I deplore wild graffiti, which to me amounts to vandalism. Also, as you say, graffiti is much too often narcissic (ie. contain messages to other graffiti groups, is painted on top of another group's graffiti just to annoy them etc).
I accept that graffiti art can in itself also be a mode of expression, and can sometimes be nice. In this perspective I accept that some cities wisely dedicate walls to graffiti contests/exhibitions/freehand. This limits damage by centralizing graffiti in dedicated areas, and also gives graffiti artists a platform to exhibit on.
Now, as you very well put it, there is nothing I dislike more than graffiti on a running train, be it new or old (actually just like you, I get more annoyed when it's new trains - and would probably be furious should I ever see one on a nostalgic train). But to go even further, I'd say that anyone who makes a graffiti on a historical monument is not "expressing himself" but "showing profound disdain for humanity".
I have indeed seen ancient monuments (churches, very old buildings, statue bases ...) with graffiti on them ... and it made my blood boil with anger. Check out this small yellow tag on the Place de la Bastille's pillar (in Paris).
As a punishment I would have the court implement compulsory graffiti on the faulter's property. Of the type that's not washable and that stays for the duration of the sentence (say 2 years). And of course, the faulter doesn't choose what gets tagged on what property of his. State-employed taggers (recycled vandals) would then be paid to do the most embarassing/annoying graffitis on the culprit's property.
Yeah I know, this is unworkable because it legalizes graffiti while condemning it. But the other options don't really seem workable either.
I know that countries have tried to tackle this problem by banning sprays etc but graffiti doers have then switched to other, legal sprays (like car paint), so this is obvisouly not the right approach.
Ideally education would be the solution, as anyone who's talented enough to do this kind of graffiti here, should be painting or drawing cartoons for a living ... not as a vandal, at night, wearing a hood and holding a flashlight, damaging someone else's or the state's property.
ps: I have never done a single graffiti in my life
and would probably be furious should I ever see one on a nostalgic train
This is a growing problem in Germany and elsewhere. It has happened not once that a scheduled nostalgic run had to be replaced with another train or even cancelled due to an attack the night before. It costs tens to hundreds of thousands to repair - and in most cases, we aren't talking of millionaries or the state railway but non-profit groups doing it all in their free time from their own money.
I accept that graffiti art can in itself also be a mode of expression, and can sometimes be nice.
Your link was so nice I just post it! Even if off-topic.
*Lunatic*, n. One whose delusions are out of fashion.
