If you hadn't noticed, America has entered "political silly season," the breathless final stretch before the midterms when candidates scramble for votes, and the rhetoric gets louder, the elbows sharper and the stunts harder to ignore.
The signs are clear as day. And some of them are not so nice.
For Block Talk, Patch's exclusive neighborhood etiquette column, we asked readers where political expression crosses the line, what neighbors should do when it does, and whether people posting signs should consider the children and others who will see them.
Their responses were more civil than some of the signs.
Most respondents to our informal survey drew a clear line between ordinary political expression and signs containing profanity, hate symbols or threats. Even some who defended a neighbor's right to display offensive messages said free speech and good manners are separate matters: A sign may be legal and still be crude, intimidating or poisonous to neighborhood relationships, they said.
Talking directly to the neighbor was the most common first step, although some readers said they would contact an HOA or local official, put up a positive counter-message, or simply let it go. Many said people should consider the children and other neighbors who will see a sign placed in public view; others said parents should explain objectionable messages rather than expect the neighborhood to hide them.
Political speech loses First Amendment protection when it crosses into specific, narrow legal exceptions like incitement, true threats, or defamation, including false statements presented as fact that intentionally harm an individual's reputation. But because it enjoys the highest level of constitutional protection, winning a defamation lawsuit over a yard sign is extremely difficult.
"The First Amendment is not an arbiter of good taste or manners," said Bob, who reads Greenwich (Connecticut) Patch and Scarsdale (New York) Patch.
"The best thing we have in our country is our First Amendment rights," Bob said. "If political speech is offensive to some, they can move to China or Russia and see how they like that."
Newport (Rhode Island) Patch reader Maureen said she's willing to put up with the discomfort some political sign may cause because of what's at stake. She said it is unfortunate that some people feel they need to use profanities to make their point but that "freedom of speech will always trump feelings."
"Would I want to deal with next door? Nope, but I'd put up with it because I know how important free speech is," she said. "We can't go through life worrying about what other people think about your opinions."
Such messages are an opportunity for parents to talk about what the First Amendment really means, Maureen said.
"It's up to each individual to parent their own children and explain things to them that might be uncomfortable. Life isn't always perfect," she said. "I, for one, wouldn't want to live in a world where you have to wrap your kids up in bubble wrap so their feelings never get hurt. How else are they going to form their own conclusions and morals? It's through learning from such situations."
A St. Charles (Illinois) Patch reader called politics "a blood sport" where boundaries count for little.
Parents play a crucial role in helping children process these messages by discussing First Amendment protections, the reader said. They should explain that "people died for the freedoms we have in this country" and emphasize that once our rights are eroded, they risk being diluted or lost completely.
"They display a sign because they want you to see it. They use offensive or inflammatory images or language to make a point or to upset. Silence and ignoring them works far better than taking the bait," the reader said. "I would explain to kids the importance of free speech and ask that they pray that person finds other ways to express themself, but that person has a right to express their beliefs in any way they see fit unless they use their words to threaten someone."
"Every adult has a responsibility to be 'that example for good' to all children and mankind," said Waukesha (Wisconsin) Patch reader Cathy.
"A person who reverts to slang and hurtful words is just looking for an argument or is not intelligent enough to know that logic and calm conversation have a better chance of convincing a person," she said. "Profanity and hate symbols do not effectively convince anyone. There are many other words to use that work better."
"If your political party needs profanity and hate symbols (even unsponsored) from their supporters, they should have already lost," said West Hartford (Connecticut) Patch reader Gabriel.
When Gabriel encounters a flag or sign bearing symbols tied to historic atrocities — such as a swastika — targeted at people purely because of their religion and culture, he unapologetically steps up.
"If a neighbor's sign has a hate symbol, I destroy it," he said. "My grandfather was a naval gunner on Omaha Beach; fighting Nazis by destroying fiberboard is the least I could do."
Marlton (New Jersey) Patch AM reader David K. isn't too worried that kids will be harmed by constitutionally protected political signs that cross the line of good taste.
"I think kids instinctively know that lawn signs are stupid," he said.
And adults need to stop being emotional about them, several readers said.
"Grow out of your fragility, everyone," said Martinez (California) Patch reader Pat.
"Let's remember, offense is never given. Offense is always taken. Nothing is objectively offensive if nobody has taken offense. If someone allows themselves to take offense at a political statement, then the offense is subjective, not objective," Pat said. "Heal thyself first."
With political polarization running high, that's easier pledged than accomplished, some readers said. Social media algorithms that reward outrage have given it a megaphone. Add deepfakes, bot-generated misinformation and manipulated images to the mix, and even agreeing on what's real can become a neighborhood argument.
