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I’ve always assumed this was a variation of the pro police brutality flag that Republicans like. I don’t think I’ve met any non-Republicans with these flag designs.
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Submitted 1 year ago by zelifcam@electricpaper.love to nostupidquestions@lemmy.world
Comments
jg1i@lemmy.world 1 year ago
blanketswithsmallpox@kbin.social 1 year ago
They're flags where you want to say you're Republican but don't want to be blue lives matter is normally how I know it colloquially in practice.
Not quite as bad as the 'Stars and Bars', but I've only seen one type of person wear it. And they're usually diehard exmilitary Republicans that like to shit on Democrats but play plausible deniability when you call them out on it lol.
kersploosh@sh.itjust.works 1 year ago
The meaning depends on the intent of the person displaying that flag.
The innocent option that it’s military cosplay. The US military uses black or gray monochrome flags since red/white/blue is bad for camouflage. Some people think it looks badass, so they mimic it.
The negative option is that it’s a “no quarter” flag.
ImplyingImplications@lemmy.ca 1 year ago
To add to this, the flags OP displayed are all reversed (the stars are in the upper right instead of upper left). That’s common in the military as it represents how a soldier would view the flag as it’s being carried by a flag bearer. It’s military cosplay.
Drop_All_Users@lemmy.world 1 year ago
If a flag is on the right side of your body (or in this case car) then it’s reversed otherwise it’s normal.
The U.S. flag appears backward on military uniforms when worn on the right side, so the canton is assaulting forward. This reflects the image of the American flag flying in the wind, the blue union field always moving forward to symbolize the bravery and commitment of military service members.
FlexibleToast@lemmy.world 1 year ago
That’s not why the starfield is on the other side. The starfield always belongs at the front. If that flag was flying from a pole and being carried by the person or vehicle that’s where the starfield would be and why that’s how it is applied. The flag should be moving forward, not retreating.
dublet@lemmy.world 1 year ago
The negative option is that it’s a “no quarter” flag.
Oh, yikes. biscaynetimes.com/…/the-‘no-quarter’-flag-and-its…
Vendetta9076@sh.itjust.works 1 year ago
A page not found is the scariest thing
fubo@lemmy.world 1 year ago
Yep. You’ll also see a black-and-khaki version that matches the OCP camouflage pattern used on Army and Air Force combat uniforms; sometimes called the “Scorpion flag” because that was the code name for the new camouflage design.
Astroturfed@lemmy.world 1 year ago
Any version of the flag has basically become a racist, nationalist dog whistle. The thin blue line, black and white, upsidedown/backwards ones are the even more extreme folks typically. There’s a slim chance someone with a regular American flag isn’t a nationalist twat.
Billy_Gnosis@lemmy.world 1 year ago
That’s what pisses me off about the Gadsden flag.
The flag has been described as the “most popular symbol of the American revolution”. Its design proclaims an assertive warning of vigilance and willingness to act in defense against coercion. This has led it to be associated with the ideas of individualism and liberty.
These are some of the ideals and what I stand behind. But now the right wing loonies have corrupted it and use it for their own purposes.
Astroturfed@lemmy.world 1 year ago
Ya, that one always cracks me up because it’s the folks bootlicking the police state and our corporate overlords having it displayed.
Intralexical@lemmy.world 1 year ago
There’s a slim chance someone with a regular American flag isn’t a nationalist twat.
Y’all should really reclaim that. It’s a good flag, and it’s supposed to mean some things that are actually quite nice.
Astroturfed@lemmy.world 1 year ago
It’s already too late at this point. Can’t happen anytime soon. Hell, I’m a approaching middle age white guy living in the south, I cant do a buzzcut without getting assuming looks. Wearing or sporting an American flag gets all the wrong kind of attention. I really don’t want to deal with it. Frightening minorities and getting thumbs up/nods from racists isn’t really my thing.
brygphilomena@lemmy.world 1 year ago
Upside down flag means distress, need to be saved ornrescues. Co-opted by idiots saying the nation as a whole is in trouble.
Backwards is actually a normal, proper way to display it if it’s on someone’s right shoulder or the right side of a vehicle. It’s as it would be were it blowing in the wind as the car or person moves forward.
But of course, so few people that put the flag on anything know even the basics of the flag code. Any change to it is disrespectful, such as the blue line. Making clothes out of it is disrespectful. Hell, I had a neighbor who painted it on the bed of his vehicle trailer. He was literally driving and parking vehicles on top of the flag.
bradorsomething@ttrpg.network 1 year ago
Honestly it runs the gambit. I first was seeing them on cop-related stuff in the 90’s, when everyone wanted to wear black things and look “tacticool.” I suppose there’s a segment of the population going for “patriotic, yet edgy,” that gets this stuff. As I get older I tend to view these people as looking for someone to fight, but only if they think they can win.
