# OK vexillologists, out there! Name your favorite flags and your most disliked flags **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 6, 2010, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-vexillologists-out-there-name-your-favorite-flags-and-your-most-disliked-flags/538562 "2010-05-06T21:51:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![crypto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b3f665/32.png) [@crypto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crypto)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2010, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-vexillologists-out-there-name-your-favorite-flags-and-your-most-disliked-flags/538562/1 "2010-05-06T21:51:16Z")
Take country feelings and political ideology out of this (if you can). I’ll name a couple and let the thread run. The only caveat to this thread is that the flag must be real, and must have flown at some point in history. I will be back later in the thread to put some other flags in the list (with appropriate links), but I’m on the run right now and wanted to start this thread before I forgot again. With that said, I will go with my favorite flag and least favorite flag currently flying. As a homer, I love the US flag. I think it’s a great looking flag with a great history. There is a logical layout to the flag, with the stars and stripes meaning something. From the flag I’d least like to hang from my house on flag day, it would have to be the new South African flag. Ugh. Hate it. Can’t imagine being in the SA military, and have any connection to that abomination. Yours? ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Sensitive](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/58956e/32.png) [@Darth\_Sensitive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Sensitive)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2010, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-vexillologists-out-there-name-your-favorite-flags-and-your-most-disliked-flags/538562/2 "2010-05-06T22:02:11Z")
Texas flag is the best of all the state flags, and is one of the best in the world. Nice, simple, symbolic, forceful. ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2010, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-vexillologists-out-there-name-your-favorite-flags-and-your-most-disliked-flags/538562/3 "2010-05-06T22:10:32Z")
The [flag of Nepal](http://flagspot.net/flags/np.html) is definitely in the running for something. ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2010, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-vexillologists-out-there-name-your-favorite-flags-and-your-most-disliked-flags/538562/4 "2010-05-06T22:21:23Z")
I don’t like the US state flags that are basically a blue field with a state seal on it, with obscure symbolic components that only matter to the committee members who fought each other over their inclusion, and are unrecognizable from more than five feet away, anyway. As bad as the behavior conducted under it was, I can’t deny that [the Imperial Japanese navy flag](http://www.nickgrantadventures.com/japan_B_files/Imperial_Japanese_Navy_Flag.jpg) did a good job at being a flag. ---
**Author:** ![Lemur866](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lemur866/32/434_2.png) [@Lemur866](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lemur866)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2010, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-vexillologists-out-there-name-your-favorite-flags-and-your-most-disliked-flags/538562/5 "2010-05-06T22:26:02Z")
> [@Darth\_Sensitive](#): > > Texas flag is the best of all the state flags, and is one of the best in the world. > > Nice, simple, symbolic, forceful. Bullshit. The Alaska state flag kicks the ass of every other state flag. Course most state flags are crap–the “state seal on blue background” approach is just awful. > **[File:Flag of Alaska.svg - New World Encyclopedia](https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/File:Flag_of_Alaska.svg)** ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2010, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-vexillologists-out-there-name-your-favorite-flags-and-your-most-disliked-flags/538562/6 "2010-05-06T22:37:18Z")
> [@Darth\_Sensitive](#): > > Texas flag is the best of all the state flags, and is one of the best in the world. > > Nice, simple, symbolic, forceful. You want simple – I give you the [flag of Libya](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Libya) ---
**Author:** ![kidneyfailure](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9f8e36/32.png) [@kidneyfailure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kidneyfailure)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2010, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-vexillologists-out-there-name-your-favorite-flags-and-your-most-disliked-flags/538562/7 "2010-05-06T22:38:12Z")
> [@Slithy\_Tove](#): > > As bad as the behavior conducted under it was, I can’t deny that [the Imperial Japanese navy flag](http://www.nickgrantadventures.com/japan_B_files/Imperial_Japanese_Navy_Flag.jpg) did a good job at being a flag. Yes, it’s quite eye catching, isn’t it? I’ve always liked the design of that one. Favorite flags? I like South Korea’s flag. I also like the Hezbollah flag because I think their logo looks cool. The UN flag is nice. Afghanistan’s current flag is very nice. What else? The Mexican flag is beautiful, IMHO. The Irish Hockey Team flag is pretty. You know what’re better than flags? National coats-of-arms. Man, there are some awesome ones! ---
