Bumper Stickers and Free Expression
I have finally gotten back to blogging, and here I am.
This one's just simple view expression, because it's what's on my mind, and what is on my mind is the massive proliferation of bumper stickers.
Now, as a delivery driver, I am looking at the back of other peoples' autos all day long, so I notice a lot of bumper stickers on a variety of different subjects: foreign policy, sexual preference, urination, general expressions of humor, political or religious affiliation, etc. I also notice that all these bumper stickers say what they say in a short, matter of fact way, leading one to believe that this person is totally committed to what they've stuck on the rear of their car. Most of these sticker statements are on trivial subjects or grey areas in life, leading me to believe that most of these "sticker expressers" leave little room for a possible change of opinion. I mean, would one feel compelled to rip off a sticker because one changed one's mind on a previously defined subject?
Now here's what I have never seen in all my years: a phone number.
WHAT? A phone number? Well, of Course I wouldn't find a phone number, no one would be so stupid as to leave confidential information where someone could use it against him. That's just unsafe. But herein lies my Qualm: How precious are our ideas, and is not the communication of ideas equally as important?
Personally, I hate bumper stickers of all types, regardless of whether or not I agree with what the sticker is stating. This is not because most bumper stickers insult the human mind on a basic level, or because even the most benign statements use crude language to express their views. I hate them because they close the door on discussion, leaving no room for honest debate. Especially in the religious and polital realms, where communication is tantamount to understanding, using a bumper sticker to express one's views is not unlike shouting over everyone in a crowded market, then dashing away with one's ears plugged before anyone can respond. How many people really listen to ideas when they are expressed without any possibility of response? Hence the Phone number. Either that, or leave the bumper sticker at home.
This one's just simple view expression, because it's what's on my mind, and what is on my mind is the massive proliferation of bumper stickers.
Now, as a delivery driver, I am looking at the back of other peoples' autos all day long, so I notice a lot of bumper stickers on a variety of different subjects: foreign policy, sexual preference, urination, general expressions of humor, political or religious affiliation, etc. I also notice that all these bumper stickers say what they say in a short, matter of fact way, leading one to believe that this person is totally committed to what they've stuck on the rear of their car. Most of these sticker statements are on trivial subjects or grey areas in life, leading me to believe that most of these "sticker expressers" leave little room for a possible change of opinion. I mean, would one feel compelled to rip off a sticker because one changed one's mind on a previously defined subject?
Now here's what I have never seen in all my years: a phone number.
WHAT? A phone number? Well, of Course I wouldn't find a phone number, no one would be so stupid as to leave confidential information where someone could use it against him. That's just unsafe. But herein lies my Qualm: How precious are our ideas, and is not the communication of ideas equally as important?
Personally, I hate bumper stickers of all types, regardless of whether or not I agree with what the sticker is stating. This is not because most bumper stickers insult the human mind on a basic level, or because even the most benign statements use crude language to express their views. I hate them because they close the door on discussion, leaving no room for honest debate. Especially in the religious and polital realms, where communication is tantamount to understanding, using a bumper sticker to express one's views is not unlike shouting over everyone in a crowded market, then dashing away with one's ears plugged before anyone can respond. How many people really listen to ideas when they are expressed without any possibility of response? Hence the Phone number. Either that, or leave the bumper sticker at home.
posted by adam :P at 6:13 PM
3 comments
