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What do you think is the best way to get your message across when you’re passionate about something? Are you more of a “shout it from the rooftops” person, or would you rather stand on a street corner silently protesting?

One man who’s made it abundantly clear that audiences can still hear you even if you never open your mouth is Dude With Sign. He’s made a name for himself by being brave enough to stand on the streets of New York holding up cardboard signs that say what we’re all thinking: bread in restaurants should be free! How are there so many podcasts? Stop watching TikToks at full volume in public!

Enjoy scrolling through some of Seth’s most clever signs calling out everyday annoyances, and be sure to upvote the messages you’d be willing to stand on the street promoting.

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Huntress
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Love how there's a person talking on the phone right in the shot lol

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Dude With Sign has been a staple on Instagram for years now. The concept of the account is simple, but it resonates with millions around the globe. The page has amassed an impressive 8 million followers, despite sharing only 388 images. The signs are often complaints about small, petty annoyances such as people bragging about listening to their favorite musicians before they were big or bosses scheduling meetings for things that could have been explained in an email. But one thing’s for sure: followers love them.

The man behind Dude With Sign, who’s always seen wearing sunglasses, is Seth Phillips, a native Texan and now New York local who had no idea this page would ever reach so much success. According to an interview Seth did with Forbes in 2020, the account had very humble beginnings, as the first couple of posts were only created to go on Jerry Media founder Elliot Tebele’s Instagram account. After these pics went viral, however, the men quickly realized they were onto something.   

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Dude With Sign amassed a whopping 4 million followers over the course of only 4 months after it was created, making Seth somewhat famous seemingly overnight. He told Forbes that suddenly the corners he would stand at with signs started filling up within minutes with lots of fans who had their phones out snapping photos. 

“When I'm finished, a lot of people will ask to take pictures with me or videos, which is still something to get used to,” Seth shared. “It's a very strange feeling, but it also kind of cracks me up that people are seeing me as a famous person for holding up cardboard signs.”

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EP
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

He’s happy holding this one up. Has a huge smile. All others he’s all business. This is nice

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As far as where the ideas for Dude With Sign’s new pics come from, Seth shared that his colleagues are a major help. “We work in a pretty funny and creative space so once the account kicked off, more ideas came in from the team,” he told Forbes. “When creating the protests, we try to come up with something funny that is relatable that people don't particularly talk about. We try to have each of these elements while appealing to every type of person, which is a big part of why I think the account has accumulated as many followers as it has.”

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VonBlade
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You can't leave anywhere without making a big song and dance about it. Then you stay there for ages in the hope that someone tells you how much they'll miss you. Then you leave, quietly, and come back a day later.

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PlatinumThe8-BitCat
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You can not trust me to make cookies because I will eat a lot of the cookie dough, last time I made cookies I ate like three or four cookies worth of cookie dough

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Seth has even seen so much success from Dude With Sign that he’s been able to meet Ellen DeGeneres and President Joe Biden. He told Forbes that he wasn’t sure what the future holds, but he’s enjoying the experience of it all. “There are interesting opportunities that I would have never imagined coming my way with this all the time,” Seth shared. “Right now I’m kind of just riding the wave, dipping my toes in different things. Ellen, for example, was something cool that got me really interested in how television works. I’m just learning, doing my best, and meeting awesome people and I’m confident something awesome will come my way.”

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Seth’s signs also sometimes hit heavier topics than simple office drama or annoyances you encounter while walking down the street. In 2021, Dude With Sign got to visit the White House and promote COVID-19 vaccines with none other than President Joe Biden. Seth held up a sign stating, “Let’s Look Out For Each Other And Get Vaccinated.” And Joe stood proudly next to him with a wholesome sign stating, “This Dude Gets It, Folks.”

As far as how Seth manages to get the perfect shots of him with his signs for social media, he told Daquan, “I used to only stand out there for a few minutes just to get the picture, but now I'm out there for way longer... I end up staying out there for a couple of hours, trying to be nice and take pictures with everyone who asks."

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Today, the Dude With Sign account appears to have become quite lucrative as well. Seth has shared sponsored posts for Old Spice, Subway, Vita Coco, Wing Stop, Charmin and more. He even collaborated with Justin Bieber, urging Justin to shave his mustache, to which Justin replied, “No.”  

"I think the craziest thing I'm still wrapping my head around is that Rihanna follows the account," Seth shared. "I actually got to DM her, and she mentioned having ideas for some of the protests.”

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McNugRay
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1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In case anyone else was wondering: “An Irish exit is when you leave a social situation (a party or larger gathering, for example) without saying goodbye to your host or to other guests.”

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jaysko
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This sounds like my boyfriend and me....I'm at 17%!!! Well I'm at 11%!!!!!

