HANDLING THE "BIG SECRET" OF GRAFFITI

[and now you choke]

this is a question for the more serious of guys i guess...the ones who have been around for years and have gotten REALLY into painting at some point or another...but how well do you keep the fact that you do graffiti from others? how well do you hide it from the "normal" people? what do you tell people you're doing when you're actually out painting? i mean, what extents do you go to to cover it up and how much does it irritate you? how does it ever come up and when do you finally give in and explain it to someone who knows NOTHING about graffiti? it's something i've always wondered how other people handled. i find it really fucking annoying but absolutely necessary to keep the low profile. but...what's the deal huh?

[imported_CATS]

Most of my friends know, and I'll tell them when I go out usually to invitethem. However I have told people that are on a need to know basis that I was going to another friends house, I once told this girl I was going to another girls house. I didnt get to paint walls that night but I got to paint something else. So by all means try whatever you can. Its not like your superman with a secret clark kent by day identity:cool:

[Remy Martin]

when talking to friends and family i trust i rarley go more than 2 subjects without mentioning painting..half cause i love it and half to irritate them and remind them that for almost the last ten years i have been writing my name all over diffrent kinds of other peoples shit...
sometimes ill ask people if they mind if I write on things in front of them, if im feeling polite..otherwise i give em my best gangstar mug and write on somthing in front of them.
last time i tried to have a discussion involving writing and painting on things with some one i just met. it ended with her telling me to go become a politician and i replied that i could accomplish what ever i would hope to as a politician by writing on things. also heard from my boy that was humping her that shes a brutal control freak? i mean how the fuck do you associate writing with the united states goverment on a similiar level of acheiving goals????

[usedtolove]

other writers know ...at least in the area..family knows..
but i dont talk to starngers so...thats about it...the subject does not come up around those who dont already know about me.

[Are2]

..the important people in my life know..my parents, my best friend..

i'm not going to tell or explain to anyone who doesn't already know a lot about me, and some about grafitti..low profile is the name of my game..

the people that i work with don't know, i'll never tell them, same went when i was a student..

telling someone that will have an unpredictable reaction is a bad move..mostly because i don't have the patience to answer all their questions, or give them a satisfactory explanation for why i do what i do..

part of the thrill of grafitti is the anonymity..i don't wanna give it up..

and sometimes, some stranger will know who you are and what you're about..no need to explain..pretty cool..

[mr.yuck]

i tell anyone that wants to know what im up to, but I do like to keep a low profile. So what i do is tell people that ask what im drawing that its graffiti and that it says orbet which was my old name. This way when people go out they never see anything by orbet and just think that im a big liar. Which is the truth when you think about it but whatever. No one is the wiser. Plus this way if some one eventualy wants or feels the need to rat you out due to moral obligations or what have you...There wont be any evidence linked back to you.

Shout me a holler dunny

[Remy Martin]

true..
anonymity is a key part..
but i love hitting up shit in front of people that arent expecting it.
especially when nicley dressed.

[boogie hands]

well....parents and girlfriends....those are really the only people that need to know, parents because their your parents and you could tell them you had a barrel of dead babies in your basement and they would still kiss you on the way out the door and your girlfriend because if you lie to her about where your creeping off to at 2 am she might think your cheating on her and youll wind up with your penis glued to your stomach....

[BROWNer]

my family, my girl and my best friends know.
thats it. sometimes i want to scream in someone's
face when they start in about graffiti, but don't
know that i do it...but...i keep to myself at all
costs and avoid just about everyone as far as writing
is concerned. people don't need to know. its a existential, solo thing. i meet
writers when i'm buying paint and they say 'yo dun,
you write?'...usually i play dumb.
*cue signature*

[seven.13]

like are2 said....

i dont have the patience or energy to explain.
it sounds dumb anyways.

