I take it that the author of this piece doesn't have any children (or any that are honor students). Our oldest son has a 3.68 GPA and I would consider putting a bumper sticker saying so on the car. That is, of course, assuming I ever were to buy a bumper sticker.

I think it's a better use of bumper space than pimping some politician who is just a "stranger" to me.

What is really so wrong with being proud of the accomplishments of the ones you love?

Encouraging good grades should be something nobody should mock.

Nope, no children here yet.

"Encouraging good grades should be something nobody should mock."

I agree. That is why I did not mock the encouragement of good grades. I did however mock the absurdity of the idea to show this information off to the complete strangers in the car behind you. Why not wear a shirt that says "My child is an honor student?" Why don't you get a tattoo that says it? Why put a sticker on your car? How did you get from honor roll to sticker on your car? I am mocking that transition. "You made the honor roll? I can't wait to tell the people in the car behind us!"

"What is really so wrong with being proud of the accomplishments of the ones you love?"

Being proud of the accomplishments of your loved ones = fine and great
Putting a sticker on the back of your car = weird

"You made the honor roll?!?!? QUICK! What's the number of the bumper sticker store?!?!?"

in10sity -

Actually I think "weird" are the bumper stickers which mock the drivers behind you ... or that have intentionally distracting text. Talk about asking for trouble when you get the driver behind you eyes off the road and focusing on your bumper sticker. If you are one of those drivers, thank goodness you weren't behind me lately.

Bumper stickers aren't as distracting as cell phones, eating or radios, but they are certainly a factor to be considered.

As I said, I do not buy bumper stickers and the primary reason is distraction. I'm more concerned that someone doesn't rear-end me than whether they get "weirded" out by the text on a bumper sticker. One really has to be a defensive driver in this day and age!

My wife and son were hit by a car a few months back in the middle of a crosswalk in broad morning light. The woman was distracted and didn't even see them in the middle of the road.

You are welcome to do whatever you want with your car and I encourage you to not to put up bumper stickers of kids you don't have that aren't on the honor roll :)

I respectfully suggest revisiting this thread when you have children who achieve the honor roll (and I hope you do someday).

It will be curious to see what your opinion is at that moment in time. The idea of wearing a t-shirt is good but not withstanding the distraction element I already mentioned how is that any different than a bumper sticker on someone's car, really>

You don't have to buy those bumper stickers, the school gives them out to those who deserve it.

Anyway, the way I think about it can be summarized by that one (I think) Hyundai Tiberon commercial. Son runs up to father who just bought a brand new Tiberon and shows him the honor roll bumper sticker. Kid is excited about putting the bumper sticker some where. Father looks at his brand new shiny car, looks at kid, looks at his brand new shiny car again. Says to kid, "hey... let's go put it on mom's car."

visualsimplicity - they don't give them out in our school district. This I know for a fact. They don't even have them, maybe because of the things stated in #3.

I think it probably has more to do with it not being an effective use of school budget.

All I know is, a little more than a decade ago, I used get these all the time, but I never bothered to show it to my parents because I thought it was silly.

I agree, very silly. Thus my original post. Your child made the honor roll, so you want to put a sticker on the back of your car? How can you not find that silly?

The transition from "Congrats son, you did it! I'm so proud of you!" to "Ok, someone back up the car and get me some adhesive!" is just very funny too me.

I think bumper stickers should be considered as a effective medium for public shaming as well as praise. How 'bout "My kid still wets the bed" or "My honor student got caught shoplifting!" or "Proud parent of a Central Middle School tattletale."

Good idea. Maybe "My child is NOT an honor student. Happy now Timmy? Kiss your bike goodbye!"

I would also like to see: "My chiold is a onor studant." Perfect for the parents of honor students who just aren't quite honor students themselves.

I don't think this should be about the parents, it should about making the children feel special for their accomplishment. However, I'm not so naive to think that for some parents it is about them; a badge of honor for them and something that they can boast about. In that case, well, I do see some point of ridicule because nobody likes or appreciates a braggert.

in10sity you posted that you weren't mocking the children, and yet if it putting the bumper sticker on their parent's car this is something that makes the child feel good and when you mock the parents, you are also mocking the effort of the child. Seems like an easy connection for me to make. Let me illustrate:

"Dad, why is that guy making fun of you?"

"Because I put the bumper sticker of your honor roll up and he thinks that's 'weird'."

"I'm sorry." Child hangs head.

"It's not your fault," replies parent. "Really. There are just some idiots in this world that you need to learn to ignore."

I guess there is some sort of lesson in the mockery.

Perhaps immature adults, kids and some non-parents might find this exchange humorous, but parents (good ones, anyway) don't usually think this way, which was the source of my original post. They would rather have their children working dilligently on their studies than partying and fucking around.

