Thursday, 19 April
I just don’t get it. Honestly, I’ve racked my brain trying to understand why people feel the need to leave their mark by defacing things, but I still don’t get it.
From the “call me for a good time” phone numbers on the doors and walls of public toilets … to the “Jack ♥ Jill” professions of love carved into trees … to the “John Was Here” on whatever date scribblings on whatever surface is available … I just don’t get any of them.
We’ve been traveling for over 30 years now, and we’ve seen graffiti everywhere we’ve gone; in every city and country and continent we’ve visited. Well, OK; we didn’t see any in Antarctica, but that’s a rare exception.
Not once have we been tempted to leave our mark in such an ugly way. In fact, we try to make sure that we leave no more than our footprints behind … ever. Is there some joy in defacing things that we’re missing out on? Are we going to be scarred for life because we’ve neglected to write our names on a wall somewhere? If so; then so be it. We can live without that kind of “ugly” joy.
We came across this Bob Was Here sign the first day that we ventured into the park. It was on the trail behind the John Oliver Place. There were several others scattered around the park as well. You can read the words for yourself (click for a bigger version if necessary).
How sad it is that we even need such signs. Not that they seem to be doing much good; we saw graffiti on the walls of every heritage building we went into — some as new as 2010. There were probably newer ones, but I was so disgusted that I turned away, helpless to do anything about it.
Just some of the graffiti we saw at the Gregg-Cable House and the Lawson Place.
And then there was the cross vine hanging down over the Abrams Falls Trail on the way to the falls; gone by the time we trekked back two hours later. Needless destruction of another sort. But I’ll limit my rant to one topic and save that one for a later time. Unfortunately, we’re bound to encounter more of both as we continue to travel.
I agree 100%. Littering is my big hot button but at least that can be cleaned up. Defacing a structure or a tree or a picnic table is just beyond my comprehension. Perhaps these knuckleheads think that will be the only mark they will ever leave on the world. Sad!
ReplyDeleteIt is an ancient problem. There is centuries old graffiti on the pyramids (
ReplyDeleteAmen! Couldn't agree with you more!
ReplyDeletedarn people!..some just have no respect what so ever!!
ReplyDeleteYou've touched a nerve. I see graffiti everywhere and it bugs the hell out of me.
ReplyDeleteOnce upon a time, in my former occupation, I took great delight in calling our "graffiti removal guy" who, if I called him by 7:30 a.m., he could be out to my school and have any and all graffiti completely eradicated by 9:00 a.m. We never allowed graffiti on any of our buildings to remain during school hours. Just wasn't going to happen. Eventually the little "artists" get discouraged.
Also helps if the local constabulary stops by for a chat, and you can verify just what style of graffiti it might be, and then they can lay charges of trespassing or public mischief or whatever. Restored my faith is some of the goings on of the police department too.
I think if I were a city manager it would be one of my top priorities to get rid of it at all costs. There are environmentally friendly soaps/solutions that do work. Our "graffiti removal guy" could take paint off of brick and you would never know anything had ever been there. So there's no need for it to stick around.
I'll stop now, and try to breath normally again. *mumble*
Always upsetting to see that...some communities have allocated special places for graffiti artists to do their thing...wonder if it makes any difference?
ReplyDeleteagree 100 percent as even my recent blog would attest to... Not to sadden you but there is even graffiti in Antarctica, I saw plenty at Deception Island
ReplyDeleteWe were on Deception Island in January 2007 and didn't see any; perhaps I was blocking it out and refusing to see it in such a pristine place.
DeleteWhat is interesting about this is that we preserve as part of our national heritage such places as Pompey's Pillar in northeastern Montana, and brag that Lewis (or maybe it was Clark) carved his name in the side of the rock! It's even covered with a case so that other artists, s well as weather, can't deface it! We go to places along the Oregon trail to see the Signature Rock (I think it was in Wyoming)where the early travelers left their names and dates, or messages for later travelers to know where "Bob" was headed. But we have to agree that modern day graffiti is something we sure don't need!
ReplyDeleteI agree with you. About the only place I've not seen it is underwater!
ReplyDeleteWe have seen this every where we go. It is just disgusting! $100 isn't enough for my liking. I think a good number of community service hours would be in order, and one job would be cleaning his name off of whatever it was put on.
ReplyDeleteI saw that same sign and had the same reaction. I thought it was mostly kids but even so why aren't we educating them that this is destruction of property and wild life. It makes me both furious and sad. I agree the fines should be increased and should come with large numbers of community service hours benefiting the place you have defaced. Love Weavers' comment.
ReplyDelete