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letters
Citizen
Username: Letters016
Post Number: 485
Registered: 5-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 18, 2006 - 6:05 pm: | 
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I don’t know how many people have noticed, but my son is fixing up the shelter house at Maplecrest Park for his Boy Scout Eagle project. To date, he and his workers have put in over 400 hours of planning, getting supplies, scraping, puttying, priming and painting. He has worked 12-13 hour days his entire spring break to get a lot of the work done.
AND THEN HE GOES THERE ON FRIDAY AND SOME A** H*** HAS SPRAY PAINTED OBSCENE REMARKS ON THE DOOR.
What is wrong with people. The graffiti was clearly aimed at whoever was doing the work, but I do not believe that it was a personal attack on my son. I don’t think whoever did it even knows him or knows why he is doing this project. It seems as though that he/she just saw a newly painted door and thought, “Hey, I think I’ll spray paint it”.
I spoke with the police and, as I suspected, this is not an isolated incident. It is happening all over town and the town workers are constantly repainting things. Also, as I understand it, some park benches had to be removed, not just because of the paint but the words being carved into the wood.
I would love to get my hands on not just whoever did this, but his/her parent(s). I want to know why these people do not understand that doing things like this is wrong. It degrades not just the things that are being destroyed or damaged but also the communities in which they exist. I love the parks in this town and it annoys me to no end that some of the people who enter them think that they are their personal canvasses.
I drive by the park often now. Forgive me, but, God help the person that I see with a can of spray paint in their hands, especially if it matches any paint that has been sprayed on my sons work.
Rant over, for now at least.
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Case
Citizen
Username: Case
Post Number: 1378
Registered: 2-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 18, 2006 - 7:31 pm: |
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Just remember, the spray painters are probably under 18 years of age... so if you find them, beat them badly enough so that they can't get your license plate number. This is NO time for half measures. |
The Libertarian
Citizen
Username: Local_1_crew
Post Number: 1963
Registered: 3-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 18, 2006 - 8:05 pm: |
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i couldnt agree more strongly. its why i keep a golf club in the car. |
Colleen
Citizen
Username: Cbroderick
Post Number: 182
Registered: 7-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 18, 2006 - 8:08 pm: |
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That's terrible! I have been watching your son and the others make great progress on the field house. They have been doing a wonderful job, and I enjoy the music in the park! I'm so sorry. |
Just The Aunt
Supporter
Username: Auntof13
Post Number: 4739
Registered: 1-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 18, 2006 - 9:20 pm: |
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Letters-
This is just terrible. It's not like you to loose your cool either. I hope do catch the little brats. They should be forced to help finish the project. |
letters
Citizen
Username: Letters016
Post Number: 487
Registered: 5-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 18, 2006 - 10:08 pm: |
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I just don't get it. Doesn't anybody care about where they live? Putting aside for a moment the outrageous taxes, the conditions of the schools and all of the associated personnel problems therein, the political discord within and outside our community, and all of the other larger problems, wouldn't it be nice to live in an area where people took pride in their community?
For crying out loud, just peruse through the posts on MOL. I would say that most of the complaints posted here are quality of life issues. Simple, stupid things like littering, speeding through town, people taking their lives in their hands walking to school or the train station, cell phones, lousy neighbors, all issues that revolve around common courtesy.
What are we evolving into as a society? Are we so self absorbed that we now live in an area where each one of us is alone in our little world? Do we now think that no matter what we do it only affects us and no one else?
It would be a lot easier dealing with the bigger problems if we didn't have all of the little ones ticking us off to begin with. When are we going to stand up as a community and take back our town from the people who do not care about anyone else?
I know that I have had just about enough of this. When I see a car speeding down the street and I am standing there, I point my finger at them and yell "slow down!”. When I see someone throw garbage down I ask them to pick it up. If I am at a restaurant/diner and the person at the next table is having a loud conversation on their cell phone, I ask them to take it outside.
I'm not going to put up with this stuff any more. I don't know, maybe I'm losing my mind. Maybe I'm getting too old and cranky. Whatever. Too bad. I live here too and I don't want to live with rude people.
I was told by someone who has responsibility with the park building that if the graffiti continues that my son should just walk away from the project, call it a day and just think that he tried. I told him that this was not good enough.
I'M NOT WALKING AWAY. LET THE SCUM WALK AWAY. THIS IS MY TOWN. THIS IS MY NEIGHBORHOOD. THIS IS MY PARK AND MY STREET AND MY RESTAURANT. GO FIND YOUR OWN DAMN TOWN AND CRAP THAT UP, BUT LEAVE MY TOWN ALONE. DAMN, I’M PISSED!
