# What’s the deal with state flags? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 30, 2021, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-the-deal-with-state-flags/943252 "2021-05-30T23:54:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![peccavi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peccavi/32/388_2.png) [@peccavi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peccavi)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2021, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-the-deal-with-state-flags/943252/141 "2021-06-07T23:52:15Z")
> [@digs](#): > > Well, a badger holding a beer And wearing a cheesehead… ---
**Author:** ![kitap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b9e5f3/32.png) [@kitap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kitap)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2021, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-the-deal-with-state-flags/943252/142 "2021-06-08T00:07:08Z")
As long as it’s done tastefully. ---
**Author:** ![Ponch8](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponch8/32/9883_2.png) [@Ponch8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponch8)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2021, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-the-deal-with-state-flags/943252/143 "2021-06-08T20:33:22Z")
Just yesterday, the Frazz comic strip was about the Michigan state flag: > **[Frazz by Jef Mallett for June 07, 2021 | GoComics.com](https://www.gocomics.com/frazz/2021/06/07)** > > June 07, 2021 ---
**Author:** ![SCAdian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scadian/32/3292_2.png) [@SCAdian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCAdian)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2021, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-the-deal-with-state-flags/943252/144 "2021-06-09T01:48:03Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > Of course it works - it’s the products of centuries of heraldic design principles, Easy to describe, and not much more difficult to draw. > [@digs](#): > > Now, Madison, WI has a simple flag. The capitol’s in the middle of an isthmus, so… > [Flag of Madison, Wisconsin - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Madison,_Wisconsin) Nice bend sinister you have there… 😃 ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2021, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-the-deal-with-state-flags/943252/145 "2021-06-09T17:06:37Z")
> [@SCAdian](#): > > Nice bend sinister you have there… 😃 Well, we’re a bunch of bastards… ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2021, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-the-deal-with-state-flags/943252/146 "2021-06-09T17:13:22Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Maryland’s indeed, to me, is a mess – I label it as cacophonous upthread, but it “kinda works.” I can’t quite pinpoint what it is about it that works – it’s quirky in all the right ways. It has medieval roots. Which is why when I once encountered a Trivial Pursuit card asking about the “state sport of Maryland,” I gave a hint to the other players, “The flag is a clue.” They still didn’t get it. (the answer is: jousting) ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2021, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-the-deal-with-state-flags/943252/147 "2021-06-09T17:26:05Z")
I guess I’m the only one who actually does not like the Maryland flag at all. The unusual pattern of the yellow and black checks gives me a bit of a headache to look at. Plus it screams “caution” to me. I’ve only ever understood those who claimed it was “So bad it’s good”, but not anyone who says they find it actually appealing. As for the “easy to draw” aspects: I don’t think they mean it has to be perfect, just that said drawing contains all the symbols and is recognizable. No one cares if you get the exact proportions right. The US flag is tedious to draw, yes, but not difficult. I would not fault anyone for using a light grey pentagram to draw the stars. It’s still clear what it is. The bedsheet flags are hard to draw, hard to remember, and hard to recognize. Even if you don’t count the first one, the second and third are very important to the actual uses of a flag. Maryland’s, as much as I don’t like it, is at least recognizable. I may not be able to remember exactly what the yellow and black parts look like, but I can at least remember it’s the one that looks like it’s half racecar flag. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2021, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-the-deal-with-state-flags/943252/148 "2021-06-10T12:29:16Z")
> [@digs](#): > > Now, Madison, WI has a simple flag That’s nice. I thought that was a gold-centered black quatrefoil not a cross, by the thumbnail. I think I prefer it as a flower. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2021, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-the-deal-with-state-flags/943252/149 "2021-06-12T01:18:02Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > I think I prefer it as a flower. But it’s not a flower! It’s a very manly, non-floral State Capitol. Huge solid masses of marble and heavy granite blocks! ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2021, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-the-deal-with-state-flags/943252/150 "2021-06-12T01:40:16Z")
Yeah, it’s actually a fairly accurate abstraction of the Capitol building, the isthmus and the lakes: https://maps.google.com/maps?ll=43.0751246,-89.3843905&z=15&output=embed&dg=ntvb&q=Madison,%2BWI [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-the-deal-with-state-flags/943252.md?page=7)