These people usually live in their own conservative bubble, and the behavior is accepted or rewarded. They usually leave the bubble in groups, so they can reinforce their views with each other when confronted or avoided. But when mixing with general society, they tend to mellow out. Leaving an echo chambers does that.
There are definitely people using it as a dog whistle. Those people will double down, not mellow out. These are your idiots attacking the capital. Fuck those guys.
half_built_pyramids@lemmy.world 1 year ago
looking for someone to fight, but only if they think they can win
Fucking nice, perfect capture
PoetSII@lemmy.world 1 year ago
Fwiw the term is ‘runs the gamut’
Gamut - the complete range or scope of something. “the whole gamut of human emotion”
Jakeuphigh@lemm.ee 1 year ago
I agree with your perspective. FYI - something with many varieties “runs the gamut.” A gambit is a ploy or strategy, a gamut is a spectrum of values.
Frog-Brawler@kbin.social 1 year ago
A lot of the time it's just an attempt to be patriotic and not fuck up the color scheme of the vehicle.
SomeAmateur@sh.itjust.works 1 year ago
There it is, the occam’s razor explanation.
Not everything is political guys. Shitting on confederate battle flags, nazi flags etc? No problem fuck those guys. Flying thin line flags? Cringe, and objections are understandable.
But just an ordinary flag of the country they live in with no crazy message or change other than a neutral color scheme to keep some aesthetics? Leave em be.
Widowmaker_Best_Girl@lemmy.world 1 year ago
It’s so tiresome how much people on Lemmy just want to shit on anyone and anything that vaguely seems like it’s pro-America stuff. It’s exhausting.
Fondots@lemmy.world 1 year ago
AFAIK, the monochrome flag comes from military uniforms, a lot of them have adopted flag patches in monochrome tans and greens to better match the camo of their uniforms. Police have been adopting more “tactical” military style uniforms in black, so black monochrome flags match that color scheme.
You may also notice that some of them have the flag backwards with the stars on the right, that’s another styling cue from the military. The flag patches on uniform shoulders are in that orientation, it’s mean to evoke the image of the flag streaming behind them as they walk.
As far as why civilians display these symbols, there’s probably a few reasons, but it’s probably pretty safe to say that most of them would identify themselves as being patriotic to some extent or another and want to show support for the police and/or military or at least think that the tactical look is cool.
The black version probably caught on mostly because it looks cool and kind of works with whatever color gear or vehicle you want to slap it on, tans and greens and such don’t necessarily go with everything quite so well.
You’ll often see these black flags with a single colored stripe, this originates from the nickname for the police “the thin blue line” (blue because police in the US traditionally usually had blue uniforms) though pretty much every vaguely public-safety/military/law enforcement has their own colored line these days- red for fire, green for military, forest green for park rangers, yellow for tow truck drivers etc.
You could probably write a book about what these lines are meant to represent, how they’re interpreted by different groups, etc. Often they’re meant to represent something like “the line between order and chaos”
Thanks to the blue lives matter response to the black lives matter movement, this sort of imagery has also become very associated with conservative politics
You may occasionally see the flag being flown upside-down. This originated as a distress signal, and is basically people saying that they think the nation is trouble.
I’ve tried to keep this mostly very matter-of-fact and not go off on my personal thought on these types of symbols and the people that display them, and kept it to just where these symbols come from. I’m going to leave my personal opinions with these symbols tend to be used disproportionatly by the right wing, and I do not particularly like the symbols, what they represent, and how they are used.
surewhynotlem@lemmy.world 1 year ago
Patriotic edge-lord. I’m not sure what they believe or stand for, but they are edgy about it.
FlexibleToast@lemmy.world 1 year ago
They think having flag themed everything is patriotic while having never actually read the flag code to know that it isn’t.
edgarallenpwn@lemmy.world 1 year ago
It has to match their Punisher sticker duh
PoetSII@lemmy.world 1 year ago
It means they’re a nationalist twat. Simple question, not worth this much thought.
Tarrasque@lemmy.world 1 year ago
In my experience, it’s mostly a vet/military thing. Rednecks fly the actual confederate battle flag. It could be cop, but they typically fly the thin blue line flag. Subdued/monochrome flags are pretty popular accesories in military and military adjacent communities. If you check out “Grunt Style” you’ll probably see dozens. And enlisted (grunts in particular) tend to skew less educated and are more entrenched in toxic ideals of masculinity, so it’s no surprise to see them acting like fools on the road.
matthew@lemmy.woodward.tech 1 year ago
I have something like this on my Prius. Its just a black flag that doesn’t take up the whole back panel.
