# Bumper sticker meaning **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 13, 2014, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bumper-sticker-meaning/688337 "2014-05-13T12:32:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![PlainJain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5daacb/32.png) [@PlainJain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlainJain)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2014, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bumper-sticker-meaning/688337/1 "2014-05-13T12:32:33Z")
Couldn’t google it so I’m asking here. There are a couple of cars in town with [this bumper sticker.](http://imgcdn.geocaching.com/cache/log/f08da907-99e1-4923-a471-b50dec2b9cfb.jpg) What’s the meaning of the square and circle? Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2014, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bumper-sticker-meaning/688337/2 "2014-05-13T12:37:22Z")
The square inside the circle is the universal symbol on MP3 players, DVD players, and other devices for “stop”. So, Stop Hatin’. I guess it’s a generic humanitarian message. If you Google “Stop Hatin’ Bumper stickers” you will get lots of versions with the words spelled out, as well as variations for specifically what you’re supposed to stop hatin’. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2014, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bumper-sticker-meaning/688337/3 "2014-05-13T12:57:53Z")
Oh. I thought they just preferred Phillips heads. ---
**Author:** ![GreasyJack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/df705f/32.png) [@GreasyJack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreasyJack)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2014, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bumper-sticker-meaning/688337/4 "2014-05-13T13:07:13Z")
They really hate old Yuan coins. ---
**Author:** ![PlainJain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5daacb/32.png) [@PlainJain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlainJain)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2014, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bumper-sticker-meaning/688337/5 "2014-05-13T14:49:26Z")
> [@CookingWithGas](#): > > The square inside the circle is the universal symbol on MP3 players, DVD players, and other devices for “stop”. So, Stop Hatin’. I guess it’s a generic humanitarian message. If you Google “Stop Hatin’ Bumper stickers” you will get lots of versions with the words spelled out, as well as variations for specifically what you’re supposed to stop hatin’. :smack: Obvious now. Thanks. Oh, and yeah, fuck Yuan coins! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2014, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bumper-sticker-meaning/688337/6 "2014-05-13T16:19:58Z")
> [@PlainJain](#): > > Oh, and yeah, fuck Yuan coins! > 😃 Round pecker in a square hole? Are you sure? ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2014, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bumper-sticker-meaning/688337/7 "2014-05-13T16:55:04Z")
> [@GreasyJack](#): > > They really hate old Yuan coins. Or all that Fukian cash. ---
**Author:** ![RedSwinglineOne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a9adbd/32.png) [@RedSwinglineOne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RedSwinglineOne)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2014, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bumper-sticker-meaning/688337/8 "2014-05-13T18:57:21Z")
So is there supposed to be some understood thing we are to “stop hatin”? If not, that is one of the most non committal bumper stickers ever. ---
**Author:** ![PSXer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/48db29/32.png) [@PSXer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PSXer)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2014, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bumper-sticker-meaning/688337/9 "2014-05-13T19:00:04Z")
you shouldn’t hate anything ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2014, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bumper-sticker-meaning/688337/10 "2014-05-13T19:12:59Z")
[Appropriate.](http://i681.photobucket.com/albums/vv174/kayaker01/P2170140_zpsfacca1c9.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2014, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bumper-sticker-meaning/688337/11 "2014-05-13T19:26:03Z")
Not completely universal. The stop symbol for my iPod (iPhone) is two vertical lines like these: || But I do understand the meaning of the bumper sticker. ---
**Author:** ![Learjeff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/94ad74/32.png) [@Learjeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Learjeff)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2014, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bumper-sticker-meaning/688337/12 "2014-05-13T19:37:22Z")
Two vertical lines is for Pause, not Stop. ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2014, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bumper-sticker-meaning/688337/13 "2014-05-13T21:41:25Z")
> [@PSXer](#): > > you shouldn’t hate anything Wait, you mean I can’t hate Hitler? Or idiots that mindlessly compare people to Hitler? Waste of a perfectly useful emotion if you ask me. ---
**Author:** ![Kenm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bc79bd/32.png) [@Kenm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kenm)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2014, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bumper-sticker-meaning/688337/14 "2014-05-13T22:12:42Z")
I’m glad a bumper sticker has so much power that anyone seeing it will stop hating. I’ll get one printed that says “Give me money.” ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2014, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bumper-sticker-meaning/688337/15 "2014-05-14T00:10:39Z")
> [@Learjeff](#): > > Two vertical lines is for Pause, not Stop. It is the only symbol on my iPhone. That’s what I touch to stop playing it. I don’t have a circled square. I have two left arrows to go back, a right facing arrow for play, and two right arrows to go forward. When it’s playing, the Play arrow is replaced by two vertical lines. When I touch that button, the music stops. ---
**Author:** ![gazpacho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/6f9a4e/32.png) [@gazpacho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gazpacho)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2014, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bumper-sticker-meaning/688337/16 "2014-05-14T00:53:50Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > It is the only symbol on my iPhone. That’s what I touch to stop playing it. I don’t have a circled square. I have two left arrows to go back, a right facing arrow for play, and two right arrows to go forward. When it’s playing, the Play arrow is replaced by two vertical lines. When I touch that button, the music stops. This is pretty much how the various music players work on my android phone as well. The separate stop and pause button go way back. In the olden days of cassette tape players the stop button would pull the sensing head back from the tape and stop the motor. The pause button would merely stop the motor but leave the head pressed against the tape. I guess people notice that with digital media stop and pause were basically the same thing and got rid of stop. Maybe in the not to distant future we will only pause hating. ---
**Author:** ![Enola\_Straight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dec6dc/32.png) [@Enola\_Straight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enola_Straight)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2014, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bumper-sticker-meaning/688337/17 "2014-05-14T02:15:11Z")
I have no screwdriver nor bit for these screws: [http://www.cid.ca/images/Robertson\_Screw\_FLAT\_HEAD\_LO-ROOT.jpg](http://www.cid.ca/images/Robertson_Screw_FLAT_HEAD_LO-ROOT.jpg) I HATE THEM.:mad: 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2014, 10:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bumper-sticker-meaning/688337/18 "2014-05-14T10:53:36Z")
> [@Enola\_Straight](#): > > I have no screwdriver nor bit for these screws: > [http://www.cid.ca/images/Robertson\_Screw\_FLAT\_HEAD\_LO-ROOT.jpg](http://www.cid.ca/images/Robertson_Screw_FLAT_HEAD_LO-ROOT.jpg) > I HATE THEM.:mad: > 😉 No screw them . . . but wait, you can’t. Don’t you just hate that? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2014, 11:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bumper-sticker-meaning/688337/19 "2014-05-14T11:34:07Z")
> [@Enola\_Straight](#): > > I have no screwdriver nor bit for these screws: > [http://www.cid.ca/images/Robertson\_Screw\_FLAT\_HEAD\_LO-ROOT.jpg](http://www.cid.ca/images/Robertson_Screw_FLAT_HEAD_LO-ROOT.jpg) > I HATE THEM.:mad: > 😉 Well _get_ yourself the screwdrivers or bits you need. They are the business. Robertsons rule. > [@Kenm](#): > > I’m glad a bumper sticker has so much power that anyone seeing it will stop hating. I’ll get one printed that says “Give me money.” No one ever said they work. They just make the owner feel good for trying. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2014, 12:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bumper-sticker-meaning/688337/20 "2014-05-14T12:02:18Z")
> [@PSXer](#): > > you shouldn’t hate anything I hate that philosophy.