Decibel ([info]decibel45) wrote,
@ 2008-09-24 09:42:00
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What's the point?
After passing the 528,294th yard sign promoting McCain or Obama yesterday, a thought occurred to me. "Why?"

I can only think of 3 reasons to have a yard sign for a political candidate:

1. To raise awareness of that candidate's existence.
2. To encourage others to vote for that candidate.
3. To keep your grass from floating away.

Now, if you haven't heard of both McCain and Obama at this point, I don't think I want you voting in the first place. And last I looked, grass generally didn't just float away. So I guess it must be #2.

But does that really make sense? I can maybe see yard signs making a difference when it comes to city comptroller, but in this age of "You're either with us or against us, you dirty scum!" politics, is anyone going to swayed to vote for "the dark side" based on a yard sign?

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[info]texansasha
2008-09-24 02:57 pm UTC (link)
I've always felt that it was a way to show that the particular house that has the sign supports the candidate, not to push others to vote that way.

I had a yard sign and it was my way of showing support to the candidate, not my way to get others to vote for him.

Edited at 2008-09-24 03:23 pm UTC

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[info]paradox0220
2008-09-24 03:02 pm UTC (link)
Even weirder: My neighbor has an Obama sign in their window... on the back side of their house.

Oddly my neighborhood is extremely Obama sign happy.

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[info]reanimated
2008-09-24 04:36 pm UTC (link)
to tap the squirrel contingent? XD

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[info]drfardook
2008-09-24 03:23 pm UTC (link)
I guess its also as a way to remind the party faithful to register to vote.

Same thing with running phone banks. Each party only has phone numbers and emails for their members so when they set up phone banks its to get people to make sure they're registered and that they get out of and vote. You're not trying to change minds, you're just trying to combat slack.



(Reply to this) (Thread)
ditto
[info]vixi
2008-09-24 11:15 pm UTC (link)
This is what I believe also.

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[info]chocotaku
2008-09-24 03:47 pm UTC (link)
The smart thing about the Obama campaign is that they usually don't just give them out, you have to buy them for the camapign, raising money for them in the end. SECONDLY, they are throwing the money usually spent on signs is going to voter registration. KINDA WHY THE VOTER ROLLS FOR NEW DEMOCRATS HAVE GROWN 500% TO NEW REPUBLICANS.

I do my signing with my icons anyways. XP

I did add Palin to my interest list and have my SHOOPIN' LAZOR PALIN icon as the default, so since i post alot that's always at the top of lists when people do Palin interest searches. XD

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[info]decibel45
2008-09-25 01:00 pm UTC (link)
Wow, now that's a great idea. Didn't know that.

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[info]cetan
2008-09-24 04:16 pm UTC (link)
Political candidates are brands. Why do people where Nike shirts or Disney character jackets or practically shove their iphones and ipods in others faces?

"I'm excited about [x] let's share in a collective experience."

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[info]goulo
2008-09-24 05:30 pm UTC (link)
Indeed, one might as well ask "Is anyone really going to buy food at McDonald's because of all the McDonald's advertising?" The answer seems clearly, well, YES, duh. :)

It's just amusing icing on the cake that almost everyone says "Well, advertising doesn't affect me!" Clearly not everyone can be right about that... :)

But I think drfardook's comment above is very valid too - such signs keep the election in people's consciousness, reminding them to vote (and perhaps donate or volunteer for their candidate).

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[info]cetan
2008-09-25 02:03 pm UTC (link)
I think a better analogy would be "if everyone put 'Support McDonald's' signs in their front lawn, would more people buy food at McDonald's?"

The candidates, like McDonald's, have their own advertising campaigns that are indeed designed to sway people (even those that say they're above influences like that).

The signs-in-the-yard phenomenon, like clothing with branding, is the equivalent of a dog pissing on a fire hydrant.

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[info]kevinblanchard
2008-09-24 09:02 pm UTC (link)
Yeah. If I was on a HOA I'd push to have a no sign rule. I'd compromise and say that leading up to the primaries it might be ok to raise awareness. Once both candidates are known I feel all it does it annoy others, push your personal politics on other people who don't care and make your neighborhood look tacky.

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[info]ivo
2008-09-25 01:54 am UTC (link)
I think yard signs are only useful if you know the person living there.
Oh, *Ivo* supports this candidate? I usually respect/reject his opinions so this might pursuade/drive me away from voting for *his* candidate.

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[info]taral
2008-09-25 06:28 pm UTC (link)
4. To proclaim your loyalty to said candidate.

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[info]decibel45
2008-09-25 11:18 pm UTC (link)
To what end?

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[info]taral
2008-09-26 02:29 am UTC (link)
That appears to be its own end for some people. Same reason for flying flags outside their houses, etc.

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