# What's the stupidest, least motivating, motivational poster/slogan you've ever seen? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 1, 2009, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-stupidest-least-motivating-motivational-poster-slogan-youve-ever-seen/498319 "2009-06-01T04:51:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2009, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-stupidest-least-motivating-motivational-poster-slogan-youve-ever-seen/498319/81 "2009-06-04T05:03:55Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > That which does not kill me hurts like a sonovabitch. Ah, the old “That which does not kill me makes me stronger.” Always makes me imagine pre-prison Mike Tyson punching the person who says it over and over saying “You feeling stronger yet ?” \*\* SMACK \*\* “Huh ?” \*\* WHAM \*\* “How bout now ?”\* \*WHUMP \*\* ---
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2009, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-stupidest-least-motivating-motivational-poster-slogan-youve-ever-seen/498319/82 "2009-06-04T12:17:57Z")
“God never gives us more to bear than he knows we can handle.” Or any variation on a sensless tragedy or death being “God’s will.” This “God” of yours sounds like a real prick. ---
**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 4, 2009, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-stupidest-least-motivating-motivational-poster-slogan-youve-ever-seen/498319/83 "2009-06-04T13:25:19Z")
“There is no ‘I’ in ‘Team.’” Yeah, well, thanks for the spelling lesson, coach. I never would’ve figured that out on my own. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2009, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-stupidest-least-motivating-motivational-poster-slogan-youve-ever-seen/498319/84 "2009-06-04T13:31:15Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > “There is no ‘I’ in ‘Team.’” “But there is an ‘eat’ and a ‘me.’” 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Kiber](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kiber/32/317_2.png) [@Kiber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kiber)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2009, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-stupidest-least-motivating-motivational-poster-slogan-youve-ever-seen/498319/85 "2009-06-04T13:51:18Z")
I guess this is more of a slogan than a motivational saying - but this has always annoyed me: “Please put litter in its place.” Huh? I’m pretty sure you mean put trash in its place. Because if you want me to put litter in its place, I’ll be droping this empty cup right here on the ground. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2009, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-stupidest-least-motivating-motivational-poster-slogan-youve-ever-seen/498319/86 "2009-06-04T14:08:35Z")
“The Beatings Will Continue Until Morale Improves” ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2009, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-stupidest-least-motivating-motivational-poster-slogan-youve-ever-seen/498319/87 "2009-06-04T14:34:46Z")
> [@Kiber](#): > > I guess this is more of a slogan than a motivational saying - but this has always annoyed me: > > “Please put litter in its place.” Put it in it’s place ? - Glares at styrofoam cup \* “You _WILL_ bow down before me ! ! !” ---
**Author:** ![kelly5078](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/6f9a4e/32.png) [@kelly5078](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kelly5078)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2009, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-stupidest-least-motivating-motivational-poster-slogan-youve-ever-seen/498319/88 "2009-06-04T14:42:22Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > THE RAISE BECOMES EFFECTIVE AS SOON AS YOU DO That’s really awful. Makes my brain broil, and I’ve never even seen it before. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2009, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-stupidest-least-motivating-motivational-poster-slogan-youve-ever-seen/498319/89 "2009-06-04T14:46:52Z")
> [@ghardester](#): > > I stand by my original view. We reach an impass and are stuck. We must compromise, as Shot from Guns has said it well. So each side gives in a little. It’s a negotiation. > > There is no ‘both sides win’. Both sides give in, and that is a different thing. > > To say that both sides win is dishonest. A negotiation or a plan is not a sports contest, it is perfectly possible for both sides to win. If both sides get what the need and want, then both are winning. You are mistaking, again, a “win win situation” and a “compromise:” they are as different as llamas and horses. ---
**Author:** ![Shot\_From\_Guns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ccd318/32.png) [@Shot\_From\_Guns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shot_From_Guns)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2009, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-stupidest-least-motivating-motivational-poster-slogan-youve-ever-seen/498319/90 "2009-06-04T18:48:09Z")
> [@the\_first\_supraliminal](#): > > “The Early Worm Had Better Watch Out - It’s Better To Be Safe Than First” > > I’m not sure where that one was going, but it seems to have gotten lost along the way. Seems pretty straightforward to me. “The early bird gets the [early] worm,” so instead of rushing out before thinking (the early worm who gets eaten by the bird), take a minute to consider your actions. Still trite, but the point is clear. ---
