On Friday afternoon I spotted a car with an ART bumper sticker – a white oval with a black border and the word ART in all caps, just like one of those ubiquitous OBX stickers. To its right was a sticker that said “This car was a gift from Elvis.” I was immediately interested in meeting the driver.
My own car is covered with stickers that display the following messages:
- 9/11 (“does not equal” sign) Iraq
- Cough if you like SUVs
- Bill Bradley 2000
- Kerry/Edwards 2004
- Carcetti 2007
- What Would Buffy Do?
- Duck, NC
- Radiohead
- HOWL if you (heart) City Lights Books
- The revolution will be improvised
I should note that these stickers cover my husband’s and my “lovingly used” ‘97 Saturn. (It has been used most lovingly by me, in connection with columns in parking garages.) This, it seems, is my thing: old, raggedy cars, covered in messages that announce my hippie-dom (my first car was an ‘87 Cutlas Cruiser, vanity plates: FMLYCR). (One day I want vanity plates that say LCNSPL8. Get it?!)
What does your car, or other favored mode of transport, say about you?
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I remember when J got that car. I can’t believe it’s still moving forward.
If I remember right, it’s only moving forward because J was (for some time anyway) disallowed from driving it by the insurance company. :)
As a proud owner of a Honda Odyssey minivan, my car simply communicates that I am well-heeled sell-out with children. No bumper stickers, as I prefer to keep my opinions to myself, at least when not spewing vitrol in online blog comments. ;)
But then, I don’t put a lot of credence in the “you are what you drive” philosophy. To me, a car is a bit like a pair of pants. But I’m not going any further with that simile.
oh right. i vaguely remember j’s driving habits. ;)
we drive a honda accord. our family also has one car.
i had a friend a while back say something to the fact that the larger the car you have the more stuff you bring with you… (same can be true for house size)
…i’ve sort of adopted that theory and it seems to work well in life. when we take trips we bring what we need. no more no less.
when emily was working at State we had the “abort bush” bumper sticker i got at a naral march, but was strategically blacked out with electrical tape when she drove the carpool in.
we also have an Apple sticker, an “obey” sticker, a TK DC (Takoma DC) and Hon (Baltimore) sticker on the bumper.
hip hip hurray.
my car only has a couple of decals in the back window – each from my alma maters. i don’t think it reflects much about me.
my first car – the one that was more mine than my family’s – was a 1975 Ford Granada that was in big need of radiator fluid. it was a big red tank with the ceiling cover falling down. i named him Boris and painted a tattoo on the driver side front fender. it was of the little green planet guy from Hitchhiker’s Guide
I forgot to list 2 of our stickers – including one that I believe you designed, Mr. E!
-”WTF ‘04″
-Taxation Without Representation
John, I might argue that even if you don’t consciously choose a car as a way of expressing something about yourself, it’s part of how you present yourself to the world, and therefore becomes part of how the world assesses you…like other “props” in your life, not to mention clothes. Even if all it says is “this is someone who doesn’t care about cars/fashion/etc.”
Letty, re: naming cars – I think it’s so funny that people do this! –Us included: Jordan named the car “Eddie” b/c its original license plate started with EDD…
that would be “cough if you HATE suvs”
. . .
indeed it would, anonymous! good catch :)
John, I might argue that even if you don’t consciously choose a car as a way of expressing something about yourself, it’s part of how you present yourself to the world, and therefore becomes part of how the world assesses you…
Agreed, but cars aren’t part of my criteria in assessing myself or other people. Everything we do / wear / say / etc. gives someone a basis to on which to come to conclusions, make judgements, etc. For me, cars just don’t say much, unless they are “statement” cars like Hummers, Micros, or Ferraris.
Incidentally, Madison seems to be the official left wing bumper sticker capital of the world. Rare is the car that is unmarked in some fashion. About one car in every three has the “Coexist” bumper sticker on it.
Anonymous is right, it is indeed “cough if you *hate* SUVs.” Now you haven’t mentioned my 2 favorite bumper stickers (which I placed there personally lo these many years ago):
-Ben & Jerry’s-themed: “If it’s not fun, why do it?” (I believe you used to have the Ben & Jerry’s-themed: “Business has a responsibility to give back to the community.” We’re both right.)
And my personal favorite, “CUT CORPORATE WELFARE.”
I also used to have a South Park sticker, a South of the Border sticker I picked up on a college road trip, and I believe the smiley face is still there but it’s pretty faded. As John can attest, I love covering things in stickers (thanks for saving my guitar, John!).
PS My bike has a “Bike Against Bush” sticker on it. I’d like to get more stickers for it.
I just saw one I love: a Confederate flag with a slash through it and “Get over it. You lost.”
The Muralist
I have no bumper stickers at the moment. My last car did, but it was stolen.
Liberal stickers are bad enough, but at least you don’t have one of those asinine Coexist stickers.
I blogged about the Coexist sticker recently, with a slightly humorous twist: Enough with the Coexist stickers already!