PLEASE explain those "family" stickers on the backs of minivans and SUVs...

[Anonymous]

I really like DCUM, but it's threads like this that make me think twice about the site. I feel hurt by many of the statements about simple stickers that are overwhelmingly positive. I thought, for a second, that perhaps I should peel ours off. Then I thought again. No, I'm not the one that needs to change...

I'm with you. I hope some of these posters will question why they need to be so hateful about such a minor thing that has no effect on them whatsoever. My child loves the stickers & that's why we have them. They make her smile, and that's far more important to me than what I a bunch of jerks on DCUM think.

[Anonymous]

I also find those things silly. I saw what I thought was one with a mommy with a briefcase but as we got closer I realized that it was a mommy with shopping bags. Uggh. That's your role as mother? The shopper? The dad figure was in shirt and tie, boy was socer dud, girl was dancer, and mom was shopper.

[Anonymous]

OP here. To the dad and the other moms who chimed in and said why they put the stickers on the window, thanks. I actually like the fact that you're doing it for your kids. I still, however, think they are kind of (ok, very) silly-looking. And yes, I probably have a lot of other things I could be doing other than posting somewhat stupid questions on DCUM, but coming in to work yesterday I almost rear-ended a minivan that stopped short in the MIDDLE of the street so they could find out where they were going...and they had those damn stickers on the back. So I needed to vent. And the thread took off in grand DCUM style.

To those of you who have the stickers, flaunt them proudly. I will also continue to do an internal head-shake when I see them and think I would never put those on my car. But at least now I understand why some of you have them.

Except the mom with the shopping bags. ESPECIALLY if she's coupled with a dad with a tie. Give me an effing break.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Dad here. We have a brand new sticker (the old one wore off) and enjoy having it on our minivan. For one, we are very proud of our (large) family and we believe the stickers make a positive, pro-family statement. Secondly, as the primary driver, I have noticed that risky drivers tend to back-off a bit when they see that there are probably kids in the van. This is a totally unintended, however positive, benefit.

...Btw, we do not fit any of the sterotypes/assumptions posted here -- we are highly educated w/ a HHI over $500K.

I really like DCUM, but it's threads like this that make me think twice about the site. I feel hurt by many of the statements about simple stickers that are overwhelmingly positive. I thought, for a second, that perhaps I should peel ours off. Then I thought again. No, I'm not the one that needs to change...

You're emotional b/c of a family sticker?

yuck

such an unattractive trait for a male (IF this is indeed a male posting)

[Anonymous]

Omg... This thread is why I can't stand this website a lot of times. The bullying is so nasty.

[Anonymous]

"I'm sure our other bumper stickers are mystifying to other drivers, but I'm used to it. To each his own. I'm on vacation with my pacifist, vegetarian, organic-food-only, 1-2-3 Magic, allergy-ridden, environmentalist, M.D. ILs, and they've survived looking at the back of our car. So far. It's only Day One, though. "

Huh? What does this have to do with the topic?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They are SO annoying and I can't imagine who would put these on their vehicle (none of my friends) and yet I see them all over. If nothing else, it's a safety issue letting people know how many people live in your house, how many kids you have, etc.

I don't know about you, but anybody can know how many kids I have by either watching me drive by or counting the number of car seats (if the car is parked). People who want to harm your family will be watching you for days, they'll know when you leave in the morning, when you come back, what your family pattern is like, who is most likely to be home on a Saturday, what time the whole family is home, when you leave town for long holidays, you get the idea. Anybody can know how many people you have in your family, before they even realize you have a sticker.

You're describing someone who really wants to harm you personally and you're right, sticker or no sticker, they're going to get you. I'm talking about crimes of opportunity--someone happening along and seeing your stupid stickers and knowing just how many kids you have. Didn't anyone see the Dexter episode where the serial killer uses the stickers to target a family? Now that family was even more stupid and had the names of the kids with the stickers, which I've never seen anyone in real life use the poor judgment to do.

Anyway, potentially dangerous or not, the stickers are just stupid. Why anyone wants to advertise their family size and composition on their mode of transportation is baffling.

Apparently you and I are the only Dexter fans, because I did see that episode. And I have seen cars with the peoples' names under them (and in at least one instance, I know it was their real names because I know the kids).

