Parents and Yard Signs about their kids (1 Viewer)

[Godsbrother]

Probably 5-6 years ago parents in our school district began putting signs in their front yards with their kid's names. It started with football players, and then cheerleaders and then other sports teams. And of course they leave them up even in the offseason.

The past few years parents began putting up signs with their high school senior pictures and last spring it had gotten to the point that people are doing it for kindergarten and grade school "graduations".

I find this bizarre but then I am an old guy. Is this normal everywhere now?

 

[bcat01]

Yes

 

[bigbottom]

Pretty normal, though we’ve never participated. In our neighborhood there are also lots of signs with “I got a 5 on [such and such] AP exam!” I have to think GPA and SAT/ACT score signs are next.

 

[dawgtrails]

Probably 5-6 years ago parents in our school district began putting signs in their front yards with their kid's names. It started with football players, and then cheerleaders and then other sports teams. And of course they leave them up even in the offseason.

The past few years parents began putting up signs with their high school senior pictures and last spring it had gotten to the point that people are doing it for kindergarten and grade school "graduations".

I find this bizarre but then I am an old guy. Is this normal everywhere now?

Never seen this before. Your district is weird

 

[Leroy Hoard]

There is one near me that celebrates their high school kid being the team statistician.

 

[bigbottom]

P.S. I think it’s really all just a money-making scam that preys on parents’ inclination to want to brag about their kids.

 

[Uruk-Hai]

The past few years parents began putting up signs with their high school senior pictures

My neighbor did this when their kid graduated HS. That's the only one I've ever noticed for anything (other than a few for births).

 

[bigbottom]

Probably 5-6 years ago parents in our school district began putting signs in their front yards with their kid's names. It started with football players, and then cheerleaders and then other sports teams. And of course they leave them up even in the offseason.

The past few years parents began putting up signs with their high school senior pictures and last spring it had gotten to the point that people are doing it for kindergarten and grade school "graduations".

I find this bizarre but then I am an old guy. Is this normal everywhere now?

Never seen this before. Your district is weird

No signs about a neighbor kid being QB1 on the local varsity team? Football signs are ubiquitous around here. But then again, I live in Texas.

 

[Godsbrother]

P.S. I think it’s really all just a money-making scam that preys on parents’ inclination to want to brag about their kids.

Without a doubt someone is making cash off of this. Originally the signs were home-made but now they are professionally printed

 

[Senor Schmutzig]

Pretty normal, though we’ve never participated. In our neighborhood there are also lots of signs with “I got a 5 on [such and such] AP exam!” I have to think GPA and SAT/ACT score signs are next.

Wat? Seriously?

:insert eye roll here:

 

[NutterButter]

Yes. A few years back, I bragged about my daughter graduating from middle school. 2nd daughter doing the same this year. Can't wait.

 

[Godsbrother]

I'll be a senior citizen in a couple of years and am planning to put up a sign that say's "didn't poop my pants".

until, of course, I do...

 

[RCon]

I'll be a senior citizen in a couple of years and am planning to put up a sign that say's "didn't poop my pants".

until, of course, I do...

You could go with the "X days since last accident" type signs.

 

[Gally]

I think the graduation type signs started during COVID (at least that is when they popped up around here). Since there wasn't going to be an in person graduation they did this to recognize the graduates. It has stuck around though but I have never seen a sign about a standardized test score

 

[NutterButter]

Very wealthy town next to mine puts the college their kid will be attending on their high school graduation signs. I like it b/c I frequently bike through those neighborhoods so the act of passing judgment on the colleges they've chosen helps me pass the time.

 

[HellToupee]

think the graduation type signs started during COVID (at least that is when they popped up around here). Since there wasn't going to be an in person graduation they did this to recognize the graduates

Same here

 

[GordonGekko]

I find this bizarre but then I am an old guy. Is this normal everywhere now?

People scaled up from the "Christmas letters", the one where it's unsolicited and you get a short one sentence holiday greeting, then a print out with a ham fisted photo of their entire family and a point by point update on what's "Been Going On With Family X" for the last year.

I'm from the old school, I don't send letters or postcards or birthday cards or any of that. If I want to make a gesture of goodwill, I'll do it face to face. Or I'll give someone an envelope with some cash in it.

It's unsafe, broad public displays of your children's "accomplishments"

I'm going to move past "intent" for a second and just say that kind of behavior makes children into targets. There are elements of this kind of discussion where I won't go , as those kind of topics are no longer FFA approved, but parents should be vigilant about the safety and security of their children in the modern technical age.

