# Geese - Incognito **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 19, 2000, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/geese-incognito/26141 "2000-07-19T19:34:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![KimKatt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ac91a4/32.png) [@KimKatt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KimKatt)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2000, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/geese-incognito/26141/1 "2000-07-19T19:34:56Z")
My mother has concrete geese. Two of them. She dresses them in clothing ‘appropriate’ to the season. During the spring, one was dressed as a sunflower (petals around its head), and the other was wearing a raincoat. At Christmas, one is dressed as Santa, the other as a reindeer. During hockey playoffs, one is dressed as a Red Wing, the other as a Maple Leaf (it’s a regional thing). The one dressed as a Maple Leaf was wearing sunglasses, so that no one would recognize it, mom informed me. To make matters worse, the geese ‘live’ on the steps of the porch. The porch steps are only about 3 feet wide. I actually have to manoeuver around her silly geese every time I go to her house. When we bought our house a few months ago, it had a concrete goose on the porch. I threatened to do it violence if it was still there when we moved in. Fortunately, they had taken it with them. My questions: Are these two foot concrete geese that get dressed up in silly clothing a widespread phenomenon, or are we the only town having to deal with this? I don’t have a problem with the geese themselves… it’s the clothes. Does anyone else think this is as silly as I do? Do I need to have my mother committed? Or should I just buy her some Barbie Dolls and let her relive her youth? ---
**Author:** ![pluto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f08c70/32.png) [@pluto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pluto)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2000, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/geese-incognito/26141/2 "2000-07-19T19:39:29Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by KimKatt \* > > Are these two foot concrete geese that get dressed up in silly clothing a widespread phenomenon, or are we the only town having to deal with this? > > I don’t have a problem with the geese themselves… it’s the clothes. Does anyone else think this is as silly as I do? > > Do I need to have my mother committed? Or should I just buy her some Barbie Dolls and let her relive her youth? 1. Your town is the only town in the world that does this. 2. How long have you been attracted to clothed animals? 3. Your mother and her entire family should be brought in for their own safety and the safety of the community. Held indefinitely. Released only with the signature of two independent psychiatrists and the parole board. Glad to be of assistance. ---
**Author:** ![KimKatt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ac91a4/32.png) [@KimKatt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KimKatt)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2000, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/geese-incognito/26141/3 "2000-07-19T19:46:28Z")
I’m going to have to post pictures of this. They are everywhere… on a given middle income street, at least two or three houses will have a goose in clothing. The one down the street from me is dressed as a cardinal. Took me a while to figure that one out, too - I was wondering why they had a goose on their porch dressed as Lucifer. ---
**Author:** ![Sue\_Duhnym](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/91b2a8/32.png) [@Sue\_Duhnym](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sue_Duhnym)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2000, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/geese-incognito/26141/4 "2000-07-19T20:02:16Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by KimKatt \* > \*\*Took me a while to figure that one out, too - I was wondering why they had a goose on their porch dressed as Lucifer. \*\* Bwahahahahaha! Can’t…breathe…laughing…too…hard. ---
**Author:** ![ChrisP\_One\_Kenobe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e19b73/32.png) [@ChrisP\_One\_Kenobe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChrisP_One_Kenobe)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2000, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/geese-incognito/26141/5 "2000-07-19T20:06:18Z")
Well, here in the US they used to do it in the early 90’s. At least in Indiana. You Canadians had the option to see how stupid it was and stop it there, but nooooo. Ummm…you are from Canada, right? ---
**Author:** ![jesuslynch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e99b99/32.png) [@jesuslynch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jesuslynch)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2000, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/geese-incognito/26141/6 "2000-07-19T20:07:58Z")
I saw something about dressed up geese a few weekends on one of the networks or CNN or somewhere. They did a story on this couple that makes the clothing. Its their entire livelyhood. The report mentioned that these people were getting somewheres around $50 an outfit. ---
**Author:** ![KimKatt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ac91a4/32.png) [@KimKatt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KimKatt)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2000, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/geese-incognito/26141/7 "2000-07-19T20:15:40Z")
This is sad to say, but yes, it’s true. They sell these outfits at booths in the mall a couple of times a year, and they run $40 - $100 a pop. My mother, to save money, usually makes her own. I’m not sure whether that is better, or worse. And yes, ChrisP, I’m Canadian. This is not one of our more shining features. ---
**Author:** ![CrankyAsAnOldMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crankyasanoldman/32/11670_2.png) [@CrankyAsAnOldMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrankyAsAnOldMan)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2000, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/geese-incognito/26141/8 "2000-07-19T20:16:15Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by jesuslynch \* > \*\*I saw something about dressed up geese a few weekends on one of the networks or CNN or somewhere. They did a story on this couple that makes the clothing. Its their entire livelihood. > > The report mentioned that these people were getting somewheres around $50 an outfit. \*\* $50 an outfit. $50 an outfit. I don’t know whether to be flabbergasted, annoyed, pissed that I didn’t come up with this idea myself, or what. I know I feel disturbed, deeply disturbed. [puts head down on arms and sobs] ---
**Author:** ![Pandora](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/eada6e/32.png) [@Pandora](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pandora)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2000, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/geese-incognito/26141/9 "2000-07-19T20:16:32Z")
Oh, could someone PLEASE post a link to pictures of this? I really really want to se it. It sounds hysterical! -Pandora ---
