# Bumper Stickers in Britain/Ireland **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 7, 2013, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bumper-stickers-in-britain-ireland/665649 "2013-08-07T23:53:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![SanVito](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sanvito/32/2805_2.png) [@SanVito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanVito)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2013, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bumper-stickers-in-britain-ireland/665649/41 "2013-08-08T13:44:59Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > [Family Car Stickers](http://www.familystickers.com/family-car-stickers) > > It’s a series of small stick-figure people, one to represent each member of your household, and sometimes even pets. Now that’s just weird. What you going to do when the cat gets run over? Have a ceremonial unpeeling? Do they sell cross stickers to put on top? It’s fraught with potential grief! ---
**Author:** ![SanVito](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sanvito/32/2805_2.png) [@SanVito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanVito)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2013, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bumper-stickers-in-britain-ireland/665649/42 "2013-08-08T13:48:39Z")
> [@Novelty\_Bobble](#): > > Serious question, why would the French word for Scotland be seen as more useful for that purpose than either the english word (maybe I can understand that) or no word and only a flag? > I’m aware of “the auld alliance” but don’t see what added power “Ecosse” brings. > > (plus I’ve never been arsed enough to ask anyone and you are a pretty knowledgeable lot and not short of a straight answer or two 🙂 ) Yes, it’s the ‘Auld Alliance’ thing, combined with the fact that the French are the traditional sworn enemies of the English. So it’s ‘two fingers up to the English and their language’. A sane Scotsman who doesn’t feel such animosity would, indeed, just use a flag. ---
**Author:** ![Ximenean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/aca169/32.png) [@Ximenean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ximenean)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2013, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bumper-stickers-in-britain-ireland/665649/43 "2013-08-08T14:10:36Z")
I’m afraid those stick figures are catching on in the UK. Somebody pointed them out on another (UK) forum that I frequent, and now I see the things everywhere. ---
**Author:** ![Bozuit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/edb3f5/32.png) [@Bozuit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bozuit)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2013, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bumper-stickers-in-britain-ireland/665649/44 "2013-08-08T14:12:06Z")
> [@SanVito](#): > > Yes, it’s the ‘Auld Alliance’ thing, combined with the fact that the French are the traditional sworn enemies of the English. So it’s ‘two fingers up to the English and their language’. > > A sane Scotsman who doesn’t feel such animosity would, indeed, just use a flag. _Some_ (:D) people seem to have become so busy hating England they forget there’s more to a national identity than that. Personally, I find it a little amusing that England can be the centre of a non-English person’s universe to a level that even the most patriotic English person can only aspire to. ---
**Author:** ![PaulParkhead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@PaulParkhead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PaulParkhead)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2013, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bumper-stickers-in-britain-ireland/665649/45 "2013-08-08T14:38:31Z")
> [@Novelty\_Bobble](#): > > Serious question, why would the French word for Scotland be seen as more useful for that purpose than either the english word (maybe I can understand that) or no word and only a flag? > I’m aware of “the auld alliance” but don’t see what added power “Ecosse” brings. > > (plus I’ve never been arsed enough to ask anyone and you are a pretty knowledgeable lot and not short of a straight answer or two 🙂 ) The characterisation that we have those stickers because we “hate the English” is really quite unfair, although there are a good number of Scots who have a bad attitude towards our southern friends. They were normally attached to cars that were taken to continental Europe alongside the GB plate. The most common place to go on camping holidays with the car was France, hence “Ecosse”. And the thing is, it’s not so much “we hate the English” as “we’re not English”. It’s irritating to Scots to be referred to as English. English people who are puzzled by this should imagine how they’d feel if everyone in Europe assumed they were American because they spoke English. Canadians and New Zealanders already know the feeling. ---
**Author:** ![SanVito](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sanvito/32/2805_2.png) [@SanVito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanVito)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2013, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bumper-stickers-in-britain-ireland/665649/46 "2013-08-08T15:19:31Z")
> [@PaulParkhead](#): > > And the thing is, it’s not so much “we hate the English” as “we’re not English”. It’s irritating to Scots to be referred to as English. English people who are puzzled by this should imagine how they’d feel if everyone in Europe assumed they were American because they spoke English. Canadians and New Zealanders already know the feeling. My Dad was always mistaken for being Australian when he was in the US. He’s from Ipswich. Happens to folks the world over. ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2013, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bumper-stickers-in-britain-ireland/665649/47 "2013-08-08T15:24:08Z")