Practical threat assessment on potential harm to children comes in two typical forms - "Saturation" and "access points"

Saturation is a discussion of a threat who has daily access to your child in some communication format and can bombard them over time to normalize their pathology. Access points really is a larger discussion of the information age and basic OP SEC regarding your children's private lives and how multiple public entry points into online interactions become a new form of "living space". Information is power. Information is weaponized. And your children, all of you here, are generally ill suited to defend themselves in that kind of complex technical and speed of information environment.

The majority of today's parents are likely not to be in the practical age range to be "digital natives" They can't see the threat profile because they don't under the rules of this new information game.

No one should live in fear. But children are a specialized case. No one should know more about your children than completely necessary for some practical function.

 

[NutterButter]

People scaled up from the "Christmas letters", the one where it's unsolicited and you get a short one sentence holiday greeting, then a print out with a ham fisted photo of their entire family and a point by point update on what's "Been Going On With Family X" for the last year.

I usually draw penises all over those before returning to sender. Then if they ask me about, I just play dumb pretending like I have no idea what happened.

 

[Gally]

People scaled up from the "Christmas letters", the one where it's unsolicited and you get a short one sentence holiday greeting, then a print out with a ham fisted photo of their entire family and a point by point update on what's "Been Going On With Family X" for the last year.

I'm from the old school, I don't send letters or postcards or birthday cards or any of that. If I want to make a gesture of goodwill, I'll do it face to face. Or I'll give someone an envelope with some cash in it.

It's unsafe, broad public displays of your children's "accomplishments"

I'm going to move past "intent" for a second and just say that kind of behavior makes children into targets. There are elements of this kind of discussion where I won't go , as those kind of topics are no longer FFA approved, but parents should be vigilant about the safety and security of their children in the modern technical age.

Practical threat assessment on potential harm to children comes in two typical forms - "Saturation" and "access points"

Saturation is a discussion of a threat who has daily access to your child in some communication format and can bombard them over time to normalize their pathology. Access points really is a larger discussion of the information age and basic OP SEC regarding your children's private lives and how multiple public entry points into online interactions become a new form of "living space". Information is power. Information is weaponized. And your children, all of you here, are generally ill suited to defend themselves in that kind of complex technical and speed of information environment.

The majority of today's parents are likely not to be in the practical age range to be "digital natives" They can't see the threat profile because they don't under the rules of this new information game.

No one should live in fear. But children are a specialized case. No one should know more about your children than completely necessary for some practical function.

This falls somewhere between the "sky is falling" and "right on point". You have to be careful what you put out there in regard to your kid's information. Many people don't think about what can be done with that information because most of us aren't predators to even imagine nefarious things being done with this information. In general there are more issues with kid's digital footprints than a yard sign saying which college they are going to but all if it is additional information that can be gathered to cause issues for your kid.

Essentially you just need to be diligent about what you put out there. It doesn't mean you can't celebrate accomplishments but it also doesn't mean you need to post your entire life story in your yard either.

 

[scorchy]

Pretty normal, though we’ve never participated. In our neighborhood there are also lots of signs with “I got a 5 on [such and such] AP exam!” I have to think GPA and SAT/ACT score signs are next.

Wat? Seriously?

:insert eye roll here:

Yeah, that's pretty horrible. Our neighborhood only has congratulatory signs during the few weeks before ES/MS/HS graduation and maybe for where a kid is going to college. I wouldn't participate anyway, but I live at the end of a street so the only person seeing signs would be the UPS guy. I do have a few FB friends that post every...single... college acceptance on Facebook - so cringey. I mean, I know a lot of us do that that in the college thread here, but it's a lot more self-contained and a lot less "look at me." Thankfully I've not seen any of the post-acceptance bedroom decorating videos pop up among my acquaintances.

 

[NutterButter]

Thankfully I've not seen any of the post-acceptance bedroom decorating videos pop up among my acquaintances.

What is this now?

 

[rockaction]

This started happening on our block during COVID. I didn't mind it then, and the signs seem to have disappeared for the most part. Ironically, I'm cooler with celebrating a young child's accomplishment more so than an older one's accomplishment. When little Jimmy comes home with the pre-printed sign from class asking you to put it on the lawn like his friends are doing, it's tough to say no. I understand that. And HS graduation is fine by me, too.

But I don't need to know where your kid is going to college or any of that QB1 rot or what have you. That's just bragging. It's gauche.

 

[Phil Elliott]

Common in west/nw burbs of Austin. Seeing band and local dance studio signs too. Lots of similar decals on cars also.

 

[arrow1]

Trend here is huge individual letters that spell out "Happy 1st Birthday _______"

 

[Zow]

As somebody who practices family law and criminal defense, this is a horrible idea solely for your child's safety.

