mirrors, of course).

― lauren, Friday, 2 March 2007 21:18 (eighteen years ago)

I've always wondered about people who keep rosary beads in their cars. Are they supposed to ward off vampires? I mean, you're not going to pull them down off the rear view mirror and say a quick decade while you're waiting for the lights to change, are you?

― accentmonkey, Friday, 2 March 2007 23:13 (eighteen years ago)

When I was young and foolish I let down the tyres of someone with a Christian fish on their cat.

― Mark C, Friday, 2 March 2007 23:14 (eighteen years ago)

Car, on their car

― Mark C, Friday, 2 March 2007 23:14 (eighteen years ago)

I'd slash the tires of someone who attached a Jesus fish to their cat.

― milo z, Friday, 2 March 2007 23:16 (eighteen years ago)

driver != owner != person who put bumper sticker on car. i still get chuffed @ new SUVs w/ W stickers, but i try not to treat them differently cuz you never know if driver and W fan are the same person.

― strgn, Saturday, 3 March 2007 00:21 (eighteen years ago)

I figure being a huge dick to someone just because of their bumper stickers should be left to the right.

I was once driving a car with a Planned Parenthood sticker on it, and someone threw a soda (in a paper cup) at my windshield.

― kenan, Saturday, 3 March 2007 00:47 (eighteen years ago)

I feel bad about it, but I can't help myself. I can only let so many people merge onto the freeway, and if I happened to notice your W sticker - so not gonna happen, buddy.

(no key-ing, throwing things, random cut-offs, though)

― milo z, Saturday, 3 March 2007 01:42 (eighteen years ago)

like I said, no need to be a HUGE dick. I'll be a dick, sure, no prob.

― kenan, Saturday, 3 March 2007 01:51 (eighteen years ago)

hell yeah. you have a "it's a child not a choice" sticker on your car, your ass is getting cut off.

― Ms Misery, Saturday, 3 March 2007 01:58 (eighteen years ago)

i almost threw a cup of coffee on a parked car that had a "W" sticker -- till i noticed that it also had a labor union sticker on it (for the ILGWU). then i felt more sorry and pity for the car's owner than anything else -- kinda like how one would feel if you saw a car driven by a black person with a "DAVID DUKE" bumpersticker.

― Eisbaer, Saturday, 3 March 2007 02:29 (eighteen years ago)

A friend of mine was so outraged by the Abu Ghraib events that he assembled a scrapbook of Internet printouts and went to the town general store to sound off. A woman with an American flag decal on her car pulled into the parking lot and he tried to engage her in debate—"How do you feel about America NOW?" Someone called the cops, who just told him to calm down.
I admire his action. If you put it on your car, you should be able to debate it. Otherwise it's just a drive-by shooting.
I myself have only decals from the local coffeeshop and record store. I feel like semaphoring your belief gestalt all over the place is polarizing. I don't want to do it. It doesn't change anything, it just makes people smug or angry, neither one good.

― Beth Parker, Saturday, 3 March 2007 02:44 (eighteen years ago)

My friend made a yellow ribbon magnet that says "Brush your Teeth" on it. I adore.

― Abbott, Saturday, 3 March 2007 02:57 (eighteen years ago)

I want one!

― Beth Parker, Saturday, 3 March 2007 03:12 (eighteen years ago)

A friend of mine was so outraged by the Abu Ghraib events that he assembled a scrapbook of Internet printouts and went to the town general store to sound off. A woman with an American flag decal on her car pulled into the parking lot and he tried to engage her in debate—"How do you feel about America NOW?"

ok, I can't be alone in thinking that Beth's friend is a nutter.

― kenan, Saturday, 3 March 2007 03:25 (eighteen years ago)

"tried to engage her in debate" -- oh, that's rich.

― kenan, Saturday, 3 March 2007 03:27 (eighteen years ago)

Oh no. But he's OUR nutter.

― Beth Parker, Saturday, 3 March 2007 03:28 (eighteen years ago)

It's not that I disagree with the guy, but doesn't he understand the difference between "debate" and "accosting a poor, misinformed lady in the general store parking lot"?

― kenan, Saturday, 3 March 2007 03:31 (eighteen years ago)

He's a passionate guy. We do worry when he gets like this.

― Beth Parker, Saturday, 3 March 2007 03:32 (eighteen years ago)

srsly... he may be an asshole for my side, but i don't want him.

― kenan, Saturday, 3 March 2007 03:32 (eighteen years ago)

Plus he gets all lobster-red in the face.

― Beth Parker, Saturday, 3 March 2007 03:32 (eighteen years ago)

God, I wish nu-ilx would let you know that other posts had been made while you were writing! The non-sequitors!