**Author:** ![cher3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/da6949/32.png) [@cher3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cher3)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2000, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/geese-incognito/26141/10 "2000-07-19T20:20:56Z")
Here’s one. They aren’t actually photographs, but since we’re talking goose bikinis here, that’s probably just as well: [http://www.emilysgifts.com/goose.htm](http://www.emilysgifts.com/goose.htm) Goose bikinis. I think I have to go lie down now. ---
**Author:** ![Pandora](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/eada6e/32.png) [@Pandora](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pandora)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2000, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/geese-incognito/26141/11 "2000-07-19T20:27:39Z")
Oh my!!! Now I’m frightened. -Pandora ---
**Author:** ![iampunha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/74df32/32.png) [@iampunha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iampunha)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2000, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/geese-incognito/26141/12 "2000-07-19T20:36:02Z")
This is like ornamental trolls only far worse. Kimkatt, why not just put the geese in the yard or something? ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2000, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/geese-incognito/26141/13 "2000-07-19T20:57:29Z")
ROFLMAO! What do you do for Thanksgiving? Paint 'em golden brown and pile stuffing around them? Here in Georgia we have alot of wierd stuff, but I’ve never seen a concrete, seasonally clothed (or nekkid, for that matter) goose. ---
**Author:** ![BigJoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b9bd4f/32.png) [@BigJoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigJoe)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2000, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/geese-incognito/26141/14 "2000-07-19T21:02:00Z")
Concrete Geese - sounds like a great name for a band. ---
**Author:** ![Edwardina](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Edwardina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Edwardina)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2000, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/geese-incognito/26141/15 "2000-07-19T21:10:29Z")
This is one bit of bizarre Americana I could have lived a long and happy life _without_ knowing about. While it is evidently harmless, (as long as they stick to concrete geese), it is just a touch disturbing, isn’t it? The truly frightening part is how cheerfully normal all the goosaphiles sound: “_We have a 26 inch “plastic goose” that has a removable plug on the bottom. You can fill it with a little sand or kitty litter (unused preferably) because it is definitely a light-weight without it. This just makes the goose feel a little more secure during earthquakes and tornadoes. And yes, we will ship it. It sells for $16.95 and once it’s dressed it looks o:k. Not a 10 but a good 6 or 7. Be the first on your block with a Goose from Emily’s!_” The first on my block! I hope I’d be the first in my county! (Of course, that’s probably hoping too much). Actually, I think my aunt might have one of these things. She lives in Canada, and she was always that way, even when she lived here . . . ---
**Author:** ![Narile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/71c47a/32.png) [@Narile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Narile)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2000, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/geese-incognito/26141/16 "2000-07-19T21:13:11Z")
It is not a single town thing unless you live in Dayton OH as well. The geese are ubiqutious here as well. Once thought of ‘kidnapping’ one and taking it with me as I travelled, sending postcards to the owners from it every stop I made. ---
**Author:** ![Michi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c37758/32.png) [@Michi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Michi)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2000, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/geese-incognito/26141/17 "2000-07-19T22:18:00Z")
Damn, I am getting old…we had a REG from the SDMB AOL days who would do outrageous things to her neighbor’s geese and then post about it…I can’t remember who this was…i am sure another oldie will come along and remind me. ---
**Author:** ![Tracie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/90db22/32.png) [@Tracie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tracie)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2000, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/geese-incognito/26141/18 "2000-07-19T22:57:30Z")
> [@](#): > > Here in Georgia we have alot of wierd stuff, but I’ve never seen a concrete, seasonally clothed (or nekkid, for that matter) goose. Same here in Washington State… **shudder** ~Tracie ---
**Author:** ![Kat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b19c9b/32.png) [@Kat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kat)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2000, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/geese-incognito/26141/19 "2000-07-20T03:50:36Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Michi \* > Damn, I am getting old…we had a REG from the SDMB AOL days who would do outrageous things to her neighbor’s geese and then post about it…I can’t remember who this was…i am sure another oldie will come along and remind me. Mama Maroon/DarwinsElf/Nurse Ratchet(?)/Judy. I was just thinking about her as I read the OP, too. ---
**Author:** ![Zoing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/ecccb3/32.png) [@Zoing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoing)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2000, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/geese-incognito/26141/20 "2000-07-20T04:17:49Z")
but we have a thing in my area (dallas/ft.worth) that a lawn will spontaneously sprout dozens of plastic flamingos overnight, and then disappear the next day. It bewilders me. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/geese-incognito/26141.md?page=2)