Why do people steal campaign signs?

[ColbertWatcher]

Poll question: Why do people steal campaign signs?

This is so prevalent that there has to be a reason for it.

Why is this happening?

Poll result (33 votes)
jealousy	(2 votes, 6%)	Vote
hatred, fear	(16 votes, 48%)	Vote
stupidity, obedience	(3 votes, 9%)	Vote
Other (please see my reason in reply)	(12 votes, 36%)	Vote

[Swamp Rat]

1. All of the above

[ColbertWatcher]

4. Damnit I did it again! I forgot "All of the above!" Nice pic btw! n/t

[Heidi]

2. Because they're getting by with it?

[ColbertWatcher]

3. That explains why they keep doing it, but why do they start? n/t

[Heidi]

5. I tend to think that most irrational acts

are based in fear. Could be fear of change, fear of differing points of view, fear based on all of the lies they've been told about our nominee. The GOP has spent at least eight years cultivating fear and painting liberals as the enemy.

[ColbertWatcher]

7. True, but I still don't understand how stealing a sign alleviates that fear. n/t

[Heidi]

11. It doesn't, but an irrational act rarely truly alleviates an irrational fear.

It's not as though stealing a yard sign changes anyone's mind.

[ColbertWatcher]

19. Well put. n/t

[timtom]

43. It is not borne out of fear.

It is another way for a very mean, small person to say "F*** YOU!" to someone he perceives as having a different belief or opinion than he/she.

[mwb970]

6. Because they're Republicans, duh.

Lying, cheating, and stealing is what they do.

[ColbertWatcher]

8. You're right. If they're not stealing signs, they're stealing votes. n/t

[Dorian Gray]

9. I voted stupidity

but I do think it's a mixture of all of the above. But stupidity first.

[izzie]

10. Some people just like to steal.

I saw a nice fir tree at the end of a drive way go one year just before X-mas. Even planted things are not safe from people who just like to steal. I once knew a man who did his yard from plants from the grave yard. I my self do not understand this way of thinking but it is sure out there.

[Believing Is Art]

12. They're lazy un-American bums who should GET A JOB!!!

And they're dirty socialists, stealing from those who have signs to give them to those who are too dumb and worthless to get their own signs. Spreading the SWAG. Commies!!!

[ColbertWatcher]

13. God Bless You! And welcome to DU! n/t

[slampoet]

14. They ARE BEING PAID TOO ? How naive are you people ?

In Rhode Island they even issue special poles to rip yard signs close enough to reach from your car window.

There is a long tradition of ripping down signs to the point where I once worked for a small campaign and it was so bad that ALL 10 of our first signs got taken down the very first night back in 1992.

[Clovis Sangrail]

15. I can't stand political signs on public property

dont' care which candidate they're for

On your own lawn is an entirely different story.

[ColbertWatcher]

17. Those are the ones being stolen! n/t

[aikoaiko]

16. As a kid we would switch them on people --- lol funny,

same thing with for sale signs. lol

[Indi Guy]

18. Kill the message - burn the books...

It's that simple...

[ColbertWatcher]

20. Can't argue with that. n/t

[shadowknows69]

21. Cuz if we steel there sines, they'l forgit who to vote fer.

[Believing Is Art]

23. Instead of stealing, we should multiply by hyperbolic functions of different frequencies!

Silly homeowners will have to apply a low pass filter just to try and get their message across!!! Mwahaha

Not trying to be an ass, just couldn't help myself

[ColbertWatcher]

29. LOL! Good one! n/t

[pleah]

22. Other: All of the above! n/t

[cliffordu]

24. YOu could prolly SELL the Obama ones....

make insulation out of the Gramps/Mooselini signs

[ColbertWatcher]

30. So, the TSA is stealing everyone's Obama signs? n/t

[ejbr]

25. Intimidation plays a part

They want the person who planted the sign to know that their choice is being disapproved, therefore the person who planted the sign will think twice about voting for the person who is so despised that their sign is removed in the "land of the free."

