"My kid beat up your honor student."

[white_wolf]

Am I the only one gets pissed off when I see these bumper stickers? I saw one today and it just pissed me off. Maybe, I'm overreacting, but I don't think joking or being proud of kids for bullying is a good thing. Granted, I could understand how people get annoyed with those "My child is an honor student" bumper stickers, but I think these are much worse. Whenever I see these bumper stickers I always think the should read something like "My kid is an immature bully with self-esteem issues and emotional problems, that I am failing to address as a parent." I really don't think we should be even jokingly encouraging bullying. Once again, I may be overreacting and I am hardly unbiased since I got picked on some growing up. I just thought I'd post this. Feel free to let me know what you all think and if I'm way overreacting tell me. I may very well be.

[Dawson Leery]

1. +1

[Initech]

2. I hate those stickers too.

It only encourages bullying and there's way too much of that shit in our schools right now. I grew up around it, I know what it's like. I've always wanted to counter those stickers with "Your bully works a low-wage job for my honor student", but I'm not sure who or what that would offend. :evilgrin:

[Nuclear Unicorn]

62. What if the honor student grows up to be a bank CEO who lobbies for bailouts?

just askin'

[Initech]

72. Good question.

[Mz Pip]

76. Right now

he/she is just an honor student who might grow up to be one of many wonderful things.

[vanbean]

84. How about, "Your honor student beat up my kid!"

[av8rdave]

3. I think it's all in how each person sees it

Back in the early 90s, I had that one. I bought it from a stand up comedian somewhere or another, and saw it simply as a parody of the "my kid is an honor student" stickers that had proliferated too much. My son, in fact, WAS an honor student and never beat up anybody. I had more than one schoolteacher tell me they thought it was funny.

In retrospect, I can see where it could be seen as offensive. Particularly since bullying has finally become a major issue (as it should).

It's hard to put something like that in context - all anyone sees is the sticker itself.

[tularetom]

10. Yep, I think we've all evolved on that issue

I have a different attitude toward bullying than when I was in HS (50+ years ago) or even when my kids were there (early 80's).

But I always hated those Honor Student bumper stickers - they were less a measure of pride in one's offspring than an ego boost for insecure social climbing parents.

The my kid beat up your honor student stickers were a good antidote to the snobbishness of the other ones and I think they accomplished a good purpose.

I don't see many of either kind of sticker these days.

[av8rdave]

14. I'm not a bumper sticker person

The last one I had was an Obama magnet in '08. My car got egged for that one.

The "beat up your honor student" doesn't seem as funny now as it did back in the day. I suppose too much has happened lately on that subject that isn't funny at all.

[rpannier]

38. Agreed. They were funnier back then because they were new, fresh and a great parody

The joke has grown old -- at least for me it has

[Fruittree]

33. Another point of view...

The Honor Student stickers were given out to students at my kid's middle school...I don't think it's fair to assume snobbishness - My son worked super hard to get one and when he did, he asked that we put it on the car. He was and remains a quiet, hard-working person..I don't think it's fair to equate academic success with being a snob - that's kind of what the tea-party does..

[av8rdave]

46. Initially, I could see their value, but they proliferated too much

My son was an honor student throughout school (and college). I felt the best way for him to feel recognized for his achievements was to show him respect for all he did. I think that's something every child craves from their parents.

There got to be so many of those stickers around that they went largely unnoticed after a while.

[Divernan]

125. I agree - recognition of a kid's hard work in the classroom, like a varsity letter

All those jocks & cheerleaders strutting around with their varsity jackets/letters, but absolutely no recognition for the kids who applied themselves and excelled at academics - that was my world when I was in high school.

[lumberjack_jeff]

16. Today they're too common to serve as a parody. n/t

[Demstud]

79. It's one of those things that's funny...

... until you realize how many people are serious about it. I'm sure we've all had those moments of finding a comment hysterical until you realize the person speaking is dead serious.

[renegade000]

4. those are obnoxious

though only in an eye-roll inducing way for me.

the one bumper sticker I saw several years ago that really got my blood boiling was "Give War a chance." only some chicken-hawk asshole who's never been within a thousand miles of any warzone would spew such a inane message.

[tnlefty]

5. You're not overreacting AFAIC. I've been seeing those for years

and they disgust me as they feed into the idea that striving to learn, or being smart is a bad thing...stupid brute force is somehow better.