**Author:** ![TheChileanBlob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thechileanblob/32/435_2.png) [@TheChileanBlob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheChileanBlob)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2010, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-vexillologists-out-there-name-your-favorite-flags-and-your-most-disliked-flags/538562/8 "2010-05-06T22:39:39Z")
The [New Mexico state flag](http://www.50states.com/flag/nmflag.htm) is pretty. We have one hanging in our house. I don’t have a cite, but my husband told me it won some kind of award for flag design. ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2010, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-vexillologists-out-there-name-your-favorite-flags-and-your-most-disliked-flags/538562/9 "2010-05-06T22:53:27Z")
While I agree with the general rule of “blue field with state seal” sucking, Virginia is the exception due to the extreme awesomeness of the seal, Virtue stomping the chest of a fallen king and the slogan “sic semper tyrannis” meaning “thus always to tyrants.” Props to Brazil’s flag, which is pretty and unusual. Nepal obviously, for breaking the rectangle mold. Greece, because it’s stripey in a super eye-catching way. The flag of Great Britain creatively merged several boring flags into one sweet flag, that’s pretty cool. D- to Italy, France, Ireland, and all other 3-rectangles designs. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2010, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-vexillologists-out-there-name-your-favorite-flags-and-your-most-disliked-flags/538562/10 "2010-05-06T23:22:51Z")
You are all wrong - the [South Carolina](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Flag_of_South_Carolina.svg) flag is the most beautiful of all state flags. And Virginia’s okay because, hey, boobies! ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2010, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-vexillologists-out-there-name-your-favorite-flags-and-your-most-disliked-flags/538562/11 "2010-05-06T23:35:16Z")
> [@Zsofia](#): > > You are all wrong - the [South Carolina](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Flag_of_South_Carolina.svg) flag is the most beautiful of all state flags. If you had said that was the flag of Dubai, I would have totally believed you. Speaking of which, Lebanon is kinda cool with the cedar tree, Saudia Arabia is kinda badass, on the flip side, Qatar’s looks like its for a sewing club & someone went hog-wild with pinking shears. ---
**Author:** ![whiterabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/cab0a1/32.png) [@whiterabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whiterabbit)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2010, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-vexillologists-out-there-name-your-favorite-flags-and-your-most-disliked-flags/538562/12 "2010-05-06T23:51:22Z")
I now live in Idaho, which has one of the lame state seal flags, but a cool bit is that the seal was originally designed by a woman. It’s been tweaked a few times since, but I like that. How many flags have birds? Louisiana’s has _pelicans_. I must agree that Texas has a good flag, though it now strikes me as downright weird that the flag, or the shape of the state, is on _everything_. (As a kid there, I thought that was normal. Until I left.) But a five-year-old can recognizably draw that flag. I like it. ---
**Author:** ![kidneyfailure](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9f8e36/32.png) [@kidneyfailure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kidneyfailure)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2010, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-vexillologists-out-there-name-your-favorite-flags-and-your-most-disliked-flags/538562/13 "2010-05-07T00:03:44Z")
Yeah, Saudi Arabia’s flag is cool, too. Can’t believe I forgot about it. I like flags with writing on them, the words (especially if done in a non-Romanized writing style) add alot to the look of the flag. It would be cool to see more Asian flags with writing on them. ---
**Author:** ![Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/brown_eyed_girl/32/3574_2.png) [@Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brown_Eyed_Girl)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2010, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-vexillologists-out-there-name-your-favorite-flags-and-your-most-disliked-flags/538562/14 "2010-05-07T00:08:29Z")
I really like the [Isle of Man’s flag](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Flag_of_the_Isle_of_Man.svg), or even better the [flag of Sicily](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Flag_of_Sicily_%28revised%29.svg). I’m partial to the SC state flag as well, but [Arizona’s flag](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Flag_of_Arizona.svg) is great, too! ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2010, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-vexillologists-out-there-name-your-favorite-flags-and-your-most-disliked-flags/538562/15 "2010-05-07T00:12:12Z")