[Remy Martin]

but now that i think about it...all my friends are either writers or exwriters. so its cool talking about it..in fact its most of what we talk about.
my girl used to write so she understands. my fams is shady so graff aint nothing really..other than it puts me in criminal classification with the rest of the black sheeps
allthough yeah im guilty..i blew my self up..and got a really high level job and got a fat background check so i told em i had graffiti convictions cause i didnt want em to think i was trying to hide.
buy yeah Are2 and Ink Lunatic are on point.
when i got into it with home girl i was mad hyped at going out and she started it..plus i think she knew about writing, since she got the hint at what me and myboy were doing..what was her qoute? sarcastic tone "are you guys writers" plus shes trustworthy..


godamn espresso fucks me up.

im shutting up now

[sectorTVA]

when im flippin through a graf magazine at lunch, or getting down on some sketching in class, and people ask, " hey, do you do that on walls??" i mumble no very softly, so they can barely hear me, i dont even give them eye contact, i just continue along looking at the magazine or sketching, the next thing they normally say is, "thats really cool", i respond by saying nothing and continuing doing my buisness, if they ask me another question or make another comment, i put up what im doing and give them a mean stare...they should get the point to fuck off...its probably why i dont make any many friends here...but i take graf to the heart, and if all they are going to do is ask me stupid questions about graffiti and make lame comments, ill treat them like theyre nobody...my family knows, and my good friends know, but thats it.

[Vanity]

my family knows.. but have no idea the extent of how much i do, and think i mostly do legals. and the kids i paint w/... even when i meet another writer, or a chick that jocks writers, i deny it.

[imported_SOZER]

when im flippin through a graf magazine at lunch, or getting down on some sketching in class, and people ask, " hey, do you do that on walls??" i mumble no very softly, so they can barely hear me, i dont even give them eye contact, i just continue along looking at the magazine or sketching, the next thing they normally say is, "thats really cool", i respond by saying nothing and continuing doing my buisness, if they ask me another question or make another comment, i put up what im doing and give them a mean stare...they should get the point to fuck off...its probably why i dont make any many friends here...but i take graf to the heart, and if all they are going to do is ask me stupid questions about graffiti and make lame comments, ill treat them like theyre nobody...my family knows, and my good friends know, but thats it.

exactly...that was my high school years...many a hard stare and whatnot but people think/know im antisocial anyway so what-the-fuck-ever.

my family "knows", but theyre in denial or something.

nsk

[Zack Morris]

Originally posted by CATS
I once told this girl I was going to another girls house. I didnt get to paint walls that night but I got to paint something else...

so you painted a freight that night?

[IntangibleFame]

Originally posted by Zack Morris


so you painted a freight that night?

No...I think he painted a girl. Thats kinda mean, the paint would take along time to wash off, and it might get in her mouth and eyes. Hey man be careful you could blind some one.

[jacks raging bile duct]

i tell everyone straight up:
im gonna do fr8s tonite
im doing brooklyn streets tonite
im doing a roller tonite
no need to feel ashamed about it,or even feel like a dick in some cases
fuck that, i tell everyone "im a graffiti writer" yes i bomb,yes i piece,yes ill write your name for you,whatever it is you do,make it known and be proud.
graffiti is real,real situations with real concequences.
it says alot to be a graffiti writer,u risk your ass everytime you out,whether it be gettin bagged,gettin beat,or dying.
so i say fuck everyone,if you cant except the fact that i like a little thrill in my life and i enjoy painting, then fuck you.

NEKS NEKS NEKS NEKS NEKS NEKS NEKS ABK YMI 2001..........

[Zack Morris]

Originally posted by IntangibleFame


No...I think he painted a girl. Thats kinda mean, the paint would take along time to wash off, and it might get in her mouth and eyes. Hey man be careful you could blind some one.

oh...yeah I knew that.

[Are2]

i enjoy leading a private life..i don't need to make all of my accomplishments known to everyone, or even to a few..after all, i don't brag on this forum about my educational and scientific achievements..

..i'm not out to prove anything..to anyone.
and i'm not looking for props because i choose to risk life and limb.

[imported_NOVAGIRL]

good topic...me like.

well let's see...NO ONE knows unless i want them to know. cause graff is all mine and i do it for me, fuck the rest. my family doesn't know that i vandalize. when people ask "do you right?" or "what do you write?" i either say nothing as in no response or "naw i'm retired". because the older i get the more people expect of me and what they do not know can't hurt them.

it's all about keeping it private for the long haul. and when kids ask where were you last night, "well i was gettin trashed or sleepin or fuckin". but i do not feel the need to let people know cause it's none of their fuckin business like smokin weed and shit like that.

remain anonymous always

[taper]

nova do u work at slackers?