But I live in an area that when people want schools funded, see a need for school and public libraries to be fully funded...well we're just elitists.:crazy:

[JohnnyRingo]

6. It looks better on the back of a pick up truck than....

"My kid is an idiot" next to a "Palin 2012" sticker.

[tkmorris]

7. It's how jackasses identify themselves

I appreciate that they do this, it saves me the time I would otherwise spend trying to respect them.

[redgiant]

8. As a teacher...

...I'm against everything that bumper sticker implies. But, at the same time, I understand the parody nature of the sentiment. Of course, I'm talking about the "My child is an honor student at XYZ school" bumper stickers. After a while, it seemed a little bit of a in-your-face kinda thing. Like, that's great, but I didn't ask, and since I don't know you, why are you telling me? I mean, why not put a bumper sticker on your car that says, "My sex life is extremely satisfying," or, "I'm the top sales person at XYZ Corp?"

[Still Blue in PDX]

19. +1

I confess, I had one that said, "My pit bull is smarter than your honor student," with a pretty brindle Staffie that looks just like my Daizie Doggeleh.

I really, really hated those honor student bumper stickers.

[CrispyQ]

124. LOL.

Now, that's a funny & appropriate response! :thumbsup:

The beating up one, not so much.

[HuckleB]

60. Indeed, the honor student thing can be an "in your face" thing.

However, with bullying out of control, there is no comparison.

[redgiant]

70. Out of control

Bullying has always been wrong, always been a problem, always something not to be condoned.

I don't think it's any more out of control now than it has been previously.

Regarding the bumper sticker. Okay, it's offensive. But, I don't get my undies in a bunch over every bumper sticker than offends me. What are you going to do, ban 'em?

[HuckleB]

86. It's definitely much more of a problem now than it was when I was growing up.

There is no comparison. The constancy of it, and the expectation of it, is much greater today. I don't know anyone who has a middle school student who isn't appalled at the cultural state of affairs at school, and that culture seems to be seeping down into ever younger kids. Please don't fool yourself. This is not just a continuation of the past. The internet and texting has added entirely new layers to the issue.

Further, too many parents are actually condoning bullying behavior in their kids, or at least dismissing it as just fine and dandy. Thus, such a bumper tends to overlap with those real world issues.

[geardaddy]

85. "My sex life is extremely satisfying"

Now that's a bumper sticker. :)

[Jkid]

9. Such a sticker represents anti-intellectualism of the highest order.

[pampango]

44. Well said. Took the words right out of my mouth.

Message to society: fist matter more than brains. What a wonderful world that would be.

[bluestateguy]

11. It doesn't anger me, although it's kind of stupid

The worst I ever saw was "My kid got your honor's student pregnant". THAT was over the line in my view.

[DebJ]

23. For some reason, that reminds me of Santorum, who feels

compelled to brag that he has seven children. Yuck. Why is this something to brag about?

[pstokely]

26. Does that seven include the dead fetus he brought home?

nt

[pstokely]

27. Many anti-choicers who don't believe in BC have large families

Probably thinks it will get the anti-choice pro-fetus pro-forced pregnant vote

[Tumbulu]

12. Luckily I have never seen such a sticker

and I am afraid I would use a sharpie to color over it if the vehicle was parked. Or scowl at the driver....I am furious just reading about it.

You are not at all overreacting- but perhaps I am.

[gkhouston]

96. Wow -- they're fairly common here.

I'm so glad my daughter's school doesn't issue them, because I wouldn't put it on the car and I wouldn't want to hurt her feelings. The bumper sticker for her school is "Everybody's somebody special at ______".

[OhioBlue]

13. you are not overreacting

bumper stickers like that are BS and encourage bullying. When I see crap like that it pisses me off too.

[lumberjack_jeff]

15. It reflects an underlying belief system that school isn't meant for boys.

I find it tragic.

[eridani]

20. That's been the case since public schooling in the US existed

It has only become tragic recently, given the increasing correlation between education and employability.

[Starry Messenger]

25. The gender of the honor student isn't indicated on the sticker.

:shrug:

[seabeyond]

39. except my kid is the smart one and the one that the sticker implies beating up

though i would never put a sticker up, my kids is an honor, i think they are stupid and grandiose and obnoxious. this is the boys are supposed to be stupid and violent that i have rejected in my kids environment from day one.

