h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I think this topic could be added to in the way of more categories, better examples, and most of all a perspective other than that of the person doing the graffiti. If anyone familiar with the law enforcement side of the issue would like to collaborate on this entry, I'd love to have the input. If not I should probably troll around the Web and see if I can find any GRaffiti Blasters web sites or some such thing.

Pez and hoopiness,

Babylon the Small

sorry about the double-posting everyone. my browser's being a bit funky today! ::sheepish grin::

Hello,

It's a nice entry, and I like it (although there isn't too much Other Vandalism in there (like stealing cars and wrecking them)). I don't know much about the law enforcement angle, but I can briefly summarize the philosophy about graffitti here in New York City. Basically, the thinking is that vandalism is easier against something that's already been vandalized. So, it's a lot easier to break a car window if it's already had a few broken by someone else. Similarly, it's a lot easier to tag a wall if you're not the first one. I'm not sure how true this is, but it's the philosophy.

As a result, the city's really been going after graffitti as part of its Quality of Life crusade. There has been major efforts to remove graffiti and to fine taggers (indeed, there were some arrests at a gallery show of graffiti art a few months back; major scandal). They also have been making areas more graffiti resistant. Many of the subway cars are designed to be easily cleaned for graffiti (leading to a rise in "scratchiti" where the tagger etches the plexiglass). I don't have all the details, but you could probably find some info on the New York City's website. I think it's a bit insane, but it's what they're doing.

Yours,
Jake

Editorial Note: This conversation has been moved from 'The h2g2 Writing Workshop' to 'Update Headquarters'.

We've moved this Conversation because there's already an entry on this subject in the Edited Guide, so it's more suited to the Update Headquarters than the Writing Workshop.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/h2g2/guide/A284627

I was browsing through Update Central and saw something that I am interested in. I did a little poking around, and saw what the edited Guide had on the subject, and its weak to point of being pitiful.

I think Babylon the Small's entry is far superior, and should be reviewed. Although, I'm not sure why there are two copies of the article [http://www.bbc.co.uk/h2g2/guide/A500662 & http://www.bbc.co.uk/h2g2/guide/A500653].

A few comments:
Bathroom graffiti is often used to solicit sex.

Graffiti on transportation is also used to show that the tagger can influence things beyond where he can reach. If you tag in a train yard, your tag is going to go all over the country.

A lot of tagging is gang related. I dare say most of the stuff you see spray-painted is gang related. It's a way of saying this the gang's territory. Much of this kind of graffiti will be in places that you actually have to look for it. Go behind a local store. It establishes who the gangs in the area are. Sometimes it will even list their names.

Gang graffiti is a valuable source of intelligence to law enforcement. Gangs use it to communicate. If you can decode it, you can tell who's doing what to whom. You can tell how the gangs interact and what their allegiance is. If someone's name is marked out, it's a sign of disrespect. Graffiti has even been used to solve murders.

There's a whole language to gang graffiti. It's hard to keep up with as it constantly evolves. It's amazing how undereducated people who probably haven't passed a class in their life can keep all the information in their 'Books of Knowledge' straight.

Graffiti is not just an urban phenomenon. I've seen it on bridges on dirt roads. Nor is it limited to the poor. I found a bunch of it on an abandoned construction road behind a very rich subdivision.

A lot of gang graffiti is quite elaborate, and some of it is quite attractive.

I think the idea that graffiti is the sole means for poor disenfranchised minorities to have an artistic outlet is a bunch of crap. It's used to establish dominance, mark territory and terrorize decent people.

Graffiti may seem harmless, but its a crime I take seriously. It defaces property that someone has to pay to repair. I have a problem with that.