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While Seth’s account is mostly spreading silly messages, he has also used the page to address social issues, promoting the Black Lives Matter movement and access to abortion. But he wants to remind followers that even he has no idea where the future of the account will go. “At the end of the day, I'm just a regular dude holding [freaking] cardboard, and it's just an Instagram account." But we thank him for his service (and public service announcements), and I’m sure he won’t run out of ideas for signs any time soon.  

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Red Wyvern Emperor
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I go visit my only remaining grandma every friday and I talked to her just this morning. XD

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Are you feeling inspired to take to the streets with cardboard signs calling out your biggest pet peeves, pandas? Anyone can channel their inner Dude With Sign with just a marker, a box and some confidence. Keep upvoting the pics that you find most relatable, and feel free to share in the comments what you’d like to see written on the next sign. Then, if you’re interested in viewing even more of these pics, be sure to check out Bored Panda’s last Dude With Sign article!

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Michael P (Perthaussieguy)
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I don't visit fast food places very often but when I do, I request 'No ice' in the soda drink. I then get 2 x as much actual drink !

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RosenCranzLives
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm moving to Portugal. 1/3rd the rent of any major city in Canada. ¼ rent from Vancouver or Toronto.

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Em
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Welp, this made me realize I just left my best portable charger with my best friend who I likely won't see again for a month.

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Oscar Gómez
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have never been charged for bread in the Mediterraean and they'd better not start trying to charge.

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arthbach
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Again, no. The two are not the same thing, A person can fail to respond, even whilst caring very deeply about the person they aren't responding to.

GoldfishCrackers
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And on the reverse. Some people are great at timely responses, yet truly don’t give a flying fruitloop.

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Red PANda (she/they)
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Not true! I have ADHD so I’ll see a text and then another notification pops up so I’m like oh I need to do that first and the I forget about the first thing because my short term memory is like that and then I get social anxiety cuz I’ve waited too long to respond and then it’s too awkward to respond now and they’re gonna hate me cuz they’re gonna think this (that I don’t care) when in fact I do very much care but I struggle at remembering things

Stephanie Softich
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

EXACTLY!! I just responded to a comment about going through this agony daily .. with my ADD.. i sometimes cry in panic because these type of things are so very important to me .. to get back .. i value them so much in my life.. I dont feel so alone in this now... thank you for sharing It

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Sarah Danielle
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

nah that's ableist talk. ppl have legit brain disorders dude and we're all trying. cut everyone some slack.

Azolane
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Just no. My best friend is one of the people I care the most for in the world. I would go through hell and back for him. I still ghosted him for months when I was at the very bottom of my depression.

kansasmagic
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I understand this. I wouldn't even say you "ghosted" him, because that implies some sort of active choice on your part. Depression doesn't work that way, especially when it hits hard.

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cerinamroth
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Don't agree. Unless it's just a one-liner, I like to take my time to think about how the person is feeling and why they wrote what they did, think of good advice and write a proper response. But I have kids and while I'm thinking about all that, I might have to go and change a nappy, make the dinner, clean up a sudden spillage, or you know, do my job.

Jul
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I was bad at responding simply bcs it was never about important things, so it quickly turned into not caring about responding. But you better believe I’ll respond to things that can’t wait, like confirming my vet appt for my dogs. Or my wife asking what I want for dinner.

Anya Foxx
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yes I totally want to respond after a massive seizure, which I have frequently.

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Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I can’t even see the screen when I sit in the front row… “hm yes these shoes are very interesting.”

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Huddo's sister
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We never had that as our school (and most in the area) had a uniform. We didn't even but new uniform every year, only if we grew out of the previous uniform.

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Oscar Gómez
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Nope. Amount of icecream in a cone is less than in in a cup. I've been working there.

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Huntress
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Lucky you I guess. Summer is still going strong where I am and I hate this hot weather

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Huddo's sister
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I did, two actually! I was on a 4 week trip and finished the two books I bought. Then I bought another three while I was there and finished both, one entirely on the flight home.

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Kevin J. Henning
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Maybe I'm missing the point of this one. I'm sure Canada would prefer NOT being on fire. They didn't choose to send the smoke to New York just to annoy anyone.

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ConstantlyJon
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You tell people in case you have a heart attack and need people to know where to find the body if you don't show up for a few days.

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PlatinumThe8-BitCat
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I feel like when either the bread is soft or the meat is cold it makes the sandwich taste weird

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Em
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Did this at panda express the other day. "Hey can I get blah blah blah" and moved up while the guy was assembling it because I felt weird just staring at him. Then wondered if that was the right move, because I've worked in retail too long and know that sometimes when a customer moves up, the next person in line assumes it's now Their Turn when the employee is in fact still busy. They gave me a 10% discount (didn't say anything, but it was marked on the box and receipt), so I guess it was the right call.

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Kathryn Baylis
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1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Espresso Martinis? WTF is that? Gin and vermouth in really strong coffee?

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