Virality Demonstrated

 

   This will be a short post because the information contained within it will soon go 'viral'. Actually I guess it already has, but maybe you missed it because there are so many viral things out there.  It has to do with the "Sign Wars." 

   It was this headline in a major U.S. newspaper that attracted my attention: "How Trash Talking on a Virginia Storefront Sign Led to a Friendly Fight Across the U.S. Canada Border." 

   A fellow in Christianburg, Virginia, probably bored like the rest of us during these pandemic times, put up a sign taunting the business across the road. They weren't even in the same business, it was all just done in fun and to see if anyone would even notice. Well, it did get noticed, even in Listowel, Ontario and a similar war was started there. The sign below is from the Speedy Glass store in Listowel.

 Even the fellows at the fire department got involved. 

Back in Virginia the owner of a steakhouse became aware that Canadians were also involved and "His first sign [ the one at the top] exhibited classic Canadian stereotypes" which is translated into Canadian english here: Canadians Trying to Join the Sign War EHH? You all ride on Elks for Uber Right...Bring it on Ontario!!"

   There you have it and by now probably already know all about it. 

The Bonus:
It is an odd thing that the fine town of Listowel has been mentioned twice in the last year in the U.S. press, given that all of Canada has only shown up there twelve times since 1947. The other mention involves Corey Conners, the golfer, who grew up there and now lives in Florida where he can play golf in the winter and even during the pandemic. 

One does learn from blogging. Although I have passed through and read about Listowel, I only now noticed it is missing an L.

The headline is from the Washington Post, and the author is Sydney Page, May 11, 2021.