# 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:** 2
**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, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-vexillologists-out-there-name-your-favorite-flags-and-your-most-disliked-flags/538562/21 "2010-05-07T01:29:10Z")
> [@Kimmy\_Gibbler](#): > > 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). That’s a great site! Thanks for linking it. I personally like Baltimore, Pittsburgh, and Casper Wyoming. ---
**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, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-vexillologists-out-there-name-your-favorite-flags-and-your-most-disliked-flags/538562/22 "2010-05-07T02:20:45Z")
> [@Kimmy\_Gibbler](#): > > 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). One can only ask: What the hell was Tampa smoking? I like Salem’s, Fresno’s and Seattle’s flags. ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2010, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-vexillologists-out-there-name-your-favorite-flags-and-your-most-disliked-flags/538562/23 "2010-05-07T03:12:36Z")
My favorite–the good ol’ U.S. of A. I’m also partial to [Jamaica](http://www.flags.net/JAMA.htm). The color combo is unusual and the Jamaicans always have really nifty yellow, green, and black outfits at the Olympics. ETA: One that I don’t care for is South Africa. It looks like it was designed by a committee. ---
**Author:** ![whiterabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/cab0a1/32.png) [@whiterabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whiterabbit)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2010, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-vexillologists-out-there-name-your-favorite-flags-and-your-most-disliked-flags/538562/24 "2010-05-07T03:25:34Z")
My God, those city flags pretty much all _suck_. I didn’t know cities _had_ flags. Even cities in Texas. Perhaps because of the high suckage factor. ---
**Author:** ![jsquire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ce73a5/32.png) [@jsquire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsquire)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2010, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-vexillologists-out-there-name-your-favorite-flags-and-your-most-disliked-flags/538562/25 "2010-05-07T03:26:24Z")
Kenya’s spears and shield design is pretty cool. Wales’ red dragon motif is supposedly the oldest national flag still in use, and it’s tattooed on my left shoulder. ---
**Author:** ![AClockworkMelon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aclockworkmelon/32/10803_2.png) [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2010, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-vexillologists-out-there-name-your-favorite-flags-and-your-most-disliked-flags/538562/26 "2010-05-07T03:28:05Z")
[Mozambique](http://isaaciglesias.files.wordpress.com/2010/02/mozambique-flag.jpg) either has the best or the worst flag ever, I can’t tell which. It looks like it was designed by a middle schooler with Photoshop. But it’s got a fucking AK-47 on it. That being said I really like the British and United States Confederate flag. ---
**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, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-vexillologists-out-there-name-your-favorite-flags-and-your-most-disliked-flags/538562/27 "2010-05-07T03:32:36Z")
I really like flags. Most of my favorite flags have either three or four colors. Too many two-color flags are easily mistaken for one another; Indonesia, Monaco, Salzburg, Solothurn, Poland–work something out! Five or more usually looks too busy (Saint-Pierre et Miquelon). Still, Chuvashia, Leinster, New Mexico, Quebec and the _new_ Macedonia are distinctive and meaningful with only two colors each. British Columbia manages to make a mess with four. I mostly despise flags with writing on them. If you have to put _words_ on there, the _design_ isn’t working! Kansas recognized that their 1927 flag, the old seal-on-a-blue-field thing, wasn’t working, but instead of coming up with a distinctive new design, they just added “KANSAS” in huge stupid letters. And then Wisconsin had to go and do the _same thing_ to theirs! Those states need to just start over. California would be a great flag if they just dropped the words. For the best U.S. state flag of all, gotta go with Maryland–bold heraldic design, utterly unmistakable, and with real historical meaning. Some other excellent flags around the world are Jamaica, Kenya, Nepal, Wales. ---
**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, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-vexillologists-out-there-name-your-favorite-flags-and-your-most-disliked-flags/538562/28 "2010-05-07T03:36:54Z")
> [@AClockworkMelon](#): > > [Mozambique](http://isaaciglesias.files.wordpress.com/2010/02/mozambique-flag.jpg) either has the best or the worst flag ever, I can’t tell which. It looks like it was designed by a middle schooler with Photoshop. But it’s got a fucking AK-47 on it. I never noticed that with Mozambique. A book, a hoe (i guess) and a machine gun with a bayonet. What national message is that sending? :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![AClockworkMelon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aclockworkmelon/32/10803_2.png) [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2010, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-vexillologists-out-there-name-your-favorite-flags-and-your-most-disliked-flags/538562/29 "2010-05-07T03:39:50Z")
