Support This: The Ribbon "Craze" in Overdrive

Ribbons, ribbons, when will the madness end?! (Read the rest of the intro if you want the background on this piece...or merely skip to the pics, if you're more of a short-attention span type.)

The pink breast cancer ribbons, those varying forms of "support our troops" ribbons, "bring our troops home" and other ribbons along the same lines that came out initially have genuine and respected purposes. They're a way of supporting a cause, a cure or of contributing in some small way to a cause, a cure or to the hopes of making a serious difference by proudly displaying such sentiments. That's all well and good. I get that, and most of you probably do, too.

However, when you see the backs of vehicles littered with 10 to 15 ribbons or so...at some point, it's a bit redundant and overdone. There's helping a cause and making a difference, and then there's just plain obnoxious annoyances and eyesores. (And with all those ribbons on the vehicle, it's probably an accident-in-waiting, too. How often have you been distracted by them, or seen curious onlookers try to read the print on the ribbons while stuck in heavy traffic?) Whether it's the same ribbon or sentiment over and over again or 10 different ribbons, it's still a bit overdone.

As always, once some others see one of the "latest, greatest" fads, in jump the capitalists commercializing to the extreme things that dumb down the whole ribbon "movement."  No longer are people just supporting serious causes or making strong ethical, moral or personal statements with their ribbons. In addition to those overdoing the number of ribbons on their vehicles, you also have ribbons such as, "Support Youth Soccer."

Okay, I'm all for youth sports and activities, but come on. Since when has "youth soccer" been a disease, a serious social issue or a huge point of political contention? If you want to support youth soccer, donate money to the teams, coach teams and/or encourage kids to join the teams! But buy a ribbon to slap on the back of your vehicle as if that is somehow as altruistic and important as supporting a cure for cancer? I don't think so.

So, with that said, it's that sort of capitalist commercialism that spawned my ideas for the next wave of the ribbon craze. May as well take the commercialism to the next level down and make ribbons for nearly anything. After all, if you're willing to pay for it, there's always at least 10 capitalists standing in line, waiting to take your money!

Be sure to view all the ribbon pics below. These are not in best to worst or worst to best order. There are gemstones throughout the page.

(And whatever you do, don't miss the "logging" ribbon!)

|   Like the above? Check out more... Just for Fun   |