I have had two signs taken (from a public spot). In my book, as long as they don't steal the election, they are welcome to steal any sign.

[ColbertWatcher]

31. Someone posted a picture of their Obama lawn sign ...

... under a much larger home-made sign that said (I'm paraphrasing)

STEAL OUR SIGN = WE BUY MORE
WE BUY MORE SIGNS = MORE MONEY FOR OBAMA
MORE MONEY FOR OBAMA = PRESIDENT OBAMA

[ejbr]

34. Yes, I saw that. It was a good one n/t

[TroglodyteScholar]

26. Tiny genetalia

|------| <------Like this tiny

[hedgehog]

27. Because underage drinkers can get malt liquor at the convenience store

[lonestarnot]

28. Because dominionists like to exercise dominion.

[ColbertWatcher]

32. That's probably what they tell themselves! Good observation. n/t

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

33. There's Only One Main Prevalent Reason.

That's because they simply really dislike the candidate whose sign they're stealing.

[arcadian]

36. Thank you professor.

[ColbertWatcher]

38. dupe error. n/t

[ColbertWatcher]

39. But, how does stealing a sign do anything to the guy--he's not even there!

I know you do not believe this yourself and that you're only trying to explain the behavior of the talk radio information voters, but why do you think they do it believing it will hurt the guy whose name is on the sign?

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

44. It's Not About Hurting Him. It's About Not Helping Him.

Signs are endorsements. Signs bring further name recognition through repetition. Signs bring a show of positive energy to the candidate whose name is on them. Stealing them is simply a way of hiding that support for others to see.

Personally, I flinch every time I see a mccain palin sign around here. I see quite a few. If I were in my younger days I'd probably steal them. Signs are a sign of popularity. Stealing signs is a way, even if trivially, to make the candidate appear less popular. Pretty straightforward really.

[ColbertWatcher]

45. Thank you for your explanation. n/t

[Rwalsh]

50. So, you would have stolen signs, eh?

How mature you must be to stoop to a FReeper's level

[Piperay]

52. The poster said when if they were YOUNGER

they didn't say they would do it now.

[greyl]

35. They steal signs because they can't change minds. nt

[ColbertWatcher]

40. Vert good point. n/t

[greyl]

46. It works on the horiz and diag, too! :) nt

[TexasObserver]

37. 1 the perps are jerks, 2 signs cost money, 3 signs advertise the opponent

The primary reason signs are stolen is because the thieves are jerks who can't stand seeing the opinions of others legally displayed on private property.

The secondary reasons are political - the sign theft costs the opposition money and time, and it keeps the sign from advertising the opponent, at least on that day.

Sign stealing should be punishable by jail time, and the perps should be jailed through election day, to keep them off the streets.

[ColbertWatcher]

42. LOL! TexasObserver for Supreme Court justice! n/t

[TahitiNut]

41. Malice

[NoPasaran]

47. Because they're fuckin' gooberheads

[napi21]

48. In some cases, it's pranksters. It was on our news last night that

in one suburb of Atlanta, someone was "SWITCHING SIGNS" not stealing them. They interviewed a number of people who described their shock when they walked out to get their AM paper only to find "the other guy's sign" had replaced the candidate she supported. After searching the neighborhood, they found that their signs were not stolen, but switched with one of the neighbors. I guess they just switched them back and all is fine...at least until tomorrow.

[ColbertWatcher]

49. I think the outright theft is more common, though. n/t

[Piperay]

51. Rage

they just get mad when they see them so they take them.

[Evoman]

53. It's very simple actually.

If you vote for McCain, you are a fucking idiot.

If you steal signs, your a immature numbnuts.

If you steal signs for McCain, you a an immature fucking numbuts idiot.

See how that works?

[Skittles]

54. they don't believe in freedom of democracy

yup

[Liberal_in_LA]

55. Obama stuff is considered collectable, historical