# Bumper sticker - what did Garfield do **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 12, 2024, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bumper-sticker-what-did-garfield-do/1005615 "2024-08-12T13:43:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2024, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bumper-sticker-what-did-garfield-do/1005615/21 "2024-08-12T16:57:11Z")
Back in the 80s I had a friend who hated Garfield with a passion because the cat seemed to be everywhere and he really disliked pop culture memes. As a goof he brought a Garfield plush doll on a road trip as a sort of an “anti mascot”. The doll suffered various indignities along the way such as being kicked around the campfire circle, getting dragged along dirt roads behind bicycles and being [offered up to a T-Rex](https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipMvJkbr1tLfLhQaERMvhhKu54eeMR6AQNInHSItjnNSO3qD9AUzE_zl4EdH9WH27w/photo/AF1QipNVa8PVm-fuDm-4P9IiZvDZJRZycFhKlLzwuM9f?key=TVRaSGNfYUQ2dWxVSUpyQXhlX2pfNlZkNVNiU0Jn). ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2024, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bumper-sticker-what-did-garfield-do/1005615/22 "2024-08-12T17:08:02Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > If you’re saying those young women were hung we’re right back on the ambiguous gender issue. Where’s Gary Larsen when you need him? > [@DesertDog](#): > > Nitpick: The Salem witches were hung\* not burned. Further nitpick: Little\_Nemo didn’t specify a continent. The last witch burned in Europe was in August 1811. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2024, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bumper-sticker-what-did-garfield-do/1005615/23 "2024-08-12T17:12:28Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > I never thought there was any question about Garfield’s gender. As a singular name, Garfield is masculine. As a singular name, “Garfield” is a surname, and hence could equally well be any gender. The cat is the only example I know of of it being a given name. ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2024, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bumper-sticker-what-did-garfield-do/1005615/24 "2024-08-12T17:27:20Z")
> [@Lucas\_Jackson](#): > > Further nitpick: Little\_Nemo didn’t specify a continent. Which is why I specified Salem – I’m not up on European practices. ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2024, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bumper-sticker-what-did-garfield-do/1005615/25 "2024-08-12T17:31:06Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > As a singular name, “Garfield” is a surname, and hence could equally well be any gender. The cat is the only example I know of of it being a given name. [Wikipedia to the rescue!](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garfield_(name)) 😊 ---
**Author:** ![Briny\_Deep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/briny_deep/32/17188_2.png) [@Briny\_Deep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Briny_Deep)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2024, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bumper-sticker-what-did-garfield-do/1005615/26 "2024-08-12T17:31:59Z")
> [@Lucas\_Jackson](#): > > > [@DesertDog](#): > > > > Nitpick: The Salem witches were hung\* not burned. > > Further nitpick: Little\_Nemo didn’t specify a continent. The last witch burned in Europe was in August 1811. Even further nitpick: they were hanged, not hung. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2024, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bumper-sticker-what-did-garfield-do/1005615/27 "2024-08-12T17:32:02Z")
I have it on good authority that all Christian moms are practitioners of sexual copulation. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2024, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bumper-sticker-what-did-garfield-do/1005615/28 "2024-08-12T17:32:15Z")
All of whom were clearly named for the comic strip character. ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2024, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bumper-sticker-what-did-garfield-do/1005615/29 "2024-08-12T17:37:22Z")
> [@Briny\_Deep](#): > > Even further nitpick: they were hanged, not hung. This is the sort of nonsense up with which I shall not put. ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2024, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bumper-sticker-what-did-garfield-do/1005615/30 "2024-08-12T17:49:39Z")
> [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](#): > > I have it on good authority that all Christian moms are practitioners of sexual copulation. Say it’s not so! ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2024, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bumper-sticker-what-did-garfield-do/1005615/31 "2024-08-12T18:02:27Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > I also like Garfield Minus Garfield. It’s so existentially dreadful in the “my life is a darkroom” kind of way. The problem with Garfield is that it’s exceedingly predictable and has been monetized for decades. I don’t really like Garfield Minus Garfield, because Jon just talking to himself somehow isn’t as funny as the variation where Garfield simply doesn’t have any dialogue. Bachelor talks to his cat is funnier than man talks to himself. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2024, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bumper-sticker-what-did-garfield-do/1005615/32 "2024-08-12T18:06:56Z")
