graffitti in the bush

Submitted: Monday, Jun 19, 2006 at 21:08

ThreadID: 35086 Views:2061 Replies:4 FollowUps:7

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Terryfied

I have just returned from a superb 2 week trip in the Great Victorian Desert, the only blemish was at Lang rock, an area with a number of names carved into rock by early prospectors and explorers.
As we climbed to the top of the rock there were new carvings of the initials of 4 bleep s (my thoughts anyway) with full dates on a side face of the rock. When the culprits returned to see us (we were there the day after their work was done) we found out that they were working for a surveying company and seemed proud of their work on the rock.
It annoys the hell out of me that grown men would want to deface a part of our limited and short history.

Terry

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Reply By: Shaker - Monday, Jun 19, 2006 at 21:12

Reply By: ro-dah-o (WA) - Monday, Jun 19, 2006 at 22:35

Reply By: Member - Banjo (WA) - Tuesday, Jun 20, 2006 at 08:51

Tuesday, Jun 20, 2006 at 08:51

It's interesting though that if it's done yesterday, it's graffiti or defacement.

Done a few hundred or more years ago and it becomes something to be admired.

Banjo (WA)

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Follow Up By: cackles - Tuesday, Jun 20, 2006 at 09:31

Tuesday, Jun 20, 2006 at 09:31

my thoughts too, i don't agree with mindless vandalism but at the same time in 200 years time these surveyors may be called early explorers

"yes son, there was no molecular transportaion in those days, all they had were those ancient four-wheel drives we saw in the museum and it would take them days to do it"

we will all be a part of our countrys history one day, i just think we could be careful what it is we leave.

cackles

FollowupID: 435614

Follow Up By: Footloose - Tuesday, Jun 20, 2006 at 10:38

Tuesday, Jun 20, 2006 at 10:38

Leave nothing but your footprints, and take away your memories :))

FollowupID: 435628

Follow Up By: Sea-Dog - Tuesday, Jun 20, 2006 at 12:34

Tuesday, Jun 20, 2006 at 12:34

Sometimes correct!

Historically when you see the names of early explorers carved into rock and trees etc it was used as either a navigation point or a safety marker so that those following could tell that they had been there and how long ago...

I have to agree that mindless vandalism is nothing more than a reflection of how stupid some people truly are..

"Take photos and leave footprints" I reckon

My 2 cents worth... : )

FollowupID: 435648

Follow Up By: Footloose - Tuesday, Jun 20, 2006 at 12:45

Tuesday, Jun 20, 2006 at 12:45

Sometimes correct ! Not all early early records were navigation points. Many were very similar to todays "vandals", they wanted to let people know that they had been there. Many places have the origianl explorers then those that came after. At what point do we call it vandalism and not history ?

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Follow Up By: Member - Matt M (ACT) - Tuesday, Jun 20, 2006 at 12:48

Tuesday, Jun 20, 2006 at 12:48

Interesting thought Banjo. But I reckon the difference is one of context. The early explorers and surveyors would have had no reason to believe that what they were doing was wrong and as, Sea-Dog points out, probably had good reason to do it. The idiots who did it recently should have known better and had no reason other than stupidity for what they did.

Still, as Cackles said, who knows what future generations will make of their selfish behaviour. Perhaps they will have the ability to bring them back to life and scrub it off.

Matt.

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Follow Up By: cackles - Tuesday, Jun 20, 2006 at 14:46

Tuesday, Jun 20, 2006 at 14:46

Ok so here's where i'm coming from,I don't agree with tagging for bragging

However I have family who run cattle, on their land they have caves with aboriginal cave paintings etc as well as part of the old cobb and co route. I doubt anyone will argue the historical significance of these.

But how about my family who have passed that land from father to son for generations? They have all put their names on the rock there for they also form the history of that area.

I doubt the romans, chinese, egyptions would have stopped after 220 years why should we?

cackles

FollowupID: 435667