> [@Stink Fish Pot](#): > > I never noticed that with Mozambique. > > A book, a hoe (i guess) and a machine gun with a bayonet. What national message is that sending? > :dubious: The best kind. Edit: And I believe the book is the Bible. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2010, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-vexillologists-out-there-name-your-favorite-flags-and-your-most-disliked-flags/538562/30 "2010-05-07T04:00:35Z")
> [@Zsofia](#): > > And Virginia’s okay because, hey, boobies! Not if the Attorney General of Virgina has his way: [Sic Semper Boobies!](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=561674&highlight=boobies) ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2010, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-vexillologists-out-there-name-your-favorite-flags-and-your-most-disliked-flags/538562/31 "2010-05-07T04:07:34Z")
[This](http://www.flagandbanner.com/f-b-images/dflag35cold.jpg) is the greatest flag in the world. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2010, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-vexillologists-out-there-name-your-favorite-flags-and-your-most-disliked-flags/538562/32 "2010-05-07T04:17:53Z")
[The Flag of Ohio](http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.buy-american-flag.com/american-flag-states/ohio-state-flag.full.gif&imgrefurl=http://www.buy-american-flag.com/american-flag-states/ohio-state-flag.html&h=335&w=550&sz=17&tbnid=iIeyLVaJsObdxM:&tbnh=81&tbnw=133&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dohio%2Bstate%2Bflag&hl=en&usg=__IOfHW_83AuSbmrIvPt0h0bcLNII=&ei=CJTjS-fQJYq2NuOvtfkC&sa=X&oi=image_result&resnum=1&ct=image&ved=0CC0Q9QEwAA): The only state flag that’s not a rectangle. And of course there’s [this one](http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/qq-rb.html). ---
**Author:** ![MichaelEmouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/michaelemouse/32/101_2.png) [@MichaelEmouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MichaelEmouse)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2010, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-vexillologists-out-there-name-your-favorite-flags-and-your-most-disliked-flags/538562/33 "2010-05-07T04:21:23Z")
This says “Don’t mess with us” rather directly: [http://www.craphound.com/images/Flag\_of\_the\_Benin\_Empire.svg.jpg](http://www.craphound.com/images/Flag_of_the_Benin_Empire.svg.jpg) ---
**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, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-vexillologists-out-there-name-your-favorite-flags-and-your-most-disliked-flags/538562/34 "2010-05-07T04:36:15Z")
> [@AClockworkMelon](#): > > The best kind. > > Edit: And I believe the book is the Bible. I assumed it was a holy book of some kind. Nothing says religion like an AK-47! ---
**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, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-vexillologists-out-there-name-your-favorite-flags-and-your-most-disliked-flags/538562/35 "2010-05-07T04:37:35Z")
> [@MichaelEmouse](#): > > This says “Don’t mess with us” rather directly: [http://www.craphound.com/images/Flag\_of\_the\_Benin\_Empire.svg.jpg](http://www.craphound.com/images/Flag_of_the_Benin_Empire.svg.jpg) Ok that really is a cool flag. ---
**Author:** ![AClockworkMelon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aclockworkmelon/32/10803_2.png) [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2010, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-vexillologists-out-there-name-your-favorite-flags-and-your-most-disliked-flags/538562/36 "2010-05-07T04:37:41Z")
> [@Stink Fish Pot](#): > > I assumed it was a holy book of some kind. Nothing says religion like an AK-47! Took the joke right out of my mind. ---
**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, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-vexillologists-out-there-name-your-favorite-flags-and-your-most-disliked-flags/538562/37 "2010-05-07T04:38:42Z")
> [@Stink Fish Pot](#): > > 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!” Green is the [color of Islam](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_in_Islam). Other flags incorporating green specifically to represent Islam are Abkhazia, Afghanistan, Algeria, Azerbaijan, Chechnya, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kashmir, Kuwait, Maldives, Mauritania, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Somaliland, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Tatarstan, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, and Uzbekistan. The other main [signifier of Islam in flags](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamic_flags#Modern_Islamic_flags) is the star-and-crescent. There are only a few Muslim countries that have neither green nor the star-and-crescent; several have both. ---
