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"Help that child"

post #1 of 14
7/1/08 at 1:01pm
Thread Starter 
What is the meaning of "help that child" as found painted on the front of construction vehicles (trucks)? I never noticed it until a cohort pointed it out to me, and now I see it everywhere. Is this a Pennsylvania thing?
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post #2 of 14
7/1/08 at 4:14pm
I haven't seen that message just below you here in West Virginia. My favorite, however, is the message on the back of some 18-wheelers that says something like, "To report bad driving, call ........" Of course, the phone number is always blacked out with spray paint. Is it just me, or should that be grounds for an automatic ticket?
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post #3 of 14
7/1/08 at 4:35pm
Thread Starter 
I thought that quote would end "1-800-eat-sh!+" And what is with garbage trucks with teddy bears strapped to the front grill?
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post #4 of 14
7/1/08 at 4:44pm
Denim, I drove through western PA yesterday (Erie area) and I think I'd rather die than live there. We got off of an Erie exit to eat dinner and it was row after row of chain restaurants, fast food joints and strip malls. I hope you have the pleasure of living elsewhere in the great state of PA>
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post #5 of 14
7/1/08 at 6:22pm
It's likely it's just a local thing. Back in Jacksonville, we have this whole Salt Life scene. I'd say 1 out of every 5 cars has a sticker on their rear window. http://www.saltlife.com/department.a...9&maincatid=43
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post #6 of 14
7/1/08 at 9:44pm
Thread Starter 
I live in Philadelphia, Conne, but that describes the outlying suburbs here, though Erie is way way way far out there (though somewhat close to Pittsburgh, which has a certain post-industrial appeal). Never heard of Salt Life, bj. I lived in FL for a spell, but much, much further down the wang.
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post #7 of 14
7/1/08 at 11:17pm
I lived about midway down the underside and never saw it either. Now I'm around the chota/nacho/taint/etc., still haven't seen it. Yes, this was a gratuitous sophomoric post.
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post #8 of 14
7/1/08 at 11:42pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by denimdestroyedmylife View Post
I live in Philadelphia, Conne, but that describes the outlying suburbs here, though Erie is way way way far out there (though somewhat close to Pittsburgh, which has a certain post-industrial appeal).
It was disturbing. Every woman had a fake tan, blonde hair and wore way too much makeup.
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post #9 of 14
7/2/08 at 11:01am
Quote:
Originally Posted by denimdestroyedmylife View Post
Never heard of Salt Life, bj. I lived in FL for a spell, but much, much further down the wang.

I'm certain it's limited to the Greater Jacksonville Metropolitan Area. God forbid it ever reach further along the "wang"
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post #10 of 14
7/2/08 at 11:19am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Connemara View Post
It was disturbing. Every woman had a fake tan, blonde hair and wore way too much makeup.

Isn't that everywhere?
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post #11 of 14
7/2/08 at 9:18pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Connemara View Post
Denim, I drove through western PA yesterday (Erie area) and I think I'd rather die than live there. We got off of an Erie exit to eat dinner and it was row after row of chain restaurants, fast food joints and strip malls.

I hope you have the pleasure of living elsewhere in the great state of PA>

At the risk of offending any Pennsylvanians (and Alabamans) on the forum, shortly before the Pennsylvania primary I heard the state described as "Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, with Alabama in between".
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post #12 of 14
7/2/08 at 10:16pm
Sounds like ya'll have been through Pennsyltucky.
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post #13 of 14
12/19/11 at 8:45pm

It is a Pittsburgh thing.  The phrase originally came from concrete truck line owner Nick Gromicko who would instruct his more experienced drivers to "help that child" when a truck, being operated by a younger driver, was backing up on a construction site.  It grew to become an inside joke at the company.  Gromicko eventually embraced it and painted the phrase on hundreds of his trucks.

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post #14 of 14
12/19/11 at 10:38pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by pgh-truck-drive View Post

It is a Pittsburgh thing.  The phrase originally came from concrete truck line owner Nick Gromicko who would instruct his more experienced drivers to "help that child" when a truck, being operated by a younger driver, was backing up on a construction site.  It grew to become an inside joke at the company.  Gromicko eventually embraced it and painted the phrase on hundreds of his trucks.

lol, a helpful post

welcome to styleforum
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