Depends on where the graffiti is. If it's in a boring concrete RCP drain? Go for it, almost anything is a welcome relief from monotonous grey tunnel. On the other extreme, in a brick drain? Absolutelyfuckingnot. You leave that brick alone.

Likewise, on a bombed out shell of a building already covered in graffiti, a little more probably won't make much of a difference. But a pristine spot is to be left pristine- not only for its photogenic value, but because graffiti attracts more vandalism and can quickly lead to a pristine spot getting destroyed or sealed.

Like most of the urbex rules, it's all about context. Everyone just espouses the absolute, hardline version for the benefit of rookies because you need to truly understand the rules before you can start learning when you can bend them and when you shouldn't.

Growing up in NYC at the dawn of Hip-Hop, my exploring and foamer interests caused me to cross paths with early writers. Up until about 1982, it was pretty much a free-for-all.

It was Koch trying to clamp down on the writers that was making my pursuits more difficult, but at the same time, it made it safer in a number of ways.

Even you got bagged in subway tunnel, if you didn't paint on you, the cops just let you go. Places that we totally bombed, you were safe being set upon by other elements. Safe to write = safe to explore.

They have their shtick, I have my shtick. We all got along.

A 10 second clip I shot on the weekend.

Posted by Doug A 10 second clip I shot on the weekend.

man thats pretty cool i love it

To preface I believe the vast majority of explorers here are fed up with random non-sensical handles stating in essence, "Hey, I was here." However, I believe there is also a beautiful and interesting side to graffiti. It gives people a sense of artistic freedom that is found less and less on the internet. People are able to draw and write whatever they want with no restrictions. In some cases, it leads to a ruined historic building, and in others, it can tell a story of all the people that have come to the area. Storm drains are a prime example of this where the visual standard of a storm drain is simple concrete but the messages of the past can have interesting anecdotes without causing much "historical damage" as far as I know. I have never graffitied and have no interest in "marking" my explorations (more into photography) but I can acknowledge the beauty when a community of explorers makes genuine art in a given area.

Posted by BlackFox2 To preface I believe the vast majority of explorers here are fed up with random non-sensical handles stating in essence, "Hey, I was here." However, I believe there is also a beautiful and interesting side to graffiti. It gives people a sense of artistic freedom that is found less and less on the internet. People are able to draw and write whatever they want with no restrictions. In some cases, it leads to a ruined historic building, and in others, it can tell a story of all the people that have come to the area. Storm drains are a prime example of this where the visual standard of a storm drain is simple concrete but the messages of the past can have interesting anecdotes without causing much "historical damage" as far as I know. I have never graffitied and have no interest in "marking" my explorations (more into photography) but I can acknowledge the beauty when a community of explorers makes genuine art in a given area.

I can see the logic in this, I feel that drain tunnels are prime for graffiti. Here in MN there's some really cool galleries underground of decades worth of art. But generally preserved and untouched buildings? hell naw. Keeping that place as preserved as possible will always be a goal of mine personally. But if its already tagged to hell it's free game I feel.

Still, I feel like our world could have gone without someone spray-painting "I fingered a minor today" in a really cool tunnel in saint paul.

Posted by MrBungle Still, I feel like our world could have gone without someone spray-painting "I fingered a minor today" in a really cool tunnel in saint paul.

How else would you know where Greg Brick has been?

Posted by Dofflin How else would you know where Greg Brick has been?

LMAO. First forumboard post to ever make me audibly laugh.
Best response you could have humanly wrote.

Honestly, as a hiker out in rural areas, sometimes it is really nice to see graffiti on old structures or abandoned places. I like to imagine it as someone saying "We were once here too". It makes me feel a bit less lonely in such an empty space. I wrote a (very bad quality) poem about it actually, based on this one location I was hanging out at.

click to view

Alone in the bluffs
art covers the stone
"Enjoy yourself"
I think I will
Below, lovers
paint their names
in the sandstone face
whispering...
We were here
Do you see us?
I do not reply
But, for a long moment
we will exist together
the past and the present
etched in time and space

though the breeze carries solitude
good company surrounds

Now, this applies more to natural areas with graffiti over abandoned buildings, but I still kind of like the idea that someone was there before me, and was also intrigued by this place, enough so to leave their mark.

Posted by Dofflin How else would you know where Greg Brick has been?

Oh god I have to laugh so I don't cry with this one. Sometimes I do wish for more positive graffiti though. Why does it always have to be phallic imagery? Why can't it be a smiley face or something else?

That's a name I haven't heard in years.

I agree with most of you guys that concrete tunnels are the least unethical places to tag. But there was an incident over here early last decade that made me think twice. A bunch of graffiti artists I didn't get along with were planning a party under a bridge, at one of the major underground rivers in the city.

The cops came as they were setting up the day before, saw what they were planning to do, and threatened to press charges against the Korean members if any graffiti remained after their party was over. So they switched to only temporary wheatpasting, even saying in an online post that they had to show respect for the location by not using paint.

Their party invitation said "come rain or shine," and it was raining heavily that day. During their party, a sluice gate opened somewhere deep inside the tunnel, and almost washed them all into the river.

Posted by skilledscallion Alone in the bluffs art covers the stone "Enjoy yourself" I think I will Below, lovers paint their names in the sandstone face whispering... We were here Do you see us? I do not reply But, for a long moment we will exist together the past and the present etched in time and space though the breeze carries solitude good company surrounds

i actually super love this wow . very sweet imagery, perfectly describes how i feel when i see names and a heart or a nice message

Posted by Steed a sluice gate opened somewhere deep inside the tunnel, and almost washed them all into the river.

insert sad tuba cartoon sound effect

I love to see graffiti whenever I explore drains and just being out and about! I also love to see it on train cars! However I don't like to see it in nicer, cleaner storm drain tunnels if you know what I mean. It just depends on the drain and place. I've learned to appreciate normal look of the drain tunnels, especially if it's a newer concrete big tunnel.