What is the BS Flag?

Good question! Like Al Gore or a ballpark frank, the BS Flag is more than it appears to be. At first glance, you might think the BS Flag is no more than a referee flag with cheap screen printing. If you look closer, you’ll notice the “mystery” filling that anchors the flag’s center and allows it to be lobbed even farther than a dirty sock.

But the true nature of the BS Flag is much more elusive. It’s an ice-breaker with an ugly blind date. It’s a conversation starter when you’re asking for an overdue raise. It’s a harmless political message sent to your elected representative with a note that says “Keep up the good work!”

Even better – it’s like chaining yourself to a 10,000-year old redwood tree to save it from evil loggers! Wait! It’s like the movie “Scarface” where Al Pacino says “Say hello to my leetle friend!” – only instead of a submachine gun your little friend is a BS Flag, and instead of bullets you use words to make your point!

Ok, maybe not that last one…

What should I do with the BS Flag?
The BS Flag is not meant to be a load-bearing projectile, a dueling glove, a weapon of mass destruction, cannon fodder, or a replacement for cloth diapers. Otherwise, you can pretty much do what you want with it. Most people throw it at someone (or something) that bugs them.

Just make sure whomever you throw the BS Flag at knows why you’re doing it and what it means. We can’t stress this enough. The point of throwing the BS Flag is to enable you to speak up and hopefully resolve an issue. So not telling someone why you flagged them or what it means to be flagged is wrong, and stupid, and not likely to achieve anything unless your goal is to be an annoying jerk.

When should I throw the BS Flag?
If you see, hear, taste, touch, smell, or psychically perceive something you think is wrong, throw the BS Flag. Literally, figuratively, it doesn’t matter. What matters is that you throw it and get the problem out in the open. You can’t ignore it anymore. They can’t ignore it anymore. A dialogue ensues. If you’re lucky, you come up with a solution together. At the very least, you’ve taken a crack at denial, apathy, fear – whatever it is that keeps you from speaking up.

Need more ideas about when to throw the BS Flag? See BS in the News.

What’s the recommended way to throw the BS Flag?

Although there is no wrong way to throw the BS Flag, our intellectually advanced team of researchers has developed a list of methods that offer the “most opportune manner in which to launch a BS Flag such that its intended target is unequivocally and beyond a shadow of a doubt chastised for said offense” – statistically speaking, of course.

Method 2 - Hold one corner of the BS Flag and fling it (better for shorter distances, or group flagging where you don’t really care who it hits).

Method 3 - Toss it up in the air and catch it (use when you are close enough to the person to make direct eye contact and your unrelenting glare tells them exactly what they did to get flagged).

Method 4 - Hold the BS Flag by two corners and display it in the general direction of the person/people you want to flag (this “talk to the flag” method can be used as a less disruptive alternative to Method 3, or in areas where noise is prohibited such as libraries, movie theaters and churches.)

Method 5 - Hold the BS Flag and wave it around (recommended for large public gatherings, such as sporting events and meetings of Congress, where tossing the flag may cause you to lose it and/or be escorted out by security).

Are there any rules of etiquette I should use when throwing the BS Flag?

Why, how nice of you to ask! (Your troop called, they want their Scout back…) But since you asked, we feel obliged to share a few pointers that may make your BS Flag throwing more acceptable in polite company. If you throw the BS Flag:

• Throw the BS Flag, not its more profane cousin (which, incidentally, is also available here for anyone over 18). Personally, we prefer cousin potty-mouth, but then again, we’re kind of naughty.
  
• You must explain why you flagged the person. Otherwise, the BS Flag fairies will sneak in at night, steal your BS Flag and replace it with a flaming bag of bull pucky. (We are not kidding.)
  
• Be sensitive to feelings. If the person you wish to flag is crying, or is visibly angry or distraught, you may want to flag them when they’re not looking.
  
• Flagging “in absentia” is acceptable as long as you leave a note explaining the nature of the offense.
  
• Flagging “en masse” is also acceptable as long as you can see the look on the person’s face when they see a dozen BS Flags covering their desk, car, dirty laundry pile, front lawn, etc.
  
• If you use your BS Flag as a handkerchief, for goodness sake, rinse it out before tossing it at someone else.
  

What if someone throws the BS Flag at me?

If you get hit with a BS Flag, you may be understandably sad, confused, upset or in denial about having just been flagged (thinking, of course, that your sh*t doesn’t stink). Please be assured, it does – at least some of the time. So does everyone else’s. That’s why we’re selling these things! But we digress…if you are flagged, we recommend that you take a deep breath and try to follow these suggestions:

• Accept the flag graciously. After all, someone has taken the time to point out one of your imperfections in the hope that someday you could become a better friend/co-worker/ boss/significant other/decent human being.
  
• Kindly return the BS Flag to the person who flagged you (ideally without kicking it or spiking it off the person’s head).
  
• Counter-flagging is acceptable as long as you have a valid complaint. Remember, the point is communication, not one-upsmanship. Unless you’re in politics.
  
• If you don’t already have one, get your own BS Flag (or cousin potty-mouth) so you can return the favor.
  

Is it safe to throw the BS Flag?

Avoid aiming above the neck or below the waist.

Avoid throwing near open beverages or flames.

Don’t tamper with the mystery filling (especially do not replace it with buckshot).

Don’t throw it at strangers, people who don’t know what the point is, or 300-pound guys named Harley.

Disclaimer: The BS flag is not a toy, is not intended for children under three years old (or people over 35 who still live with their parents). The tiny filling beads can represent a choking hazard (especially if you’re trying to shove it down someone’s throat, which we highly do not recommend.) We cannot be held responsible if you hurt yourself or someone else.