# Mistaken assumptions based on bumper stickers **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 21, 2004, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mistaken-assumptions-based-on-bumper-stickers/256177 "2004-07-21T13:59:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2004, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mistaken-assumptions-based-on-bumper-stickers/256177/1 "2004-07-21T13:59:53Z")
I’m stuck in traffic, behind this maroon minivan driven by a guy. I know a lot of guys at work who drive minivan’s so that “this is his wife’s car” doesn’t cross my mind. And, stuck in traffic, I get a good chance to puruse his personal philosophy based on his bumper stickers. They were all Christian in nature. The fish, of course. What Would Jesus Do?, a few others extoling the path to salvation that is our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Or rather, some people’s Lord and Savior - not mine. But I don’t have any problem with it, and if it makes you a better human being, so much the better. There was nothing offensively in your face in the “haha, I’m going to heaven and you aren’t” sort of line - so I was feeling pretty neutral about the guy. We are in one of those traffic jams where the road narrows to a single lane for road repair. Which means the left lane is open - slightly - as most people have merged into the right lane that now slows at a snails pace - which is where we are. So, I’m thinking about the “soccer dad” in front of me. Nice, churchgoing guy with kids, when a car comes up in the left lane and cuts in front of him. Does he turn the other cheek, nope, he flips him off, scream obscenties out the window and lays on his horn. Shocked me. Didn’t expect it. I really don’t see Jesus as screaming obscenities when someone cuts them off it traffic. Not that the guy didn’t deserve it (I hate that behavior). ---
**Author:** ![Rufus\_Xavier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eada6e/32.png) [@Rufus\_Xavier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rufus_Xavier)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2004, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mistaken-assumptions-based-on-bumper-stickers/256177/2 "2004-07-21T14:04:28Z")
Being Christian and having a lot of pro-Jesus stuff plastered on your car doesn’t automatically make you the living embodiment of Ned Flanders. At least, I don’t think it does. Does it? Help me out here, folks… ;j ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2004, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mistaken-assumptions-based-on-bumper-stickers/256177/3 "2004-07-21T14:07:22Z")
If thy fellow traveler offend thee, cut him off. At least, that’s what I remember Jesus saying. ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Means\_Go](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/cc9497/32.png) [@Green\_Means\_Go](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Means_Go)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2004, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mistaken-assumptions-based-on-bumper-stickers/256177/4 "2004-07-21T17:42:25Z")
As a Christian, I would say that in general it is rare for someone who truly follows its tenets to do such a thing. At the same time, I have admit I have done this myself on rare occasions when the right set of circumstances presents itself. Christians should always try to hold themselves to a high standard, but the truth is we fail all the time. If we weren’t sinners, we wouldn’t need salvation. ---
**Author:** ![CandidGamera](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/candidgamera/32/2878_2.png) [@CandidGamera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CandidGamera)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2004, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mistaken-assumptions-based-on-bumper-stickers/256177/5 "2004-07-21T17:51:12Z")
Tangential, but related: I’ve noticed that the more bumper-stickers/decorations people have on their vehicles, the more rude and aggressive they are behind the wheel. 'Tis very curious. Sometimes I see those ‘God is my Co-Pilot’ bumper stickers, and think ‘Well, yeah, that’s because anyone else would’ve blacked out from the G-forces you’re pulling.’ Carry on. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![The\_Devil\_s\_Grandmother](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/74df32/32.png) [@The\_Devil\_s\_Grandmother](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Devil_s_Grandmother)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2004, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mistaken-assumptions-based-on-bumper-stickers/256177/6 "2004-07-21T19:56:43Z")
I tend to think that having bumper stickers is a bad idea anyway. It gives the drivers you piss off an excuse to hate a whole class of people. Even if the hate is only momentary, it’s not a good idea. However, there’s no way to prevent it, because even if you have no stickers on your cat, the next time you cut someone off accidentally that person is going to think “Damn Ford\* Drivers!” \*Insert name of your own vehicle here. ---
**Author:** ![JeffB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeffb/32/188_2.png) [@JeffB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JeffB)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2004, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mistaken-assumptions-based-on-bumper-stickers/256177/7 "2004-07-21T20:04:18Z")
> [@The Devil's Grandmother](#): > > However, there’s no way to prevent it, because even if you have no stickers on your cat, … Personally, I think putting bumper stickers on your cat is probably a bad idea. ---
**Author:** ![harmless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/2acd7d/32.png) [@harmless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/harmless)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2004, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mistaken-assumptions-based-on-bumper-stickers/256177/8 "2004-07-21T21:32:49Z")
> [@Ethilrist](#): > > If thy fellow traveler offend thee, cut him off. Speaking of bumper stickers, does this one already exist? 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Idlewild](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8491ac/32.png) [@Idlewild](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Idlewild)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2004, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mistaken-assumptions-based-on-bumper-stickers/256177/9 "2004-07-22T00:46:02Z")
We just came into possession of a second-hand car, and upon viewing the bumper stickers that came with it I noted to my husband with no small amount of relief, that if they _had_ to put a Presidential candidate bumper sticker on, at least it was the _right one_. Nonetheless, if it wasn’t transparent/white on a silver car, I’d probably have peeled it off already, I’m not overly fond of espousing political views while on the road. I don’t want to get rear ended by a person who objects to our political leanings. ---
