Bumper Stickers!
August 28, 2013 7:22 PM

I want to slather the tailgate of my truck in bumper stickers. I am a science-minded, fun-loving, environmentalist, social-justice-oriented, politically-progressive dude who fancies himself a connoisseur of the pithy phrase. (So, pretty much your average MeFite.) What are some of your favorite bumper stickers that you think a chap like me would appreciate, and where can I buy them?

That's pretty much the gist of it. I'd prefer to buy from the comfort of my laptop but I'd also love recommendations for brick-and-mortar places that are good bets for finding rad stickers. Bonus points if they're specific locales in the New Orleans area, and super ultra bonus points to you if you can figure out where I can buy this little gem.

Ta!
posted by Scientist to Grab Bag (36 answers total) 16 users marked this as a favorite
Most of their stuff is boston centric, but sullysbrand.com has some fun bumper stickers.
posted by Jewel98 at 7:28 PM on August 28, 2013


I was just in traffic behind someone with a bumper sticker from Lebowski Fest that said "That's just, like, your opinion, man!"

I also have to say that, anytime I see someone with a public radio bumper sticker -- especially the little local affiliates -- I feel a sense of kindred spirithood. For New Orleans, you obviously need a WWOZ sticker.

There's also the classic "New Orleans: Proud To Call It Home", and the slightly snarkier post-Katrina "New Orleans: Proud To Swim Home".
posted by Sara C. at 7:30 PM on August 28, 2013


Ooooh, I also remember the old "Save Our Lake" and snarky "Pave Our Lake" response sticker. Not sure if those are still around now that Lake Ponchartrain is in slightly less dire straights than was the case in the 80s/90s.
posted by Sara C. at 7:31 PM on August 28, 2013


Your 'little gem' is a custom sticker by the graffiti artist who goes by [Booker / Reader / Read More / Read More Books / etc.] so I doubt you'll find it in any shop. You've probably seen this truck here in New Orleans with his work on it, and if you were here a few years ago you probably saw these all over town. He also did a book called Operation Madman which I can no longer find for sale online.
posted by komara at 7:34 PM on August 28, 2013


(forgot to mention that the sticker you're looking at might have come with someone's copy of Operation Madman - mine came with the Avery labels like in this photo.)
posted by komara at 7:36 PM on August 28, 2013


(bonus: that sticker appears at 1:11 in the video for Diplo's 'Express Yourself' [lightly NSFW].)
posted by komara at 7:40 PM on August 28, 2013


You might enjoy the sticker products from Topatoco, especially these?
posted by bleep at 7:40 PM on August 28, 2013


Allow me to introduce you to Northern Sun!

Here's one very like your dream sticker.

It looks like your dream sticker is by The Reader, a Seattle graffiti artist. You can possibly contact the gallery most recently showing their work to see about getting a sticker.
posted by batmonkey at 7:41 PM on August 28, 2013


There are many parodies of the Christian fish bumper sticker. My favorite is a fish with legs and the word Evolve. Another has the word Darwin inside the fish shape.
posted by KRS at 7:41 PM on August 28, 2013


Oh, the ones I linked are actually kind of offensive once I read them, I just thought the first one i saw was kind of amusing.
posted by bleep at 7:42 PM on August 28, 2013


Possibly another way to reach Read/The Reader.
posted by batmonkey at 7:43 PM on August 28, 2013


I had one from a singer named Neil Cleary that said "If you're in a folk song, don't go down to the river." There's also "I hear banjos; paddle faster" which elicits grins.
posted by notsnot at 7:53 PM on August 28, 2013


What kind of truck do you have?

