# Sovereign Citizens-- Please tell me this is fake **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 24, 2016, 7:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sovereign-citizens-please-tell-me-this-is-fake/769572 "2016-10-24T07:38:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 52
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2024, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sovereign-citizens-please-tell-me-this-is-fake/769572/1021 "2024-05-18T16:12:24Z")
With or without a gold fringe? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2024, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sovereign-citizens-please-tell-me-this-is-fake/769572/1022 "2024-05-18T16:27:05Z")
> [@EddyTeddyFreddy](#): > > With or without a gold fringe? - With, of course. That’s how you know it’s a nogrative court. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2024, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sovereign-citizens-please-tell-me-this-is-fake/769572/1023 "2024-05-18T18:10:20Z")
[Authentic Frontier Gibberish.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CAustuuNON0) ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2024, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sovereign-citizens-please-tell-me-this-is-fake/769572/1024 "2024-05-20T22:22:38Z")
LOL that opening video was in Bothell court, I used to work out of Bothell for years. Small world! (I commuted there from Kirkland then later Everett.) ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2024, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sovereign-citizens-please-tell-me-this-is-fake/769572/1025 "2024-05-24T15:17:01Z")
> [@smithsb](#): > > “He starts arguing over the difference between a crime and an infraction and explains that “in [his] law,” another person has to be harmed for that to count as a crime, claims he doesn’t live in the “state of” California but does live in California, and then insists he doesn’t know what a sovereign citizen is, calling the term an oxymoron.” A professor of social work and criminology, Dr. Christine Sarteschi (who’s well worth following regarding sov cits) has noted that sovereign citizens are increasingly rejecting the term, apparently because they recognize its negative connotations. [https://x.com/DrSarteschi/status/1793982542330142785](https://x.com/DrSarteschi/status/1793982542330142785) It’s like people in other movements who keep trying to re-invent themselves to gain public acceptance - anti-abortion rights advocates, antivaxers, alternative medicine\* promoters etc. \*rebranded as “holistic” or “integrative”. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2024, 9:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sovereign-citizens-please-tell-me-this-is-fake/769572/1026 "2024-05-28T09:21:30Z")
Here’s a really, really, really stupid one [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/v_expPqzDPE/maxresdefault.jpg "COCKY Sovereign Citizen Tries The SOVCIT Script, Judge SHUTS HIM DOWN!!! Pro Se FAIL!!!") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_expPqzDPE) ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2024, 9:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sovereign-citizens-please-tell-me-this-is-fake/769572/1027 "2024-05-28T09:39:28Z")
At least he pronounced “coercion” correctly. The vast majority pronounce it “cohersion” and there was one who pronounced it “corrosion”. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2024, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sovereign-citizens-please-tell-me-this-is-fake/769572/1028 "2024-05-28T12:57:49Z")
I loved the way she looked at him like he’s an idiot every time he asked about jurisdiction, then responded to him, “Yes” and continued on with the matter. Cool judge! ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2024, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sovereign-citizens-please-tell-me-this-is-fake/769572/1029 "2024-05-28T13:16:03Z")
I like how he is too good to understand. He overstands all over the place ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2024, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sovereign-citizens-please-tell-me-this-is-fake/769572/1030 "2024-05-28T15:12:28Z")
“Yes my name is John Smith, but it’s spelled tHRoATwObbLEr MaNgROVe. You have the wrong person” These people think the rest of the world is as stupid as they are. ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2024, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sovereign-citizens-please-tell-me-this-is-fake/769572/1031 "2024-05-28T17:12:09Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > sovereign citizens are increasingly rejecting the term, apparently because they recognize its negative connotations. Of course, they aren’t part of the sovereign citizen movement, they are part of the movement designated as sOVrEign CiTizEn, those are two entirely separate entities. ---
**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:** [May 29, 2024, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sovereign-citizens-please-tell-me-this-is-fake/769572/1032 "2024-05-29T18:59:34Z")
I’m guessing RaYmoNd LuxuRy YACHT is _not_ flying an admiralty flag, either on his natural person or at his home. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2024, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sovereign-citizens-please-tell-me-this-is-fake/769572/1033 "2024-05-30T01:46:57Z")
Man attends Zoom court while driving. On a suspended license. Judge Simpson is not amused. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/lE3LzxD3hYk/maxresdefault.jpg "Man with suspended licence joins court call while driving") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lE3LzxD3hYk&t=3s/) ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2024, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sovereign-citizens-please-tell-me-this-is-fake/769572/1034 "2024-05-30T16:39:14Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > Man attends Zoom court while driving. On a suspended license. Judge Simpson is not amused I don’t understand what this has to do with sovereign citizens. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2024, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sovereign-citizens-please-tell-me-this-is-fake/769572/1035 "2024-05-30T22:48:48Z")
> [@Maserschmidt](#): > > I don’t understand what this has to do with sovereign citizens. Agreed! He was driving, not **traveling**. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2024, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sovereign-citizens-please-tell-me-this-is-fake/769572/1036 "2024-05-31T02:43:09Z")
Judge Simpson is one of the judges who gets highlighted in the YouTube videos mocking the sovcits. He’s pretty good at handling their lunacies. ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2024, 7:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sovereign-citizens-please-tell-me-this-is-fake/769572/1037 "2024-05-31T07:43:45Z")
I completely agree. _Very_ farking funny though. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2024, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sovereign-citizens-please-tell-me-this-is-fake/769572/1038 "2024-07-19T14:43:54Z")
> [@](#): > > For decades, older men and women have dominated the (sovereign citizen) movement, many of whom are rustic, hippies, fundamentally religious or fighting for Hawaiian independence. Joining them now is a new crop of young men, new-age and naturopathic moms, and more affluent individuals. These new recruits are joining sovereign groups and participating in their extremist activities. > **[New Recruits](https://www.splcenter.org/year-hate-extremism-2023/new-recruits?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR39Mo3C7H_aMEDr1HbLFOupk-duZILinAVbV4S6OktEZG0YHNT9FFMkaO4_aem_PpXD6zgc8JCTA0IHf5EFSA)** > > Sovereign Citizenship Takes Hold Among Younger, Affluent, Female Communities ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2024, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sovereign-citizens-please-tell-me-this-is-fake/769572/1039 "2024-07-19T19:04:32Z")
You’ll never run out of stupid or crazy. If we could harness either as a power source we could probably solve the world’s energy needs overnight. ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2024, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sovereign-citizens-please-tell-me-this-is-fake/769572/1040 "2024-07-19T22:58:06Z")
If it sovereign citizen rants could literally make dedicated judges spin in their graves, we could hook them up to turbines. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sovereign-citizens-please-tell-me-this-is-fake/769572.md?page=51) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sovereign-citizens-please-tell-me-this-is-fake/769572.md?page=53)