Do you fly a flag to intimidate people?

Question

There was an article in the British press a few days ago about how black nurses feel scared visiting houses flying flags because of the type of people living there. Back in summer, England saw flags popping up on lampposts that many claimed were put up to intimidate.

Now, here in the UK, it's never been common to fly flags on houses. So I'm inclined to agree with the idea they're put up to intimidate, particularly the English flag which has long been associated with racist groups.

But what of America? Where flag flying is very common. Is there really a need to fly a flag, or is it just there to intimate the black folk under the pretence of patriotism?

Chazmatazz269 · Accepted Answer

Nobody displays a flag to intimidate other citizens in the US. I absolutely guarantee that. Some people who consider themselves patriots fly the US flag to intimidate the GOVERNMENT. I absolutely guarantee that as well.
I find it difficult to believe that anyone in the UK flies a flag to intimidate other citizens. You literally have nothing to back it up since relinquishing your rights to firearms. If you are flying a flag that hurts my feelings and i confront you about it, what is the worst that could possibly happen? You pull out a machete and i beat you to the brink of death?
I try my best to take the news coming out of the UK with a few grains of salt. I probably give your posts more weight than i should given your propensity for sarcasm and hyperbole. However, it’s absolutely absurd to me that any percentage of a disarmed populace could be intimidated by a FLAG.
If you put two signs on a property. One suggesting that you don’t own or use any or use firearms of any kind and the other suggesting that you kill everyone who wears blue… i would not be the least bit concerned about dressing in blue from head to toe and standing outside of your house until i was faint from hunger or you proved that the first sign was subterfuge.

Levin · Accepted Answer

I think people fly a British flag because they're sick of their culture being trodden on and systematically dismantled; and the suggestion which you're illustrating that one should somehow in someway be ashamed for being British. It's a protest, one I would argue is a noble one.

They put them up in my town/village a good few months ago, and to my shock and surprise, they're still there. The council haven't torn them down.

Also, playing the victim from certain communities is now getting rather tiresome. No one has any issues with those of different skin colours or immigration in general. They're against mass migration, the sense there is no real border, that people are taking the piss, that they're mostly economic migrants, that people are being let in who despise our culture.

I know, nuance, an elusive thing at the best of times.

FreyaRed · Accepted Answer

You imported those retards now you have to deal with them.
How a official national flag a sigh of white supremacy, don't those people have passports with British coat of arms and flag symbols inside? If they claim to be Brits?

RandomGirl42 · Accepted Answer

Do garden flags count?

molonski2 · Answer

Well for the most part Australia is similar to UK with flags , in Melbourne there are these ( weekly ) protests , and the people with flags and in that group seem to convey a certain message of aggression.
The only time I ever used a flag or flag symbol was in Thailand on 26th Jan for about 2 days on my balcony , I'd never do when here.

US , yeah it's everywhere , as an Aussie , it hits you big time , I haven't read any other answers but I can take a decent guess.

Good question , this flag thing has always interested me.

Lynx122 · Answer

I've never felt the need to put up a flag in my window or any other kind of political message. But I was at a hockey game Switzerland vs Sweden a few weeks ago and they had free swiss flags for the people to create atmosphere and I kept it just as a memento. I stuck it in the radiator lol.

Bricealan · Answer

@purplepoppy As with all of your posts, I like this one but cannot agree with your POV (if it is indeed your POV) that flying an American flag on a home has some hidden intent to intimidate anyone, especially black persons.

I have flown a flag at my home many moons ago, but stopped because the flag always got tangled on the post

AviatorTom · Answer

Perhaps it's the old British vs American English, but here in the US we would use the word "intimidate" instead of "intimate".

And no, we don't fly the American flag to intimidate people. We do it as a sign of patriotism and respect for our country.

There's an American flag flying outside my home every hour of every day, except when it's very windy (it tends to break the pole mount) and we bring it inside until the wind stops.