Old standard = Protecting the Gift

New standard = How criminals on Dexter target families

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Dad here. We have a brand new sticker (the old one wore off) and enjoy having it on our minivan. For one, we are very proud of our (large) family and we believe the stickers make a positive, pro-family statement. Secondly, as the primary driver, I have noticed that risky drivers tend to back-off a bit when they see that there are probably kids in the van. This is a totally unintended, however positive, benefit.

...Btw, we do not fit any of the sterotypes/assumptions posted here -- we are highly educated w/ a HHI over $500K.

I really like DCUM, but it's threads like this that make me think twice about the site. I feel hurt by many of the statements about simple stickers that are overwhelmingly positive. I thought, for a second, that perhaps I should peel ours off. Then I thought again. No, I'm not the one that needs to change...

You're emotional b/c of a family sticker?

yuck

such an unattractive trait for a male (IF this is indeed a male posting)

Wow, do you raise your sons to be ashamed to express their feelings? That's why men turn out like George Hugely, no one allows them to speak their minds because it may make them sound "emotional".

Bullying is such an unattractive bitchy trait in women.

[Anonymous]

I'm a mother with a high profile job. I bring in the big bucks. But what's so bad about the mother silhouette with a shopping bag? It's like a synecdoche; it's a symbol of the part for the whole. That mother runs the house. She buys food and feeds the family. Not so offensive. Why are people assuming the bag is supposed to hold something like designer shoes?

PBFC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm a mother with a high profile job. I bring in the big bucks. But what's so bad about the mother silhouette with a shopping bag? It's like a synecdoche; it's a symbol of the part for the whole. That mother runs the house. She buys food and feeds the family. Not so offensive. Why are people assuming the bag is supposed to hold something like designer shoes?

PBFC.

I like you, however, you do seem far too normal for DCUM. I do hope you drop by again soon!

[Anonymous]

AWESOME. I'm making a set right now to reflect what my *ideal* family would look like:

One man cooking, one man cleaning, a couple of kids and me in the easy chair.

[Anonymous]

Everyone is harping on the shopping mom but I've seen a few where the dad is playing video games!

What bothers me is that these have evolved over time (or so it seems). The stickers used to just be stick figures, now they are stick figures with identifying personality traits, and I was joking that next they will show kids' ages. It's like a sign- hi we have 3 kids, each in expensive sports and the dad golfs, so we have money, come rob us. That's why I wouldn't put them on the car. Does anyone else think that way?

[Anonymous]

OP here. To the dad and the other moms who chimed in and said why they put the stickers on the window, thanks. I actually like the fact that you're doing it for your kids. I still, however, think they are kind of (ok, very) silly-looking. And yes, I probably have a lot of other things I could be doing other than posting somewhat stupid questions on DCUM, but coming in to work yesterday I almost rear-ended a minivan that stopped short in the MIDDLE of the street so they could find out where they were going...and they had those damn stickers on the back. So I needed to vent. And the thread took off in grand DCUM style.

To those of you who have the stickers, flaunt them proudly. I will also continue to do an internal head-shake when I see them and think I would never put those on my car. But at least now I understand why some of you have them.

Except the mom with the shopping bags. ESPECIALLY if she's coupled with a dad with a tie. Give me an effing break.

OP, you don't come off any better here than you did in your original post.

However, I think you and this entire nauseatingly nasty thread you started have cured me of my DCUM habit, at least for a while, so I thank you for that! Now I can get some work done today.

[Anonymous]

I just assumed each person was showing what they liked to do outside of work/school - Dad likes to play golf, Mom likes to go shopping (for designer shoes), Girl likes to dance and boy likes to play soccer. Perhaps Mom should pick a stick figure getting a massage?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"I'm sure our other bumper stickers are mystifying to other drivers, but I'm used to it. To each his own. I'm on vacation with my pacifist, vegetarian, organic-food-only, 1-2-3 Magic, allergy-ridden, environmentalist, M.D. ILs, and they've survived looking at the back of our car. So far. It's only Day One, though. "

Huh? What does this have to do with the topic?

Maybe a bit of digression, but what I meant was, our Marine+mom-with-long-skirt+horsebackrider+avid reader+dancer+MMA+mini-Marine+fairy princess+chef+naked baby+dog+multiple cats+multiple guinea pigs+homebirth+veteran+homeschooling vehicle looks funny next to the gleaming liberal luxury car in the driveway of the vacation house, but we still love each other. All you need is love...