Stickers are not that uncommon in the UK, but as others have said, they tend to be stuck in the back window rather than onto the bumper. For allegiance to football teams, you sometimes see [miniature jerseys](https://www.vauxhallmerchandise.co.uk/Vauxhall/Images/Products/MouseOver/VX045_L1.jpg) suction-cupped to the window. PS “Baby on Board” stickers are pretty lame, but not as lame as [these](http://imgs.inkfrog.com/pix/magicsammagicsam/little-princess-silver-NEW.jpg) which actively make me want to set about the offending vehicle with a lump hammer. (Note the use of “quote marks” - is the little princess a bit of a heifer?) ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2013, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bumper-stickers-in-britain-ireland/665649/48 "2013-08-08T15:31:09Z")
> [@SanVito](#): > > My Dad was always mistaken for being Australian when he was in the US. He’s from Ipswich. > > Happens to folks the world over. I went through secondary school thinking my Geography teacher was from Australia…nope…east Anglia as well. Ironic that I made such a gaff with a geography teacher of all people. Would I be right in thinking that maybe East Anglians were over-represented within the original convict settlers? Who cares if I’m right or not that is a good story and I am sticking with it. ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2013, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bumper-stickers-in-britain-ireland/665649/49 "2013-08-08T15:35:29Z")
> [@PaulParkhead](#): > > The characterisation that we have those stickers because we “hate the English” is really quite unfair, although there are a good number of Scots who have a bad attitude towards our southern friends. > > They were normally attached to cars that were taken to continental Europe alongside the GB plate. The most common place to go on camping holidays with the car was France, hence “Ecosse”. > > And the thing is, it’s not so much “we hate the English” as “we’re not English”. It’s irritating to Scots to be referred to as English. English people who are puzzled by this should imagine how they’d feel if everyone in Europe assumed they were American because they spoke English. Canadians and New Zealanders already know the feeling. Fair enough (personally I’ve worked with many, many Scots and only one ever expressed anti-English sentiments) That explanation makes sense enough. And it isn’t surprising that we seek to distinguish ourselves from the masses. We all have something of a regional identity. I know how annoying it is to be called a “geordie” just because I have a north-eastern accent. How much more so the offence is when you actually come from Sunderland. ( I don’t but my brother-in-law gets it all the time and he is as mackem as the day is long) ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2013, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bumper-stickers-in-britain-ireland/665649/50 "2013-08-08T15:52:38Z")
> [@Nglshmn](#): > > . . . people have risen above such things and now have colored windshield jet lights, car tattoos and black wheels… . . > [@Acsenray](#): > > I don’t know what any of those things are. Car tattoo sales website [with pictures](http://www.wallspirit.com/car-tattoos.html). Regarding the stick figures, I got one of these, just because Order of the Stick is cool. If you read ALL the ad copy, you’ll see that it’s available in white and clear. I missed that and got the clear. I put it in the lower corner of my van’s window and . . . you can’t see the design at all from the outside. From the outside, it just looks like an all black bumper sticker. If you’re inside the van, though, the light coming through makes the figures visible. So I have a stealth stick figure bumper sticker. > [@SanVito](#): > > Now that’s just weird. What you going to do when the cat gets run over? Have a ceremonial unpeeling? Do they sell cross stickers to put on top? It’s fraught with potential grief! You had to rem[ind me](http://in-memory-decals.net/in-memory-decal-styles/). I don’t see as many of these as I used to. I’m betting they’re not big in the UK. ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2013, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bumper-stickers-in-britain-ireland/665649/51 "2013-08-08T16:02:04Z")
> [@Nava](#): > > The stick family is also available in jewelry: it’s just that, stick drawings of the family members. Personally I think it’s pretty tasteless; among other things because, unless mommy(ies) has had a hysterectomy, there might be a surprise and way to rub his nose in it… Oh I don’t know, my stick figure family is an [Avatar](http://wiki.eveonline.com/en/wiki/Avatar) and a [Drake](http://games.chruker.dk/eve_online/item.php?type_id=24698) with a Hello Kitty face on the Jetta, and a [Rorqual](http://wiki.eveuniversity.org/Rorqual) and a [Mackinaw](http://wiki.eveonline.com/en/wiki/Mackinaw) with a Hello Kitty head on the momvan. A friend from EVE says I will probably find my momvan being followed by someone with the stick figure of a [Raven](http://wiki.eveonline.com/en/wiki/Raven) on it 😛 \ ---
