# What to decorate my house with that will upset the neighbors just a little? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 9, 2012, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-decorate-my-house-with-that-will-upset-the-neighbors-just-a-little/634222 "2012-09-09T19:19:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2012, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-decorate-my-house-with-that-will-upset-the-neighbors-just-a-little/634222/1 "2012-09-09T19:19:26Z")
So I’m painting my house (more of a cottage by the lake, really). It will have a new roof, white in the gable area, dark green for most of the cedar siding, and a concrete block foundation (barely visible). It’s by Lake Michigan and in a rural, wooded area. I’m toying with an idea of putting something slightly shocking on the side. Nothing illegal (I’m not sure what that might be), but something that the neighbors will say “WTF?”, at least for a while. Why? No good reason, except it might cause a minor commotion. Just for the fun of it. I can always remove it or paint it over. So what should I do? I thought of a yellow smiley-face, but that’s too easy. Any ideas? How about “Fighting Ignorance since 1973”? ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2012, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-decorate-my-house-with-that-will-upset-the-neighbors-just-a-little/634222/2 "2012-09-09T19:23:55Z")
“666” might be good for a laugh, depending on the neighborhood. Or getting your house burned down, again depending on the neighborhood.😃 ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2012, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-decorate-my-house-with-that-will-upset-the-neighbors-just-a-little/634222/3 "2012-09-09T19:28:41Z")
Buy a plaster copy of the Venus Di Milo and paint it purple. ---
**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:** [September 9, 2012, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-decorate-my-house-with-that-will-upset-the-neighbors-just-a-little/634222/4 "2012-09-09T19:29:41Z")
A star and crescent one one side, and star of David on the other. ---
**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:** [September 9, 2012, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-decorate-my-house-with-that-will-upset-the-neighbors-just-a-little/634222/5 "2012-09-09T19:31:53Z")
> [@BMalion](#): > > Buy a plaster copy of the Venus Di Milo and paint it purple. With DORRANCE NUMBER FIVE STAINLESS STEEL HOOKS! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Emtar\_KronJonDerSohn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/58956e/32.png) [@Emtar\_KronJonDerSohn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Emtar_KronJonDerSohn)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2012, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-decorate-my-house-with-that-will-upset-the-neighbors-just-a-little/634222/6 "2012-09-09T19:40:48Z")
Flying spaghetti monster? That Johnny Chimpo character from Super Troopers? Charles Manson? OJ Simpson? The cast of Diff’rent Strokes? Maybe the logo for the rival of their favorite sports team? A giant can of beer? Air jaws? A recipe for cookies? Write bible verses in gang graffiti script? ---
**Author:** ![Alpha\_Twit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alpha_twit/32/265_2.png) [@Alpha\_Twit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alpha_Twit)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2012, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-decorate-my-house-with-that-will-upset-the-neighbors-just-a-little/634222/7 "2012-09-09T19:45:01Z")
If it was later in the year I’d suggest putting up a menorah made out of lava lamps. I caused my new neighbors a certain amount of consternation when they saw all the GI ammo cans I was unloading from my gun rack equipped truck. ---
**Author:** ![jasg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2012, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-decorate-my-house-with-that-will-upset-the-neighbors-just-a-little/634222/8 "2012-09-09T19:56:13Z")
How about something like [this](http://www.flickr.com/photos/printzerostudios/278116756/)? Pity that it can only be seen from the freeway. ---
**Author:** ![cornflakes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@cornflakes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cornflakes)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2012, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-decorate-my-house-with-that-will-upset-the-neighbors-just-a-little/634222/9 "2012-09-09T20:08:33Z")
[How about a blue genie?](http://clicheideas.com/Images/082700SouthFirst/genie.JPG) ---
**Author:** ![Filbert](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/filbert/32/3433_2.png) [@Filbert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Filbert)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2012, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-decorate-my-house-with-that-will-upset-the-neighbors-just-a-little/634222/10 "2012-09-09T20:22:01Z")
A house in my city has [this](http://www.flickr.com/photos/heatheronhertravels/2266490485/), which makes me happy, even as I say ‘WTF?’ every time I see it. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2012, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-decorate-my-house-with-that-will-upset-the-neighbors-just-a-little/634222/11 "2012-09-09T20:58:47Z")
A giant sized (6 foot X 6 foot) photo of a chimp scratching its nads. Post it on a piece of plywood, leaned against the front of the house. If anybody asks, claim “Freedom Of Religion”. ---