Iron_Man · Answer

I had a pick up truck I would fly the rebel flag back in my 20s for about a week or so every once in a while I would find it missing but at least they didn’t do damage to my truck there used to be people that would stop and talk to me about it they like that flag, but I also flew the American flag

Hagar88 · Answer

So these black nurses are racist and have unconscious racial bias?
Imagine if a white nurse has Saudi she doesn't feel comfortable with a Pakistani flag or Jamaican flag because of the people who live there. Shed be struck of the nursing registry and the police would be charging her with a hate crime. But thats Keir's Britain.

OneViewpoint · Answer

Say what? I thought you people spoke English Poppy.

in·ti·mate
/ˈin (t) əˌmāt/

verb
past tense: intimated; past participle: intimated

imply or hint.
"he had already intimated that he might not be able to continue"

state or make known.
"Mr. Hutchison has intimated his decision to retire"

Reapous · Answer

It’s the flag of the nation you reside in… if you find the flag of the place you immigrated/fled to as intimidating, then you’ve chosen the wrong place. A bit of nationalism is not a bad thing.

My parents are Brazilian born and raised for generations, decided to move to Canada and are proud to support and raise our flag. It’s not the pride in the nation you’re in. It’s pride in yourself for making it in life to be fortunate to live where you are.

Rangers · Answer

Ugh, shut up, shut up, shut up! Stop apologizing for being British! You have centuries of rich history, you're one of the best countries in the world, be proud of it and wave your flag! Geez, you guys are so self-loathing, do i have to do it for you?

Fine 🇬🇧

You guys are so negative, you have a beautiful country, embrace it

Lament_ · Answer

Nationalism is like a sickness if it's used a weapon against foreigners to intimidate them as this woman was loterally exposed to. True nationalism is the strong patriotic fidelity to your country and being conscious enough for the citizenship.

goaded · Answer

No, and I totally understand why it would be intimidating.

CaptainSmartass · Answer

Nope. We don't have a flag outside our house. A few people in our street do, but they're mainly to do with the local football team. There's one house with a union flag outside, but I assume they're just patriotic.

Simples...

Sparks32 · Answer

Britain is a white country. So I wouldn't have a problem with someone flying a flag that reminds the invaders that it doesn't belong to them.

RavVid · Answer

The Welsh dragon is pretty scary but the English flag is nice and simple and clean looking. Some people are scared of everything.

Alex-Snow · Answer

I find it strange that flying an American flag is a symbol of being a Republican or a patriot but we all are Americans... just with different political opinions.

IamRight · Answer

I don’t fly flags to intimidate people. But there is a very real chance that people who fly rainbow flags, for example during June, has bad intentions.

Staximus · Answer

Only some ultra libtard twat that sucks up radical propaganda would fear the flag of the nation they reside in. There are a lot of black military veterans who fly the flag here.

exitseven · Answer

No, I have been flying an American flag for decades

Mike_Hum · Answer

Shows how retarded women have become if seeing the flag of the country they live in triggers them.

Anonymous · Answer

The only flag I intentionally "fly" is the Christian Flag, from inside the privacy of my home.

(This flag is white, with a blue square in the top left-hand corner, and a red cross inside of the blue square)

Geminiaqua · Answer

yes im gon definitely start wearing flag clothing to put off predators

AngryCarl2 · Answer

Ah yes, the flag shaggers. I feel safer with black people.

beefcakebradybatson · Answer

If you mean "intimidate," why would I?

Jerre · Answer

I always have a U. S. Flag flying because I’m proud of the USA

Amur8711 · Answer

Its not to Intimidate it just to proclaim to everyone they are Patriotic of their country.

Butterfly38142 · Answer

I would fly my flag if they were trying to stop me from doing it in my own country.

pierre7i · Answer

You mean 'intimidate' @purplepoppy, right?

Dargil · Answer

Do flags intimidate you?

Shiprex · Answer

No, it's tacky

Xawyx-2 · Answer

Nope, I never do that.

dougeats · Answer

Only my freak flag heh heh

blackeagle007 · Answer

No because I’m not an attention seeker

Pohjolan · Answer

Only if its a war flag.

robocop666 · Answer

this is insanity

Miristheiss · Answer

I do not fly flags.

Do you fly a flag to intimidate people?

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