[BlueCaliDem]

17. You're not overreacting. Your reaction is correct and civilized, even.

It's as if dumbing down one's child is preferable, even celebrated, to encouraging your child to be the best they can be at school.

This isn't good for a society striving to evolve and improve.

[Contrary1]

18. I look at it a bit differently...

"My kid is an immature bully with self-esteem issues and emotional problems..."

I think it is the parent that has those issues, not necessarily the kid. Hopefully, the child will grow up to be more mature than Mom and Dad.

[eridani]

21. Far more common where I live--

My kid sells drugs to your honor student.

[reggie the dog]

30. ??? i sold drugs to honor and non honor roll students

and i was on the honor roll even for all A's jr year.

[eridani]

111. When I was in grad school. many of the out of state students sold drugs

--in order to cover the higher tuition costs.

[reggie the dog]

121. shhh

dont want the cops to know which students to profile ;)

[seabeyond]

40. we do the same. boys and i will look at the driver, always father. really? really?

this is what you want on your car

[LeftyMom]

22. My mother used to have one of those.

My kid sister was a competitive martial artist and an excellent football player, and not a bully (but she put a few in the ER.)

[Major Nikon]

24. I think it promotes stupidity more than bullying

There are lots of areas in the US where stupidity and ignorance are actually preferred and those who are smart and well educated are suspect and generally shunned.

[Marr]

28. I agree- it's more anti-intellectual than anything else.

I've seen those stickers a few times, and I always think about what a shitty start that kid is getting.

[reggie the dog]

29. back in the 80s and 90s when i was in jr high and high school

i would ride around on the back of my dad's harley, before all the yuppies got into harleys, and a few times we asked the person in the car if their kid wanted to fight me seeing as i was an honors student, never once did the parents agree to stop to let us box, i guess just dressing like a biker scared them off.

[WCGreen]

31. My kid, the honor student, will always be your kids', the bully, boss...

[Divernan]

126. Unless the bully goes into politics.

[Obamanaut]

32. Overreacting. They are just bumper stickers. No need to get upset about these, or any others. nt

[pintobean]

37. They serve a purpose. They identify stupid.

But I agree with your post.

[truebrit71]

58. ..as well as current and future republicans/teabaggers...

..

[mikeytherat]

34. One day soon your kid will call my honor student "Boss"

My favorite reaction to the "My kid beat up your honor student" crap.

mikey_the_rat

[DRoseDARs]

35. My honor student, that your kid beat up, grew up to be the judge that sentenced your kid to death...

...for triple homicide, all because of your stupid "My kid beat up your honor student." bumper sticker and the bad parenting that went with it.



If you're going to go for it, go all out. :)

[seabeyond]

36. first time i saw it i was in a store, around bush time, on a tshirt. i got pissed

told the manager not cute. so damn tired of hooring stupid adn violence.

i have seen it a couple times on cars, since then

[Odin2005]

41. As an Honor Student who was viciously bullies, I HATE THOSE STICKERS!

[a la izquierda]

78. I was a bullied honor student too...

I now have a PhD and do crossfit like a madwoman. Try bullying me now, losers ;)

[white_wolf]

80. They do try, its just they've changed their insults.

Now instead of calling us "nerd" or "loser" they call us "un-American" "traitor" or Nazi communists." Yeah, they are just as ignorant as ever.

[a la izquierda]

117. Yeah...but it doesn't work on me.

I'm related to a-holes who call me all of the above. I use my superior intellect (hehehe) as a security blanket. And they know I'm a lot brainier than they are, so they don't push me too hard. It's a lot harder to have to deal with relatives who hate your political beliefs than strangers.

[catrose]

42. I was horrified the first time I saw one.

I haven't found many other people who were. But then my child was picked on through school.

[WinkyDink]

43. The kid obviously inherited his ignorance.

[Gari]

45. Here in Texas where dumb is glorified...

Those bumper stickers are everywhere. Then, when you have an actually bullying problem, you find out their "zero tolerance" is really more 50% or if the bully is someone that the admin likes (football player), the bullied just have to deal with it. Toughen up, four eyes!

Another common phrase in our University town, spewed often by the ignorant - "He's got book learning, but no common sense".

