In the suburbs of New York City, it’s common to see a lot of Teslas on the roads. Many of them sport bumper stickers that seem more like cries for help than decorations.
These stickers seem aimed more at fellow owners than any political foes. Recently, I noticed one that said, “I bought this before Elon went crazy.”
When people can set aside their grievances, maybe we can start enjoying a laugh again.
It’s a curious trend. Tesla owners appear eager to distance themselves from Elon Musk, fearing backlash from fellow liberals, rather than having any actual qualms about the vehicles. There’s a genuine worry of vandalism—like keying or even torching—coming from those who once admired Musk but are now angry at his unpredictability.
With those stickers, they seem to be critiquing government corruption, expressing their allegiance to those opposing Musk for his boldness. Oddly enough, there’s little appreciation for Musk’s ambition to make American taxpayers less burdened.
But it seems that, for many, common sense tells us something like this: if you cut useless spending, you might just keep more profits flowing. Makes sense, right?
The sorts of slogans I’ve seen from Tesla drivers remind me of my early days in Manhattan.
Years ago, the city was dealing with a wave of car break-ins. People would come out in the morning to find windows smashed and radios missing. The problem was so bad, one frustrated owner went as far as to not only remove his radio but also to leave a sign on his dashboard that read “No radio!”
I didn’t own a car back then, so I was somewhat fortunate not to face street parking hassles. My comedic career had me juggling props, and at one point, I ordered a novelty license plate that said “No radio,” complete with that official New York State insignia.
Of course, those humorous touches did little to deter thieves.
However, a friend of mine, Bob Pagani, a comedy writer, turned my misfortune into something amusing.
From tragedy to comedy
One morning, I returned home to New Jersey to find my window smashed and my radio gone. Naturally, Bob was fired up about it. But by the time he crossed the Lincoln Tunnel, he had concocted a quirky plan that turned misfortune into a profit scheme.
He proposed a “charity” aimed at addressing two issues plaguing New York City: homelessness and car vandalism. He named it “Sleeping on the Wheels.”
The concept was simple: a homeless person would sleep in your car overnight for a small fee, ensuring it would be safe from thieves while providing them a warm place to stay.
It was truly a win-win situation.
Bob even created some eye-catching flyers for this scheme, persuading an actor friend to feign homelessness and sleep in a freshly restored vehicle.
Lo and behold, Bob caught the attention of local media, with a TV crew covering it. While they were not laughing, Bob certainly was.
Tensions around Tesla
Maybe it’s time for Tesla owners to adopt a similar lighthearted approach to their frustrations.
Looking back at the era of prank humor that took off with shows like “Candid Camera” in the ’60s, it’s curious how far we’ve strayed. While it seems like innocent pranks have seen a shift toward more serious accusations of victimhood, there’s something refreshing about humor that reminds us to laugh, even at our own expenses.
Perhaps we just need more of that light-hearted humor.
If one day, Americans can put aside their grievances and emotional baggage, we might find pleasure in enjoying a good joke again.
I think that could be interesting, don’t you?
Editor’s Note: A version of this article has been released originally.