I realize that good grades don't necessarily guarantee that a child is going to turn out to be successful beyond their school days, but it is a sign that they can stay on task, focus and work hard toward measurable results. This is a recipe for success in just about any job and should not be discounted in reinforcing the positive behavior of children.

I don't expect non-parents or kids to understand this. I welcome any parents to correct me where I am wrong here. Just as I cannot tell you what it's like to be single and without children in 2004 I think it is equally difficult, if not impossible, for the converse.

Have a good day :)

As a parent, I hope my daughter makes the honor roll when she's old enough, but that she doesn't get her self-esteem from a bumper sticker. Every 3rd car on the road has an honor roll bumper sticker. When she makes the honor roll, she will get gratification from the achievement, and the knowledge of how it will benefit her life, instead of getting the gratification from the privilege of boasting. I hope at least.

Here's a good bumper sticker:

Homeschooled children graduate at the top of their class.

I agree with that, boomcrashbaby. However, this whole bumper sticker thing is a chance for a life lesson, don't you think?

Bottom line:
If the child doesn't want the bumper sticker posted, as visualsimplicity stated above, then parents should not do it, IMO. I think it's up to the child about how h/she feels about it. Again, it's not about the parents, I think, it is about the children and reinforcing positive effort.

Parents are supposed to be teaching their kids things like this. Imparting the wisdom, if they have it.

The problem is the parents who don't give a damn either way and would be using some bumper sticker because it is a reflection of them. Again, ridicule is rightly placed in that situation.

We don't see those honor roll bumper stickers all over the place here. In fact, I don't think I've seen even one of those bumper stickers this year.

TDavid: of course if she wants it put up, I will do so. I guess what gave me my line of thought was your previous analogy where child hangs head in shame because bumper sticker or daddy was mocked. I just see such a fragile chlid in that analogy.

Kids can be cruel and they mock each other relentlessly. 4-eyes, squeaky voice, skinny or fat kid, etc. It's part of the preparation for the 'real world'. Not to endorse mockery or humiliation of kids, but in your analogy I just saw a kid who would be shamed, over the reaction to a bumper sticker, remarkably fragile and unprepared for life ahead.

Something I'll need to keep in mind when my daughter gets 'bumper sticker' age. That's all.

lol... this has gotten much funnier than I ever intended.

Maybe you read too much into my post. I have no problems with kids who get good grades, or the parents of those kids for being proud of them. I got good grades. I made the honor rolls. My parents were (and still are) very proud of me. I am not mocking the kids or the parents.

I AM however mocking the idea of this bumper sticker. I am mocking the idea of when your kid makes the honor roll at school, the first thing that comes to mind is putting a sticker on the back bumper of your car. I find that funny. Like you said.. "reinforcing positive effort." How exactly? WITH A STICKER ON YOUR CAR'S REAR BUMPER. Read that with a lot of sarcasm.

That is all I was trying to say. I find that funny. I think that if most people thought about it, they'd find it funny too. Maybe I didn't make it clear enough. If this is the case, I apologize.

"in10sity you posted that you weren't mocking the children, and yet if it putting the bumper sticker on their parent's car this is something that makes the child feel good and when you mock the parents, you are also mocking the effort of the child. Seems like an easy connection for me to make."

That's an EASY connection? It's just a funny observation. Kid makes the honor roll, parent puts a sticker on their rear bumper. That's all it was. Not mocking anyone, just mocking the idea of it all.

I'm going to recommend at our next PTA meeting a "My child appreciates the value of the wisdom imparted by bumper stickers" bumper sticker.

Joe, you are just freaking hilarious.

in10sity sez: "lol...this has gotten much funnier than I ever intended."

No kidding. The original piece was about as funny as a car wreck.

If they gave out grades for satire writing, in10sity would be tied to the back of his parents' bumper and dragged through town with a sticker on his forehead that said, "Kill my parents if they ever attempt to breed another 'humorist'!"

You're damn lucky Joe et al came in to livin' up the humor in this miserable thread.

lol, ok cool.

Wow Shark, that is just mean.

I agree with the post. The idea of bumper stickers is really stupid.

You want to encourage your kids and your kids should get good grades, etc, but the sticker thing is just tacky.

You want to show everyone you enjoyed your vacation, but if you get matching hilton head t-shirts and wear it while your wife wears another one, you are also incredibly tacky.

Just because they hand out bumper stickers doesn't make putting it on the back of your car a good idea, no matter what the message. It is a matter of style or a lack of style.

Now how many of you out there have matching vacation t-shirts. Come on, lets get those hands up people. I won't believe it if none of you admit to it.

Ok, how about matching jogging outfits?

Bwahahaah.

Yeah but it would be crueler to tell him
it's funny and let him go on with this
crap 'cause it ain't funny.....

lol, I love that. It will come in handy one day. Thanks for the support.