― Beth Parker, Saturday, 3 March 2007 03:33 (eighteen years ago)

turning on the charm, obv.

― kenan, Saturday, 3 March 2007 03:34 (eighteen years ago)

See?

― Beth Parker, Saturday, 3 March 2007 03:34 (eighteen years ago)

xpost

― kenan, Saturday, 3 March 2007 03:34 (eighteen years ago)

We're going to start saying "xpost" at cocktail parties, after interruptions.

― Beth Parker, Saturday, 3 March 2007 03:35 (eighteen years ago)

haha

xpost

― kenan, Saturday, 3 March 2007 03:36 (eighteen years ago)

i was anticipating an xpost, but there was none!

― kenan, Saturday, 3 March 2007 03:37 (eighteen years ago)

I leave the xposts to others now, I'm off to engage my television in debate, with my support team, sofa cushion #1 and sofa cushion#2.

― Beth Parker, Saturday, 3 March 2007 03:41 (eighteen years ago)

i luv you, beth.

your friend is a nut.

sleep well.

― kenan, Saturday, 3 March 2007 03:43 (eighteen years ago)

haha, good nu-ilx exchange

― rrrobyn, Saturday, 3 March 2007 04:00 (eighteen years ago)

i feel like i'm not in a car often enough to notice bumper stickers. and when you're biking, there are too many things to deal with on the road to even notice bumper stickers, usually. god, i hardly notice cars at all! i mean, i'm aware of them but, well, i guess it's like the opposite of, e.g., when you learn to ride a motorcycle you suddenly notice all the motorcycles on the road. i certainly notice bikes. anyway, waht? oh yeah, bumper stickers.

i'm pretty sure i still have a big Ghostbusters bumper sticker in an old children's book in a box somewhere. i hope so anyway.

― rrrobyn, Saturday, 3 March 2007 04:08 (eighteen years ago)

Prepare to be keyed you anti-ghost bigot.

― walterkranz, Saturday, 3 March 2007 16:15 (eighteen years ago)

I did something once that I'm not proud of (and that's why I'm posting it here on a public forum...hmmm). I was at O'Hare airport picking up a friend, driving around trying to figure out exactly where the hell I was and where I was supposed to be, getting stressed and irate. I finally parked and as I was walking to the elevator I saw a mini-van with a couple of really odious anti-gay bumper stickers(MARRIAGE=1 MAN+1 WOMAN (a point to ponder--it doesn't really hold up if you turn it around and say 1 man+1 woman=marriage)). Being in a huff and usually somewhat congested, I horked up a loogie and spat it on the driver's side window. It took a few minutes before I felt bad about that.

― Jesse, Saturday, 3 March 2007 16:43 (eighteen years ago)

*pat*

― RJG, Saturday, 3 March 2007 16:45 (eighteen years ago)

oh like i'm so afraid right
xpost

― rrrobyn, Saturday, 3 March 2007 20:48 (eighteen years ago)

aint afraid

― and what, Saturday, 3 March 2007 20:55 (eighteen years ago)

jesse i guess that is technically morally wrong but i still feel like they deserved it

― Maria, Saturday, 3 March 2007 21:04 (eighteen years ago)

wet cunts >> dry cunts. imho.
m.

― msp, Saturday, 3 March 2007 22:49 (eighteen years ago)

I don't willingly talk to people with political bumper stickers of any kind.

― Windy G Moisture, Saturday, 3 March 2007 23:58 (eighteen years ago)

http://www.michaelbrazellmurray.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2006/05/GodAtheists.JPG

― latebloomer, Sunday, 4 March 2007 03:55 (eighteen years ago)

I respect other Nazis' right to disagree with my boot as it swings into their face, and again, and again.

― Noodle Vague, Sunday, 4 March 2007 03:58 (eighteen years ago)

Interesting that all the childish sabotage, loogie-hocking, and tire deflating detailed above has all been in the name of the left. What do you think this means?

― Manalishi, Sunday, 4 March 2007 04:02 (eighteen years ago)

"My friend made a yellow ribbon magnet that says "Brush your Teeth" on it. I adore."

i want one that says "when come back bring pie".

― scott seward, Sunday, 4 March 2007 04:03 (eighteen years ago)

"http://www.michaelbrazellmurray.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2006/05/GodAtheists.JPG"
That doesn't even come close to making sense...

― Windy G Moisture, Sunday, 4 March 2007 04:06 (eighteen years ago)

Way to go, Noodle Vague! THAT'LL show them how wrong their stupid ideology is!! I'm sure once they're released from the intensive care unit, they'll convert to Judaism and send you a thank you card.

Dumbass.