It’s just a flag. It has absolutely nothing to do with the civil war and doesnt have any hidden meaning. I didnt want a color flag because it would stand out.
I very much dislike trump, and in no way does the American flag represent him in my interpretation of it. For me, the flag just represents the sacrafice made by military members and the ability of the people to make meaningful changes to our country.
Im also understanding that the flag does not represent that to many people, and does represent an insitution of racism. I just hope those people understand that it doesn’t mean that to me.
Not_Alec_Baldwin@lemmy.world 1 year ago
Anyone that looks at a symbol and assumes what it means to you is an asshole.
People can look at your symbol and be offended, or be reminded of traumatic events (swastika), but humans are fascinating, deep, beautiful and awful creatures and it’s always a bag idea to assume you know why someone else is doing what they are doing.
I DO believe that there’s a correlation between hyper-patriotism and hyper-aggression here right now, but I hope it’s a passing trend.
PM_ME_VINTAGE_30S@lemmy.sdf.org 1 year ago
For me, the flag just represents the sacrafice made by military members and the ability of the people to make meaningful changes to our country.
Then find a symbol that obviously represents that. The flag is the adopted symbol of the empire that spread(s) death and despair to funnel resources and power into the coffers of the bastards on top, all supposedly on our behalf. It is that very flag and those people who blindly serve it that make meaningful change impossible in this country.
I just hope those people understand that it doesn’t mean that to me.
Emphasis mine. Now my opinion (that there is no good reason [1] to display the American flag so long as the flag represents the US government or anyone who serves it) is probably not mainstream, but I think it is a lot closer to the average person’s experience of the flag. Most Americans have been fucked over somehow by our government, and will be for the foreseeable future. Your experience has been okay, and I hope that it continues to be okay for you, but most people are not in that boat.
For many people, myself included, that flag represents death to me, my friends, and several of my family members.
Sorry if I sound jaded, but I really wish people would stop conflating nationalism with affinity for their community. Patriotism is clearly (at least in my view) a nationalist ploy to identify the “will of the nation,” e.g. the goals of the people who run it, with the actual needs of the people who live there. We have nothing in common with the rulers other than that we breathe air.
I beg you to find a different symbol to show your love for the community. I made a comment about how this particular flag isn’t any weirder than any other flag, and I stand by that, but it is still a deeply strange gesture to wear a national flag, and I’m tired of pretending otherwise.
[1] Except for educational purposes, and we could probably find other examples.
magnetosphere@kbin.social 1 year ago
Confederate army soldiers flew the black flag to demonstrate they would not give in or surrender to the enemy. It showed that they would rather be killed than taken in as prisoner.
Fine. Pass the ammo.
Hazdaz@lemmy.world 1 year ago
Someone is reading WAY the fuck too much into this.
It’s just a flag.
The vast, vast, vast majority of people putting on these tacky flags onto their cars are doing it because they might think it looks cool.
PP_BOY_@lemmy.world 1 year ago
Yeah. The monochrome just comes from the fact that they want it to be subtle and blend in with the window. Some states may make full window decals illegal too, which may be why they’re trying to be stealthy. AFAIK there’s no alternative meaning behind the flags other than they look “better” on cars than a colored flag decal.
zaphodb2002@sh.itjust.works 1 year ago
They are a fascist. source: all of my neighbors
Blamemeta@lemm.ee 1 year ago
Its an American flag, it looks cool, and it matches most truck colors.
WookieMunster@kbin.social 1 year ago
It’s the flag of traitors, FTFY
Blamemeta@lemm.ee 1 year ago
I mean yeah, I guess technically America betrayed Britain, but thats the first time Ive seen anyone refer to the American flag as the flag of traitors.
Its not the confederate flag. Honestly, Im kinda confused. Are you a bot or something?
db2@sopuli.xyz 1 year ago
Its an American flag
Is it though?
Blamemeta@lemm.ee 1 year ago
Okay, it represents one, its like a motif or something.
Bye@lemmy.world 1 year ago
I would also like to know. I drive a 4runner and there is a TON of aftermarket parts that have that black flag on them. Rear window stickers, bumpers, decals, cargo organizers, etc. what’s the deal?
SomeAmateur@sh.itjust.works 1 year ago
It’s just saying “murica” without messing with the aesthetics of the car.
You could go full color if the vehicle had red or blue paint but if I’m rocking a bright yellow or something it wouldn’t go well. And you don’t have to worry about colors fading over time.
kent_eh@lemmy.ca 1 year ago
It’s just another example of American performative patriotism.
