Would you like to sign my petition? The story behind the meme that changed gaming

"Would you like to sign my petition?"

If you spent any time on the internet in the early 2000s, or if you've fallen down a YouTube rabbit hole lately, those seven words probably triggered a specific, gravelly voice in your head. It’s the voice of the Postal Dude. He's the cynical, trench-coat-wearing protagonist of Postal 2, a game that was, quite frankly, designed to be the most offensive thing ever put on a disc.

But here’s the thing. What started as a weird, interactive joke in a controversial video game transformed into a pillar of internet culture. It’s a meme that refuses to die. It's used by protesters, trolls, and genuine activists alike. People say it to be funny, but the history of how a digital psychopath asking for signatures became a global catchphrase is actually kinda fascinating. It’s about more than just a crude game; it’s about how we interact with authority and the sheer absurdity of "official" bureaucracy.

Where did "Would you like to sign my petition" actually come from?

Back in 2003, a small studio called Running With Scissors released Postal 2. Unlike the first game, which was a dark, isometric shooter, the sequel was a first-person "immersive sim." Well, "immersive" is a strong word. It was a sandbox of chaos. The game was structured around a week in the life of the Postal Dude. Your tasks weren't to save the world or kill a dragon. You had to go get milk. You had to return a library book. You had to get your paycheck.

One of those mundane tasks was literally to get people to sign a petition. The petition's goal? To "make whiny congressmen play violent video games."

It was meta. It was a direct middle finger to people like Senator Joseph Lieberman and activist Jack Thompson, who were trying to ban violent games at the time. To complete the mission, the player had to walk up to NPCs and press a button. The Dude would say, "Would you like to sign my petition?" in a tone that ranged from bored to vaguely threatening.

If they said no? You could keep asking. You could get in their face. You could, in the game's trademark style, unzip your fly or pull out a shovel. The humor came from the contrast: a guy who looks like a mass murderer politely (at first) asking for a signature for a meaningless cause.

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The voice behind the madness

Rick Hunter. That’s the man you’re hearing. His delivery is what made the line stick. Most voice acting in 2003 was either overly dramatic or "Resident Evil" levels of cheese. Hunter played the Postal Dude with a dry, Western-style grit that felt authentic. He sounded like a guy who had worked retail for twenty years and finally snapped, but still had to maintain a level of customer service politeness.

When he asks, "Look, just sign the stupid petition, I got stuff to do," it resonates. We’ve all been in that position where we’re doing something we hate because some higher-up told us to. That’s why the clip took off on sites like YTMND (remember that?) and later, YouTube and TikTok. It captured a specific vibe of frustrated compliance.

Why people are still obsessed with it in 2026

You’d think a twenty-year-old game would be forgotten. It isn't. Postal 2 actually has a higher "Overwhelmingly Positive" rating on Steam than many modern AAA titles. A big reason is the petition mechanic. It represents the ultimate "non-player" interaction.

In most games, you talk to people to get lore or gear. In Postal, you talk to them to annoy them. It’s a simulation of being a social pariah. Modern meme culture thrives on that kind of awkward, confrontational humor. Whenever a new political controversy hits or a weird change happens on social media, you’ll see the comments flooded with "Would you like to sign my petition?"

It’s a shorthand for: "I am proposing something stupid/controversial, and I don't care if you hate me for it."

The mechanics of the "Sign My Petition" mission

In the game, the mission is actually harder than it sounds. NPCs have different "personalities." Some will sign it immediately. Others will insult you. Some will literally run away in terror.

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If you want to get your eight signatures quickly, you have to find the right demographic. If you approach the "Rednecks" or the "Marching Band," you’re going to have a bad time. The game uses a basic AI state machine. When you trigger the "Would you like to sign my petition" line, the game rolls a virtual die based on the NPC’s aggression and fear stats.