[imported_NOVAGIRL]

hell no...i guess you have no idea who i am...are you even more intrigued...are the walls crumbling down...who's that girl?

[beardo]

hahaha reality crashes in

[imported_NOVAGIRL]

okay, okay...i TRY to live anonymously off the computer(taking deep breath)

i love everyone

[Secret]

My parents know. I hid going to jail from them though which was a miracle. Ink Lunatic is right. Graffiti does sound stupid. And bragging about what hot shot graffiti writer you are over the internet sounds even worse.

[IntangibleFame]

Originally posted by NOVAGIRL
hell no...i guess you have no idea who i am...are you even more intrigued...are the walls crumbling down...who's that girl?

I can't sleep at night.....

[Southern kid]

i dont tell anyone who doesnt need to know. i treat it like i'm in the cia. on a need-to-know basis. the only people who know are my best friend (who paints also) and my mom and stepdad. my stepmom and real dad dont have a clue because i dont live with them. people see my handwriting and ask if i 'tag' and i say no..which is true..i'm a writer not a tagger. i've had people see my stash in my room and i deny painting..its really funny. even when i'm out somewhere and i'm obviously the graffiti writer i still deny it. no one needs to know who i am..just enjoy the work.

[imported_crso]

.....

[Can you sign my book???]

Its kinda hard to keep people you see on the regular from knowing...Like when Im at work, out of habit ill just pick up a marker and write on anything...If Im just chillin, ill grab a pad and pen, not thinkin of whos around me...Its so addictive, Ill walk into the bodega for my bodega fresh forty ounce, and if the glass is all fogged up, you know that shit is gettin wrecked...Serious though, Ive driven by my fillins with pops in the car, and hes like all sly, hey that looks familiar...And we just play off it...Im pretty much an adult, even though I dont want to be, but at this stage in my life, either your with it or not...If you dont like, cool, just dont preach to me...If your with it. hey Ill write your name dude...LOL...

[dukeofyork]

the rents know, thank god they dont see hardly any of what i do..
they can spot my shit a mile away though. they just KNOW if they see something ive done, it really sucks. its like a child always recognizes his/her mothers voice, they recognize it instantly...
my close friends know, and im always up front with any women in my life...the last one left cause i went out too much...:rolleyes: oh well, life goes on.
sometimes i do like catching tags when i know people will be caught off guard, that shit is fun..but can be hot.....

[imported_MoeLarryCurly]

my parents know that i'm all into it the dont care. as long as im not "doing it on other peoples property" as they would say. one of my art teachers knows i write and hooked me up with a paint pen once. thats about it besides my friends knowing

[cdz]

i depends who it is. when i go to my parents house and they ask me what ive been doing, ill tell my mom cause shes an artist, and most artists respect graffiti. my dad hates it and i love pissin him off. one of my roommates hates it and feels bad for the peoples stuff i paint on. other than the people im close to, i dont want anybody to know. the feeling of painting just gives me a good feeling, that im giving the city character, and not leaving it bland. i dont do it so i can tell people.
-cdz $0.02

[circus freak]

to tell you the truth i have never been too worried about who knows and who doesnt. dont get me wrong; im not goin to the top of a mountain and scream it for everyone to hear but if the conversation comes up then i will take it from there. i think it also depends on where you live; if yor a bomber in a big city where yor shit isnt as noticable as in a small city then you have less to worry about. i think it always good to keep yor guard up butstress over it too much... on the other hand, sometimes its good to be paranoid.

[The Nasty]

In this day and age your better off not telling anyone what you do. Infact your biggest enemy will be your own pride and ego. The internet as famous as it can make you. It can also break you. Just ask Ovie ket utah and the rest that have been busted and had thier own computers and e-mail as evidance towards thier convictions. anonymity is simple . never get dirty and dont tell anyone what you did. keep it simple and dont put any pictures on a pc and never keep anything at home. Yes you have to live a double life but trust me its worth it. Also remember that the MAN is always watching and they are part of all these web sites so watch what you say and remember when communicating from your home computer it does have whats called an IP address and you will be tracked down. Sorry coppers but you`ll have to work harder now..So peeps remember keep your mouth shut and your person clean and say no to vandalizm..

