Yellow Pages Ads Featuring "The Fish" Emblem

[arwalden]

Is that the Christian version of the BBB symbol? Are they signaling that they can be trusted because they are Christians? Are they signaling their political affiliation? Are they indicating that they prefer to do business with Christians only? Atheists beware!? Jews keep out!?

I've actually AVOIDED doing business with those folks. (And if their intention was to ward-off evil homos... then it's working for them.)

-- Allen

[Alpharetta]

1. My experience with the fish symbol in commerce

"We'll rip you off in the name of God"

[Alpharetta]

5. I don't look at the Fish as the BBB seal of approval

it's been a mixed bag, actually.

I had a carpenter who put the Fish symbol on the inside of his cabinets as part of his signature. He was good.

But my wife has a mechanic who occasionally tries to rip her off and he proudly displays the fish on his business card. He's damn nice and gives us rides but every now and then he tries to pull a fast one and we end up going a lot further to the dealer to confirm the repairs were unnecessary.

[meegbear]

2. I used to work at the BBB ...

of Eastern Massachusetts and Maine. One of the places that had the most complaints: "Jesus Is Lord Auto Sales".

[Maeve]

22. Oklahoma City had a pawn shop with a big Jesus is Lord sign

Considering that used to ber against Christian ethics, I always found it funny.

Don't know if it's still there--haven't been back since 1986.

[Hello_Kitty]

3. I avoid them too, for the same reasons. n/t

[jukes]

4. i refuse

to do business w/any1 displaying the fish. it's a symbol of fundementalist xians, & i consider them to be as rabidly bent on world destruction as their muslim brethren/opponents.

i detest everything they stand for, especially their hypocracy towards homosexuals.

[sam sarrha]

13. some of these guys feel they can do anything and be forgiven, BUT..

when i was a captive child of Christian fundamentalist extremists, they said that you could call the name of Jesus when you died and still go to Heaven no matter what.

However when people have serious accidents and see it coming they usually just say,.."aw shit!" Ads reported by the FFA as the usual last words of pilots just before they hit hit the ground.

Buddhists on the other hand know that bad deeds stick worse than supper glue for multiple life times... Buddhists are usually serious Conservationists also... if you knew that you were going to have to come back and be reborn into the world.. you don't want to fuck it up.

[ocean girl]

28. Jukes - right on!

Also, they are the most clueless drivers on the road.

[liberalmuse]

6. I try to avoid...

members of the chrome fish cult, even when driving. Sometimes I feel like yelling out the car window, 'Why don't you pray to Jesus and ask him to help you learn to drive?' The chrome fish is a good thing, kind of like a warning to the sane people.

[salvorhardin]

7. Personally, I always look for this symbol

[arwalden]

9. Why? What does it tell you about the business owners...

or the business itself? Does it inspire confidence in their reliability or ethical business practices?

Do Christian workers have better craftsmanship or creativity? Is it an indication of quality?

-- Allen

[salvorhardin]

16. The flying pig tells me

that I'm dealing with an honest business. It says to me, "Look, in no way are you going to get what you paid for, so why don't you just hand over your money now and forget about anything else. Have a nice day."

It works very well for my bank.

[arwalden]

21. The Flying Pig? I Do Not Understand...

what you mean by that.

-- Allen

[MuseRider]

14. Ohhh

I have not seen that one. Time to make a little visit to Evolvefish. I like it. My Evolve Fish got keyed off my truck and I have been meaning to replace it. Love the Flying Pig.

[Burma Jones]

8. Using Christ to Advertise

NOT something of which Jesus approves. The Gospels are rife with references of Jesus smacking these sort of people down.....

[spinbaby]

20. You got it

I patronize a couple of stores run by devout Christians--one is run by Mennonites--and they wouldn't dream of advertising their faith at their place of business. And darn good businesses they are, too. Those that put up the fish aren't good Christians, they're preying on Christians.

[BiggJawn]

10. Yeah, it's a signal...

"You can trust me, I'm a GOOD Christian"...Goes along with efforts to publish a "Christian" Yelow Pages, too.

I avoid businesses that display the Icthys like the Plague. My experience has been that they are just your typical "PREY on you all week, pray FOR you on Wednesday and Sunday" poseurs.

An Icthys is no guarrantee of ethics or competence. It's just a sign of Fundy belief.