• Friendly NPCs: They’ll say something like "Sure, sounds good" and the animation plays.
• Hostile NPCs: They’ll tell you to "Get lost, freak."
• The "Dude" Response: If they refuse too many times, the Dude starts getting aggressive. "Sign my petition or I'll follow you home and kill your dog."

It was a primitive version of the branching dialogue we see in Baldur's Gate 3 or Cyberpunk 2077, just... much dumber and filled with crude jokes.

Beyond the game: Real-world petitions and the "Postal" effect

There’s a weird phenomenon where life imitates art. Over the years, fans of the game have started real-life petitions for the most ridiculous things, often using the Dude's catchphrase as a rallying cry.

Running With Scissors, the developers, are masters of this. They’ve stayed independent for decades by leaning into this specific community. They know that "Would you like to sign my petition" is their "Bazinga" or "It's-a me, Mario." They’ve used it to sell merch, promote sequels like Postal 4: No Regerts, and even engage with fans on X (formerly Twitter).

Honestly, it’s a lesson in branding. If you create a line that is infinitely repeatable and fits a variety of contexts, it lives forever. The petition line works because it's a question. It demands a response. It’s an "engagement hack" before that term even existed.

How to use the meme today (without being a jerk)

If you're thinking about dropping this in a Discord server or a comment section, context is everything. It’s a "vintage" meme. Using it shows you’re part of the "old guard" of internet culture.

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• The "Annoying Activist" Angle: Use it when someone is being overly pushy about a niche topic.
• The "Irony" Angle: Post the GIF of the Postal Dude holding his clipboard when someone asks for a favor.
• The "Actual Petition" Angle: If you’re actually trying to get people to sign something (like saving a cancelled TV show), it’s the perfect icebreaker to signal you aren't taking yourself too seriously.

Is it still offensive?

Looking back at Postal 2 through a 2026 lens is complicated. The game is undeniably "edgy." It uses stereotypes that wouldn't fly in a mainstream release today. However, most players argue the game is "equal opportunity" offensive. It mocks everyone—religious groups, protesters, hunters, vegans, and the government.

The "sign my petition" line is actually the most "wholesome" part of the game’s legacy. It’s the part that survived because it isn't based on hate; it’s based on the universal annoyance of bureaucracy. It’s the Dude vs. The World. And in a world that feels increasingly bureaucratic and scripted, being the guy with the clipboard asking a ridiculous question feels weirdly cathartic.

Practical Steps for Fans and Creators

If you want to dive deeper into this specific piece of gaming history or use it in your own content, here is how you handle it effectively.

1. Play the "Share the Pain" Edition
If you haven't actually played the source material, grab Postal 2: Share the Pain on Steam. It’s usually about five bucks. Try to finish the Monday through Friday objectives without killing a single person. It’s actually possible (the "Jesus" achievement). It changes the way you hear the petition line when you're actually trying to be a "good citizen" in a world that hates you.

2. Source the High-Quality Audio
For video editors, don't just rip a low-quality YouTube clip. The original game files contain the raw Rick Hunter takes. These are "dry" samples, meaning no background noise. They are perfect for soundboards or clean edits.

3. Respect the "Gonzo" Style
If you’re writing about memes or gaming history, don't try to make it sound corporate. Postal is the definition of "Gonzo" gaming. It’s messy, loud, and proud. Your content should reflect that energy. Use weird fonts, bold colors, and don't be afraid to be a little bit "too much."

4. Check Out the Documentaries
There are several great deep dives on YouTube by creators like GVMERS or Civvie 11 that go into the technical nightmare of developing Postal 2. Understanding how the game was built on the Unreal 2 engine helps you appreciate why the NPC interactions (like signing the petition) were actually quite impressive for 2003.

The petition isn't just a line of dialogue. It’s a piece of interactive history. It reminds us that games don't always have to be about "winning." Sometimes, they're just about the absurdity of asking a stranger for a minute of their time and getting told to jump off a bridge. It's life, just with more shovels and a better soundtrack.