― Manalishi, Sunday, 4 March 2007 04:10 (eighteen years ago)

it's a bible quote apparently

― latebloomer, Sunday, 4 March 2007 04:11 (eighteen years ago)

x-post

― latebloomer, Sunday, 4 March 2007 04:27 (eighteen years ago)

"dumbass" is a bible quote?

― Beth Parker, Sunday, 4 March 2007 05:17 (eighteen years ago)

galatians 4:20

― latebloomer, Sunday, 4 March 2007 05:25 (eighteen years ago)

“Give, and a dumbass shall be given to you. For whatever measure you deal out to others, a dumbass will be dealt to you in return.”

― scott seward, Sunday, 4 March 2007 05:28 (eighteen years ago)

“It is easier for a dumbass to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God”

― scott seward, Sunday, 4 March 2007 05:29 (eighteen years ago)

Add to Chapter...

“Love is patient; love is kind
and envies no one.
Love is never boastful, nor conceited, nor rude;
never selfish, not quick to take offense.
There is nothing love cannot face;
there is no limit to its faith,
its hope, and endurance.
In a word, there are three things
that last forever: faith, hope, and love;
but the greatest of them all is the dumbass.”

― scott seward, Sunday, 4 March 2007 05:30 (eighteen years ago)

Interesting that all the childish sabotage, loogie-hocking, and tire deflating detailed above has all been in the name of the left.

That reminds me of my friend Kir's story about her friend whose car was always getting keyed. His bumper sticker apparently read, "Teach Your Children that Jesus is Pretend."

I was once driving a car with a Planned Parenthood sticker on it, and someone threw a soda (in a paper cup) at my windshield.

― 31g, Sunday, 4 March 2007 05:40 (eighteen years ago)

Just Thank the Lord that they didn't throw a Dumbass (on a paper plate) under your Tires.

― Beth Parker, Sunday, 4 March 2007 05:43 (eighteen years ago)

Oh, wait. That was supposed to go on the "ask a drunk dumbass to write a poem" thread.

― Beth Parker, Sunday, 4 March 2007 05:45 (eighteen years ago)

I gotta haul my dumb ass to bed. Night, folks.

― Beth Parker, Sunday, 4 March 2007 05:45 (eighteen years ago)

Interesting that all the childish sabotage, loogie-hocking, and tire deflating detailed above has all been in the name of the left. What do you think this means?

That right-wingers don't generally frequent ILX?

― milo z, Sunday, 4 March 2007 05:52 (eighteen years ago)

Someone tried to peel the Flying Spaghetti Monster off my car (not that they were necessarily right wing of course).

― Ned Trifle II, Monday, 5 March 2007 11:31 (eighteen years ago)

Anyway to answer the question - No - unless the sticker said "This car is being driven by Jeremy Clarkson".

― Ned Trifle II, Monday, 5 March 2007 11:33 (eighteen years ago)

Yay for anonymous right wing googlers and their "crazy" "sarcasm" and "logic"!

― Mark C, Monday, 5 March 2007 11:47 (eighteen years ago)

I try not to, but I can't help but feel like the rules have been shrugged off when I encounter a W sticker (usually on some sort of Ford F-150000 pick-up.) I don't go out of my way to antagonize them, but I also don't worry too much if I cut them off either.

The only W stickers that I would discount are the ones with the DV or Purple Heart license plates. As asinine as those people's opinions may be, they've earned the right to put whatever the hell they want to put on their car without my passive-aggressive reprisal.

I also steer clear of cars with NORML stickers, only because they're usually the ones trucking along at 25 in a 45 mph zone. See ya later, you stoner rolling roadblock, you!

― Pleasant Plains, Monday, 5 March 2007 16:16 (eighteen years ago)

DV or Purple Heart license plates?

― RJG, Monday, 5 March 2007 16:19 (eighteen years ago)

This from the Framley Examiner...

― peteR, Monday, 5 March 2007 16:26 (eighteen years ago)

Disabled Vet

― milo z, Monday, 5 March 2007 16:27 (eighteen years ago)

I am generally suspicious of those cars with license plates bearing that Masonic symbol.

― nickalicious, Monday, 5 March 2007 16:27 (eighteen years ago)

I am generally suspicious of those cars with license plates bearing that Masonic symbol.

i always see these on schlubby mid-80's sedans, which is kind of heartening to this ex-conspiracy nut.

― tremendoid, Monday, 5 March 2007 17:54 (eighteen years ago)

I SUPPORT ARKANSAS STATE TROOPERS [ and am hoping this gets me out of a ticket. ]

― Pleasant Plains, Monday, 5 March 2007 18:49 (eighteen years ago)

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