Dear Urban Diplomat: How do I get my girlfriend to remove her controversial bumper sticker?
Our car has been pretty seriously vandalized twice in the few weeks since my girlfriend stuck a pro-choice sticker on the bumper. I’m all for free speech, and we agree on the issue, but I don’t want our ride to get keyed every weekend. How can I convince her not to use our car as a soapbox?
—Sticker Shock, North York
When it comes to adorning communal property—homes, vehicles, toddlers—both parties should get veto power. She despises lawn gnomes? Get those pointy-hatted monstrosities off your grass. Same deal with a bumper. Explain that any slogans that get slapped on the back of your car should have bipartisan support. If invoking a sense of fairness doesn’t sway her, appeal to her inner activist instead. Point out that the money you’re blowing on repairs—cash you could keep if the sticker were gone—would be better spent supporting a group championing the cause.
Send your questions to the Urban Diplomat at urbandiplomat@torontolife.com
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