Anyone want to join me?
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The Notorious S.L.K.
Citizen
Username: Scrotisloknows
Post Number: 1289
Registered: 10-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 18, 2006 - 10:53 pm: |
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letters-
Where do I sign up? We would be Maplewood's dynamic duo....
All I ask that the self absorbed break out of their trances and show some common courtesy every so often. I don't think it is too much to ask.
Can we add a couple of peeves to the list? The latest one I have been noticing lately is people rudely cutting right across my walking path uncomfortably close (like you are not even there) without any acknowledgment. Their body language is like "I saw you but I'll just pretend you are not there." I expect this in NYC but not on our streets. I promise one of these days I am going to just plow right over one of em....
And don't get me started on the loud music out of passing cars. Isn't their laws against such noise?
No fret letters, you are not alone. I commend you for speaking up.
You are not old or cranky. Your only crime is you care.
-SLK |
ess
Citizen
Username: Ess
Post Number: 1772
Registered: 11-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 18, 2006 - 10:55 pm: |
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Yes! Letters, I share your outrage and applaud your passion.
I have posted elsewhere tonight that I cannot understand why there are people who insist on soiling their own nests. For goodness sake, this is where we live, this is our home. Why would we want to surround ourselves with garbage and spray paint when we could just as easily make our surroundings beautiful?
And hey, if you don't agree, fine. Just spray paint the hell out of your own house, and drop your coffee cups and junk food wrappers on your own floor. Just don't do it where you have to crap up other people's spaces. |
jersey Boy
Citizen
Username: Jersey_boy
Post Number: 530
Registered: 1-2006
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 18, 2006 - 11:04 pm: |
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To answer the asked question, I used to be a graffitti "sparker." I would not call what I did art. I was in high school and there were a lot of others who would "mark up" in certain areas. Once you started, it was kind of addictive. You would look for certain peoples' signatures and think, "I should be up there too."
I remember meeting a guy whose "sparks" I had seen literally on every sign as I walked to school and I was impressed. I honestly thought he was lying, trying to take credit for "work" he hadn't done.
After that I was determined to reach his level of completeness in "sparking." When a classmate overheard one of the janitors compaining about having to clean up after my sparks, I took it as a compliment.
Now, I am an adult. I understand things that I didn't when I was young. I never smoked pot in high school. I never drove drunk. I got good grades. I needed to do something bad. Graffitti was what I did.
The graffiti on your son's project is not personal. It's about the graffitti makers. I'd bet they're decent kids. A sign explaining the project and asking them not to mark it up might help.
Some graffitti is personal. That's different and demands a different response.
J.B.
P.S. To the janitors who had to clean it and to the world, I'm sorry. |
letters
Citizen
Username: Letters016
Post Number: 488
Registered: 5-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 18, 2006 - 11:35 pm: |
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JB,
I do not want to get into what exactly was spray painted, but like I said (and the cops agree), this was definitely directed at whoever was redoing the building. It was not someone’s 'tag', it was not 'gang related', and it was not a 'territorial marking'. It was purely obscene language written by someone with the mentality of a child. It was purely destructive. It in no way was done out of boredom or as art. It was deliberate. It was pointless. It is disturbing. It is unacceptable.
I will not tolerate it any more.
Whether or not it was the intention of this person, they have now made it personal. They started it and if I ever find them I will end it.
I grew up in the 60’s and 70’s. We did a lot of things to rebel against the “establishment”, but we never, EVER did anything that was destructive. We may have been loud or obnoxious; we definitely did some drinking and smoking, BUT WE ALWAYS HAD RESPECT FOR OTHER PEOPLES THINGS.
It was the way we were raised. It was the values that were instilled in us from the beginning, just like I have imparted unto my children.
People, especially children need to know where the line is, where you do not cross. They need to know that there are consequences for their actions. They need to know that they and they alone are accountable for their actions.
But I fear that these kids do not know these things because either their parents don’t teach them or the parents themselves are ignorant. And this in itself is completely unacceptable.
And yes, I am being redundant, but I will not tolerate it anymore. Period.
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Glock 17
Citizen
Username: Glock17
Post Number: 681
Registered: 7-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 18, 2006 - 11:36 pm: |
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Fight the machine.
