WRYMOUTH Exclusive: Grafitti Vandals Urged to Discuss Topics of Vandalism in Open, Non-threatening Forums
** UPDATE ** Feb 15th 16th **
An inside source tells me these signs are, in fact, in many if not all of the campus bathrooms, and have been there for some time (on the order of months, at least).
Hot on the scent of a good expose, I returned to the restroom this past Monday to see how the efforting of the campus administrations was paying off.
Firstly, any large swatches of graffitti are painted over and barely visible. Score one for the "broken windows" approach to curbing vandalism — making sure it is quickly repaired. I was only able to find one fresh piece of graffitti. It seemed to provide support for the administration's tough "we do not support ... threatening public discourse" stance:
"I like dirty old lady porn" — an up-beat, positive message! No hate-speech there; no indeedy! I think our local community college inclusives may be onto something here! I will continue to investigate this matter, keeping our elected officials honest!
Now, if only they can come up with an equally effective approach to discourage the free distribution of soiled toilet papers:
Where do they get the people that use public restrooms in this fashion? Haiti? Amarillo? How can someone be so emotionally overwhelmed by the sensations of experiencing indoor plumbing that they can't fathom what to do with the used toilet paper?
"Gol' dang! No hole in the floor — where's the crap go to? Where's the smell and flies?" One almost feels sorry for the poor, shell-shocked creature, its eyes squinting against the hard, uncompromising glow of the 'Lectric lights and the shiny, shiny chrome fixtures. And here — hidden behind a cunningly-placed door — what is this mysterious pool of water? What is it for?
It is likely that they were just trying to get out of that baffling, clean, confusing place as quickly as possible. It must be the same thing people feel when they are kidnapped by aliens.
We are accepting proposals for the wording of some signage that the college officials can use to soothe these people and educate them about the benefits of public sanitation!
EOF
** UPDATE **
Now with Less Venom!
** UPDATE **
At least, we hope this is exclusively a California phenomenon...
After teaching night school at the local community college, I noticed this sign posted in the nearest washroom. I can only presume these are in all the washrooms on campus.
They look like nice signs. Yup. Looks like a lot of time and effort and public moneys were expended by a lot of people in a lot of college departments to get the text just right, and the sign is very nicely laid out and framed.
If this don't shame the graffitti bullies into compliance, nothing will, I reckon.
One is confident that the frame is immune to felt-tip marker, pen-knives and spray paint.
We painstakingly* reproduce the text for yourentertainment empowerment:
...
...
...
Okay, maybe just one thing:
Post Script:
"Our Diversity is Our Strength!" is beginning to sound like the slogan of persons who haven't contemplated the strength of tempered steel, perhaps, or a united Japanese empire. Maybe it's time to diversify that motto:
"My Tossed Salad is Mightier than Your Melting Pot!"
"Balkanization is Unifying!"
"Together, a House Divided can Stand!"
* This is one of the rare times when I have used "painstakingly" literally. It took pains to copy these words down.
An inside source tells me these signs are, in fact, in many if not all of the campus bathrooms, and have been there for some time (on the order of months, at least).
Hot on the scent of a good expose, I returned to the restroom this past Monday to see how the efforting of the campus administrations was paying off.
Firstly, any large swatches of graffitti are painted over and barely visible. Score one for the "broken windows" approach to curbing vandalism — making sure it is quickly repaired. I was only able to find one fresh piece of graffitti. It seemed to provide support for the administration's tough "we do not support ... threatening public discourse" stance:
"I like dirty old lady porn" — an up-beat, positive message! No hate-speech there; no indeedy! I think our local community college inclusives may be onto something here! I will continue to investigate this matter, keeping our elected officials honest!
Now, if only they can come up with an equally effective approach to discourage the free distribution of soiled toilet papers:
Where do they get the people that use public restrooms in this fashion? Haiti? Amarillo? How can someone be so emotionally overwhelmed by the sensations of experiencing indoor plumbing that they can't fathom what to do with the used toilet paper?
"Gol' dang! No hole in the floor — where's the crap go to? Where's the smell and flies?" One almost feels sorry for the poor, shell-shocked creature, its eyes squinting against the hard, uncompromising glow of the 'Lectric lights and the shiny, shiny chrome fixtures. And here — hidden behind a cunningly-placed door — what is this mysterious pool of water? What is it for?
It is likely that they were just trying to get out of that baffling, clean, confusing place as quickly as possible. It must be the same thing people feel when they are kidnapped by aliens.
We are accepting proposals for the wording of some signage that the college officials can use to soothe these people and educate them about the benefits of public sanitation!
EOF
** UPDATE **
Now with Less Venom!
