# Is there a law against hanging our flag upside down... **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 16, 2008, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-law-against-hanging-our-flag-upside-down/463770 "2008-09-16T01:05:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2008, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-law-against-hanging-our-flag-upside-down/463770/21 "2008-09-16T14:25:04Z")
> [@friedo](#): > > Somebody call the police. “I swear officer, I’m in distress! My wife took the car, and I’m out of Bacon Salt!” ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2008, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-law-against-hanging-our-flag-upside-down/463770/22 "2008-09-16T15:30:10Z")
> [@Desert\_Nomad](#): > > A hotel I stayed at in Tehran had a 2m US flag hanging upside down behind reception with several black stripes across it. Above the counter were brass letters spelling out “Down with USA”. > > The young Iranian woman working at reception was profoundly apologetic when she saw my US passport… I just thought it was all quite interesting. Did you get a good night’s sleep? ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2008, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-law-against-hanging-our-flag-upside-down/463770/23 "2008-09-16T17:55:06Z")
> [@cmyk](#): > > ˙ʎɥʍ ʇno ǝɹnƃıɟ ʇ,uɐɔ ı 'ǝɯ ɟo ǝɟıl ǝɥʇ ɹoɟ 'puɐ ˙pǝssıd llıʇs ǝɹɐ sɹoqɥƃıǝu ʎɯ ʇǝʎ puɐ 'dn-ǝpıs-ʇɥƃıɹ ƃɐlɟ ʎɯ ʎlɟ sʎɐʍlɐ ı [Moderating] **cmyk** , you and others were requested to cease and desist from making “upside down” posts in this thread: > **[¿ɯǝlqoɹd sıɥʇ ƃuıʌɐɥ ǝslǝ ʎpoqʎuɐ](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=483251)** > > ¡ƃuıɥʇ ʎzɐɹɔ sıɥʇ doʇs ¡ǝuɐɾ They are hard to read at best, and may be impossible to read without the right font available. Ok, it’s was sort of funny in the context of this thread. But I think we’ve had enough. Colibri General ---
**Author:** ![Desert\_Nomad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desert_nomad/32/177_2.png) [@Desert\_Nomad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Desert_Nomad)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2008, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-law-against-hanging-our-flag-upside-down/463770/24 "2008-09-16T18:05:34Z")
> [@pravnik](#): > > Did you get a good night’s sleep? Indeed… nice hotel and very comfortable if a bit noisy from the traffic on the main road outside. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2008, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-law-against-hanging-our-flag-upside-down/463770/25 "2008-09-16T18:10:52Z")
> [@Canadjun](#): > > [URL =“http:// www. godhatesfags. com/”]Westboro Baptist Church does it all the time. [Moderating] Please do not post direct links to hate sites. These may be NSFW for many people (in fact, that site is blocked from my work computer). I have broken the link. Colibri General Questions Moderator ---
**Author:** ![BarnOwl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e95f7d/32.png) [@BarnOwl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BarnOwl)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2008, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-law-against-hanging-our-flag-upside-down/463770/26 "2008-09-16T18:17:55Z")
Colibri, If you think this thread is more trouble than it’s worth, close it by all means. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2008, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-law-against-hanging-our-flag-upside-down/463770/27 "2008-09-16T18:28:00Z")
> [@BarnOwl](#): > > Colibri, If you think this thread is more trouble than it’s worth, close it by all means. If you feel it has been adequately answered, I will. We don’t seem to be getting real definitive responses here. I think that it is possible that there could be local laws that prohibit it. It might also be possible for local authorities to use laws concerning distress signals to harass someone doing it. However, I think that you would also have a strong First Amendment defense if you were doing as a protest. But IANAL. ---
**Author:** ![picker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/picker/32/13969_2.png) [@picker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picker)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2008, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-law-against-hanging-our-flag-upside-down/463770/28 "2008-09-16T18:37:55Z")
in before the lock! Is the distress signal only if it’s the US flag, or is it any flag? ---
**Author:** ![yabob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yabob/32/2821_2.png) [@yabob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yabob)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2008, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-law-against-hanging-our-flag-upside-down/463770/29 "2008-09-16T18:45:49Z")
> [@picker](#): > > in before the lock! > > Is the distress signal only if it’s the US flag, or is it any flag? I believe under maritime rules it is any national flag, which would make sense, since it is intended as a distress signal that is easy to display. maybe somebody can confirm that. ---
