# Remarkably ugly flags **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 26, 2007, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remarkably-ugly-flags/409531 "2007-06-26T22:00:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2007, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remarkably-ugly-flags/409531/1 "2007-06-26T22:00:52Z")
God save the Queen, because her personal flag when she’s in Australia is remarkably ugly: [Queen's Personal Australian Flag - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queen%27s_Personal_Australian_Flag) What’s your nomination? ---
**Author:** ![Nancarrow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c37758/32.png) [@Nancarrow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nancarrow)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2007, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remarkably-ugly-flags/409531/2 "2007-06-26T22:24:52Z")
Gosh. That’s very… _busy_, isn’t it? I find the [Japanese Naval Ensign](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Naval_Ensign_of_Japan.svg) to be rather unpleasant. ---
**Author:** ![Bearflag70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Bearflag70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bearflag70)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2007, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remarkably-ugly-flags/409531/3 "2007-06-26T22:25:22Z")
[Sacramento, California](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sacramento) ---
**Author:** ![Terminus\_Est](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terminus_est/32/3087_2.png) [@Terminus\_Est](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terminus_Est)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2007, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remarkably-ugly-flags/409531/4 "2007-06-26T22:26:55Z")
[Bangladesh](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Bangladesh) ---
**Author:** ![cher3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/da6949/32.png) [@cher3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cher3)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2007, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remarkably-ugly-flags/409531/5 "2007-06-26T22:33:08Z")
I can sympathize with the emotions behind displaying the POW/MIA flag, but it is not an asset to the scenery: [http://www.flagladyohio.com/store/images/powmia.jpg](http://www.flagladyohio.com/store/images/powmia.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Bearflag70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Bearflag70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bearflag70)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2007, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remarkably-ugly-flags/409531/6 "2007-06-26T22:42:09Z")
[Most state flags (scroll down)](http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.texassam.com/flags3xxx.JPG&imgrefurl=http://www.texassam.com/flags2.htm&h=809&w=611&sz=257&tbnid=lYIEsq8vYxheBM:&tbnh=143&tbnw=108&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dstate%2Bflags%26um%3D1&start=1&sa=X&oi=images&ct=image&cd=1) especially: 1. All the “blue field with a logo or seal” flags: Connecticut Delaware Idaho Indiana Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Michigan Minnesota Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New York Oklahoma Oregon - except this one’s cool because it has a beaver on the back Pennsylvania South Carolina - not so bad South Dakota Utah vermont Virginia 1. Dishonorable Mention Hawaii Iowa ---
**Author:** ![swampbear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampbear/32/467_2.png) [@swampbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampbear)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2007, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remarkably-ugly-flags/409531/7 "2007-06-26T23:17:02Z")
**Bearflag 70** that site has the wrong flag for the state of Georgia. An understandable mistake since in the past seven years there have been three different flags. Right now this is Georgia’s [flag du jour](http://www.50states.com/flag/gaflag.htm). It shall remain until the General [del]zoo[/del] Assembly gets another wild hair to mess around with it. ---
**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2007, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remarkably-ugly-flags/409531/8 "2007-06-26T23:21:46Z")
[City Flags](http://www.nava.org/Flag%20Design/city_survey.htm) are often not that attractive. Mesa AZ - is it a business card or a flag? ---
**Author:** ![Creaky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e68b1a/32.png) [@Creaky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Creaky)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2007, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remarkably-ugly-flags/409531/9 "2007-06-27T01:08:14Z")
The Maryland state flag, flag of my home state, is in my opinion very unpleasant. Way too busy and overstimulating. My dad has become an artist in his dotage and does paintings based on life in the Maryland Chesapeake region, where images of our state flag often figure prominently. He vehemently disagrees with me, as he loves the intricacies and colors. Yuck, I say. Observe: [![](http://www.joson.com/states/images/marylandlg.GIF) ](http://www.joson.com/states/images/marylandlg.GIF) ---
**Author:** ![Ms.Pumpkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a87d85/32.png) [@Ms.Pumpkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ms.Pumpkin)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2007, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remarkably-ugly-flags/409531/10 "2007-06-27T01:30:43Z")
[This](http://www.50states.com/flag/meflag.htm) is Maine’s flag. Fairly boring, except the thing in the middle that looks like an injured dog? That’s supposed to be a moose. ---
**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2007, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remarkably-ugly-flags/409531/11 "2007-06-27T01:57:56Z")
[QUOTE=Creaky] The Maryland state flag, flag of my home state, is in my opinion very unpleasant. Way too busy and overstimulating. My dad has become an artist in his dotage and does paintings based on life in the Maryland Chesapeake region, where images of our state flag often figure prominently. He vehemently disagrees with me, as he loves the intricacies and colors. Yuck, I say. Observe: [![](http://www.joson.com/states/images/marylandlg.GIF) ](http://www.joson.com/states/images/marylandlg.GIF) [/QUOTE] The Maryland state flag is striking and beautiful. And it looks great when used in any heraldic manner. ---
**Author:** ![Hippy\_Hollow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hippy_hollow/32/4841_2.png) [@Hippy\_Hollow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hippy_Hollow)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2007, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remarkably-ugly-flags/409531/12 "2007-06-27T02:05:37Z")
[QUOTE=Hypno-Toad] The Maryland state flag is striking and beautiful. And it looks great when used in any heraldic manner. [/QUOTE] Agreed. I didn’t find the national flags mentioned upthread too bad. The American city flags, though, embarrassed the hell out of me. Sacramento… what the fuck is going on there? Fort Worth’s flag deserves to be burned. Daily. ---