It has always been a thing (I remember seeing houses with multiple flags back when I visited the US in the late '70s)
It has always seemed very strange. Outside of specific national holidays, you seldom see such blatant literal flag waving in most other countries I’ve visited.
BourneHavoc@lemmy.world 1 year ago
I’m not sure what it means, but I avoid anyone who has any form of flag on their truck/hat/coffee mug, etc. Experience has taught me that the louder, more vocal or self-proclaimed “Patriots” are just ignorant, bigoted blow-hards.
bcoffy@lemmy.world 1 year ago
I actually have one of these on the emergency kit my brother gave me for a car, he put it together in a like military style bag to keep in my trunk and it has a patch on it like that. It’s just a monochromatic version of the American flag, anyone I’ve known who has something like that doesn’t intend anything past that. Like others referenced, modern fatigues and gear in the US Military feature a similar monochromatic flag to that (usually black and the primary color of the uniform, like desert tan or olive drab) to save cost and make it blend in with the uniform better, so I think that popularized that to some degree in culture.
cyborganism@lemmy.ca 1 year ago
teamevil@unilem.org 1 year ago
Traitor or Nazi flag
Vendetta9076@sh.itjust.works 1 year ago
Is that what you think of the American flag? My next question, are you American?
Fubar91@lemmy.ca 1 year ago
Marketing for money based on target audiances.
Trucks abd the like tend to be more appealing to the blue collar work force. Which in the US, your blue collar work force seems to lean more to the conservative side of the political spectrum. Your military is massive comparatively to most places, which bleeds into your culture. And finally some people just like the astetic mixed with USA pride aspect of it.
Correlation doesn’t imply causation. So it could be them supporting the south in the civil war or it could be because they just like a black or blue chrome or w.e american flag that matches their vehicles paint job.
It’s a mix of possible reasons and not eveyone who’s patriotic is an asshole driver. You’ll have to ask the people being assholes with the flag next time.
FuglyDuck@lemmy.world 1 year ago
Trucks abd the like tend to be more appealing to the blue collar work force. Which in the US, your blue collar work force seems to lean more to the conservative side of the political spectrum.
Starting at 60k mrsp, the f150 tremor is not intended for blue collar.
It’s target is moderately wealthy people- usually white, and usually rednecks.
Signed: somebody whose actually blue collar and not that.
Aesthesiaphilia@kbin.social 1 year ago
Also targeted at lower middle class people willing to put the majority of their paycheck towards a truck for 30 years
Fubar91@lemmy.ca 1 year ago
F150 was only referenced as OP posted a F150 tag. Im refering to trucks and utility vehicles in general. You hyper focused on a single aspect there unfortunately and mis-understood my statement as a whole. Though i likely could have expanded on that thought a bit better.
But lets be real for a second and put personal anecdotes aside; trucks and utility vehicles are marketed to blue collar trades folk and labours.
Blamemeta@lemm.ee 1 year ago
It’s almost as if it’s better to get to know the person than to make rash judgments based on what you read on the internet.
PM_ME_VINTAGE_30S@lemmy.sdf.org 1 year ago
Pretty sure it’s just an ordinary “low-key” American flag design modified to fit in with the existing color scheme. The ordinary red, white, and blue flag doesn’t match well with some (
anymost) color schemes. IMO it’s only as weird as pasting an ordinary American flag to your car…which is weird, tacky, and seemingly endorsing American imperialism in any capacity, but not particularly abnormal (unfortunately).c0mbatbag3l@lemmy.world 1 year ago
Well, I find it hard to believe that the south was flying the flag of their direct enemy, though they might have had a version of the Confederate flag I suppose.
Mostly it’s just self proclaimed patriots, the majority of whom never served and the ones that did are usually not combat veterans but will tell you all about how they definitely went to BUD/S and totally would have been a SEAL except they got medically separated, etc.
Or, they just like the flag in general as an aesthetic. It doesn’t have to have a special meaning necessarily.
moistclump@lemmy.world 1 year ago
I feel like there’s minimal overlap between the people who drive these trucks with these flags and the people on Lemmy…
Might not be askin in the right place. Or in the place where you’re gonna get a real answer.
When in doubt, I always assume people don’t really think that deeply about it. Their brain was probably like “Truck. Flag. Cool.”
jscummy@sh.itjust.works 1 year ago
I don’t see any reason to think there’s a deeper meaning. There’s a lot of overlap between aggressive truck or muscle car drivers and people who like plastering the flag everywhere. Some of them have enough sense to go somewhat subtle with a monochrome version.