Re: What would you do?
[QUOTE=Steve Graham;668750]
so, last week I come home, and my neighbour has put one of those stupid plastic McCain/Palin signs in the front yard.. we live in a duplex.. ok, fair enough, if she wants to thats her right, I just dont see the point in advertising who you support...[/QUOTE]
Two reasons for putting up the signs:
- Strong supporters just like to show their support, and it makes them feel like they are doing something. There was a time during this campaign where it was really tough to find an Obama yard sign because the campaign didn't think they were important, and people were [I]pissed[/I].
- There are geographic areas where it can actually be helpful. It should probably come as a shock to no one that I have an Obama sign in my yard, and have had one for quite some time now. I live pretty deep in the city, though, and even without the sign, most everyone knows that people in my neighborhood are voting for Obama. Not particularly helpful in my area.
St. Louis County, on the other hand -- where you have a lot of republicans -- is a different matter. It isn't going to affect hardcore republicans, but for the more casual voters living in heavily republican areas, seeing a ton of Obama signs kinda gives you permission to give Obama a look. I'm talking here about people that vote republican because they've always voted republican and assume that's what they ought to do so now as well. No one is going to change their vote on account of seeing a bunch of signs, but if you're living in GOP country and suddenly all of your neighbors start throwing up Obama signs, maybe you give him a second look.
Mostly, though, it's reason #1. Yard signs are more for the benefit of supporters than the candidate, in national elections.
[QUOTE=Steve Graham;668750]
anyway, today I come home, and there is another one of these stupid signs, this time closer to my side of the yard, actually in the middle of the two and right next to the mail boxes.. now it looks like I suppport this asshole..
What would you do without getting into a big political debate with said neighbour and causing bad blood? mind you she has a gigantic fuckin mouth, so if we did, the whole neighbourhood would hear it and I dont need that embarrassment, lol[/QUOTE]
How about this:
"Listen, I don't care who you support, but I've always considered politics a very personal and private thing for me, and I'm not the sort of person who likes to advertise my political affiliations. The way that sign is positioned, it looks like it's in my yard, and I actually make a point to not make such open displays of support for candidates. Would you mind moving it over to the side more so that it's clear that it's in your yard?"
First, you're not being a dick about it, and second, by using the fact that you consider politics personal, you kinda head off at the pass any attempt to engage you in a political discussion. If you'd like, maybe throw in something about how in your job, you deal with people of all political affiliations and don't want to ever be seen as supporting any particular candidate or position because it would alienate some of your customer base/put you in a bad spot with your boss/whatever, I'm sure you get the idea. Would be tough for someone to disagree with that, I would think.
My $.02.