Inspired by "I just had an unpleasant experience"

[auntpolly]

I was just wondering how many of us have been harrassed in some way for our bumper stickers or pins or signs supporting our presidential candidates. If anyone wants to respnond, let's try to remember that none of us are the guilty party -- there are alot of nuts out there both republican and democrat!!!

I was shouted at in a restaurant (posted the story about a month ago) and last week I got tail gated and then the finger as a man (in a mini van with his wife and kids along!!! ) shouted "Go Bush!" when I turned onto my street.

Is this what our society has come to? I think this says more about us as a society than anything about the election!

 

[powellrj]

I will have people come up and knock on my windows and ask were I got mine at.

 

[shortbun]

yesterday, I would have answered no. this morning, some guy
in a beat up white van and "Limbaugh Now" spelled in tape on
his back window screamed at me and ran up along side of my
van for about three blocks. I pulled over and parked. When he
passed me I saw the tape sign and one of those W04 stickers
also on his bumper. He was screaming obscenities and I hadn't
done anything.


My neighbor had a guy in an SUV bump their bumper and then
pass them holding his ball cap with a big W on it.

What in the world is happening?

 

[EsmeraldaX]

You know, I don't particularly like either guy but I can not even wrap my mind around harassing someone because they have a bumper sticker.

I see non political bumper stickers every day that make me and I'd never harass those people either.

I don't get it. I think it's pretty sad.

 

[jrydberg]

Originally posted by auntpolly
Is this what our society has come to? I think this says more about us as a society than anything about the election!

I agree with that assessment. I've gotten some nasty comments from both sides for not being particularly enamored with either candidate.

 

[EsmeraldaX]

Originally posted by jrydberg
I agree with that assessment. I've gotten some nasty comments from both sides for not being particularly enamored with either candidate.

I get this a lot too.

 

[snarfer1]

Dear Aunt Polly:

Unlike the original post that started your poll, It is clear by all of our DISBoard family member posts, on this thread, that these were all politically motivated.

It is a disgrace, it is unacceptable and IMHO it is unAmerican, going against everything this country stands for.

While I did not do any of these reported 'attacks' and never would because of my beliefs and upbringing, I am sickened and saddened by them, and offer my support and love to all of those who were attacked.

I know how scary road rage can be, but at least here in NJ we have an aggressive drivers phone number. Our State Police actually go after these guys faster than the drunks I have reported over 911. (I think the cellular # in NJ is #77).

I have been given the finger and honked at for a Jeff Gordon (I think, I don't do NASCAR, but it was # 24) Bumper sticker on a friends Tahoe I was borrowing. I had to expain to DD-9, DS-6, and DD-1 that the nice man was telling us that #24 was number 1! (LOL).

No attacks yet for my political views, perhaps it is the Endowment Member NRA sticker on my truck, that makes people think twice? (no gun rack as this IS New Jersey!)

Tony

 

[Disney Doll]

I think people who do the things described are idiots.

I, too, have had numerous snide comments and whatnot aimed at me for voicing my opinion, which is that I don't particularly love either choice.

 

[Magix]

Driving home from work recently, I saw a Volvo with a John Kerry sticker that someone had slapped a "W 04" sticker over. It really made me mad to think that someone would be rude enough to do that. Saw the same car again a few days later and they'd managed to get the W sticker off and were back to the Kerry sticker. I don't understand this attitude of trying to force your opinion on others and insisting that if they disagree with you, they should be treated rudely. When did it become okay to do that?

 

[Cebhfhionn]

It is for this reason that I do not have bumper stickers on my car and will not put a sign in my yard because I am VERY non-confrontational. I can't imagine someone being that horrible but obviously they do exist.

The thing is that I am sure neither candidate would want people behaving like that in their "honor."

 

[Raysplus1]

I have given my dad a hard time in a fun way about his John Kerry sticker but far from harrassment.

 

[katerkat]

I don't have political bumper stickers, and I don't ever plan to. I've never seen anyone harrassed for theirs, either.

However, I did have a UVa sticker on my old car, and I was driving back to college after Thanksgiving weekend and UVa had whooped Virginia Tech in football. My college, VaTech and UVa all shared the same highway, so I got a lot of honks and curses!