**Author:** ![Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malleus_incus_stapes/32/3293_2.png) [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malleus_Incus_Stapes)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2009, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-stupidest-least-motivating-motivational-poster-slogan-youve-ever-seen/498319/91 "2009-06-04T18:53:04Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > Ah, the old “That which does not kill me makes me stronger.” Always makes me imagine pre-prison Mike Tyson punching the person who says it over and over saying “You feeling stronger yet ?” \*\* SMACK \*\* “Huh ?” \*\* WHAM \*\* “How bout now ?”\* \*WHUMP \*\* As Terry Pratchett put it in _Carpe Jugulum_, “That which does kill me makes me dead.” ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2009, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-stupidest-least-motivating-motivational-poster-slogan-youve-ever-seen/498319/92 "2009-06-04T19:32:25Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > That which does not kill me hurts like a sonovabitch. As one of my old sig lines read: **That Which Does Not Kill Me Makes Me Stranger** ---
**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 4, 2009, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-stupidest-least-motivating-motivational-poster-slogan-youve-ever-seen/498319/93 "2009-06-04T19:50:34Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > THE RAISE BECOMES EFFECTIVE AS SOON AS YOU DO… Heh. Reminds me of a favorite _New Yorker_ cartoon: A cross-looking man is sitting in a restaurant, sawing away at his steak. A small plate with a few coins in it rests on the table, along with a sign reading, “Your tip so far.” ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2009, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-stupidest-least-motivating-motivational-poster-slogan-youve-ever-seen/498319/94 "2009-06-04T20:14:34Z")
> [@Wheelz](#): > > “God never gives us more to bear than he knows we can handle.” How about, “God never gives you more bears than you can handle.” ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2009, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-stupidest-least-motivating-motivational-poster-slogan-youve-ever-seen/498319/95 "2009-06-04T20:18:32Z")
> [@Mister\_Rik](#): > > How about, “God never gives you more bears than you can handle.” Untrue. The Biblical number for that is “two”. > [@](#): > > 23 From there Elisha went up to Bethel. As he was walking along the road, some youths came out of the town and jeered at him. “Go on up, you baldhead!” they said. “Go on up, you baldhead!” 24 He turned around, looked at them and called down a curse on them in the name of the LORD. Then two bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of the youths. 25 And he went on to Mount Carmel and from there returned to Samaria. > **[Bible Gateway passage: 2 Kings 2:24 - New International Version](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Kings%202%3A24&version=NIV)** > > He turned around, looked at them and called down a curse on them in the name of the LORD. Then two bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of the boys. Those youths got more bears than they could handle. ---
**Author:** ![fachverwirrt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/94ad74/32.png) [@fachverwirrt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fachverwirrt)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2009, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-stupidest-least-motivating-motivational-poster-slogan-youve-ever-seen/498319/96 "2009-06-04T20:28:18Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > “There is no ‘I’ in ‘Team.’” But there are three in “multiple personality disorder”. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2009, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-stupidest-least-motivating-motivational-poster-slogan-youve-ever-seen/498319/97 "2009-06-04T20:30:05Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > “There is no ‘I’ in ‘Team.’” The best retort: “But there’s an M and an E.” That which does not kill me only makes me bitter and resentful. The second mouse gets the cheese. ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2009, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-stupidest-least-motivating-motivational-poster-slogan-youve-ever-seen/498319/98 "2009-06-04T20:38:27Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > The second mouse gets the cheese. My boss has a “motivational” poster taped to his office window. It has a photo of six rats who apparently all made a dash, from six different directions, for the cheese in the same trap, and the trap got all of them. The slogan reads, “TEAMWORK: Share success, share failure.” ---
**Author:** ![rinni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f6c823/32.png) [@rinni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rinni)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2009, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-stupidest-least-motivating-motivational-poster-slogan-youve-ever-seen/498319/99 "2009-06-04T20:42:45Z")
We have this one hanging up at work: “When one door of happiness closes, another opens. But often we so persistently stare at the closed door that we fail to notice the one that has been open for us all along.” It’s not attributed to anyone at work but Google suggests Helen Keller. (Wow, I accidentally typed Helen Killer and had to fix that.) It’s not really that the quote itself that is so bad, but this fact: My job has laid everyone off. All of us. We are just sticking around until July/August to get our severance payouts. Then after they lay us off, 700 of us I might add, they stick that poster up? Gee, thanks, that really helps. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Scissorjack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c67d28/32.png) [@Scissorjack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scissorjack)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2009, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-stupidest-least-motivating-motivational-poster-slogan-youve-ever-seen/498319/100 "2009-06-04T20:48:12Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > “There is no ‘I’ in ‘Team.’” There is no “I” in Mongol Horde. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-stupidest-least-motivating-motivational-poster-slogan-youve-ever-seen/498319.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-stupidest-least-motivating-motivational-poster-slogan-youve-ever-seen/498319.md?page=6)