Why-vertising: The Political Lawn Sign
August 28, 2008 • 9:32 pm • POSTED BY Jim WallsSorry to disappoint, folks, but your neighbors are not spotting your lawn sign and thinking “You know, I’ve been on the fence about the election. But this name keeps popping up on lawns and bumper stickers. I’m voting for THAT guy.”
More likely they’re thinking one of two things:
“Hmmm. My neighbor appears to be one of the 150 million Americans who support Candidate X. Is ‘Idol’ on tonight?”
or
“I always knew my neighbor was a jackass.”
I was just having a vigorous debate on this subject this weekend. I am very pro political lawn sign, shoulder bag button, bumper sticker, tea cozy, what have you. I actually think it helps create a sense of momentum and optimism if it’s your candidate’s paraphernalia you’re seeing everywhere, or let’s you know you have a lot of work to do if your being bombarded by materials for their opponent. I also think you can’t under estimate the sheep-like mentality of “well, if everybody else is voting for this person, maybe I should, too.” There are a lot more unexpected ways people come to their voting decisions, like videos of the candidate playing basketball, for example (*wink, wink* DC). I’m not saying the scenarios you listed above are not also true, however, I think it will be a sad day when people stop visually displaying their investment in politics, and can’t help but think it would also equate to an even greater lack of voter turn-out.
I guess it’s that “sheep-like mentality” that depresses me most.
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