"Keep your opinions to yourself unless you're at a rally or maybe a bumper sticker. But displaying it in the yard, just for rage bait, is not cool," said Gloucester Township (New Jersey) Patch reader J-Jay. "I can't see any other reason to put something aggressive or offensive in your yard unless it's to insult or elicit responses from others that do not agree with you."
J-Jay was among readers who think political yard signs are more annoying than useful to the candidate.
"I don't understand the purpose of it anyway. Is it to show support to other people so they can say, 'Yay, they're on my team (political party),' or is it to say, 'If you don't like my team, this is your sign to stay away'? It can cause folks to be uncomfortable in their own homes."
Steve, a Palatine (Illinois) Patch reader, doesn't think political yard signs move the needle much for candidates.
"I doubt anyone has ever changed their vote or opinion because of someone's lawn sign, so what's the point of putting them there in the first place?" he said.
Concord (New Hampshire) Patch reader Frank prefers stripped-down campaign signs with the candidate's name and little else. Moreover, "political campaigning should be limited to 60 days prior to election day," he said.
"If that is not enough time for a candidate to make their positions on the issues clear to voters, then they shouldn't be running for office," Frank said.
Some readers said limits should be placed on how many yard signs can be displayed on an individual lawn, but that suggestion irks Greater Alexandria (Virginia) Patch reader Marjorie.
"Apathy in civic life is the real problem, not engagement," Marjorie said. "You should let people post all views. If anything, Alexandria restricts its citizens' rights to have multiple or large signs on private property."
Advocating violence against opponents or their families, organizing groups to intimidate them, or threatening to use weapons against perceived political rivals crosses the line, said Bloomfield-Bloomfield Hills (Michigan) Patch reader Cocacola, who lives near a community that saw an attack on a synagogue that authorities said was inspired by hate.
Talking to the neighbor may not do much good, the reader said. If a face-to-face discussion fails or doesn't seem safe to pursue, "advance it to the HOA, then up the chain of command — local government, police, FBI, Secret Service or similar," Cocacola said.
"I wish I could talk to the neighbors, but I never have, for fear of retaliation," said Ocean City (New Jersey) Patch Judy. "I have let it go but regret that I feel the need to do so without talking to the neighbors."
That's probably for the best, said Lake Elsinore-Wildomar (California) Patch reader Maureen.
"A neighbor displaying offensive messages is likely not a reasonable person to begin with," Maureen said. "It is doubtful talking to them would bring about a positive effect."
She complained to her HOA and local officials about a neighbor's "F*** a particular candidate" flag.
"They told me there was nothing that could be done," she said. "That flag flew — in a family neighborhood with young children — until it became so tattered they finally took it down.
"Rather than stoop to their low level, we put up a flag with a counter message of love, kindness, and unity," she said.
Al, a Haverford-Havertown (Pennsylvania) Patch reader, said a similar flag flew on a neighbor's porch for several months.
"This is a street with several school-age children and older students who walk past the house daily," Al said.
When informed of the sign, local officials dismissed complaints, saying the message on the flag was protected by the First Amendment. But "common decency" should count for something, he said.
"There have always been political differences and always will be," Al said. "Today's political climate allows this kind of behavior to be permissible. It's obvious the children weren't a consideration."
"There's a level of 'I do what I want' and 'make me' in the world these days that is dissolving the sense of community," said Livermore (California) Patch reader Manda. "Yes, we have the right to express ourselves and do with our property as we see fit (unless you have an HOA, which means you've agreed to follow a number of rules), but you don't have to be crude about it."
Political signs may not sway an election, but they can tell neighbors when it may be best to keep their distance, said Karen, who reads West Islip (New York) Patch.
"Offensive and violent language is where I draw the line," Karen said. "If a neighbor is placing offensive signs in their yard, I do not want anything to do with them. They've broken the social contract. I would cut ties with that person."
Free speech is a right, but freedom from consequences is not, said Tredyffrin-Easttown (Pennsylvania) Patch reader Jeff. What people think or say in their own homes is nobody else's business, Jeff said, but putting those thoughts on a sign makes them everyone's business.
"Even if what they're doing is perfectly legal, people who display offensive signs deserve to know their community doesn't cosign hate and that it affects neighbors' view of them," Jeff said.
"Everyone in this community displaying offensive signs should know their neighbors are worried about them because they seem unwell," he continued. "They're not inspiring critical thought; they're inspiring concern about whether they should be behind the wheel and who their next of kin and medical providers are."
Block Talk is an exclusive Patch series on neighborhood etiquette — and readers provide the answers. If you have a topic you'd like us to consider, email beth.dalbey@patch.com with "Block Talk" as the subject line.
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