 

[damo]

It is very sad that the country is becoming so deeply divided that actions like these are becoming commonplace. I hope that whoever is elected will be successful in re-uniting the people of America and not make the division wider.

 

[crazyforgoofy]

Yep! I told about my run in with a knucklehead who took offense at the Kerry/Edwards bumper sticker on my car.

It's happened to me before. Someone egged my picture window many moons ago to deface the McGovern sign I'd placed in the window.

 

[Kendra17]

No, never have. . .but this is the first bumper sticker I've ever had. (Also, for those of you who are wondering. . .I've never done any harrassing either!)

 

[arminnie]

Originally posted by Magix
Driving home from work recently, I saw a Volvo with a John Kerry sticker that someone had slapped a "W 04" sticker over.

Someone that I know went to the grocery store the other day and when she came out someone had put a Kerry sticker over her Bush sticker and had written her a fairly detailed (but unsigned) note about how horrible Bush was and that if she supported him that she must be an awful person too.

She was about to get in her car and leave when another person came over and told her she had seen the people who did it and pointed out their car.

So she decided to wait on them and then when they came out she politely told them that they were welcome to their opinions, but to please not put any stickers on her car or others' cars.

It was a young couple and they were SO embarrassed that they had been caught. Funny how people can be so assertive and confrontational when they think no one is watching. I thought my friend handled it beautifully. If she had gotten mad they would have just yelled at her. By being very calm and polite she actually made them acknowledge how totally imappropriate their actions were.

Another story I will share about confrontations:

The Hotel Pennsylvania is directly across the street from Madison Square Garden where the Republican convention was held. The bar was a good place to meet up with people either before or after convention sessions.

I had just answered a phone call from my sister when a man came up to my two friends (we were all at the bar) and started berating them about their political beliefs.

I really wasn't paying attention to him until he shoved me aside to get closer to my friends. I turned around and said "Do NOT touch me" in a calm but not quiet voice. My discomfort was not about his words, but his actions.

Now this is the hotel where a LOT of the police stayed and maybe even some of the secret service. The bar was packed with off duty officers, but then these guys are never really off duty.

I went back to my phone conversation, but my friends told me that every cop head in the place turned on the man. He grabbed his jacket and ran out of there.

 

[snarfer1]

Great Ideas ARMINNIE, thanks for the non-violent, non-confrontational responses. Its nice to see cool heads prevail.

Tony

 

[auntpolly]

Originally posted by snarfer1
Great Ideas ARMINNIE, thanks for the non-violent, non-confrontational responses. Its nice to see cool heads prevail.

Tony

I agree, but I find myelf being more afraid to confront anybody, nonconfrontationally or otherwise, this time. LOL, maybe it's my age! Maybe I'm just getting to be a scared little old lady. But I don't remember these kind of exchanges as a young Carter supporter, for example. I don't remember being afraid to wear my campaign button places for fear of someone starting something unpleasant.

Are people getting worse or am I getting old!!!!????

 

[snarfer1]

Originally posted by auntpolly
I agree, but I find myelf being more afraid to confront anybody, nonconfrontationally or otherwise, this time. LOL, maybe it's my age! Maybe I'm just getting to be a scared little old lady. But I don't remember these kind of exchanges as a young Carter supporter, for example. I don't remember being afraid to wear my campaign button places for fear of someone starting something unpleasant.

Well in regards to Carter, if it was for re-election, no-one was worried about that, and if it was for election, no one believed that would occur! (Just a Joke, no flames please, but slow roasting is fair!)

Are people getting worse or am I getting old!!!!????

People are definately getting worse, in all segments; (<====Hey after 44 years I finally used a semicolon!) road rage, killing spouses istead of divorce, killing gays because they are gay, burning down churches, etc. Personally, I think it mirrors the demise of the Family, and loss of parental authority.

Tony

P.S. Sadly, I'm getting older, but you seem pretty spry though Aunt Polly!

 

[auntpolly]

Originally posted by snarfer1


P.S. Sadly, I'm getting older, but you seem pretty spry though Aunt Polly!

Oh I'm spry alright -- I'm getting bifocals next week and I think my hearing is going.... . Oh, the delights of growing older....

Anyway, I was talking about the first election I ever voted in, the one in which Carter won!!!!