Yay Social Media! Graffitti Vandals In Joshua Tree NP Spraypaint, Then Post Their "Work" Online

[hatrack]

CNN) -- Hundreds of acres of winding trails and giant boulders are closed at a popular site in Joshua Tree National Park. And social media is playing a role.

The California park is battling an outbreak of graffiti splashed across its vast rock formations. Vandals are posting pictures of their graffiti on social media sites, according to officials, making the illegal handiwork more popular and exacerbating the problem.

"Oatmeal cookie," some of the graffiti reads. "Little nature boy."

To limit the impact of vandalism on historic sites, park rangers closed 308 acres of Rattlesnake Canyon until the end of the month, citing the escalating problem.

"Since January, individuals have defaced the day-use and canyon area of Rattlesnake Canyon with graffiti," the park said in a statement.

EDIT

http://www.cnn.com/2013/04/14/us/california-park-closed/index.html?hpt=hp_t2

[Euphoria]

1. Defacing nature for your social media advantage?

If I have to explain the utter contempt I have for people who do this type of stuff (you know as in the usual carving initials in a tree), I bet that they'll never 'get it'.

So here's some suggestions to those doing this kind of thing:
Move to a city and then try to compete with some real graffiti artists;
Tag your own residence;
Try tattoos;
Or, just imagine yourself as not that interesting.

Ok, I'm now pouring my second cup of scalding coffee.

[klook]

2. Where are the grizzly bears when you need 'em? (n/t)

[sinkingfeeling]

3. Some days I think we're just here to destroy the world. What is wrong

with people that they think vandalism is something 'cool'?

[OKIsItJustMe]

4. While I don’t much care for it, it’s not a new phenomenon

http://www.lascaux.culture.fr/?lng=en


http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2012/06/120614-neanderthal-cave-paintings-spain-science-pike/

[grntuscarora]

7. Lascoux caves were inhabited, I believe.

So for those painters it would've been like decorating their bedroom or living room wall. That's a far cry from what the J.T. defilers are doing, imo.
I saw J.T. for the first time 2 years ago. Glad I got to experience it without the graffiti.

[JDPriestly]

5. That's pretty sick.

Here is a very bad photo of a joshua tree.

It does not begin to convey the uniqueness of this plant.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yucca_brevifolia

First time I saw a joshua tree, I had the feeling it was really not just a plant but a cross between an animal and a plant. It seemed to have a life beyond that of any other plant.

That's just me and my reaction to it.

I don't think that joshua trees are common in the world. Why anyone would want to graffiti the rocks at the Joshua Tree monument is not to be understood. Whoever is doing it should stop. It's a horrible thing to do.

[OKIsItJustMe]

6. The Grafitti was painted on rocks at the park

http://www.cnn.com/2013/04/14/us/california-park-closed/index.html

[limpyhobbler]

8. This is cool though

Oil and Gas Extraction Equipment, Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area
http://www.nature.nps.gov/geology/aml/hazards.cfm