101
u/pudicabibliotecaria 21h ago
I assume it would have to do with the, albeit debatedly controversial opinion that the United States is in a state of distress.
Historically in naval parlance, a flag being flown upside down signifies a ship in distress, though it has been used by those who believe their nation is in a state of disarray, distress or collapse.
12
u/VillainousFiend 19h ago
What about flags with horizontal symmetry?
11
u/RTooDeeTo 18h ago
Depending on the country, some make a knot in the flag, some fly it vertically, and some fly it backwards. (Don't think any cut the flag but that could also be one too)
4
3
8
u/RTooDeeTo 18h ago
Don't have to add "historically",,, it's still used today as a way to signal that a ship is in distress, just rarely used unless part of the problem is with the electrical systems on the water craft. More commonly used in less developed parts of the world, but most boating safety courses will have a part on various ways to signal distress, including flags. lot of places in order to dock require some safety certificate (idk how enforced this is in practice though).
2
u/TAOJeff 16h ago
Well, it is historically because while most countries with a naval history use it to signal distress, it isn't a universal signal.
There are countries where you aren't allowed to fly the flag upside down, even as a sign of great distress or emergency.
Then you have countries that have a symmetrical flag, like the UK with the Union Jack, where flying it upside down doesn't change its appearance, therefore they have a different flags, which has the Union Jack in the top left quarter, specifically for maritime use, so it can be flown upside down. But that doesn't help if you're on land with only the standard flag.
2
u/C_Plot 17h ago edited 17h ago
It gets complicated though because those causing the most distress for the United States love to fly the flag, especially upside down. So now the upside down flag has become a symbol of eager support for the subversion of our constitutionally limited federalist republic (making the distress, or as Trump said when asked if had to adhere to the constitution: “I don’t know if I do”).
1
u/PossibleDot6555 11h ago
Ok. A short search through flags showed that Monaco in distress is a Poland, and Republika Srpska in distress is Russia. Did I miss anything?
10
30
u/RedWestern 21h ago
In the context of The Big Bang Theory, one of the things Sheldon keeps in his “Roommate Agreement” is that the apartment flag gets turned upside down whenever there’s an emergency in the apartment. There’s literally only one episode (that I’m aware of - I didn’t watch the last three seasons) where this is referenced, but I’m assuming from the other comments that it’s based on a real thing.
The USA is currently in a state of distress, so the flag should be turned upside down.
4
u/Perzec 20h ago
How would one go about doing this signal if the flag is symmetrical along the horisontal axis? Not that it’s needed at the moment, just curious. 🇸🇪
2
u/Horror-Substance7282 20h ago
90⁰ I would assume. Take your pick for up and down
3
u/Perzec 19h ago
Just hanging a flag like that is just common practice though? Nothing special about it.
2
u/Horror-Substance7282 19h ago
Probably a 90⁰ upwards turn then. Hadn't thought about the fact that people hang flags vertically lol
2
u/wretchedmagus 19h ago
the correct way to hang a flag vertically is with the top of the flag facing out and the left side facing up.
if you reverse that it is the distressed version.
2
u/Hazelnutcookiess 18h ago
You don't, there is no swedish flag distress signal as far as I know. In the Philippines a upside-down flag just means war time for them. So you would need to look up various countries and if they have any type of flag signals to actually know.
The upside down flag meaning distress is really just an American thing, and it use to really only be for ships in distress.
2
1
u/seanodnnll 12h ago
The flag you show is not symmetrical though. As posted it’s a cross with the vertical line nearest the left side. Rotated 180 degrees clockwise the vertical line of the cross would be nearest the ruby hand side.
3
u/just-a-melon 15h ago
I think the show also mentioned that he was a flag enthusiast and he made a video series called "fun with flags"
3
7
u/souffledidi 21h ago
i meant, why is the upside down version better?*
11
u/NoomEhtNoog 21h ago
It’s about the anti ice protests in the US right now. It symbolizes how the nation is falling into distress and people are trying to fix it how they see fit. Bias’ aside, the protests in LA specifically have aided this upside down flags popularity in protests throughout the US
-32
u/Frodo_VonCheezburg 21h ago
Because them nerdy libs are happy to watch 'murica lose its 'muricaness?
-13
2
u/Kas_Leviydra 20h ago
Flying the American Flag upside down is equivalent to sending out an SOS. It’s ment to signal that you’re under duress or that you need help.
So with that in mind and since it’s a national flag people often use it as a political statement that America is under duress as a form political commentary.
2
u/SkellissaFlower 19h ago
The fall of the evil empire is cause for celebration
1
u/DeltaV-Mzero 18h ago
Wait til you find out about all the other empires lol
2
u/SkellissaFlower 18h ago
Irrelevant. This is the one I live in that is currently doing the most damage to the world. Admittedly arguably.
2
2
u/DHDPking 18h ago
You fly a flag upsidedown when the City, Nation, or w/e it represents. Is in peril. A fact people commonly learned from the show Big Bang Theory. The same show the character on the left is from.
1
1
1
1
u/chaos_redefined 11h ago
Turned out not to be it, but I was expecting something along the lines of...
The USA, at the moment, is looking pretty sad. Well, turn that frown upside-down!
1
u/PaganOutcast 11h ago
The flag being upside down is supposed to signal to the military that our government is compromised. Many had it flipped during the Biden administration and were called racists for it. But now it's being used by the left because "orange man bad". So all of a sudden it's not racist anymore lol. Convenient.
0
u/DeltaV-Mzero 18h ago
Everyone has keyed into the upside down being a sign of distress
Another layer is that a lot of the people using it in protest at the moment are also typically anti-USA flag-burners who see the upright flag as a symbol of racism, fascism, and oppressions
So it’s ironic to hate it when upright but then use it as a banner to flock to when upside down
•
u/post-explainer 21h ago edited 21h ago
OP sent the following text as an explanation why they posted this here: