Synonyms Govern, Allright?

Ever since my cousins introduced me to the concept of Graffiti, I have been fascinated by it. At its worst it is vandalism and should be out-lawed, as it most certainly is in many places on earth. At its best, it is funny, witty and provides a much needed laugh in today's weird wide busy world.

What is Graffiti? some of you might ask. The Merriam Webster's dictionary defines it as usually unauthorized writing or drawing on a public surface. But it is more than that. There is usually a message in that scribbling, a political opinion, a pun or just a funny remark.

About a decade ago, when I first came to the United States I looked for Nigel Rees' Graffiti books in frenzy. I had looked for them in almost all book stores in Bangalore, where I lived before. I couldn't find them. I desparately wanted them. So I researched the internet and found a used copy somewhere in a used book store in England. I wanted to have it. So I got it after shelling out $30 for a set (of four) of these teeny tiny books! $30 well spent.

Thanks to Mr. Rees, I get the much needed laughter when I browse through the books. Here I mention some of my favorites.

Nigel Rees, I hope I get paid next time scribbled an unknown artist, perhaps alluding to the fact that the best part of Graffiti is that it is anonymous.

I hate Graffiti was printed in an elevator to keep patrons from scribbling on its walls and somebody had added beneath I hate all Italian food.

Graffiti is a universal phenomenon and it is not outrageous to believe that in an alien world far far away, slimy looking alien creatures, how much ever technologically advanced, take vicarious pleasures in scribbling Graffiti. The book lists a cartoon with a alien space ship returning back to its planet and the welcoming alien comment's "I see you visited earth" pointing to the graffiti written on the space-ship.

One of the delightful aspects of Graffiti is that it sometimes appears in a series. Particularly a series with a basis or a basic Graffiti (or a Graffito, really). For example, The Government is screwing the country forms a basis to many derived Graffiti like

Don't Vote. It will only encourage them or
Don't Vote. Do it yourself or my personal favorite, during Richard Nixon's presidential campaign for the second term,
Vote Nixon. Why change Dicks in the middle of a screw?

Another series, I am a big fan of, has the form Graffiti rules, ok?
Nigel Rees mentions possible origins of this series. But over the years there have been numerous takes on this and some of my favorites are..

James Bond rules, OOK?
Typographers rule, OQ?
Queen Elizabeth rules, UK?
Apathy ru..
or
Jargon rules, ongoing agreement situation?

Now you know the thought behind the title for this post.

Anonimity brings rauchiness abound. Bathroom Graffiti or Contraceptive Vending machine Graffiti illustrates that.

Insert baby for refund a contraceptive machine said
or This is the worst chewing gum I've ever tasted.

Vandalism in the form of Graffiti is obviously disruptive. It defaces public property and takes a toll on tax payers to clean up. So I have always imagined a private Graffiti Wall or a City where people can go and write Graffiti for others to read; but it is not the same. The casual scribble by an anonymous Graffiti artist who leaves a mark while passing by has a different charm than orgainzed Graffiti.

As long as there are walls there will be Graffiti, unfortunaley, for it is vandalistic; but occassionally one can find a spark of wit which undoubtedly leaves you smiling.

Graffiti lives, OK?