> [@Hello\_Again](#): > > While I agree with the general rule of “blue field with state seal” sucking, Virginia is the exception due to the extreme awesomeness of the seal, Virtue stomping the chest of a fallen king and the slogan “sic semper tyrannis” meaning “thus always to tyrants.” Yep. Also Virginia was the _first_ with this design, which means it’s all the _others_ that are failing the distinguish-from-existing-flags measure. ---
**Author:** ![Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/brown_eyed_girl/32/3574_2.png) [@Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brown_Eyed_Girl)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2010, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-vexillologists-out-there-name-your-favorite-flags-and-your-most-disliked-flags/538562/16 "2010-05-07T00:15:16Z")
There are a ton of awesome flags in Oceania, too! ---
**Author:** ![FloatyGimpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/floatygimpy/32/7750_2.png) [@FloatyGimpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FloatyGimpy)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2010, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-vexillologists-out-there-name-your-favorite-flags-and-your-most-disliked-flags/538562/17 "2010-05-07T00:36:50Z")
Please. [This](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Canada) is the best flag. ---
**Author:** ![Kimmy\_Gibbler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Kimmy\_Gibbler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimmy_Gibbler)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2010, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-vexillologists-out-there-name-your-favorite-flags-and-your-most-disliked-flags/538562/18 "2010-05-07T00:56:34Z")
Some of the best (I’d personally rank the [flag of Chicago](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Chicago) at number 1) and certainly the worst can be found [here](http://www.nava.org/Flag%20Design/city_survey.htm). ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2010, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-vexillologists-out-there-name-your-favorite-flags-and-your-most-disliked-flags/538562/19 "2010-05-07T01:09:15Z")
Yeah the [Flag of the City of New York](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Flag_of_New_York_City.svg) is some weak, weak shit. The slogan on the seal makes the baby Jesus cry: This is the seal of the City of New York However, it does display beavers rampant, so it’s not a complete waste. ---
**Author:** ![crypto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b3f665/32.png) [@crypto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crypto)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2010, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-vexillologists-out-there-name-your-favorite-flags-and-your-most-disliked-flags/538562/20 "2010-05-07T01:21:46Z")
> [@Giles](#): > > You want simple – I give you the [flag of Libya](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Libya) I always wondered about this flag. Can you imagine the arguing about the selection of color? “Our country is primarily a desert. We need a flag to represent us. How about… a plain green flag!” I agree with whoever said that [Texas](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Flag_of_Texas.svg)has the best state flag. Love that one. The blue flags with a coat of arms ALL suck, including [Virginia’s](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Flag_of_Virginia.svg). [Pennsylvania](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Flag_of_Pennsylvania.svg), [New York](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Flag_of_New_York.svg)… pick one. They are all boring and have no personality. Flags of the past that stand out in my mind as great flags… the [Japanese](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:War_flag_of_the_Imperial_Japanese_Army.svg) battle flag, the [Nazi](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Flag_of_Nazi_Germany_(1933-1945).svg) Party flag, and the [Confederate](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Battle_flag_of_the_US_Confederacy.svg)battle flag are all good looking flags. From a US state flag perspective, I always liked [California’s](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Flag_of_California.svg)and [Alaska’s](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Flag_of_Alaska.svg). Flags of today that I like include the [UK’s](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom.svg), [Czech Republic](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Flag_of_the_Czech_Republic.svg), [Dominican Republic](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Flag_of_the_Dominican_Republic.svg), [Iceland](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Flag_of_Iceland.svg), [Trinidad and Tobago](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Flag_of_Trinidad_and_Tobago.svg), and [Estonia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Flag_of_Estonia.svg). [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-vexillologists-out-there-name-your-favorite-flags-and-your-most-disliked-flags/538562.md?page=2)