Briefly went through a flashy stage in my 20s and quickly grew out of it. I honestly think having my bike sound metered for dual sport rides and hare scrambles started me down the road to keeping everything more low key. I hadn’t had the insight to consider the value of being quiet and flying under the radar. The lecture from the older guys about keeping it cool and respecting the places that we were permitted to ride didn’t hurt either.
Has anyone ever altered their opinion via the stupid **** the jerk in front of you has pasted to his car? Rather, I would say the opposite is more true in that I have condemned more institutions, concepts and ideas based on peoples horrible driving and that snowballs into me hating them and everything they stand for by extension (PS: I may have road rage).
What’s more is many people do not realize that their projections often say more than what they wish them to. If you ever have the opportunity to learn about some of the real predator criminals in society or talk to DOC personnel that know what’s up, the savvy of truly trained observers and seasoned predators is amazing. The over-compensated projection of strength is often subterfuge for weakness or uncertainty.
We must always ask: To whom are we projecting an image, what image is it, and why?
I heard about the Boston Bombing on the way to one of the Mega Mart hardware stores.
All the twenty minute drive I listen to body count, speculation and the horror.
I get my hardware and lumber and while I’m loading the Truck a guy pulls in with a “Coexist” bumper sticker.
I asked him just how well that seemed to be working in F’ing Boston that morning and what kind of a man would put such BS on his car.
Sometimes, being an A’hole just feels good.
I have an American flag sticker on our family vehicle.
Me too! I think you copied me…
I like guys like in the OP. Nice to have a canary around to attract unwanted attention from random Adam Henrys.
Dennis.
Like virtually everyone who has already posted, I too have NO “gun or 2A swag” on my car, house, worn as everyday clothing, tattooed to my body, etc. I also don’t advertise in my neighborhood and try to be as discreet as possible with most folks I associate with. I always load and unload my vehicle for range trips in the garage with the door closed. I do wear 5.11 pants to the range though, they are WAY more comfortable in the Texas heat than jeans!
I’m not a small person (6’2", 240) and that makes being a “grey man” somewhat difficult. A fiend at work, retired mil, and I were once talking and he said he would consider me a threat if he was assessing a situation. I asked why on earth, as I have no mil or LE experience, just a middle aged guy, slightly over weight? He said “you’re a big guy and “look” like you know how to handle yourself.” Ha! “You’re not much of a threat assessor” I replied. Ever since, I’ve tried to pay attention to whatever I might telegraph that makes me appear to somehow be a “tough guy”. Hell, I drive a 4 door FOP sedan or a 20 year old Cherokee, that has failing paint!
Same guy said one thing he noticed about me though, I never have my cell phone out when I walk into a retail store. I always keep it in my pocket, so I can watch the other people. He told me that stands out in today’s society. So to blend in, I suppose you have to have your nose buried in your smart phone, as you walk though the parking lot, to look like you’re totally disengaged from reality!
I’ve been driving this every summer since new, but it only says Ford on it.
Can’t get any more low key than that…
Nothing says early-mid 90’s Ford than that…
Same here! Especially no tats!
Very low key for me. No bumper stickers, signs, t-shirts or hats relating to politics or 2A. The only thing on my home is my alarm company name. If I were a sports guy, which I’m not, I probably wouldn’t even put my team on anything knowing how crazy some fan rivalries can get.
I broke this rule only once. My salesman and I took a good customer of ours to a recently opened state of the art gun range. While there he wanted some t-shirts with the range name on them. I bought a handful for all of us to split up. I typically would only wear this stuff around the house, but ended up one day running multiple errands while wearing the shirt. Inside of a few hours two complete strangers at retail stores and a neighbor started a conversation with me about firearms. Never again.
I don’t put stickers of any kind on my truck. I also removed anything that advertises for the dealership where I got it (factory emblems are still intact).
I do have several gun branded t-shirts but I don’t wear them much any more. Until recently I was working part-time at a LGS and that gave me a legit venue for them. My big offender is that I prefer to wear cargo pants of some sort over jeans on a daily basis because I find them so much more useful and comfortable.
I used to have an NRA sticker on my car back when I was younger and didn’t see the value in flying under the radar. Now, I have no stickers on my vehicles.
Im a results-driven person. What will being flashy accomplish? Nothing. What could being un-noticed accomplish? A lot.
I like to get things done. If i am successful, people will know me by my actions, not stickers or whether my collar is popped.
My car is clean. Bumper sickers look trashy anyways, and my current and future occupations have certain standards.
Yep, I buy purpose built vehicles to use and have fun with, not just look at. [emoji106]
DITTO. Except for my two tats, high up on both arms. Ive known people for 30 years who dont know Ive got them. My own mother still doesnt.
I thought that would spice up the thread a bit.
I have a few stickers, just a Tx flag and another. Not too conspicuous. Not a big fan of standing out at all. Plenty of guys around here rolling around in their raptors with every sticker under the sun on there. :sarcastic:
I have a Betsy Ross flag decal I’ve had for years, never put it on a car. Since I just washed my car (snow melting and all that), I figured now would be a good time to put it on… but I don’t have a clue where to put it. Looking at the most, “official,” ways to apply one makes it seem like I will need a second reversed one and put them on the left and right front quarter panels, left and right front doors, or the left and right rear quarter panels. So I’m curious as to where you guys put yours.
There isn’t a single can out there that can prove any real gains. Gaining HP has became way more difficult the more computerized sleds become.
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