# 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:** 17\ **Page:** 4
**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 14, 2024, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bumper-sticker-what-did-garfield-do/1005615/61 "2024-08-14T04:25:17Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > The sticker isn’t a protest about gender identity or anything about Jim Davis’ politics- it’s just absurdism for its own sake. Not sure if you’re being serious but this discussion isn’t just academic, the bumper sticker I saw seemed genuine - the Christian cross on it was deliberate. And there were no other stickers or other ‘light” humorous affectations on the car, no comic sans lettering on the sticker like you might expect on a tshirt. Sure, it could have be a ‘one off’ funny but in that context, if it was, the ‘funny’ was lost. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2024, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bumper-sticker-what-did-garfield-do/1005615/62 "2024-08-14T05:03:47Z")
That’s sort of the exact point. The purpose isn’t necessarily to make you laugh - it’s to make the person who put the sticker on their car laugh at your confused response. That sort of neo-Dadaist absurdism is a big part of Gen-Z humor. And really, this is just scratching the surface of what Gen Z does with Garfield. Check out r/imsorryjon sometime. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2024, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bumper-sticker-what-did-garfield-do/1005615/63 "2024-08-14T05:04:16Z")
I’ll sign that petition. Cat, dog, kids, one time possum lady who votes. ---
**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:** [August 14, 2024, 12:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bumper-sticker-what-did-garfield-do/1005615/64 "2024-08-14T12:07:37Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > The purpose isn’t necessarily to make you laugh - it’s to make the person who put the sticker on their car laugh at your confused response. I once had a bumper sticker that read, **STUPID PEOPLE SHOULDN’T BREED**. Some people would chuckle. But the real deal were the folks who looked at it and didn’t understand, looking all slack jawed as they pondered. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2024, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bumper-sticker-what-did-garfield-do/1005615/65 "2024-08-14T12:59:01Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > I once had a bumper sticker that read, **STUPID PEOPLE SHOULDN’T BREED**. > > Some people would chuckle. But the real deal were the folks who looked at it and didn’t understand, looking all slack jawed as they pondered. > **[Bill Engvall - Here's Your Sign (Video)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p5ZkdHImCuQ%2F)** > > © 2005 WMGHere's Your Sign (Video)#BillEngvall #HeresYourSign #90sCountry ---
**Author:** ![SuntanLotion](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suntanlotion/32/16165_2.png) [@SuntanLotion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuntanLotion)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2024, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bumper-sticker-what-did-garfield-do/1005615/66 "2024-08-14T13:04:28Z")
I **love** that song. ---
**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 14, 2024, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bumper-sticker-what-did-garfield-do/1005615/67 "2024-08-14T17:06:32Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > But the real deal were the folks who looked at it and didn’t understand, looking all slack jawed as they pondered. What’s not to get? ---
**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:** [August 14, 2024, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bumper-sticker-what-did-garfield-do/1005615/68 "2024-08-14T18:26:01Z")
Yeah, right? ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2024, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bumper-sticker-what-did-garfield-do/1005615/69 "2024-08-14T18:43:47Z")
I had one bumper sticker, ever, on a car I owned. It said **“Imagine”**. I got more comments on that. And questions. I could never understand the confusion. I hated to see it go when we traded the vehicle. But I was glad people quit asking me "What’s that mean?’ ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2024, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bumper-sticker-what-did-garfield-do/1005615/70 "2024-08-14T23:41:11Z")
There are two kinds of people in the world. Those who can extrapolate from incomplete data. ---
**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 14, 2024, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bumper-sticker-what-did-garfield-do/1005615/71 "2024-08-14T23:59:43Z")
Wait, but that’s only…. Ohhhh… ---
**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 15, 2024, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bumper-sticker-what-did-garfield-do/1005615/72 "2024-08-15T02:27:05Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > I once had a bumper sticker that read, **STUPID PEOPLE SHOULDN’T BREED**. > > Some people would chuckle. But the real deal were the folks who looked at it and didn’t understand, looking all slack jawed as they pondered. I used to have a button on my hat that said “Doing my part to piss off the Religious Right”. Never once was anyone offended by it, because the people it would have offended, don’t read. ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUBv.2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanubv.2/32/3260_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUBv.2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUBv.2)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2024, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bumper-sticker-what-did-garfield-do/1005615/73 "2024-08-15T21:59:39Z")
> [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](#): > > Ok, but what about Nermal? I always figured Nermal as male. The long eyelashes and ultra cuteness are because he’s a perpetual kitten, so will never reach adult malehood. I had an exceptionally cute, grey tabby who I named Nermal but she was a female. ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2024, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bumper-sticker-what-did-garfield-do/1005615/74 "2024-08-15T22:21:24Z")
It’s canon that Nermal is male. That said, the character was voiced by a woman in the first TV show, and I’m pretty sure that’s where I also for got the impression that Nermal was female, though it’s been so long I can’t remember if she was doing more of a young boy voice or a more feminine voice. ---
**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 16, 2024, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bumper-sticker-what-did-garfield-do/1005615/75 "2024-08-16T19:52:29Z")
> [@asterion](#): > > That said, the character was voiced by a woman in the first TV show […] though it’s been so long I can’t remember if she was doing more of a young boy voice or a more feminine voice. ⁢ He always sounded very girly to me: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/G8vz7ZlQQOI/maxresdefault.jpg "Garfield VS Nermal - Garfield & Friends") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G8vz7ZlQQOI) ---
**Author:** ![Seanette](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/seanette/32/9139_2.png) [@Seanette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seanette)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2024, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bumper-sticker-what-did-garfield-do/1005615/76 "2024-08-16T20:41:32Z")
Nermal’s [second appearance](https://www.gocomics.com/garfield/1979/09/04) in 1979 has Garfield referring to Nermal as “he”. Seems to me that should settle that question. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2024, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bumper-sticker-what-did-garfield-do/1005615/77 "2024-08-16T21:05:01Z")
> [@DesertDog](#): > > One accused witch was pressed to death trying to force a confession. Was she as thin as a pressed duck? SHE’S A WITCH!!! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bumper-sticker-what-did-garfield-do/1005615.md?page=3)