[mistertrickster]

47. "My Honor Student can beat up your Academic Loser"

Maybe that's where we're headed as a society . . .

Interesting that they don't have these kind of problems in Europe.

[AngryAmish]

48. What if the honor student had it coming?

[WinkyDink]

49. And that would account for a generic expression of ignorance how? Not to mention

the weak-sister sarcasm of your post.

It IS sarcasm, right?

[AngryAmish]

50. Any bumper sticker identifies the owner of the vehicle as an asshole.

Ever meet a normal person with a bumper sticker in this day and age? Why do that to your car? Why make yourself a target? Oh, you have to give me your opinion. Guess what - that makes you an asshole.

[pintobean]

52. Um....DU has bumper stickers. Asshole?

[AngryAmish]

55. My opinion. Maybe it makes me an asshole for having it. Yet it is my belief.

[OneTenthofOnePercent]

71. I agree with this sentiment.

I have several bumper stickers that I like alot... And I'd never put them on my car.
It's tacky, assuming/pretentious, and most likely makes the bearer an asshole.
And it's not cause I drive a nice car... I drive a 1993 Ford rustbucket with 260k+ miles on it.

Someday, my future honor student will have to come to terms with the fact that daddy doesn't want his kid's bumper sticker on his car. :shrug:

[KurtNYC]

51. The oppressed oppress.

[trotsky]

53. Anti-intellectualism thrives in the USA.

And it crosses party lines, sadly.

[former9thward]

54. You are overreacting. But you have plenty of company.

[LWolf]

56. No. I find the whole bragging about your kid bumper sticker

phenomena irritating. Bragging about your kid being a bully is simply an obvious symptom of a deeper social disease.

[truebrit71]

57. Those have always pissed me off....

..but so have the "my kid is on the honor roll" ones as well...I just don't see the point of publicly touting the talents or achievements of ones' offspring...Just keep doing what you're doing, and be happy knowing that should be enough...

[LuvNewcastle]

59. "My priest molested your honor student."

I almost ran off the road when I saw that one.

[AngkorWot]

61. It's a joke. You're overreacting.

It's not encouraging bullying anymore than the "my kid is an honor student..." is encouraging parents being pretentious assholes.

[alcibiades_mystery]

65. ROFL

"my kid is an honor student..." is encouraging parents being pretentious assholes.

You're in a place where all the children are bullied geniuses until they turn around and beat the shit out of the bully in a near cinematic act of heroism. At least, that's what you'd have to believe when you read any thread here on bullying. Point being "It's just a joke" is not likely to fly.

That said, I'm glad we've evolved enough on bullying to call this stuff into question. I wish we'd also evolve on parents running around crowing about how "gifted" their children are, as you suggest.

:rofl:

[ieoeja]

73. Athletics must be super pretentious then. n/t

[Odin2005]

92. Parents being proud of their kids' achievements makes them "assholes"?

That attitude is just as anti-intellectual as those pro-bully bumper-stickers you are defending. It shows an attitude of mediocrity that sees brilliance as antithetical to egalitarianism.

[AngkorWot]

98. No. I said they're not. Try to keep up here.

They're not pretentious assholes any more than the other guys are bullies.

Now, it's entirely possible that they ARE pretentious assholes. Especially if they get all excited over what's rather a non-achievement.

But it's still just a free bumpersticker.

[Odin2005]

99. Being an honor student is a "non-achievement?"

[AngkorWot]

100. A little brown-nosing and turning homework in on time.

It's not that hard. Certainly not a sign of intellectualism.

Then again, neither is getting butthurt over a bumpersticker.

[Cleita]

63. Anti-intellectualism?

I believe that honoring ignorance and stupidity is what led to the Tea Party.

[MrsBrady]

64. you could get one of those "mean people suck" stickers

I know you are being serious, but you can't do much if others are assholes.
Except not to be an ass. And clearly you are not being a ass.

So you are ok :)


on edit: I was an honor student, way before they had those stickers....
and I have since put a grown man on the ground with only a yellow belt in karate (in defense of someone else).

so clearly smarts and ass kicking are not necessarily correlated,
but in my case they appear to be able to co-exist. ;)

[mainer]

66. Some parents feel compelled to post those bumper stickers

We never did it, but I can see how a parent might feel like crap when their kid brings home a bumper sticker about being an honor student and wants it displayed. If you don't, you feel like you're dissing your kid or you're not proud of him.