**Author:** ![OneCentStamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/13edae/32.png) [@OneCentStamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneCentStamp)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2007, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remarkably-ugly-flags/409531/13 "2007-06-27T02:27:42Z")
[QUOTE=Creaky] The Maryland state flag, flag of my home state, is in my opinion very unpleasant. Way too busy and overstimulating. My dad has become an artist in his dotage and does paintings based on life in the Maryland Chesapeake region, where images of our state flag often figure prominently. He vehemently disagrees with me, as he loves the intricacies and colors. Yuck, I say. Observe: [![](http://www.joson.com/states/images/marylandlg.GIF) ](http://www.joson.com/states/images/marylandlg.GIF) [/QUOTE] Hey man, bite your tongue. :mad: How can you dis the Maryland flag?!? What about the Calverts, and the Cecils…and the…the Cecil Calvert…and the emblem of the house of…whatever. Where’s your state spirit? 😉 (but I really do like the flag) ---
**Author:** ![Creaky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e68b1a/32.png) [@Creaky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Creaky)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2007, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remarkably-ugly-flags/409531/14 "2007-06-27T03:07:53Z")
**Hypno-Toad** and **OneCentStamp** , sorry, guys. I know to some the Maryland flag is all good, especially if you’re into the heraldic thing, but to me it just looks like an ADHD attack on a pillowcase. State spirit I reckon I’m lacking. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2007, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remarkably-ugly-flags/409531/15 "2007-06-27T04:24:27Z")
Related threads re: national flags, [Coolest national flags - In My Humble Opinion - Straight Dope Message Board](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=336065), and city flags, [Coolest U.S. City Flag - In My Humble Opinion - Straight Dope Message Board](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=335241). ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2007, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remarkably-ugly-flags/409531/16 "2007-06-27T04:29:14Z")
[QUOTE=OneCentStamp] How can you dis the Maryland flag?!? What about the Calverts, and the Cecils…and the…the Cecil Calvert…and the emblem of the house of…whatever. [/QUOTE] Cheap domestic whiskey, once upon a time. And the flag looks like bad 1960s op art, or mediocre 1970s vinyl wallpaper. > [@Nancarrow](#): > > I find the Japanese Naval Ensign to be rather unpleasant. It makes me want to scramble for the nearest deck gun. ---
**Author:** ![Bearflag70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Bearflag70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bearflag70)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2007, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remarkably-ugly-flags/409531/17 "2007-06-27T05:08:58Z")
[QUOTE=Hippy Hollow] Sacramento… what the fuck is going on there? [/QUOTE] It’s a depiction of the Sacrametno River, best i can tell. ---
**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:** [June 27, 2007, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remarkably-ugly-flags/409531/18 "2007-06-27T05:26:00Z")
[QUOTE=Creaky] The Maryland state flag, flag of my home state, is in my opinion very unpleasant. Way too busy and overstimulating. My dad has become an artist in his dotage and does paintings based on life in the Maryland Chesapeake region, where images of our state flag often figure prominently. He vehemently disagrees with me, as he loves the intricacies and colors. Yuck, I say. Observe: [![](http://www.joson.com/states/images/marylandlg.GIF) ](http://www.joson.com/states/images/marylandlg.GIF) [/QUOTE] Dear **Creaky** , This is to inform you have I have written to the governor to initiate proceedings to revoke your citizenship of the Free State of Maryland for your slanderous and potentially treasonous statements about the most attractive state flag in the U.S. If you are willing to recant and submit to a six-month rehabilitation program, you may be able to avoid immediate (and not very gentle) ejection from the state. In the meantime, I’m nominating your father for a special award and sending him a note sympathizing with him about the unfortunate views of his wayward child. I suppose there’s one in every family. Signed, **Commasense** And **Beware of Doug** : Beware of Me! I’m watching you! But seriously folks, the Maryland flag is the only heraldically-based state flag. I think it’s the most distinctive and attractive of all of them. [More than you ever wanted to know about Maryland’s flag.](http://www.sos.state.md.us/Services/FlagHistory.htm) > [@Maryland's Secretary of State](#): > > George Calvert, first Lord Baltimore, adopted a coat of arms that included a shield with alternating quadrants featuring the yellow-and-black colors of his paternal family and the red-and-white colors of his maternal family, the Crosslands. (Note where it says “The Maryland flag has been described as **the perfect state flag**.”) I have to second **bearflag70** : I **hate** all those damn “state seal on a blue field” flags. Stupid and unimaginative. In fact, now that I look at them all, the only really decent state flags (after Maryland, of course) are: Alabama Alaska Arizona Colorado D.C. New Mexico (a _very_ close second in beauty to Maryland) Ohio (the only non-rectangular flag) South Carolina Tennessee Texas Puerto Rico The rest are crap, especially the ones with the state’s name in big ugly block letters (I’m looking at _you_ AR, CA, IA, KS, MT, OK, OR, and WI.) ---
**Author:** ![Terminus\_Est](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terminus_est/32/3087_2.png) [@Terminus\_Est](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terminus_Est)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2007, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remarkably-ugly-flags/409531/19 "2007-06-27T05:41:18Z")
New Mexico’s current flag is really, really good. Its original flag, on the other hand, was [very, very bad](http://flagspot.net/flags/us-nmx17.html). ---
**Author:** ![I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/i_love_me_vol.i/32/521_2.png) [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Love_Me_Vol.I)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2007, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remarkably-ugly-flags/409531/20 "2007-06-27T05:41:49Z")
[QUOTE=Hippy Hollow] The American city flags, though, embarrassed the hell out of me. Sacramento… what the fuck is going on there? Fort Worth’s flag deserves to be burned. Daily. [/QUOTE] Some of those city flags were just ridiculous. Many looked like bad 3-color letterhead from the 70’s. But the Sacramento Flag… It’s in a class by itself. We have a winner, I think. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remarkably-ugly-flags/409531.md?page=2)