**Author:** ![mlees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@mlees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mlees)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2008, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-law-against-hanging-our-flag-upside-down/463770/30 "2008-09-16T18:52:59Z")
> [@picker](#): > > in before the lock! > > Is the distress signal only if it’s the US flag, or is it any flag? Wiki says this: > [@Wikipedia](#): > > **Flags** > Inverted national flags are no longer commonly used as distress signals. It is difficult or impossible to determine when the flags of many countries (such as Argentina or Italy) are inverted, or the viewer may not be familiar with the flag and may not realise it is not upright. If a national flag is all that is available, distress may be indicated by tying a knot in it, making it into a wheft. > **[Distress signal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Distress_signal)** > > A distress signal, also known as a distress call, is an internationally recognized means for obtaining help. Distress signals are communicated by transmitting radio signals, displaying a visually observable item or illumination, or making a sound audible from a distance. > A distress signal indicates that a person or group of people, watercraft, aircraft, or other vehicle is threatened by a serious or imminent danger and requires immediate assistance.: PCG D−3  Use of distress signals in other c... ---
**Author:** ![BarnOwl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e95f7d/32.png) [@BarnOwl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BarnOwl)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2008, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-law-against-hanging-our-flag-upside-down/463770/31 "2008-09-16T19:28:25Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > [Moderating] > > Please do not post direct links to hate sites. These may be NSFW for many people (in fact, that site is blocked from my work computer). > > I have broken the link. > > Colibri > General Questions Moderator No. On second throught, let it run, please. People seem to be interested in various angles of the question. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2008, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-law-against-hanging-our-flag-upside-down/463770/32 "2008-09-16T19:56:30Z")
> [@BarnOwl](#): > > No. On second throught, let it run, please. People seem to be interested in various angles of the question. Ok, fine. However, posters are requested to avoid extraneous political commentary. ---
**Author:** ![BarnOwl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e95f7d/32.png) [@BarnOwl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BarnOwl)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2008, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-law-against-hanging-our-flag-upside-down/463770/33 "2008-09-16T20:00:31Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > Ok, fine. > > However, posters are requested to avoid extraneous political commentary. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2008, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-law-against-hanging-our-flag-upside-down/463770/34 "2008-09-16T20:15:00Z")
This would never be a problem in Switzerland! It would be impossible to fly the flag upside down, even if you wanted to. > **[Flag of Switzerland](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swiss_flag)** > > The national flag of Switzerland (German: Schweizerfahne; French: drapeau de la Suisse; Italian: bandiera svizzera; Romansh: bandiera da la Svizra) displays a white cross in the centre of a square red field. The white cross is known as the Swiss cross or the federal cross. Its arms are equilateral, and their ratio of length to width is 7:6. The size of the cross in relation to the field was set in 2017 as 5:8. Alongside the flag of Vatican City, the Swiss flag is one of only two square nati Th... ETA: I hope this doesn’t count as political commentary. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![yabob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yabob/32/2821_2.png) [@yabob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yabob)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2008, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-law-against-hanging-our-flag-upside-down/463770/35 "2008-09-16T20:31:34Z")