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2010, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-vexillologists-out-there-name-your-favorite-flags-and-your-most-disliked-flags/538562/38 "2010-05-07T05:08:44Z")
[Here](http://www.nava.org/Flag%20Design/GFBF/gfbf-1.htm)is a good guide to flag design from the North American Vexillological Association. Their five basic principles, which the site expands upon, are: > [@NAVA](#): > > **1. Keep It Simple.** The flag should be so simple that a child can draw it from memory… > > \*\*2. Use Meaningful Symbolism. \*\*The flag’s images, colors, or patterns should relate to what it symbolizes… > > \*\*3. Use 2–3 Basic Colors. \*\*Limit the number of colors on the flag to three, which contrast well and come from the standard color set… > > \*\*4. No Lettering or Seals. \*\*Never use writing of any kind or an organization’s seal… > > \*\*5. Be Distinctive or Be Related. \*\*Avoid duplicating other flags, but use similarities to show connections… Many posters here have put forth similar views (especially **spark240** ) or have expressed a preference for flags that observe these principles. Note to **TheChileanBlob** : It was NAVA that [rated the New Mexico flag as #1.](http://www.nava.org/Flag%20Design/State&Provincial%20Survey%202001/surveyresults.htm) I remember a site by a vexillologist who added a few additional principles of his own, notably that flags should not include images of weapons. Surprisingly, this excludes quite a few flags, and not just Mozambique’s. There are a few other guns and many swords, clubs, arrows, etc., on flags out there. I think I agree with this idea in general, although I wouldn’t be overly dogmatic about it. I’m fine with banning AK-47s, but these days arrows are more symbolic than threatening. Like **spark240** , I particularly like my [home state’s flag](http://littlelakeview.files.wordpress.com/2009/02/maryland1.jpg), but I’ve always been partial to the simple elegance of New Mexico’s, as well. ---
**Author:** ![Khaki\_Campbell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9de053/32.png) [@Khaki\_Campbell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khaki_Campbell)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2010, 5:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-vexillologists-out-there-name-your-favorite-flags-and-your-most-disliked-flags/538562/39 "2010-05-07T05:53:58Z")
The [Vinnland Flag](http://www.patriotic-flags.com/viking/fic-vinl.gif) (in memory of Peter Steele from Type O Negative). ---
**Author:** ![Kyla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2010, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-vexillologists-out-there-name-your-favorite-flags-and-your-most-disliked-flags/538562/40 "2010-05-07T06:18:22Z")
Flags I like: Wales. It’s got a dragon on it. Dragons are cool. Albania. Distinctive, attractive, good color scheme. A lot of the Japanese prefecture flags are spiffy. The Chicago flag. Which is so common in Chicago that I thought it was the Illinois state flag when I first moved there. (No, Illinois has one of those terrible “state seal” flags.) Canada. Simple, attractive, no one ever gets it confused with any other flag. It reminds me of maple-flavored stuff (yum). Nepal. Why does it have such a funky shape? I don’t know and I don’t care. It looks cool. Sri Lanka. Undrawable (I know this from personal experience, having done a report on Sri Lanka in 6th grade) but lions with swords are always neat. Macedonia. It’s spiffy. Naturally the Greeks hate it because it was Alexander the Great’s flag and Macedonia is in GREECE and you are all a bunch of cultural thieves. So it looks cool but Greece will keep vetoing your NATO application as long as you use it, just a heads up. Flags I don’t like: All of those European flags with three stripes of color. BORING. All of the US state flags with a seal on them. UNCREATIVE. And, I don’t CARE that it’s some kind of official heraldry, the Maryland state flag is an offense against the human eye. Every time someone mentions how hideous this flag is, Marylanders start whining about how it’s follows some kind of heraldry tradition and blah blah blah did I mention I don’t care? Your heraldry traditions mean nothing to me. It’s not only ugly, it’s actually physically painful to look at. Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela: your flags are almost identical. Do something about it. Australia and New Zealand: same thing. Ukraine. Those two colors together just look ugly. Sorry. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-vexillologists-out-there-name-your-favorite-flags-and-your-most-disliked-flags/538562.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-vexillologists-out-there-name-your-favorite-flags-and-your-most-disliked-flags/538562.md?page=3)