This sticker would have been somewhat shocking to see in Portland 2020, but it was found yesterday on the last day of April in 2023. Of course, this has caused fierce debate online.

Whatever your opinion is on mask wearing, its likely that if you’re a sane person with a rational mind, then you don’t believe either of the statements made on the sticker. Whilst some internet users believe that the sticker was made with a tongue in cheek vibe behind it, others have pointed out that if you go to the depths of facebook and twitter arguments, it’s not too uncommon to find thoughts like this.

Eugenics is the study of or belief in improving the genetic quality of the human population, typically by selective breeding or genetic engineering. The concept of eugenics has been around for centuries, but it gained popularity in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

The green sticker which was placed on the side of a Portland trash can claims that if you are walking around freely with no mask – then you are supporting eugenics.

On the other hand, if you’re wearing a mask, then you’re fighting eugenics.

Once again, this is the nasty side of 2023 America. Almost every point made must have a deeply polarizing argument behind it, with a “you’re with us or against us” mentality. It seems that nobody is exempt from being drawn in to a battleground which thankfully has been predominantly online and easily avoidable so far. However, with in your face stickers like this, it is difficult to avoid having an emotional response to such a strong suggestion.

About Eugenics:

In the late 19th century, Sir Francis Galton, a British scientist, coined the term “eugenics” and began advocating for the selective breeding of humans to improve the genetic quality of the population. Galton believed that intelligence and other desirable traits were inherited, and that by encouraging those with desirable traits to have children and discouraging those with undesirable traits from reproducing, the human race could be improved.

The eugenics movement gained popularity in the early 20th century, particularly in the United States and Europe. Many prominent scientists, politicians, and social leaders advocated for eugenics and the idea that certain races and ethnic groups were inherently superior to others. This led to the passage of eugenics laws in several countries, including the United States, which allowed for the forced sterilization of people deemed “unfit” to reproduce.

After the horrors of World War II, this led to a decline in support for eugenics. Today, eugenics is widely regarded as a discredited and unethical pseudoscience.