Note that the convention, which probably HAS largely fallen into disuse, as noted, applied to naval ensigns rather than actual national flags. It’s quite possible that the naval ensign for a nation with a symmetric or nearly symmetric flag may not be. The British flag is not quite symmetric, but you have to look close to see that it’s upside down. Before the cross of St Patrick was added, it would have been symmetric. The naval ensigns, however, display the union flag in a canton, and would noticeably be upside down: > **[British ensign](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_ensigns)** > > In British maritime law and custom, an ensign is the identifying flag flown to designate a British ship, either military or civilian. Such flags display the United Kingdom Union Flag in the canton (the upper corner next to the staff), with either a red, white or blue field, dependent on whether the vessel is civilian, naval, or in a special category. These are known as the red, white, and blue ensigns respectively. > Outside the nautical sphere, ensigns are used to designate many other militar... ---
**Author:** ![Canadjun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/76d3ee/32.png) [@Canadjun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Canadjun)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2008, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-law-against-hanging-our-flag-upside-down/463770/36 "2008-09-16T22:45:36Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > [Moderating] > > Please do not post direct links to hate sites. These may be NSFW for many people (in fact, that site is blocked from my work computer). > > I have broken the link. > > Colibri > General Questions Moderator Oops! Mea maxima culpa! Yes, it is a hate site, but Phred Phelps has gone so far off the deep end that I read that site regularly because I find it so hilarious! I won’t post a link there again. Sorry. I hope simply mentioning Westboro and its “pastor” and family aren’t forbidden topics. It’s so much fun to make fun of bigots! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2008, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-law-against-hanging-our-flag-upside-down/463770/37 "2008-09-16T23:11:52Z")
> [@Canadjun](#): > > Oops! Mea maxima culpa! Yes, it is a hate site, but Phred Phelps has gone so far off the deep end that I read that site regularly because I find it so hilarious! > > I won’t post a link there again. Sorry. > > I hope simply mentioning Westboro and its “pastor” and family aren’t forbidden topics. It’s so much fun to make fun of bigots! 😃 No problem mentioning it, and no problem posting a broken url. The problem was having it as clickable link, which could potentially cause some awkwardness for those posting from work. ---
**Author:** ![Punoqllads](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d2c977/32.png) [@Punoqllads](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Punoqllads)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2008, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-law-against-hanging-our-flag-upside-down/463770/38 "2008-09-16T23:31:35Z")
Oops, didn’t see Colibri’s post regarding upside-down posting. ---
**Author:** ![WF\_Tomba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/d9b06d/32.png) [@WF\_Tomba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WF_Tomba)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2008, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-law-against-hanging-our-flag-upside-down/463770/39 "2008-09-17T00:15:32Z")
> [@yabob](#): > > Note that the convention, which probably HAS largely fallen into disuse, as noted, applied to naval ensigns rather than actual national flags. It’s quite possible that the naval ensign for a nation with a symmetric or nearly symmetric flag may not be. The British flag is not quite symmetric, but you have to look close to see that it’s upside down. Before the cross of St Patrick was added, it would have been symmetric. The naval ensigns, however, display the union flag in a canton, and would noticeably be upside down: > > [British ensign - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_ensigns) That’s very interesting. I had never before noticed that the union jack has only rotational symmetry (i.e., can look the same if rotated but not if flipped). Do you happen to know why they didn’t put the cross of St. Patrick right down the middle of the cross of St. Andrew? My home state of Maryland has a flag that is frequently put the wrong way up by mistake: [Maryland flag](http://www.50states.com/flag/mdflag.htm). I could have sworn I saw it flying upside-down in the background of a scene in _Seabiscuit_. By the way, does anyone know which poster here had their location listed as “umop apIsdn”? ---
**Author:** ![Punoqllads](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d2c977/32.png) [@Punoqllads](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Punoqllads)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2008, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-law-against-hanging-our-flag-upside-down/463770/40 "2008-09-17T00:25:34Z")
> [@WF\_Tomba](#): > > By the way, does anyone know which poster here had their location listed as “umop apIsdn”? That would be me. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-law-against-hanging-our-flag-upside-down/463770.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-law-against-hanging-our-flag-upside-down/463770.md?page=3)