If I could find an old Thrush bird smokin' a cigar sticker, I would slap it on my conveyance.
posted by ovvl at 7:53 PM on August 28, 2013


My favorite bumper sticker has always been "Don't Believe Everything You Think."
posted by gnutron at 7:55 PM on August 28, 2013


Also, I mean to get a bunch of these National Park stickers:
http://www.rangerdoug.com/image/tid/6
and slather my vehicles with the appropriate ones.
posted by notsnot at 7:55 PM on August 28, 2013


Oh also if you want a traditional "New Orleans: Proud to Call it Home" sticker send me a MeMail - I have the email address for the guy who sends them out.
posted by komara at 8:13 PM on August 28, 2013


My favorite: "I'd rather be riding a mule," sported by a now-deceased cantankerous mule-raising septuagenarian dyke who lived out in West Texas and was an alumna of my chi chi girls' school.
posted by tapir-whorf at 8:18 PM on August 28, 2013


I have always been partial to the Johnny Cash finger sticker. I think it falls under the social justice category.
posted by JohnnyGunn at 8:18 PM on August 28, 2013


I asked a similar question last year that you might find useful.
posted by rabbitrabbit at 8:43 PM on August 28, 2013


On the New Orleans front...
posted by radioamy at 9:14 PM on August 28, 2013


U.S. out of North America!
posted by sexyrobot at 9:15 PM on August 28, 2013


Here's my "Suck! Squash! Bang! Blow!" bumper sticker.
posted by Confess, Fletch at 10:01 PM on August 28, 2013


They're hard to get, but you need a Nederland...a dog for every Subaru sticker.
posted by Confess, Fletch at 10:02 PM on August 28, 2013


I would start with Bumper stickers on Etsy.
posted by blue_beetle at 3:49 AM on August 29, 2013


You may want to have a look at Donnelly/Colt.
posted by eviemath at 4:56 AM on August 29, 2013


You need Nuanced Bumper Stickers!

"My other car is substantially similar to this one. My wife drives it."

"In many contexts, "What would Jesus do?" is not a particularly helpful inquiry."

"Sadly, war is sometimes the answer. I authorize the government to conduct it in my name."


my favorite:

"The benefits of environmental protection measures should be thoughtfully weighed against their costs, and the sound ones enacted."
posted by leotrotsky at 6:00 AM on August 29, 2013


Also, check out Evolve Fish's stickers...
posted by Falwless at 6:36 AM on August 29, 2013


Just came to point out that Bumper Stickers are the #1 predictor of Road Rage. It's about how you're marking up your territory.

I totally steer clear of cars with more than 1 sticker.

That said, I find the cleaverist bumper stickers at my local witchy-crystal shop.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 6:42 AM on August 29, 2013


My favorite has always been Visualize Whirled Peas.
posted by SquidLips at 7:51 AM on August 29, 2013


Paleoartisans:
  • Re-unite Gondwanaland
  • Support a Free and United Pangaea
  • And various fossils-as-pets.

posted by Jasper Fnorde at 12:48 PM on August 29, 2013


Any sign shop (or hackerspace/makerspace) with a vinyl cutter can do custom (diy) bumper stickers in 5 minutes or so. The sky's the limit. Arrive with your design as SVG. :)

I whipped this little sucker out after friends kept bugging me that I didn't have enough political stuff on my Prius. Heh.

(Anyone who recognizes the blue one below it, umm, drop me a PM?)

A friend just turned Don't Spy On Me into a vector and cut several copies of it for friends. Go custom, seriously!
posted by Myself at 1:25 PM on August 29, 2013


"Astronomy is looking up!"
posted by averageamateur at 3:12 PM on August 29, 2013


In the same vein as "reunite Gondwanaland":

Stop Continental Drift
posted by harkin banks at 4:07 PM on August 29, 2013


Just came to point out that Bumper Stickers are the #1 predictor of Road Rage. It's about how you're marking up your territory.

I learned how to drive from a pagan lady with tons of geeky/witchy awesome bumper stickers on her car. She wasn't a road rager at all, but she did mention having her car vandalized a few times due to the stickers. It makes me at least somewhat reluctant to bling up my own car, now that I have the option. So, be careful on your choices, I guess.
posted by jenfullmoon at 7:44 PM on August 29, 2013


My favorite sciencey one is "The first cup of coffee recapitulates phylogeny."
posted by Killick at 9:00 PM on August 29, 2013


I just saw a great sticker in a bookstore that totally made me think of this thread! I didn't note the brand but it appears that there are several versions available online. Behold...the Smart Mudflap Girl and her sexier but still nerdy sister!
posted by radioamy at 11:00 PM on August 30, 2013


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