-9x19mm |
letters
Citizen
Username: Letters016
Post Number: 489
Registered: 5-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 18, 2006 - 11:41 pm: |
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What does that mean? |
Glock 17
Citizen
Username: Glock17
Post Number: 684
Registered: 7-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 18, 2006 - 11:47 pm: |
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Doesn't make any sense...it's just funny to me because you are really really really venting |
letters
Citizen
Username: Letters016
Post Number: 490
Registered: 5-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 19, 2006 - 12:06 am: |
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Do not take this the wrong way, I am not trying to be condescending, but you are too young to get it. I don't think you have any idea how much it costs to live around here. I (or anyone else) should not have to put up with this crap. I'm not venting. I'm pissed off to no end. I am reaching the point of no return. I've had it with self-absorbed a** h***s. I am not going to live in a cesspool. I am staking my claim and standing my ground. If you are lucky, you never will have to be this pissed. |
mjh
Supporter
Username: Mjh
Post Number: 462
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 19, 2006 - 6:57 am: |
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This is terrible, and I don't blame you at all for your rage. I'd be the same.
I don't believe in the death penalty, but when it comes to litter and graffiti, I'm kinda on the fence. |
Brett
Citizen
Username: Bmalibashksa
Post Number: 2272
Registered: 7-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 19, 2006 - 8:06 am: |
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Yea Glock you’re too young to have any idea about things being ruined that you enjoy. You’re just a kid. One day you’ll learn to grow up and get pissed and say things like “I’m not going to take this” and “I’m standing my ground” and then commit Assault on some kid.
So letters what’s the plan? Other then complaining, are you planning on starting a neighborhood watch, giving the taggers a better thing to do at nights, hold parenting classes for all of Essex county?
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The Notorious S.L.K.
Citizen
Username: Scrotisloknows
Post Number: 1292
Registered: 10-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 19, 2006 - 9:43 am: |
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Brett-
I have an idea, why don't we just let the taggers loose on your property?
I am my own neighborhood watch. If I don't like something that calls for intervention I call the cops, no hesitation whatsoever...
-SLK |
mem
Citizen
Username: Mem
Post Number: 6068
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 19, 2006 - 2:04 pm: |
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Sounds like Letters has a plan - and I would hate to be the idiot that grafitied his son's work.
Good luck letters, don't get in trouble though. |
letters
Citizen
Username: Letters016
Post Number: 491
Registered: 5-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 19, 2006 - 6:48 pm: |
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Brett,
I've read your posts along the way. You seem like a reasonable person so I won't take too much offense at your latest prose.
So to answer your question, yes, I have done some things to counter the idle time that these kids seem to have on their hands. I have been involved in the youth of our area for some 9-10 years now in different venues. And yes, I have talked with the people surrounding the park and they are in agreement with me that something needs to be done and we have discussed things that can be done immediately. And yes, I have talked with the police and the TC about ways to combat this destructiveness.
So, is there anything else you need to know at this point? Please let me know if there is so I can advise you.
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Glock 17
Citizen
Username: Glock17
Post Number: 692
Registered: 7-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 19, 2006 - 7:09 pm: |
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Oh I know about it. The first day they put in the new playground equipment in the park on my street it was graffitied and littered with gang members. |
greenetree
Supporter
Username: Greenetree
Post Number: 7310
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 19, 2006 - 7:52 pm: |
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Glock- it's more than "knowing" about it. It's about working very, very hard to accomplish something (rehab a building, buy a car or a house) and having someone destroy it for kicks.
The first brand-new car I ever owned (I was 29) had the windows smashed out of it the third night I owned it. Some kids had driven down Kennedy Blvd in JC, smashing all the car windows for a two-mile stretch. They probably thought it was a hoot. I had a gut-level, visceral reaction to it. I thought then that the perfect punishment would be to wait until they got old enough to buy their own first car. And then smash the •••• out of it. |
Glock 17
Citizen
Username: Glock17
Post Number: 695
Registered: 7-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 19, 2006 - 7:59 pm: |
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Why is it automatically because I am younger that It is assumed that this has not happened to me?
Life has cruddy moments. Sometimes the best thing to do is move on and have faith in karma.
"A local boy kicked me in the butt last week
I just smiled at him and turned the other cheek
I really don't care, in fact I wish him well
'Cause I'll be laughing my head off when he's burning in hell" |
greenetree
Supporter
Username: Greenetree
Post Number: 7311
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 19, 2006 - 8:08 pm: |
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Well, I guess it's easy to make these assumptions because you have a rather blase, droll, removed attitude towards some things.
Don't get me wrong; you are one of my favorite people on the board. You are eloquent and knowledgeable. Some of your posts bely your age. Others, well, not so much. I am not dismissing you or your contributions. But, sometimes you come off as dismissive in a way that only a 19ish y/o can. I can almost see you shake your head at us silly middle-agers who've no idea what you are going thru because we've never been there.