**Author:** ![JackieLikesVariety](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackielikesvariety/32/296_2.png) [@JackieLikesVariety](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JackieLikesVariety)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2012, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-decorate-my-house-with-that-will-upset-the-neighbors-just-a-little/634222/12 "2012-09-09T21:03:27Z")
> [@Filbert](#): > > A house in my city has [this](http://www.flickr.com/photos/heatheronhertravels/2266490485/), which makes me happy, even as I say ‘WTF?’ every time I see it. I really hope birds nest in the nostrils. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2012, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-decorate-my-house-with-that-will-upset-the-neighbors-just-a-little/634222/13 "2012-09-09T21:05:32Z")
My sisters and I once painted the white foundation of our house. Now this was in the back, where nobody could see. My sister did flowers and butterflies. I, on the other hand, got out a copy of the National Geographic and painted Aztec gods, holding snakes and weapons. If I do say so myself I did a good job, graphing them out on paper and transferring the print lines. The colors were also directly copied from the pictures in the magazine. ---
**Author:** ![EmilyG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/emilyg/32/364_2.png) [@EmilyG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmilyG)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2012, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-decorate-my-house-with-that-will-upset-the-neighbors-just-a-little/634222/14 "2012-09-09T21:09:26Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > “666” might be good for a laugh, depending on the neighborhood. Or getting your house burned down, again depending on the neighborhood.😃 Or maybe the number 69. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Cheez\_Whia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d26b3c/32.png) [@Cheez\_Whia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheez_Whia)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2012, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-decorate-my-house-with-that-will-upset-the-neighbors-just-a-little/634222/15 "2012-09-09T21:50:35Z")
You can use something like this: [http://www.blameitonthevoices.com/2008/01/neighbor-feud.html](http://www.blameitonthevoices.com/2008/01/neighbor-feud.html) but only if you don’t like your neighbors. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2012, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-decorate-my-house-with-that-will-upset-the-neighbors-just-a-little/634222/16 "2012-09-09T23:09:15Z")
I vote Hindu God. First of all there are dozens to choose from, they come in dayglo colours, and are fantastic in manifestation, necklaces of skulls, wild hair, umbrellas of serpents, fearsome weapons, animal body parts and frightening scowls. You needn’t worry the rendition is perfect, they often resemble cartoons, in India. Plus they come with a wild story you could learn, to tell people when they ask. It will hopelessly confuse them. And, who knows? Maybe you’ll get some extra merit, good fortune or longlife out of it too! Do let us know what you decide, we’ll all be dying to know! ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2012, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-decorate-my-house-with-that-will-upset-the-neighbors-just-a-little/634222/17 "2012-09-09T23:11:20Z")
This post intrigues me, so I’ll reply to it first. > [@Emtar\_KronJonDerSohn](#): > > Flying spaghetti monster? Too obscure. 100% of my neighbors wouldn’t understand what that is. Catholics are radical; Lutherans are not. > [@](#): > > That Johnny Chimpo character from Super Troopers? Please forgive me, but I don’t relate. > [@](#): > > Charles Manson? OJ Simpson? > The cast of Diff’rent Strokes? Might be either irrelevant or fighting words. > [@](#): > > Maybe the logo for the rival of their favorite sports team? Like Da Bears? Oooh…_really_ fighting words! > [@](#): > > A giant can of beer? This is Wisconsin, Dude. How is that controversal? 🙂 > [@](#): > > Air jaws? Don’t understand. > [@](#): > > A recipe for cookies? I like your style, but the implementation is difficult. > [@](#): > > Write bible verses in gang graffiti script? Oooh…but none of my neighbors would understand. No gangs here. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2012, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-decorate-my-house-with-that-will-upset-the-neighbors-just-a-little/634222/18 "2012-09-09T23:16:38Z")
I am not an artist, so many ideas would involve impractical art that I could not execute without help. But I have an idea. How about I paint a USA flag? Totally out of character with the neighborhood, but who could complain about such a patriotic symbol? ---
**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:** [September 9, 2012, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-decorate-my-house-with-that-will-upset-the-neighbors-just-a-little/634222/19 "2012-09-09T23:23:47Z")
Paint a sign saying your neighbor has no guns. ---
**Author:** ![Gagundathar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a183cd/32.png) [@Gagundathar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gagundathar)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2012, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-decorate-my-house-with-that-will-upset-the-neighbors-just-a-little/634222/20 "2012-09-09T23:29:57Z")
Dayglo peace sign? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-decorate-my-house-with-that-will-upset-the-neighbors-just-a-little/634222.md?page=2)