When a graffiti wall was erected for youngsters (isn't that ageism?) in Wadebridge, Cornwall, a wag sprayed this message on it:
I PAID MY TAX
+ ALL I GOT WAS THIS LOUSY WALL
A grumpy spokesperson with no sense of humour or irony explained that the wall had been built free of charge by volunteers, but the cost of a police enquiry and cleaning the graffiti off would come out of public funds.
So what are they saying here? There should be an age limit beyond which it is illegal to paint graffiti?
There are artistic standards to which graffiti must conform?
Or are they just banning freedom of speech, or 'political' graffiti as it were?
Personally I think the graffiti that was about thirty odd years ago was much more entertaining than simply 'tagging' one's name.
Favourite examples;
Jesus Saves!
But Moses knocks it in on the rebound
I used to think I was useless, then I found out I was biodegradable
and a slightly later example;
Free Nelson Mandela
when you spend £5 in Tesco
Classic Boggart Blog at the Grenteeth Multi Media website
ianrthorpe


I always liked : Newton was wrong - the earth sucks
or
Don't write on walls
Don't write Don't write on walls on walls...etc.
or
If they remove the graffiti this wall will fall down.
or
God is dead :- Neitzsche
Neitzsche is dead :- God
Its all pointless squiggles now, like dogs peeing on lamposts to mark their territory. O tempora, o mores