[Malva Zebrina]

11. I am always amused

that an omnificient, all powerful god depends upon human beings to advertise him.

[DebinTx]

12. I have to admit

that I've never had much luck with the companies that put their faith on their ads, except my dentist, who displays one in his advertisements. He must be compassionate - he still gives pain killers for root canals!
To me, it's sacrilegious to use that Christian element as a means of drumming up business.

[in_cog_ni_to]

15. I avoid any business that advertises themself as "Christian"

They lose my business. I don't need to know they are a "Christian" company and if they have to tell me they are, I don't trust 'em.

[Bridget Burke]

17. It's a turn-off for me.

I'm not offended by religious symbols themselves. Pictures of St. Martin of Tours often show up in Mexican restaurants & Our Lady of Guadalupe is more popular than Frida. Lord Krishna can be seen at one local convenience store. Another has a spirit shrine--is it Buddhist? I'll ask the guy next time I stop in to buy a beer.

But putting a religious statement in your advertising is a bit cheap.

[lectrobyte]

18. It's a warning sign, WSB explained it this way:

If you're doin' business with a religious son of a bitch, get it in writing. His word isn't worth shit, not with the Good Lord telling him how to fuck you on the deal.

- William S. Burroughs

[Warpy]

23. When I have no alternative but to use a fish business

I have to admit I keep a cynical eye on them. Fundies have given a lot of otherwise decent Christians who use that symbol a bad name by using Paul's loophole. The bad fundies think you can be the most evil, selfish SOB on the face of the earth, but if you have faith, you've got your ticket punched for heaven.

Because there are so many fundies who think that fish gives them permission to lie, cheat and steal, I find it prudent to avoid it whenever possible.

[arwalden]

19. Business Lost: One $5000 Asphalt Driveway,

One $2500 pack-up, short-term storage and move/delivery.
One $1000+ riding mower and garden tractor.
One $1500 big-screen HDTV
About $500 in various landscaping plants, mulch, supplies... purchased from Lowes (extra driving time) instead of a local nursery that's nearby.

That's over $10,000.00 that they had a chance at earning (or giving me an estimate/bid on,) but... because their little fish creeps me out and makes me leery... they lose business.

Or *do* they lose? Even though they lose *my* business, maybe it works for them in the long run? Maybe outside of DU's walls, there ARE significant numbers of people who LITERALLY seek-out this symbol.

-- Allen

[Jacobin]

24. I studiously avoid doing business with those types

Whenever I've had the misfortune of dealing with these creeps, it has ALWAYS turned out bad. Never happy, never satisfied, never want to pay, always glad-handing and praising the lord as they screw you.

They might as well have a "666" sign as far as I'm concerned.

[LeftyChristian]

25. What are the chances

That these businesses are lying about being Christian businesses and their hook is to make the unsuspecting buyer feel more comfortable under the guise that they will be more honest while making it easier to ripoff the customer?

[amazona]

26. Don't do business with them, they will cheat you

Bitter experience has taught me that those who fly the "fish" flag will lie and cheat -- keep in mind, they are "forgiven" so it's OK for them to cheat those who are not saved -- and they do consider Presbyterians (my heritage!) to be unsaved and not of the elect. I've even had a couple fundies tell me so flat out. Maybe sometimes their work is of poor quality because of their poor intelligence -- the average fundy is not as bright as the average mainstream Protestant, sniffs she -- but whether the reason is deliberate short-changing of the customer or just plain idiocy, it isn't matter. The fish means poor service.

You are wise to stay away. In the 70s a friend did argue it meant the person dedicated his work to God and would do a good job but I tested this theory to my satisfaction and it means no such thing. Give me an auto mechanic or an accountant who has his mind on this world and my car/taxes/etc. not on saving my soul.

It is too bad that an ancient holy symbol has been hijacked by the stupid but it is past time for decent people to leave the fish behind. It no longer means what it meant to Paul.

[noonwitch]

27. I think it's more of a signifiar to encourage other christians to shop

or use their services. There is a Christian Yellow Pages in some communities, too, but that also is there to give people resources that are "christian" in nature-like counselors, book stores, etc.

[SiouxJ]

29. Anytime I see that I run the other way

If they are using it to attract their own kind, they aren't going to like me so they would probably end up screwing me. Also I'd rather patronize businesses that don't use their religion as a marketing device and are respectful of others' beliefs.

Jesus would be so proud of them using him as an advertising tool.