[RZM]

67. Those stickers always struck me as having a thread of class commentary/antagonism

Partly they are just meant to poke fun at the narcissism inherent in bragging about one's child to strangers. But . . .

I also always read a bit more into them. In many schools (my HS included), honor students were mainly college-bound kids from middle class backgrounds.

I always thought that the 'beat up' stickers were in part a class-based response - a rejection of the implication (real or imagined) that by advertising your kid's honor status you are trying to intimate that your family is superior to a working class family where the kids do not perform as well academically and are not going to college.

[TwilightGardener]

68. It's just a joke. A reaction to those sorts of people who need to post their kids' accomplishments

on their fucking car.

[Throd]

69. Yes, you are overreacting.

[kctim]

74. You really allow your emotions to be dictated by something like a bumper sticker?

[white_wolf]

75. I find it to be a completely stupid display of ignorance and anti-intellectualism.

I have no use for ignorant people who think it is okay to be a bully or for their kid to be a bully.

[kctim]

87. But getting "pissed off" and unfairly judging people

is NOT a display of ignorance?

Maybe you just need a sense of humor? I know I get a chuckle every time I see 'Save the enviroment' sticker on a SUV; one of those dumb 'COEXIST' stickers; 'Fighting Terrorism Since 1497'; the jesus fish; and my favorite, 'Save the Whales, Eat Tuna.'

Maybe you are just reading more into it than you should be.

[Rex]

77. Translation: I am a loser as a parent.

Should be what the sticker really says imo.

[KamaAina]

81. Sounds like something you'd see on The Simpsons

:eyes:

[nadinbrzezinski]

82. Anti intellectual, book learning is bad zeitgeist.

[Shagbark Hickory]

83. Of all the things in the world that bother me, I can honestly say

that ain't one of them.
But, in light of the recent public awareness campaigns regarding bullying, I do understand your concern and they really aren't funny anymore.

Just my opinion

[ohheckyeah]

88. I hate those bumper stickers

but I actually hate all bumper stickers. I think they are eye pollution.

And if you are running around with a bumper sticker informing everyone you are a Christian, my questions is why? Do you think it makes you holier or that it's going to get people "saved"?

Here's a hint: Most people don't care what your religion is. Most people don't care how smart or dumb your child is. Most people don't care what kind of dog you love.

[Maven]

89. We have this thing in America where people are proud of being an asshole.

And tell themselves that being an asshole makes them more American.

[itsallhappening]

90. Some people aren't happy unless they're outraged about something.

This is scraping the bottom of the barrel for something to be all earnest about.

Lighten up.

[Aerows]

91. Some people aren't happy when they aren't putting other people down

Here's some coffee. Wake up and smell it.

[itsallhappening]

95. I once saw a bumper sticker that said

"My other car is a boat."

Why do people have to make others who don't own boats feel inferior? And what about the feelings of those who don't have an "other car" at all?

OUTRAGE!!!

And what about the feelings of the kids who aren't honor students? Those "my kid is an honor student" stickers hurt other kids' feelings.

REVOLTING!!!!!

[redqueen]

93. Doesn't make me angry, it's just kinda sad.

And in light of all the evidence of the consequences of bullying, very tasteless.

[Odin2005]

94. Something I realized is that those stickers show that brilliance is considered anti-egalitarian...

...by a lot of Americans. Americans consider themselves to be equals and really hate to see people that are more successful in life because of their intelligence.

[redqueen]

97. I don't see the same hostility directed at stickers about athletes.

So I don't know if I agree that it's the lack of fairness that's the problem.

Stickers proclaiming your student is an athlete - no problem. Stickers proclaiming they're smart - HOW DARE YOU?!

jocks = good; nerds = bad

That's how I perceive the difference in reaction to the various vanity stickers, at least.

[AngkorWot]

101. I don't remember having seen a "my student is an athlete" sticker.

:shrug:

[redqueen]

108. They're more common than any other kind here.

Even more common than the fish, or the little stick figures. Usually shows the kid's name, and their number (if applicable) along with some graphic indicating which sport it is their child participates.

