When you put certain bumperstickers on your car

[hyphenate]

What are you expecting?

I have just a few: a Darwin coelacanth, a "God, Protect Me from your followers", an "Impeach Bush", a "John Kerry for President" a NASA sticker, and I think that's it. None of them are overly inflammatory, and as I'm in Massachusetts, I don't really expect my car to be keyed, or other such extreme responses.

I was driving along a popular route this past week (Rt. 9) and I think it was around Framingham, when suddenly, this car that had been behind me, came cruising down my right side, honking her horn and giving me continuous "thumbs down" evidently in reaction to one of my bumperstickers.

I mentioned this to a friend, and his reaction was "well, that's what happens when you have bumperstickers on your car." Well, seeing that he is such a wuss that he won't put anything more extreme than the John Kerry one on his car, I find his level of cowardice completely mystifying.

I guess I just think that a person has the right to put a sticker on their car that reflects their beliefs. I don't care that my fundie friend has a shitload of "god" stickers on her car, including that really stupid license frame about the rapture, because it's HER car and not mine. I don't care that someone might have any one of a hundred thousand different viewpoints or beliefs and want to advertise it in the same way I do mine.

But do most people put stickers on their car to evoke strong reactions, or for looking for kindred spirits? I saw a Volvo about a week or so ago where the second "o" had been replaced with an "e" and there was a new, additional "e" at the very beginning, making the word, "Evolve." That particular car also had some very left leaning stickers as well, and I was pleased to see their message.

So why DO you put stickers on YOUR car? To show your support for various causes, to find kindred spirits, to support your right of free speech, or to go for the gut--to take "on" anyone who disagrees with you?

[flvegan]

1. All of the above reasons, for me.

I have a couple stickers on my car (not counting the Kerry/Edwards one that's almost illegible by now).

One that says "I hear there's rumors on the internets." with a pic of shrub on it. Free speech, open a mind or two, it's funny, and if I piss off a Bushbot, then good for me.

One that simply says "Vegan." It's what I am and if it helps me identify with a kindred spirit, then so be it.

One advertising Petfinder.com as I hope it will send folks to adopt their next companion animal (without them, my rescue would be lost).

A small "Earth Dog, Spay/Neuter" sticker, for the obvious reasons.

And of course, my DemocraticUnderground.com sticker, for every reason you mentioned.

[FloridaPat]

2. I don't put bumper stickers on my car. When I work, it's as a consultant

so I don't want to make anyone made on either side.

However, if I see a stupid * supporter bumper stick, I just ignore them and assume they stupid and shouldn't be on the road. On Democrat support type bumper stickers I may give them the thumbs up or say something nice if the opportunity presents itself, but I sure wouldn't drive beside them and honk my horn.

[Smarmie Doofus]

3. In my experience, most cops are Republican...

I'd be more concerned about getting pulled-over for a bogus traffic infraction 'cause a cop doesn't like my sticker than I would about being vandalized while parked. So my car is sticker-less.

In NYC, peoples' cars get damaged on the street all the time. My car could be trashed for political reasons and I wouldn't make the connection. Unless of course the trasher left a note.

Best survival strategy in these parts: old, beat-up car w. no stickers.

[NJCher]

4. to advertise support for the cause

i.e., Kerry-Edwards.


Cher

[hobbit709]

5. I have

"Doing My Part To Piss Off The Religious Right", "Pagan And Proud", "Redefeat Bush", "If You Aren't Completely Appalled, You Haven't Been Paying Attention", "Lloyd Doggett For Congress" on my truck. And I live in Texas, I dare anyone to try to give me any crap. Oops-forgot "Darwin"

[stlsaxman]

6. I put stickers on my car that are subversive but not blatantly political..

and have gotten some nice reactions. but most just read them and get a thoughtful look on their faces for a moment (i always check!), some smile and some don't, some tap the passenger/driver on the shoulder and point, many give no reaction at all. my stickers:

"In a time of universal deciet, telling the truth is a revolutionary act" -George Orwell

"D.A.R.E. to speak truth to power" and

"Be Seeing You" (from The Prisoner series (i RARELY get a reaction to this one)

my new car is getting a Bartcop sticker!

[Orsino]

7. To provoke thought...

Hoping to help peel off the Christians from the Bush death machine, "Who Would Jesus Bomb?" is dead center, surrounded by "how many lives per gallon," "invest in America--by a congressman" and, for the fast readers, the Voltaire quote: "“Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities." Nothing overtly anti-Bush, as I consider him merely a symptom of a disease that reaches across the aisle.

I've not seen any reactions to my bumper stickers since during the election cycle, when my "Veteran For Kerry" sticker got lots of honks and waves.

[Ready4Change]

8. No stickers. Here's why:

I think my current car is lovely to look at, and I don't want to gum it up with stickers.

However, I've nothing against stickers and wearing your beliefs on your sleeve/bumper. And I've given many a sticker festooned car the thumbs up in passing.

Never given a thumbs down, as I try to keep things positive in my road-rage prone area.

[tibbir]

9. I stopped putting bumper stickers on my car in 1973.

I had a wreck in Bellaire, TX . My bumper sticker read "Impeach Nixon...Now More Than Ever". They did take me down to the police station and came close to booking me before deciding to ticket me for negligent collision.

[El Fuego]

10. I just have my Kerry sticker.

Which I will probably never remove. It is to show that the opposition is alive and well.

I left my Gore/Lieberman sticker on too, and I finally sold the car with the sticker on.

I don't go in for bumperstickers myself, but I love it when I see a totally liberal-stickered car!

[skygazer]

11. Until Shrub, I'd never put a political bumper sticker on my car

As a matter of fact, I'd never put a bumper sticker of any kind on my car. I now have "Impeach Bush", "Somewhere in Texas, a village is missing its idiot" and my DU bumper sticker. (I'm looking for one that says "Wouldn't it be nice if the Air Force had to hold a bake sale for a new jet but education was fully funded" or something along those lines - saw one in a parking lot one day and thought it was great)

Why do I have them there?

Mainly because I want very much to show the world that I do not support this arrogant megalomaniac. For me, they are a way of saying, "I didn't vote for the asshole and I want him gone." They're a way of numbering me among the many who object to his policies. Do I think they'll sway opinions? Probably not. But the more vehicles people see with such slogans, the more they may realize that he's very unpopular and perhaps they'll begin to wonder why. Perhaps. In any case, no one can ever accuse me of being his supporter.

Also, the DU sticker is a blatant advertisement - anyone who likes the other stickers just might decide to check this place out because of it.