Ooh, great question! To be honest, I'd prefer no political messages on lawns period (except for signs supporting candidates during actual elections). My reason is that these political ideas and slogans might highlight differences and not commonalities. Also, people have very strrong feelings attached to their political views, resulting in judgment of those who have different views. These differeces are real and mostly fine because we live in a pluralistic society. But I see a neighbourhood almost as an extension of family--we really on each other in a way I don't rely on other citizens of my city. So, in neighbourhoods, I'd argue best to put community before the individual.
I agree with you. That’s how I would prefer things to be. And, in a neighbourhood where symbols and signs for “progressive” causes dominate (I live not far from you) I’ve been a little bolder in wearing symbols that mean something to me and which apparently counter the other ones a little. To shake things up a little.
I do too. I now wear a star of David, something I've never done before. But, again, I see this as fundamentally different than a slogan on a lawn. And, nice to "meet" someone who lives not far away!
That's fair...and funny! I have 3 thoughts. First, you've chosen to read my words and you can stop any time. I can't choose not to walk my block to get to my house. Second, and most critical, you're not my neighbour (I don't think). And the main argument of my essay is that neighbours owe each other things--we have obligations to each other--that writers and readers simply don't. When our pipes froze last winter, my neighbours brought us water and let us use their shower. Would they have, if my lawn were blaring a cranky political opinion at them every morning when they walk their dog? And, finally, unlike this post, my neighbours' signs don't have comment sections. I once said hello to my neighbour with half a dozen lawn signs, and she looked like I was torturing her.
But I'm drawn like a Lemming to your email notifications. They leap out of my inbox and demand that I see them...But seriously, isn't it just a difference of degree? Doesn't it all serve the same purpose--identity claiming and vain attempts at persuasion (but mostly identity claiming). Your neighbors have a comment section--its the times when you are both out in the front yard and you can tell them how much you love/hate their signs.
I agree that lawn signs are definitely an annoying form of virtue signaling. However, it does seem weird to me that we are quick to lambast out neighbors for publicly standing by political causes, but then not demand that our cities get rid of billboards, for example. Billboard advertising is usually just as unnuanced as a lawn sign, and at times even more inflammatory, but reach significantly more people. Unfortunately, for me, two of them are visible from my family's home in Brooklyn. † Personally, given the extreme power differential at play, it seems a bit backward to wag one's finger at your neighbors before wagging it at wealthy individuals and large corporations. If we're gonna say down with advertising and polarization in our communities, don't we ought to swing for the fences?
†: Funnily enough, even though my neighborbood is quite homogenous (black immigrants), I don't really see a lot of lawn signs.
Really great essay. Wondering if you'd feel differently if the signs you saw reflected a more diverse political landscape.
Ooh, great question! To be honest, I'd prefer no political messages on lawns period (except for signs supporting candidates during actual elections). My reason is that these political ideas and slogans might highlight differences and not commonalities. Also, people have very strrong feelings attached to their political views, resulting in judgment of those who have different views. These differeces are real and mostly fine because we live in a pluralistic society. But I see a neighbourhood almost as an extension of family--we really on each other in a way I don't rely on other citizens of my city. So, in neighbourhoods, I'd argue best to put community before the individual.
I agree with you. That’s how I would prefer things to be. And, in a neighbourhood where symbols and signs for “progressive” causes dominate (I live not far from you) I’ve been a little bolder in wearing symbols that mean something to me and which apparently counter the other ones a little. To shake things up a little.
I do too. I now wear a star of David, something I've never done before. But, again, I see this as fundamentally different than a slogan on a lawn. And, nice to "meet" someone who lives not far away!
Yes! That’s what I was referring to as well. Nice to meet you!
Isn't a substack post a much longer and bigger yard sign? Asking for a friend...
That's fair...and funny! I have 3 thoughts. First, you've chosen to read my words and you can stop any time. I can't choose not to walk my block to get to my house. Second, and most critical, you're not my neighbour (I don't think). And the main argument of my essay is that neighbours owe each other things--we have obligations to each other--that writers and readers simply don't. When our pipes froze last winter, my neighbours brought us water and let us use their shower. Would they have, if my lawn were blaring a cranky political opinion at them every morning when they walk their dog? And, finally, unlike this post, my neighbours' signs don't have comment sections. I once said hello to my neighbour with half a dozen lawn signs, and she looked like I was torturing her.
But I'm drawn like a Lemming to your email notifications. They leap out of my inbox and demand that I see them...But seriously, isn't it just a difference of degree? Doesn't it all serve the same purpose--identity claiming and vain attempts at persuasion (but mostly identity claiming). Your neighbors have a comment section--its the times when you are both out in the front yard and you can tell them how much you love/hate their signs.
I agree that lawn signs are definitely an annoying form of virtue signaling. However, it does seem weird to me that we are quick to lambast out neighbors for publicly standing by political causes, but then not demand that our cities get rid of billboards, for example. Billboard advertising is usually just as unnuanced as a lawn sign, and at times even more inflammatory, but reach significantly more people. Unfortunately, for me, two of them are visible from my family's home in Brooklyn. † Personally, given the extreme power differential at play, it seems a bit backward to wag one's finger at your neighbors before wagging it at wealthy individuals and large corporations. If we're gonna say down with advertising and polarization in our communities, don't we ought to swing for the fences?
†: Funnily enough, even though my neighborbood is quite homogenous (black immigrants), I don't really see a lot of lawn signs.
I'd go even farther and say if you believe in something, go do something about it.
You think that there should be more women CEOs? Go find a woman who started her own business, and help her.
Theyre not capable of reckognizing nuance because it threatens their house of cards identity.