[yellowcanine]

102. Calls for a response - Bumper sticker saying: "Your car was keyed by my honor student."

Stick it next to the offensive bumper sticker. Don't do any actual vandalism of course, but it would be fun to watch from a distance as the chump runs around the car looking for the damage.

[Bake]

103. Yeah, I see it.

I just chalk it up to shitty parents. The kind who probably bullied honor students when they were in school.

Bake

[cherish44]

104. What I tell my teen daughter for dumb jocks or school bullies this is the peak of their lives

Everything is downhill after high school. Athletic ability and strength only last so long. A sharp and creative mind will be with you your whole life.

[redqueen]

109. I like that...

I'll be using that one too. :hi:

[LynneSin]

105. I saw one that said "My Labador is smarter than your Honor Student"

I thought that one was amusing.

I figured the ones you mentioned are probably from some racist teabagger who can't figure out why their kids do so poorly in school

[joeybee12]

106. I'd rather see "My dog is smarter than your honor student" no bullying implied...

and it sends a message about what I consider the obnoxious gloating bumper stickers.

[leftyohiolib]

107. karl rove, as a child, got beat up by a girl

and look how he ended up

[progressoid]

110. My kids' school switched to a much smaller window decal for parents of honor students.

But now that I think about it, I haven't received one in a couple years so maybe they've stopped sending them to parents.

[county worker]

112. I agree with you but I find the honor student bumper stickers offensive.

We need to be proud of all our kids not just the honor students. Many kids have talents that do not get recognized and thus are not encouraged.
I saw a bumper sticker that said something like "All are students are special."

[yurbud]

113. I would amend your honest translation of it to: my kid is a bully because I'm an asshole too

[jmowreader]

114. The ones I hate worse are the "superstar athlete son" stickers

There's a Suburban here in town that belongs to the parent of a Star Athlete. We know this because the person who owns the vehicle also gets Christmas cards from a sign shop, judging by all the advertising for this kid on the car's windows. There are huge baseballs on the side windows with "Town All-Stars," the child's name and his jersey number cut into them on both sides, and a printed window perf on the back window with the same stuff. Hundreds and hundreds of dollars worth of graphics on this car to advertise the fact that one of their children is a Star Baseball Player. The bumper is covered with extreme Christian stickers so they've almost certainly got more than one child--and considering the car, it's probably at least four children.

The reason I really hate this shit is, imagine being Superstar Baseball Player's brother or sister. These "all stars" teams travel, so they're spending thousands of dollars a year on this one kid. Think "child beauty pageant contestant" with less makeup.

[TK421]

115. almost as obnoxious as the ones saying "My child is an honor-roll student at St.So-and-so's

like I fucking give a rats hairy fucking ass...

One thing that makes me sick are these fuckers who have to show off these bumper stickers to the world..you know, because everyone else needs to be made aware of it. I suppose it fills that certain void in their lives.

I remember the "My kid beat up your honor-roll student" stickers, and they were in response to the ones mentioned above. Not a fan of those, either, but hey, that is the response you're gonna get.

[mainer]

116. What if your kid proudly brings one of these bumper stickers home

And he's really, really hurt when you refuse? I think a lot of these "honor student" bumper stickers are because the parents don't want their kids to think they're not proud of them.

[TK421]

118. Lie to them and tell them they are closet stickers to display in their room

tell them those stickers would ruin the paint on your car? I don't know

It seems like an in-your-face nyahnyah my kid is special kind of sneer..my parents didn't need to display a bumper sticker to let me know they were proud of me. Keep in mind that these things seem to have dwindled along with the Baby on Board signs.

[etherealtruth]

119. Not at all

What these ass-holes don't seem to understand is that ignorance is NOT a positive attribute.

Smart kids grow into smart adults ... another thing "they" miss is that smart is sexy!

[bluestate10]

120. Parents should have their docile kids learn tiered self defense.

The objective is to have children warn bullies first, but if things escalate, take the bullies down.

[slay]

122. "My honor student will be your kid's lawyer one day"

none of those bumpersticker things bother me

[infidel dog]

123. I'm still looking for a bumper sticker that reads "Honk if you think you're Jesus."

[JesterCS]

127. does that still include " My gamer fragged your honor student " n/t

[southernyankeebelle]

128. Wow, How sad. That guy is a freak. He is jealous of the smart kid. Although you can

find bullies in any group.