**Author:** ![PussyCow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/22d042/32.png) [@PussyCow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PussyCow)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2004, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mistaken-assumptions-based-on-bumper-stickers/256177/10 "2004-07-22T00:55:25Z")
> [@Dangerosa](#): > > Does he turn the other cheek, nope, he flips him off, scream obscenties out the window and lays on his horn. Maybe he’s more of an old testament Christian. You know, eye for an eye and all that. ---
**Author:** ![screech-owl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/82dd89/32.png) [@screech-owl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/screech-owl)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2004, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mistaken-assumptions-based-on-bumper-stickers/256177/11 "2004-07-22T01:01:12Z")
> [@CandidGamera](#): > > …Sometimes I see those ‘God is my Co-Pilot’ bumper stickers, and think ‘Well, yeah, that’s because anyone else would’ve blacked out from the G-forces you’re pulling.’… Heh. I’m gonna make this a bumper sticker: “God is my Co-Pilot. All the other applicants blacked out from the G-force.” ---
**Author:** ![CandidGamera](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/candidgamera/32/2878_2.png) [@CandidGamera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CandidGamera)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2004, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mistaken-assumptions-based-on-bumper-stickers/256177/12 "2004-07-22T12:30:25Z")
> [@screech-owl](#): > > Heh. I’m gonna make this a bumper sticker: > “God is my Co-Pilot. All the other applicants blacked out from the G-force.” By all means, feel free. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2004, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mistaken-assumptions-based-on-bumper-stickers/256177/13 "2004-07-22T14:55:33Z")
I’m so hijacking this thread, but I want to share my (custom) bumper stickers. Smile, it’s the second best thing you can do with your lips. It only seems kinky the first time. Penny for your thoughts. Twenty to act them out. The Moral Majority is neither. The last one is the only even vaguely-political thing I put on my car. Previously I had a sticker called “Lost your cat? Try looking under my tires”. It’s a joke people. But someone professing to be a Christian wrote me a lengthy death threat and stuck it under my wiper. I’m just glad he didn’t key it or anything. People are so touchy. ---
**Author:** ![DeVena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dec6dc/32.png) [@DeVena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeVena)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2004, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mistaken-assumptions-based-on-bumper-stickers/256177/14 "2004-07-22T15:54:09Z")
DeHusband and I were driving along when a big honking SUV cut us off. On said SUV was a fish filled with the letters WWJD. DeHusband says, “What would Jesus do? He wouldn’t put a WWJD fish on the back of his car.” ---
**Author:** ![Ultraviolet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/c77e96/32.png) [@Ultraviolet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ultraviolet)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2004, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mistaken-assumptions-based-on-bumper-stickers/256177/15 "2004-07-22T16:58:02Z")
A friend’s brother (who happens to be a raging homophobe) once bought a used car that had a rainbow bumper sticker. He was clueless to the meaning, and never bothered to take it off. Needless to say, my friend never bothered to inform him of the significance 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2004, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mistaken-assumptions-based-on-bumper-stickers/256177/16 "2004-07-22T18:07:42Z")
Okay, sorta off-topic: I put a bumper sticker on my first car that read, “Single and Loving It!” I eventually traded the car in when I bought a different car. Some time later, I saw my old car going down the road, driven by a Mexican man. His wife was in the passenger seat, and there were 3-4 kids in the back seat. And that bumper sticker was still on the back of the car 😛 ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2004, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mistaken-assumptions-based-on-bumper-stickers/256177/17 "2004-07-22T19:01:41Z")
I kinda like the classic “ICHTHYS” Jesus Fish – classy and historically aware. Then we got the straight Jesus Fish. Then the Darwin Fish (with legs) and others, like the Darwin fish eating the Jesus fish, or vice-cersa. It’s overkill, and it’s not fun anymore. My favorite variation is the GHOTI fish, in which those letters fill the insde of the fish outline. (For those of you who didn’t grow up on word puzzles, “GHOTI” spells “FISH” – “GH” = “f” as in Fish “O” = “i” as in Women “TI” = “SH” as in Ambition) I’d like to try a new variation, as an HP Lovecraft fan, I want a “DAGON” fish. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2004, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mistaken-assumptions-based-on-bumper-stickers/256177/18 "2004-07-22T19:22:41Z")
> [@Ethilrist](#): > > If thy fellow traveler offend thee, cut him off. > > At least, that’s what I remember Jesus saying. No, no, no: he said, “By their bumperstickers shall ye know them.” My favorite misapprehension about a driver was the unexpected sighting of a prim, elegant grandmotherly woman behind the wheel of a car whose only bumpersticker read, “HONK IF YOU UNDERSTAND PUNCTUATED EQUILIBRIUM” Made my day. Daniel ---
**Author:** ![Scarlett67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scarlett67/32/7387_2.png) [@Scarlett67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett67)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2004, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mistaken-assumptions-based-on-bumper-stickers/256177/19 "2004-07-22T19:40:47Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > My favorite variation is the GHOTI fish, in which those letters fill the inside of the fish outline. OH OH OH! I want one of those!! Wherever can I get one?? (The English department chair at my alma mater had GHOTI as his vanity plate back in the late 80s. How fitting!) ---
**Author:** ![Rufus\_Xavier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eada6e/32.png) [@Rufus\_Xavier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rufus_Xavier)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2004, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mistaken-assumptions-based-on-bumper-stickers/256177/20 "2004-07-22T19:49:45Z")
> [@The Devil's Grandmother](#): > > “Damn Ford\* Drivers!” > > \*Insert name of your own vehicle here. Yep, one day I had back-to-back experiences with bad drivers who, according to their license plate frames, bought their cars at Galpin Motors. Until recently, I called any bad driver I saw on the road a “Galpin”. Now I just call them “Mercedes drivers”. 😃 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mistaken-assumptions-based-on-bumper-stickers/256177.md?page=2)