The saddest part of turning 40, IMHO, was realizing that I was not so different from other people, after all.  |
sbenois
Supporter
Username: Sbenois
Post Number: 14959
Registered: 10-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 19, 2006 - 8:09 pm: |
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Wow. How did you feel when you hit 70? |
letters
Citizen
Username: Letters016
Post Number: 492
Registered: 5-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 19, 2006 - 8:12 pm: |
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Glock,
I have NO problem with you. 30+ years ago I was you. I just asked for a clarification about something you said. You and your generation will have to deal with this long after my generation is gone. I'm just trying to make it easier for you to start with. Right now we have the power and resources to do something. I'm trying to now waste my "time at bat", as it were.
My son is a year or two younger than you, so he is your generation. It is to him, also, that I leave this. I am trying to stem what I see as a tide to destruction. Either people stand up and say enough or they just pass the cr*p onto the next group. I never wanted to be the one who passed it on.
Do not take offense. You seem like the type of person who will not let things get out of hand. It’s just that you might have to stay on the sidelines a little longer and let us either clean it up or screw it up. Either way, if you don’t have the power or pull to do something right now, that doesn’t mean that you have to sit on the sidelines and be quiet. Keep speaking up. In my humble opinion, you’re doing just fine. Thanks.
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Tom Reingold
Supporter
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 13785
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Friday, April 21, 2006 - 7:44 am: |
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I think vandals don't understand that what they do hurts. They do not consider how others feel. This is even more so when it's public property, because the property is collectively owned, so their subliminal attitude is that there is no owner at all.
I don't know how to instill compassion in them. Most people develop it later in life. I wish it came sooner, so they wouldn't do this type of damage.
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Smarty Jones
Citizen
Username: Birdstone
Post Number: 540
Registered: 10-2005
| | Posted on Friday, April 21, 2006 - 8:30 am: |
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Came home early from work and leaving the train station, 3 Jr. high girls were sitting on the bench with Black Permanent markers, writing away on the benches, etc. (go over to the Bike Racks on the Town side and have a look) Not only was it plain and non-colorful, it was bad artistic work, which I don't get. They giggled and slithered away when I walked up ("C'mon, lets get outta here!), but this was at 3 PM in broad daylight.....They did it all over the art work in the tunnel too which is a shame.
Point is, kids could have been YOUR kids and you don't even know it.
Funny thing is, I see a LOT of grafiti, and a LITTLE community service hours of kids scrubbing walls. This was a regular occurance when I was growing up, and one round of 8 hours of scrubbing was all it took for me to stop THAT endeavor. |
Tom Reingold
Supporter
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 13790
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Friday, April 21, 2006 - 12:24 pm: |
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http://graffitiresearchlab.com/
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Bailey
Citizen
Username: Baileymac
Post Number: 254
Registered: 3-2005
| | Posted on Friday, April 21, 2006 - 12:44 pm: |
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Many of us have cameras in our cell phones these days, why not take pics of these kids, either for the police, school principals, parents, or every storefront in the two towns.
Glock, Letters isn't assuming it hasn't happened to you, just that it's going to happen to you over and over and over in various forms, and each time, you get just a little more pissed off.
Kinda explains the postal-worker thing.
Maybe we should create a website for pics of vandals_caught_in_action or some such? |
marie
Citizen
Username: Marie
Post Number: 1423
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Friday, April 21, 2006 - 1:52 pm: |
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smartyjones,
did you report it to the mpd? |
greenetree
Supporter
Username: Greenetree
Post Number: 7335
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, April 21, 2006 - 1:57 pm: |
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That's what I was thinking. Don't bitch if you don't act when the opportunity arises.
Do middle school or high schoolers have to do community service here? It would be great if they did clean-up (grafitti, repainting) as part of the curriculum. Might teach them to value hard work. |
Smarty Jones
Citizen
Username: Birdstone
Post Number: 543
Registered: 10-2005
| | Posted on Friday, April 21, 2006 - 2:34 pm: |
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Greenetree, that comment was unusually mean? Is there a reason you're cursing and being so agressive?
I actually did one better than reporting to MPD...I reported it to Mom, which in my book, goes a lot further. Benefit of living in a small town, I suppose. |
themp
Supporter
Username: Themp
Post Number: 2813
Registered: 12-2001
| | Posted on Friday, April 21, 2006 - 2:43 pm: |
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Every time I see this poster, I wish for a fat Sharpie and ten minutes.
 |
greenetree
Supporter
Username: Greenetree
Post Number: 7336
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, April 21, 2006 - 3:30 pm: |
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Smarty - to address your questions:
1. "Reason I'm cursing" Well, if you knew me IRL, you'd know that I only curse when I breathe.