 

[Zow]

I find this bizarre but then I am an old guy. Is this normal everywhere now?

Practical threat assessment on potential harm to children comes in two typical forms - "Saturation" and "access points"

Saturation is a discussion of a threat who has daily access to your child in some communication format and can bombard them over time to normalize their pathology. Access points really is a larger discussion of the information age and basic OP SEC regarding your children's private lives and how multiple public entry points into online interactions become a new form of "living space". Information is power. Information is weaponized. And your children, all of you here, are generally ill suited to defend themselves in that kind of complex technical and speed of information environment.

The majority of today's parents are likely not to be in the practical age range to be "digital natives" They can't see the threat profile because they don't under the rules of this new information game.

No one should live in fear. But children are a specialized case. No one should know more about your children than completely necessary for some practical function.

I tend to agree with most of this.

From a pure cost-benefit analysis standpoint, it's just not worth putting this information out there.

 

[Grace Under Pressure]

From a pure cost-benefit analysis standpoint, it's just not worth putting this information out there.

This is where I am with it. Last year my daughter graduated from elementary school, we put a sign out for a week or so (no names), and I wasn't thrilled about it. Explained to my wife privately "you realize we're basically advertising an elementary school kid lives here, right?".

 

[dawgtrails]

No signs about a neighbor kid being QB1 on the local varsity team? Football signs are ubiquitous around here. But then again, I live in Texas.

Zero. This all seems really weird to me. We see the slow down kids at play signs, and maybe a generic high school sign, but never anything so specific

 

[scorchy]

Thankfully I've not seen any of the post-acceptance bedroom decorating videos pop up among my acquaintances.

What is this now?

Bed Parties - Life has passed me by,

 

[TheMagus]

I have never seen such things in the suburbs of Philly...

 

[General Malaise]

Probably 5-6 years ago parents in our school district began putting signs in their front yards with their kid's names. It started with football players, and then cheerleaders and then other sports teams. And of course they leave them up even in the offseason.

The past few years parents began putting up signs with their high school senior pictures and last spring it had gotten to the point that people are doing it for kindergarten and grade school "graduations".

I find this bizarre but then I am an old guy. Is this normal everywhere now?

I put a graduation sign up in our front yard for both my older boys complete with their picture. Why? Because it is my god given right as their dad to embarrass them a little bit. Plus, I'm f'n proud of them! Those signs cost me $30 (worth every penny and more) and I cannot tell you in words how much happiness they brought me every time I came home and saw them out in my yard. I even left them up until the day they left for college.

 

[scorchy]

As somebody who practices family law and criminal defense, this is a horrible idea solely for your child's safety.

Spoller Alert...


That's how the Trinity Killer was able to kidnap a boy on Dexter. Mom had a mini-van with all the family member names, pet's names, and the sports the kids play. And Dexter is a show famous for its verisimilitude...

 

[HaFo SaFo]

Parents who are proud of their kids are so cringe

 

[scorchy]

Someone in our neighborhood with tons of political signs has one that says "My dog votes Republican." Yay.

ETA: Just to keep me from getting the ax for post something political, I would feel the same way if someone had a "My dog votes Democrat" sign.

 

[General Malaise]

P.S. I think it’s really all just a money-making scam that preys on parents’ inclination to want to brag about their kids.

That's fair. They got $60ish from me, but I am hard pressed to find something I spent a similar amount of money on that brought me as much joy as those yard signs.

 

[Zow]

As somebody who practices family law and criminal defense, this is a horrible idea solely for your child's safety.

Spoller Alert...


That's how the Trinity Killer was able to kidnap a boy on Dexter. Mom had a mini-van with all the family member names, pet's names, and the sports the kids play. And Dexter is a show famous for its verisimilitude...

I can't tell if you're being facetious.

 

[massraider]

I'm simply not sticking a sign in my yard.

 

[Gally]

It is the step up from the bumper sticker days of "My kid is an Honor Roll Student at Cringe Elementary School"

 

[beef]

Why just signs for kids achievements? The solid dump I took yesterday was beyond impressive. I'm thinking about making a mini billboard for this masterpiece of success.

 

[scorchy]

As somebody who practices family law and criminal defense, this is a horrible idea solely for your child's safety.

Spoller Alert...


That's how the Trinity Killer was able to kidnap a boy on Dexter. Mom had a mini-van with all the family member names, pet's names, and the sports the kids play. And Dexter is a show famous for its verisimilitude...

I can't tell if you're being facetious.

Eh, really I just wanted to make a Trinity Killer reference, but whenever I see those things on cars, I wish more parents had watched Dexter. I mean, I'm pretty sure Liam Neeson is single-handedly responsible for making lots of dumb Americans think that going to Europe is an open invitation to get sex-trafficked by Albanians. A shame John Lithgow couldn't do the same for window stickers.