** UPDATE **
At least, we hope this is exclusively a California phenomenon...
After teaching night school at the local community college, I noticed this sign posted in the nearest washroom. I can only presume these are in all the washrooms on campus.
They look like nice signs. Yup. Looks like a lot of time and effort and public moneys were expended by a lot of people in a lot of college departments to get the text just right, and the sign is very nicely laid out and framed.
If this don't shame the graffitti bullies into compliance, nothing will, I reckon.
One is confident that the frame is immune to felt-tip marker, pen-knives and spray paint.
We painstakingly* reproduce the text for your
We recognize that very inappropriate comments have been written related to sexual orientation, religious beliefs and race issues. To those who wrote the comments and those who read them,The document then lists the names of 25 courageous individuals, and the signatures of five representatives of five groups: Administration, Faculty & Staff, Students, Community and ... wait for it... The Diversity Council!! YEE-aAAAAHHH!!
"We do not support anonymous and threatening public discourse. There are several forums on campus where these issues can be discussed openly and with respect. The restroom wall is NOT one of those places."
College of the Desert is a community of over 10,000 people from a variety of backgrounds and experiences.
Our diversity is our strength!
College of the Desert is committed to tolerance and acceptance of all students, faculty, staff and community members. There are no exceptions!
There are appropriate places and ways to express opinions. We believe in responsible dialogue. For further open discussion contact any one of us.
The above sign could be dissected, but I am going to refrain, largely because I feel that such treatment would violate the spirit of the whole.
Diversity Council: Your Diversity — er — Our Diversity is Our Strength!
...
...
...
Okay, maybe just one thing:
"We do not support anonymous and threatening public discourse." Ye gods. They can't even bring themselves to say that they are UNANIMOUSLY AGAINST or VIGOROUSLY OPPOSED to vague and generalized threats, or even (my personal favorite) hate-speech. They just do not support it.Notice how they don't seem to have any problem at all with vandalism, per se.
Post Script:
"Our Diversity is Our Strength!" is beginning to sound like the slogan of persons who haven't contemplated the strength of tempered steel, perhaps, or a united Japanese empire. Maybe it's time to diversify that motto:
"My Tossed Salad is Mightier than Your Melting Pot!"
"Balkanization is Unifying!"
"Together, a House Divided can Stand!"
* This is one of the rare times when I have used "painstakingly" literally. It took pains to copy these words down.
Posted by WryMouth at 15 Feb 2007, 5:22 PM 
Categories: Californianing, Edjication, Give Peace a Chance, Socialists, Local Events
Categories: Californianing, Edjication, Give Peace a Chance, Socialists, Local Events
College of the Desert is committed to tolerance and acceptance of all students, faculty, staff and community members. There are no exceptions!
We have zero tolerance for intolerance!
Wrymouth - be sure to post the pic of this sign with the spraypaint all over it. You can photoshop out the profanity.
I swear you'd think these people have never even MET college students before, let alone teach them.
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Like you, wrymouth, I can't eat just one. Again:
"College of the Desert is committed to tolerance and acceptance of all students, faculty, staff and community members. There are no exceptions!"
But, there ARE exceptions: COD is committed to the tolerance and acceptance of all students, faculty, staff and community members EXCEPT the subset of students, faculty, staff and community members who are intolerant.
If this were a Star Trek episode, the 'Nomad' probe would be issuing smoke from its antenna housing about now.
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Two points to Gryffindor House for the mention of the NOMAD probe and infinite logic loops.
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um... you guys read in too much.
This is the disclaimer that heads all those infomercials on Sunday morning TV.
The message is sent to those who write and read - CoD does not support what is written nor the method.
They aren't going to STOP such activity or even prosecute if they find out who is responsible.
They WILL lecture sternly, however...
the both of you are wonderfully insulated from modern public education and its tolerance of criminal activity...
I am jealous.
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Of course - now it all comes clear: pure bureaucratic CYA.
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Why, you--
I DO NOT APPROVE of your tone of voice, nor do I support your implied or explicit criticism of other readers or writers of Wry Mouth.
There are many other forums for non-threatening and civil and polite discussion of disagreement available -- Wry Mouth is not one of those places!
The Wry Mouth community is made up of up to several different people, from many walks of life, some of whom are actually not internet spiders and 'bots. We do not tolerate -- um; wait. We are tolerant of all of the members of our community, and all of their actions or non-actions and thoughts or thoughts that no one in the community has!
Our Total Theoretical Diversity is Our Strength!
Finally, We DO NOT SUPPORT the modern public educational system's tolerance of criminal activity. Well -- we would not support it, if by doing so we could entirely avoid hurting anyone's feelings.
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