Western Railroad Discussion > graffiti that made me laugh

My son and I spent Black Friday weekend in Tehachapi and were fortunate to catch a northbound BNSF worm train going through Caliente. Before anyone goes off on me about how horrible graffiti is, I want to be clear that I can't stand it BUT one of the BNSF grain cars had graffiti on it that was quite hilarious. BNSF 482654 had painting on the one side that nearly covered half the car. The graffiti read: "ARTISTS MAKING FOAMERS MAD" Interesting that graffiti artists have evolved to the point that they are intentionally ruining our photos and videos.

Tehachapi was a mixed bag. No southbound traffic for hours Saturday morning but then it cut loose in the afternoon. Friday was pretty good but it had only 1 UP train in the daylight. Overall a nice trip and video will be posted later.

Cheers,

Paul
www.z-trains.com
Railfanjunction at YouTube.com



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/25/12 12:24 by z-trains.

z-trains Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> My son and I spent Black Friday weekend in
> Tehachapi and were fortunate to catch a northbound
> BNSF worm train going through Caliente. Before
> anyone goes off on me about how horrible graffiti
> is, I want to be clear that I can't stand it BUT
> one of the BNSF grain cars had graffiti on it that
> was quite hilarious. BNSF 482654 had painting on
> the one side that nearly covered half the car.
> The graffiti read: "ARTISTS MAKING FOAMERS MAD"
> Interesting that graffiti artists have evolved to
> the point that they are intentionally ruining our
> photos and videos.

They can call themselves "artists". You don't have to.

Well, that makes at least two of those cars.

This topic was hashed out here a few months ago.
http://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?1,2884174

- Jeff Carlson

toledopatch Wrote:
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> They can call themselves "artists". You don't have
> to.

Google's definition:
art·ist/ˈärtist/
Noun:

A person who produces paintings or drawings as a profession or hobby.
A person who practices any of the various creative arts, such as a sculptor, novelist, poet, or filmmaker.


I'm not defending it, as I know its illegal, and I certainly wouldn't want my property tagged, but by definition, they are artists. It breaks down into the same sorts of philosophical discussions I've had regarding the definition of "music." That's a REALLY hard word/concept to define.

- Jeff Carlson

bnsfsd70 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> toledopatch Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > They can call themselves "artists". You don't
> have
> > to.
>
> Google's definition:
> art·ist/ˈärtist/
> Noun:
>
> A person who produces paintings or drawings as
> a profession or hobby.
> A person who practices any of the various
> creative arts, such as a sculptor, novelist, poet,
> or filmmaker.
>
>
> I'm not defending it, as I know its illegal, and I
> certainly wouldn't want my property tagged, but by
> definition, they are artists. It breaks down into
> the same sorts of philosophical discussions I've
> had regarding the definition of "music." That's a
> REALLY hard word/concept to define.
>
> - Jeff Carlson

Yeah, well, I'm not calling these criminals "artists" any more than I'm calling mobsters "businessmen."

Wrong, they're graffiti vandals... === === = === JLH

No matter what its a problem that wont disapper anytime soon.

Posted from Android

One place's art is another place's graffiti.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 11/25/12 17:11 by a737flyer.

They are lost souls looking for validation in a world where their views, thoughts, and vision do not have any other conduit for expression. They may disadvantaged youths, coming from low economic situations, or bored spoiled rich kids, that feel the world does not the hard ships they have to endure, zipping around town in their porches and jaguars, or some beat up car that's on it's last leg.
Until these individuals have a way to express themselves, the ability to see a future for them selves in a economic situation that offers the little hope and very few options, until parents take responsibility for their children's actions, graffiti will continue.
And besides, some of the graffiti is pretty well done and the car painted regarding formers has got to bring a smile to your face.

Didn't everbody belly-ache yet again about this just the other day?

Doug Wetherhold
Macungie, PA

Although I totally disapprove of unauthorized "paint jobs", I found it interesting that someone (or several someones in a "tagging crew") outside the railfan/railroader community knows about the term "foamer" and is willing to go to some effort to annoy railfans. It does seem rather amazing that a "tag" of this magnitude could be applied without someone noticing the crime in progress. There's probably an underground "grapevine" that lets the illicit painters know when cars are spotted in secluded areas and are likely to be sitting for a while.

Wait until they tag your automobile or house....

Copy19 Wrote:
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> Wait until they tag your automobile or house....

From my initial post:

bnsfsd70 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I'm not defending it, as I know its illegal, and I
> certainly wouldn't want my property tagged
>
> - Jeff Carlson

< Until these individuals have a way to express themselves, the ability to see a future for them selves in a economic situation that offers them little hope and very few options

You could say the same thing about drug dealers and prostitutes.

toledopatch Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Yeah, well, I'm not calling these criminals
> "artists" any more than I'm calling mobsters
> "businessmen."

I can agree on principle, but the line has blurred quite a bit on either of your analogies, especially when IT businesses blatantly disregard privacy and act like our lives are theirs for the taking.

On rare occasions, I see talent displayed by some of the vandals, but they are rare. Otherwise, the graffitis don't communicate any meaningful messages to me, so I find it difficult to call them art. I go along with what needles_sub stated above, that most of them are voice of people under oppression, self-induced or not.

WM303 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> < Until these individuals have a way to express
> themselves, the ability to see a future for them
> selves in a economic situation that offers them
> little hope and very few options
>
> You could say the same thing about drug dealers
> and prostitutes.

You certainly could.

D

"You could say the same thing about drug dealers
and prostitutes.

Where there's a market..........



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/26/12 05:05 by masterphots.

I have brought this before. I show up with a camera and security, railroad police, homeland security, whoever, show up and tell me I can't take pictures, etc. These clowns show up with a box full of spray cans, spend hours painting a car, diesel, whatever, and never seem to be bothered. I see someone painting a diesel, call it in, and the police, railroad and public, ask me why I'm there, tell me taking pictures violates the patriot act, I know it doesn't, and I can be arrested if I'm trespassing. So the railroads don't seem to care, and now, neither do I.