[JustHereForTheNight]

damn, whats with this trend of bumping these old threads?

[JustHereForTheNight]

In this day and age your better off not telling anyone what you do. Infact your biggest enemy will be your own pride and ego. The internet as famous as it can make you. It can also break you. Just ask Ovie ket utah and the rest that have been busted and had thier own computers and e-mail as evidance towards thier convictions. anonymity is simple . never get dirty and dont tell anyone what you did. keep it simple and dont put any pictures on a pc and never keep anything at home. Yes you have to live a double life but trust me its worth it. Also remember that the MAN is always watching and they are part of all these web sites so watch what you say and remember when communicating from your home computer it does have whats called an IP address and you will be tracked down. Sorry coppers but you`ll have to work harder now..So peeps remember keep your mouth shut and your person clean and say no to vandalizm..


kid, go back to painting the plywood in your parents backyard

[Swindle]

deny deny deny. no one knows. clean your house when strangers come over. dont leave props lying around. i dont tell anyone, even other writers unless im friends with them.

[\\KNUX//]

damn brought back from the dead after 8 years... but i kinda always did wonder how all the big names like cope and shit get away with practically being celebrities now knowing what they used to do and some still do...

[<---lllExlllPert--->]

At work i dont mention graffiti- but at home my fiends know wasup.

[bad arrow]

you are toys

[ANGELDUST]

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e68/Kilmandor/Photo197.jpg

[BullshitTantrum]

if you paint for years and years then it slowly becomes apart of your daily routine. everyone in your life will either get it, get over it or not but its pretty simple. even if you don't do graffiti you probably don't tell everyone all of your business so its not that hard to keep a skeleton in the closet.

[Feed Yer Ego]

it's talking to other writers you really need to worry about

they're the ones who are likely to snitch on you when they get pinched or get you into beef/dramatics by running their mouth on some dumb shit

[Rank Frank]

If anyone asks where are you going out so late just say the gay bar no one will ask any further questions.

[skinker]

nobody knows except about 2 or 3 of my friends...its just very awkward to talk about it when they have no idea about it.....they think its childish and stupid and it makes no sense...and when they call you a "tagger" it makes you extremely irritated as well......people just dont understand that its something you engulf in your life for some reason or another.....they dont understand and i dont want to explain it to those who dont understand..i keep it to myself and the others writers that im close to...family doesnt know....and that is how i would LOVE to keep it....they dont understand what graffiti is and the art form of it...they dont understand that it could be the olny thing that makes you happy...they dont understand that you're miserable unless you're painting.....HAHA i feel like i just wrote a poem..but to be honest its true.people are better off not knowing.cause they won't understand.

[BANZ BLANK]

i tell everyone straight up:
im gonna do fr8s tonite
im doing brooklyn streets tonite
im doing a roller tonite
no need to feel ashamed about it,or even feel like a dick in some cases
fuck that, i tell everyone "im a graffiti writer" yes i bomb,yes i piece,yes ill write your name for you,whatever it is you do,make it known and be proud.
graffiti is real,real situations with real concequences.
it says alot to be a graffiti writer,u risk your ass everytime you out,whether it be gettin bagged,gettin beat,or dying.
so i say fuck everyone,if you cant except the fact that i like a little thrill in my life and i enjoy painting, then fuck you.

NEKS NEKS NEKS NEKS NEKS NEKS NEKS ABK YMI 2001..........

HELL YEAH! i'm the same way, i mean, i don't go braging about it, but if someone ask me i just tell them, i'm proud of being a graffiti writer, no doubt! & also after 10 year is kindda hard to hide it, graffiti is just a really big, big part of me & my life...

[BANZ BLANK]

& aslo, i don't know in the conutrys you live in, but here if the cops catch you once, they know... they know everything about you & i think thats the only worry you sould have

[Detective Axel Folie]

pretty much all my good friends either know I write or they write themselves. I try to keep my name on the DL tho but people talk you know and it spreads fast. I have a big problem with this lame ass toy that knows who I am and I have beef with him, he lets everyone know who I am. Imma have to deal with that situation soon