 

[jimmy b]

Working on my “I won my Fantasy Football League Championship” sign
(With full Rooster)

 

[Leroy Hoard]

Trend here is huge individual letters that spell out "Happy 1st Birthday _______"

As if a one year old is going to be able to read that.

 

[nysfl2]

P.S. I think it’s really all just a money-making scam that preys on parents’ inclination to want to brag about their kids.

Without a doubt someone is making cash off of this. Originally the signs were home-made but now they are professionally printed

It's a team fund-raiser, for sure. The team sport and graduation signs are very common around here (Michigan).

Before you get too upset about them, think about how much better (and safer) it is than having the kids going around the neighborhood, knocking on doors, and asking for pop cans or trying to sell you a crappy bucket of popcorn for $30.

 

[SWC]

There is one near me that celebrates their high school kid being the team statistician.

if they are running it right that kid does more for the team than players 10 through 15 on the bench take that to the bank brohan

 

[SWC]

i put up signs for myself although these days life has passed me by and i dont have a lot to be proud of so its the little things like last weeki put up a sign that said swcer changed his underwear and i felt pretty proud about that of course i did not feel proud when it was still up yesterday when i got home and that was last time i had but thats another story for another time take that to the bank brochachos

 

[dawgtrails]

As somebody who practices family law and criminal defense, this is a horrible idea solely for your child's safety.

Can you expand on this?

 

[massraider]

As if a one year old is going to be able to read that.

Hey if they can, that might be worth putting a sign in your yard.

 

[ChiefD]

There is one near me that celebrates their high school kid being the team statistician.

My son's soccer team had a kid who was a statistician for the varsity team. His brother played on the team, and this kid apparently tracked everything and gave the info to the coaches to help with their game planning and such.

At the end-of-year awards ceremony they called him up on stage and and awarded him a varsity letter. It was really cool.

 

[Chemical X]

People scaled up from the "Christmas letters", the one where it's unsolicited and you get a short one sentence holiday greeting, then a print out with a ham fisted photo of their entire family and a point by point update on what's "Been Going On With Family X" for the last year.

I'm from the old school, I don't send letters or postcards or birthday cards or any of that. If I want to make a gesture of goodwill, I'll do it face to face. Or I'll give someone an envelope with some cash in it.

It's unsafe, broad public displays of your children's "accomplishments"

I'm going to move past "intent" for a second and just say that kind of behavior makes children into targets. There are elements of this kind of discussion where I won't go , as those kind of topics are no longer FFA approved, but parents should be vigilant about the safety and security of their children in the modern technical age.

Practical threat assessment on potential harm to children comes in two typical forms - "Saturation" and "access points"

Saturation is a discussion of a threat who has daily access to your child in some communication format and can bombard them over time to normalize their pathology. Access points really is a larger discussion of the information age and basic OP SEC regarding your children's private lives and how multiple public entry points into online interactions become a new form of "living space". Information is power. Information is weaponized. And your children, all of you here, are generally ill suited to defend themselves in that kind of complex technical and speed of information environment.

The majority of today's parents are likely not to be in the practical age range to be "digital natives" They can't see the threat profile because they don't under the rules of this new information game.

No one should live in fear. But children are a specialized case. No one should know more about your children than completely necessary for some practical function.

This falls somewhere between the "sky is falling" and "right on point". You have to be careful what you put out there in regard to your kid's information. Many people don't think about what can be done with that information because most of us aren't predators to even imagine nefarious things being done with this information. In general there are more issues with kid's digital footprints than a yard sign saying which college they are going to but all if it is additional information that can be gathered to cause issues for your kid.

Essentially you just need to be diligent about what you put out there. It doesn't mean you can't celebrate accomplishments but it also doesn't mean you need to post your entire life story in your yard either.

what becomes funny to me is that people are whoring themselves all over facebook, giving up their privacy so we can know everything about them, then transferring this behavior onto their kids…..then when an event occurs that becomes public knowledge, we get the ubiquitous request for privacy during this time. lol. shoulda thought about this before telling me where you live, your kids names and where you are going on vacation.

 

[Neal Cassady]

House I walk by has a sign that says “our son is a black belt”, or something like that. Anyway, I saw a kid mowing the lawn one day, maybe 11 or 12 years old. I went Cosmo Kramer on his punk *** and got him in a full nelson in less than 3 minutes. High tailed it out of there and haven’t made it back to that part of the neighborhood since.

I have no idea if this was “the black belt” son, but I bet they took that damn sign down.