2. "Aggressive" From your post, it seemed as if they ran off and you went on your merry way. I applaud your action. You just didn't mention that you did anything. Back in the day, I was only afraid of the police because they would tell my mom. I think that kids should be more afraid of getting caught by their parents than anyone else. So, again, good for you.
I have issues with people who have an opportunity to act and don't. It doesn't have to be a major or risky thing. If more people let less go, we'd have fewer of these QOL problems. |
letters
Citizen
Username: Letters016
Post Number: 493
Registered: 5-2005
| | Posted on Friday, April 21, 2006 - 7:39 pm: |
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So, Tom, did you go around and spray paint things when you were younger? After all, you must have thought that public property wasn't owned by anybody. Or were you more like me, a person who had been taught by his parents that certain things were not acceptable, certain actions should not be done. That there was a time and a place for everything or, if you wish, everything had a time and a place.
I would be absolutely shocked if my kids ever did anything like this. Not that I think that they are saints or anything, but because I have instilled in them values that I think are acceptable to the common good of society.
While I definitely agree with your perception of what the ethics of vandals are, that in no way excuses their behavior or their parents lack of teaching. (And by this I mean teaching to the point were the lesson is learned.)
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Tom Reingold
Supporter
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 13815
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Friday, April 21, 2006 - 11:41 pm: |
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Did I sound like I was excusing it? No, I wasn't, and I won't excuse it. I think it's useful to understand it.
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letters
Citizen
Username: Letters016
Post Number: 508
Registered: 5-2005
| | Posted on Saturday, April 22, 2006 - 10:45 am: |
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Tom,
"I don't know how to instill compassion in them. Most people develop it later in life. I wish it came sooner, so they wouldn't do this type of damage."
This is the post I had a problem with. There seems to be too many kids that we have to have this concern with. This should be taught to them from the beginning, not after the fact. Do we really need a book called "Parenting for Dummies"? Really?!?!?!? Are some of todays parents that dumb? |
joeltfk
Citizen
Username: Joeltfk
Post Number: 370
Registered: 8-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, April 22, 2006 - 8:10 pm: |
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I wrote a column for the News-Record on this subject a few weeks back. They don't post the columns online, but I still have it in my GRAIN OF SALT portfolio:
http://www.jesttokill.com/grain_graffiti.html
Joel |
Tom Reingold
Supporter
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 13818
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, April 22, 2006 - 9:53 pm: |
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I have a problem with it, too, letters. That stuff upsets me just as much as you. Yes, we need "Parenting for Dummies" but even that's not enough. Yes, parents are that dumb.
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anon
Supporter
Username: Anon
Post Number: 2675
Registered: 6-2002
| | Posted on Sunday, April 23, 2006 - 2:54 pm: |
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The saddest part of turning 40, IMHO, was realizing that I was not so different from other people, after all.
Greentree: FWIW I always find you to be unique.
joeltfk: You are an asset to this community.
letters: Thank you for the "Howard Beal moment" and for this thread. I think you are absolutely correct to be upset and I agree with the posters who advocate action. I hope someone figures out how to make Bailey's suggestion of web site with pictures of vandals, or posting their pictures in store windows a reality.
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letters
Citizen
Username: Letters016
Post Number: 515
Registered: 5-2005
| | Posted on Sunday, April 23, 2006 - 3:14 pm: |
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I just went to my window, opened it up and yelled "I'm mad as Hell and I'm not going to take this anymore"!
Note to self: Next time also open the storm window.... ouch.
Also, ditto's on the Joel comment. |
Maplewoody
Citizen
Username: Maplewoody
Post Number: 1165
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, April 23, 2006 - 4:35 pm: |
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Are there sucha things as wireless web cameras?
Let's set up one or two in the park aimed at the freshly painted shelter
house and catch the artistic bastards on camera, and post their artwork and them creating it online!!! |
Lucy
Supporter
Username: Lucy
Post Number: 3534
Registered: 5-2005
| | Posted on Monday, April 24, 2006 - 10:28 am: |
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Great idea that would give a whole new meaning to you're on Candid Camera .. |
HOMMELL
Citizen
Username: Hommell
Post Number: 132
Registered: 11-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 25, 2006 - 11:08 am: |
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Try http://www.dumondchemicals.com/graffiti_remover.htm or http://www.taginator.com/
The citrus-based products really work on removing graffiti. |
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