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I'm moving to Austin this summer and am hereforth on a quest to collect all the "Keep ______ Weird" bumperstickers I can for my car!
Anyone willing to help me in my quest?
So far I've heard there are Keep _____ Weird Campaigns in:
Madison, WI
Ashville, NC
Santa Cruz, CA?
Portland, OR?
Boulder, CO?
Hmmmm....any that I'm missing?
and...
Isn't it ironic that the "Keep Austin Weird" slogan has been trademarked and made someone (Outhouse Designs) a lot of money?
Also that there's soo many cities wanting to be weird.
What does this say about the American Psyche?
hmmmm....
The idea of conforming to the "norm" is disconcerting to many because usually this requires giving up one's identity or individuality. Most of the places that have these campaigns I believe are attempts to stop or slowdown the gentrification of their respective cities. Much of it has merit but some of the reasoning is thinly veiled attempts by ex-hippies/ hipsters to stop the aging process. They call it yuppification, I call it growing up and becoming adults.
It's good to keep the free market flowing by supporting local businesses....keeping chains from getting too big and squashing competitors...but how many dollar bumperstickers do you have to buy to really make a difference?
It's become an easy cop-out.
Even my racist brother-in-law who lives in Houston and calls people 'darkies' has a "Keep Austin Weird" coffeemug.
so far I got:
Portland, OR (confirmed)
Knoxville (not confirmed)
Louisville (confirmed)
Asheville (confirmed)
Madison (not confirmed)
Santa Cruz (not yet confirmed)
and of course Austin
It's good to keep the free market flowing by supporting local businesses....keeping chains from getting too big and squashing competitors...but how many dollar bumperstickers do you have to buy to really make a difference?
It's become an easy cop-out.
Even my racist brother-in-law who lives in Houston and calls people 'darkies' has a "Keep Austin Weird" coffeemug.
so far I got:
Portland, OR (confirmed)
Knoxville (not confirmed)
Louisville (confirmed)
Asheville (confirmed)
Madison (not confirmed)
Santa Cruz (not yet confirmed)
and of course Austin
It's ironic that the proliferation of Keep ____ Weird slogans has the opposite intended effect. It commercializes and mainstreams the "vibe" of the city. Just think if every city had a Keep ____ Weird slogan that they could plaster on all manner of retail goodies.
Keep Omaha Weird.
Keep Rochester Weird.
Keep Trenton Weird.
Keep Ft. Lauderdale Weird.
Keep Scranton Wilkes-Barre Weird.
Keep Washington DC Weird.
and on and on and on...
It's ironic that the proliferation of Keep ____ Weird slogans has the opposite intended effect. It commercializes and mainstreams the "vibe" of the city. Just think if every city had a Keep ____ Weird slogan that they could plaster on all manner of retail goodies.
Keep Omaha Weird.
Keep Rochester Weird.
Keep Trenton Weird.
Keep Ft. Lauderdale Weird.
Keep Scranton Wilkes-Barre Weird.
Keep Washington DC Weird.
and on and on and on...
But every city DOESNT have this title. Only the mid sized cities that IMO are by far the coolest in the country, and the most eclectic and vehemently local in every way.
I've been in Madison for a year and a half and have yet to hear about this campaign or see any bumper stickers.
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