**Author:** ![Filbert](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/filbert/32/3433_2.png) [@Filbert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Filbert)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2013, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bumper-stickers-in-britain-ireland/665649/52 "2013-08-08T16:42:56Z")
> [@kferr](#): > > Another car adornment that you see far fewer of in the UK than the US is the Jesus fish. However, I have seen several of the Darwin fish, FSM ‘fish’ and one terribly English one with ‘n chips’ in the middle. Around here there’s a few annoying ones with obnoxious statements like ‘Protected by angels’, ‘Powered by fairy dust’, and the absolutely vomit inducing ‘Don’t drive faster than your angel can fly’ which really makes me want to ram them. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2013, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bumper-stickers-in-britain-ireland/665649/53 "2013-08-08T16:59:07Z")
In the late 80s there were Fat Willys Surf somethingorother stickers on half the cars in the West Country. I assume those went the way of Global Hypercolo(u)r. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2013, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bumper-stickers-in-britain-ireland/665649/54 "2013-08-08T17:20:17Z")
> [@SanVito](#): > > Now that’s just weird. What you going to do when the cat gets run over? Have a ceremonial unpeeling? Do they sell cross stickers to put on top? It’s fraught with potential grief! I think I saw the answer to this question on a minivan in Whitby last week: a row of stickers, family members sorted by size, and the girl in the middle had _angel wings and a halo_. Oh yes, there were also various church stickers, and a chrome Jesus fish, on the back of the minivan. I was simultaneously sympathetic and creeped out. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2013, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bumper-stickers-in-britain-ireland/665649/55 "2013-08-08T17:24:26Z")
> [@Colophon](#): > > PS “Baby on Board” stickers are pretty lame, but not as lame as [these](http://imgs.inkfrog.com/pix/magicsammagicsam/little-princess-silver-NEW.jpg) which actively make me want to set about the offending vehicle with a lump hammer. > > (Note the use of “quote marks” - is the little princess a bit of a heifer?) I’ll lend you my sledgehammer. 🙂 :: shudder :: ---
**Author:** ![PaulParkhead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@PaulParkhead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PaulParkhead)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2013, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bumper-stickers-in-britain-ireland/665649/56 "2013-08-08T17:54:16Z")
> [@SanVito](#): > > My Dad was always mistaken for being Australian when he was in the US. He’s from Ipswich. > > Happens to folks the world over. Yes, it does, but when you’re a person from a country that is effectively dominated by another country ten time the size of yours, you feel differently about it. When I lived in the US, a lot of people I met thought I was Irish. That doesn’t bother me at all. But I am bothered when someone calls me English. I’m not trying to defend the offensive attitudes some Scots have towards the English, absolutely not. But we are protective of our national identity, and I don’t think we’re being unreasonable in doing so. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2013, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bumper-stickers-in-britain-ireland/665649/57 "2013-08-08T18:24:17Z")
> [@PaulParkhead](#): > > Yes, it does, but when you’re a person from a country that is effectively dominated by another country ten time the size of yours, you feel differently about it. When I lived in the US, a lot of people I met thought I was Irish. That doesn’t bother me at all. But I am bothered when someone calls me English. > > I’m not trying to defend the offensive attitudes some Scots have towards the English, absolutely not. But we are protective of our national identity, and I don’t think we’re being unreasonable in doing so. This is exactly how English-speaking Canadian feel about being mistaken for USAmericans. ---
**Author:** ![PaulParkhead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@PaulParkhead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PaulParkhead)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2013, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bumper-stickers-in-britain-ireland/665649/58 "2013-08-08T18:48:32Z")
> [@Sunspace](#): > > This is exactly how English-speaking Canadian feel about being mistaken for USAmericans. Understood, and I think some Kiwis might feel the same way - as mentioned in my first post on this. Canadians are sometimes mistaken for Irish folks, and I imagine that bothers them a lot less than being mistaken for Americans. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2013, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bumper-stickers-in-britain-ireland/665649/59 "2013-08-08T18:53:18Z")
> [@SanVito](#): > > Well, there’s the ‘Ecosse’ stickers, which is a big old ‘we hate the English’ thing they have going on in Scotland. “Alba” ones too. Almost certainly not Gaelic speakers, but probably SNP voters. ---
**Author:** ![PaulParkhead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@PaulParkhead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PaulParkhead)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2013, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bumper-stickers-in-britain-ireland/665649/60 "2013-08-08T21:41:43Z")
> [@Baron\_Greenback](#): > > “Alba” ones too. Almost certainly not Gaelic speakers, but probably SNP voters. Those don’t really annoy me either. I mean, in the end, does any expression of Scottishness amount to “Fuck the English”? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bumper-stickers-in-britain-ireland/665649.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bumper-stickers-in-britain-ireland/665649.md?page=4)