Memorials in car windows?

[Smith]

Just curious as to what the deal is with the memorials folks are putting in their car windows for lost loved ones. Not trying to be disrespectful just curious. Seems like I used to see them in mainly bad neighborhoods in rough looking cars with odd names like "RIP Biggie Big". I just equated it with the shoes on the power lines kinda thing. Latley I'm seeing them all over in all types of vehicles. What's the deal?

[Guest Arko]

I don't know, but it seems tacky to me. I mean, really? Memorialized in vinyl letters on a 95 Escort? Really? That's the best you can do?

[Mike.357]

I think is is disrespectful to do it, but whatever gets someone through the loss of a loved one is okay I guess. Not for me though. Seems kind of trashy, yanno?

[Smith]

Yeah, my question wasn't to beat up on people for their grieving, I was just wondering if there was some pop culture origin or if it was just something that people randomly picked up. I saw it mostly in the black communities then it seemed to be all over. I just find it rather interesting and curious.:-\

[Guest boatme99]

Just curious as to what the deal is with the memorials folks are putting in their car windows for lost loved ones. Not trying to be disrespectful just curious. Seems like I used to see them in mainly bad neighborhoods in rough looking cars with odd names like "RIP Biggie Big". I just equated it with the shoes on the power lines kinda thing. Latley I'm seeing them all over in all types of vehicles. What's the deal?

Just like "memorials" popping up wherever someone dies on a highway.

Slowly turning U.S. into a trashy third world country.

[nightrunner]

The only one I ever saw that was semi-appropriate was a kid (18yrs old) in my town that was a known street racer took a wet corner on a country backroad at 110mph, back end came out and he hit a tree. Died on scene. His best friend put one of those "memorials" on the back glass of his car, kinda small. He is a street racer too, so a tribute to a street racer on a street racers car.

[Guest walkingdeadman]

Yes I think it's very tacky. If you want to pay tribute, then place flowers or some type of memorabilia on ones grave site. Or maybe even make a contibution to a foundation in their name. But stickers on a vehicle...just not appropriate.

[dariks]

The window stickers and roadside crosses have always seemed trashy and pointless to me.

It sucks that you lost a loved one, but If I wanted to read the obituaries I would buy a paper.

[brooksjr]

I guess I will be the odd man out here. I don't think it is trashy or disrespectful. I personally wouldn't do it but it doesn't bother me in the least when someone else does.

[memphismason]

I have wondered about the origin of this trashy memorial myself. First thing I think of when I see one is Construction. Ya know, how a Construction company will advertise on their vehicles. Then once I read them I start shaking my head.

[Jasongar8]

I have one on my truck. It is small and on my back window. All it says is

"In Loving Memory

Bobby Broadrick

1987-2005".

He got killed in a motorcycle wreck the Summer of his sernior year in hs. He was in auto class with me and all of us in there were pretty tight. So all the guys got them made to put on our cars and trucks. It's cool if you guys think its tashy or whatever. All I know is it helped a bunch of young people try to get over the death of their friend.

[Il Duce]

disrespectful here to me as well

[hardknox00001]

I just equated it with the shoes on the power lines kinda thing.

I've always wondered about the shoes on the power lines, what does that mean? I've always figured it was somebody who got bullied and "lost" their shoes.

[Guest Arko]

I have one on my truck. It is small and on my back window. All it says is

"In Loving Memory

Bobby Broadrick

1987-2005".

He got killed in a motorcycle wreck the Summer of his sernior year in hs. He was in auto class with me and all of us in there were pretty tight. So all the guys got them made to put on our cars and trucks. It's cool if you guys think its tashy or whatever. All I know is it helped a bunch of young people try to get over the death of their friend.

Ehh..whatever helps you deal, I guess.

I've seen many that took up most of the back window of an SUV though, and it just seemed weird.

Maybe it's the "In memory of" part. I see that and I think "monument". What's the monument-the car that will be a rusted hunk of crap in 10 years, or sold in 3?

[Mike]

Ehh..whatever helps you deal, I guess.

I've seen many that took up most of the back window of an SUV though, and it just seemed weird.

Maybe it's the "In memory of" part. I see that and I think "monument". What's the monument-the car that will be a rusted hunk of crap in 10 years, or sold in 3?

I second that.

[Jasongar8]

Ehh..whatever helps you deal, I guess.

I've seen many that took up most of the back window of an SUV though, and it just seemed weird.

Maybe it's the "In memory of" part. I see that and I think "monument". What's the monument-the car that will be a rusted hunk of crap in 10 years, or sold in 3?

I'm not gonna get into a big debate about it. Some people go get a tattoo, some people drink themselves silly, and some people turn to Church. Whatever helps you get through it I guess.

[Volzfan]

I guess I will be the odd man out here. I don't think it is trashy or disrespectful. I personally wouldn't do it but it doesn't bother me in the least when someone else does.

I'm with you on this one brooksjr

disrespectful here to me as well

I just don't see any disrespect personally but that is not to say anyone is right or wrong with this. It's more of a personal preference type of thing to me.

They have been around for a pretty good while now but they started showing up a lot more after Dale Earnhardt died and his fans started putting them on their back windows.

I've always wondered about the shoes on the power lines, what does that mean? I've always figured it was somebody who got bullied and "lost" their shoes.

One of the answers that I have heard and a MNPD officer that dealt with Gangs confirmed that it means that drugs are available in the area. That was 3 years ago and the meaning may have changed by now.

[Guest Arko]

I'm not gonna get into a big debate about it. Some people go get a tattoo, some people drink themselves silly, and some people turn to Church. Whatever helps you get through it I guess.

No problem man. To each his own.

I have several of the aforementioned silly tattoos myself...not memorials, but still. Opinions on those run much the same.

[ShaunM]

Only thing that bothers me is when someone spray paints this on a street sign other than that the rest doesn't bother me.

[Guest ADAM]

this ranks up there with your name on the side windows of your car, or your name on your belt.......STOOPID

[Guest 73challenger]

I don't like it either. I hope no one puts my name on the back of their escort.... However I could see it if maybe the person built the car. For example I saw in a a magazine were a guy, I think he was in the military, had a project car and died. His family finished the car the way he wanted it. Now I could see adding something like this to that car.

[memphismason]

Here in Memphis, a lot of our Latino drivers place Large Old English letter on their back glass that spells out their last name. I just figured this new memorial thing was a way to some letters on your back glass too.

I have seen some small ones that look nice. We had a dirt track sprint car driver die in a crash here locally a few years back, and I see some of his memorial stickers around town. They are an image of his sprint car with in memory stuff.

I wouldn't have them on my car as I view them to be tacky, but the things I do have on my vehicle others may same the same about.

Classic case of "To each his own"

[Almond27]

I don't have a problem with the In memory stickers. They aren't trashy I don't like when people put some goofy nickname on there, put the person's real name given to them by their parents. ADAM, I have a belt that was given to me by some of my friends when I was younger with my nickname on it guess I'm STUPID if I wear it. Hmm, might be a new way for me to introduce myself. Hi I'm Josh, and I am stupid for wearing a belt with my nickname.

[Smith]

I've always wondered about the shoes on the power lines, what does that mean? I've always figured it was somebody who got bullied and "lost" their shoes.

I was told in Chicago that when someone was killed you took their shoes and tossed them over the line as a memorial. Probably has more than one meaning.

[Mike.357]

oops double tap

Edited March 5, 2010 by Mike.357