The country is in shambles right now, especially regarding politics. Even people who claim America is great again will likely admit the States has never been more divided than it is now. That said, whether intentionally or unintentionally, one Wisconsin man flies an American flag at his house for all to see, except it’s tattered to shreds. However, his neighbor finds the fact that he leaves it up in that state to be very annoying. So, she has attempted to shame him for it on r/mildlyinfuriating by claiming that the flag “irks her to her core.”
This isn’t a ‘new’ torn-up flag the man put up out of the blue; it’s been flown like this for quite a while. “I have watched this disintegrate over time,” the neighbor remarks, before jokingly asking if she should trespass onto his property just to replace it. One top commenter found the post as a good chance to make a pun: “The good ole Stars and Strips,” they laugh. However, a large majority of other Redditors in the comment section were more serious about what the man could be trying to imply with his flag.
“That flag is in the same shape as its country right now,” points out one commenter. Another chimed in, saying that they also fly a flag in a similar weathered condition, but they leave it up purely for symbolism’s sake. A third said their neighbor flies their flag upside down in protest against the Trump administration. On the flip side, several believe that “Flying no flag shows more patriotism than flying a flag in tatters,” as it would somehow be disrespectful.
Going back to the woman complaining about her neighbor flying his flag, multiple people pointed out that her reaction suggests she’s arrogant and entitled. As one person puts it, “Why run a new flag up his pole when you could just knock on his door and gift him a new flag? Your premise shows you’re mostly an [expletive].” Another person criticized her for putting too much focus on shaming her neighbor rather than talking about the state of the US, to which she replied that her post isn’t political.
“That flag is politics,” a commenter argues. “That’s what a flag represents in the end: a nation and by default its politics.” That said, many find the woman’s petty complaint and negative behavior towards her neighbor discouraging, but could be rectified if she just gifted him a new flag or talked to him about it instead of shaming him on Reddit.
