Posted on 12/08/2005 5:42:45 AM PST by tuffydoodle
Yesterday my husband and I were doing some errands. We were stopped at a red light and woman in a truck pulled up beside us, but just a little ahead. On her back window was a sticker that said, "I f#$%ed your boyfriend." (it was written out, no symbols like I just did) She also had several other offensive stickers, but that one was by far the worst. When the light turned green we got up beside her, my husband honked several times to get her attention but she wouldn't look at us. She finally did and I mouthed "you pig" at her. I'm just glad I didn't have my 5 kids with me, included my 6 year old who likes to read everything she sees, out loud.
It is NOT her "right" to have an obscene message posted permanently in public where children can see it. Obscenity laws have a reason - people travelling on the public roads should not be forced to look at that sort of foul language, especially since they may have small children in the car.
I wanted to shoot her but I restrained myself.
Not standing up for what is right is one of the main reasons this country is going to hell in a handbasket. Everything is ok, these days. Everything is acceptable. Ignore the problems. Don't fight for what is right. Roll over and take it.
If your 911 is adequately staffed (and you should know whether it is), it is for all police reports, life threatening, emergency, or otherwise. Our local precinct captain has specifically asked our neighborhood association members to call 911 for a variety of reasons, many non-emergency (i.e. train stalled on the crossing, suspicious characters in the neighborhood, loose dogs, etc.) Of course, they have a "broken window" enforcement philosophy.
You must live in a small town. Most medium to larger cities have a rule: 911 is for emergencies, not stuff that can be handled by a call to the regular police number.
I usually see people with stupid bumper stickers driving stupid. Yesterday, a guy with a "When in doubt, start a war" sticker who lurched into oncoming traffic because he thought he was going to have a green light, but didn't yet. So he just sat there. I wanted to tell him "when in doubt, move into oncoming traffic!" It's always the geniuses with the "don't blame me, I voted for Kerry" type bumper stickers.
I'm not trying to pick a fight here OK:), but was your response really any better then her bumper sticker??? That's my point. If there is a law against that sort of thing, then by all means call the cops and stay on it till the cops do something. I don't know if there is. I agree with AAM, we should not be forced to see that sort of thing, but, IMO your reaction was not any better then the bumper sticker that caused it. It would have been better to ignore it. I believe in fighting for what is right, but not by stooping to the level of the offenders. Calling names, especially ugly ones, is not effective, and it's childish.
Becky
We can disagree without getting into a fight, Beck. Friends do that.
I honestly don't think calling her a "pig" stoops to the level of what she had prominently on her back window. Would it have been ok to have a pic of a nekkid woman back there?
I wouldn't have done it in LA, believe me. The land of fruits and nuts.
Should we really start banning words that are offensive to some? That sounds mighty liberal....
A nekkid woman would have been just as bad.
I just feel there is more mature ways of dealing with this problem. JMO.
Becky
Does the person even know that the bumper sticker is there? Could be malicious payback.
And gangsters.
No, it's mighty conservative to enforce traditional community standards. You have no right to obscene expression in public. Cable TV, movies, magazines, whatever. That's fine. People are adequately warned and can choose to encounter such material if they want. But not out in public where people did not sign on for obscene language.
SD
You could say something, but they're not listening.
Sometimes, I pray for them.
Sometimes, I fantasize about carrying around a can of spray paint so I could make necessary changes on the spot.
She had several stickers. Besides the boyfriend one, there was the one of the little boy peeing and under the stream, it said something else about a boyfriend. One said "bitch", another one said "go to hell." They were all over the back window where no one would miss it.
"carrying around a can of spray paint so I could make necessary changes on the spot."
Hmmmmm, interesting idea....
Yes, the sticker was offensive, but before you start tagging up someone's car like a common gang member, remember that any pro-America sticker could be just as offensive to some other idiot with a can of spray paint.
I'm surpried you didn't ask if she was cute!
What happened to the old Max?
I would NOT vandalize someone's property, I just said it was an interesting idea. That said, anyone that would think a "pro america" sticker as offensive as "I f#$%ed your boyfriend" has got a serious problem and a huge chip on their shoulder.
I don't have stickers on any of my vehicles, other than the ones required by law.
My only sitcker is my AAA sticker and the ones for student parking on campus.
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