The full quote makes me think Davis wasn’t talking about Garfield at all. I’ll quote it again: > “Garfield is very universal,” Davis explained. “By virtue of being a cat, really, he’s not really male or female or any particular race or nationality, young or old.” That sounds like Davis is talking about **the comic strip**. That it has universal appeal, and isn’t really for any particular gender, race, gender nationality or age. We know Garfield is an American, an orange cat, and his age is explicitly stated in his birthday comics. There’s no reason to think his gender is unknown, either. I also note that even Davis uses “he.” That doesn’t fit with saying Garfield is agender, either. I am not surprised at all that the guy making the claim was a troll, but am a bit surprised he’s _that_ troll, who is infamous for his trolling—picking a dumb position on a controversial topic in order to start arguments. ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2024, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bumper-sticker-what-did-garfield-do/1005615/33 "2024-08-12T18:19:58Z")
> [@chela](#): > > That’s not a good look for a self proclaimed Christian to broadcast their hate. This. If any of these people were suddenly granted even a _particle_ of self-awareness, the entire “Christian” industry would collapse. (Leaving only people who genuinely tried to practice what that guy in the New Testament talked about.) ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2024, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bumper-sticker-what-did-garfield-do/1005615/34 "2024-08-12T18:22:48Z")
Ok, but what about Nermal? > **[The 6 Most Misgendered Characters On TV](https://www.giantfreakinrobot.com/ent/misgendered-characters-tv.html)** > > You might think you know which gender your favorite TV characters are, but with these 6, a lot of viewers tend to get confused. ---
**Author:** ![jjakucyk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/3d9bf3/32.png) [@jjakucyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjakucyk)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2024, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bumper-sticker-what-did-garfield-do/1005615/35 "2024-08-12T18:35:47Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > I also like Garfield Minus Garfield. It’s so existentially dreadful in the “my life is a darkroom” kind of way. Look up “Chief O’Brien at Work” it’s equally dark. > [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](#): > > Ok, but what about Nermal? I think I always knew Nermal was a boy, but his saccharine cuteness and demeanor, as well as the eyelashes, does make him a bit of a gender bender. Being voiced by a woman in the TV cartoon didn’t help. Is Nermal metro? ---
**Author:** ![Stratocaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stratocaster/32/16393_2.png) [@Stratocaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stratocaster)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2024, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bumper-sticker-what-did-garfield-do/1005615/36 "2024-08-12T18:38:33Z")
> [@DesertDog](#): > > Which is why I specified Salem – I’m not up on European practices. European methods for killing witches are so backward. ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2024, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bumper-sticker-what-did-garfield-do/1005615/37 "2024-08-12T19:05:48Z")
> [@asterion](#): > > The problem with Garfield is that it’s exceedingly predictable and has been monetized for decades. I don’t really like Garfield Minus Garfield, because Jon just talking to himself somehow isn’t as funny as the variation where Garfield simply doesn’t have any dialogue. Bachelor talks to his cat is funnier than man talks to himself. I, too, much prefer the version with Garfield but without his thought bubbles over no Garfield at all. It’s funny. The minus Garfield stuff is just surreal and uninteresting. And Garfield was created to be monetized. The car window stuffed animal with suction cups, the phones, IIRC that type of stuff all was part of the plan from the beginning. ---
**Author:** ![pjd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pjd/32/3009_2.png) [@pjd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pjd)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2024, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bumper-sticker-what-did-garfield-do/1005615/38 "2024-08-12T19:57:02Z")
Someone claiming to be the originator of this sticker says they did it while high … [https://www.reddit.com/r/christiansvsgarfield/comments/1bnxx67/im\_the\_one\_who\_made\_the\_this\_christian\_mom\_hates/](https://www.reddit.com/r/christiansvsgarfield/comments/1bnxx67/im_the_one_who_made_the_this_christian_mom_hates/) ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2024, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bumper-sticker-what-did-garfield-do/1005615/39 "2024-08-12T20:44:41Z")
> [@asterion](#): > > Bachelor talks to his cat is funnier than man talks to himself. But both are equally sad. ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2024, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bumper-sticker-what-did-garfield-do/1005615/40 "2024-08-12T21:42:15Z")
Why is it sad to talk to a cat? I talk to cats (and dogs, and plants) all the time. And occasionally to a tractor. – Childless Cat Lady Who Votes ETA: The strip Garfield, however, is pretty sad. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bumper-sticker-what-did-garfield-do/1005615.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bumper-sticker-what-did-garfield-do/1005615.md?page=3)