I am not a fan of graffiti. Call it spray can art, freedom of expression, whatever, if you spray it on private property it is defacement and a crime.
I’ve also seen strange tags and mottos. This is one I’ve seen in at least three places in Brooklyn: “I NEVER WIPE!” or simply “NEVER WIPE!”
Is the “artist” making a statement about his strange bathroom habits? Are we being encouraged to follow suit? Your guess is as good as mine. But it beats the “I STILL KILL” I’ve seen around Staten Island.
Here is the first one I noticed:
Greenwood Cemetery
It is sprayed on a wall alongside a bus depot across from Greenwood Cemetery. I have no idea how long it has been there but it feels like forever. I drive past it a few times each week and I can’t remember not seeing it. It is in a slightly odd location and cannot be missed as you drive down as the road does a bit of a zigzag and at one point the tag is right in front of you.
I have no clue who did it but I used to know a great woman who lived nearby. (And then I totally screwed things up.) I doubt it was Michelle, but if it was, I won’t tell.
Bay Parkway
This is much more recent, within I’d guess the last year and a half. Unlike the previous one, this one includes the “I.” Does he work from a big stencil and the letter didn’t fit on the other wall? Theere is an identical tag on the other side of the lot, but without the arrows.
Avenue P (1)
Avenue P (2)
These two pictures were taken on the same block within fifteen feet of each other. As you can see, one is older and defaced. Did the artist do the second one after seeing how bad the first one looked? That brings up an interesting question- does this guy check up on his work? Does he replace work that has been damaged or defaced? Notice that one has the “I” and the other, presumably older one, does not. Is the “I” a recent addition? Also notice that these both lack the exclamation point.
If anyone has spotted any other “I NEVER WIPE” graffiti, please let me know.
Mr. Blog's Tepid Ride 
I’ve only seen the Staten Island comment (disturbing). Interesting blog. I’ll have to check back.
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Thank you!
I seem to recall that the SI graffiti was the subject of a police investigation. Very creepy.
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What if it’s actually two different people, with very little to discuss?
“Never wipe.”
“I never wipe!”
“Never wipe.”
“I told you already, I never wipe!”
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Who knows what goes on in the mind of a vandal, oh, excuse me, grafitti artist, but I can’t imagine it meaning anything but what it literally says. Maybe we should be happy that they are only marking their territory with spray paint!
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Nice one!
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I know it’s self-serving and uncool to reference your own blog in a comment, but I just remembered an old post I’d done and I wonder if it is related to never wiping:
http://testazyk.com/2009/10/05/youre-not-going-to-believe-this/
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It isn’t self-serving or uncool here. Feel free.
As for the subject of your blog, I’ve seen it with my own two eyes. In the last school I taught in, there was a serial offender who, er, “ruined the walls” throughout the building until he was caught. I didn’t know him but he was described as “slightly troubled.” It was one of the worst things I ever saw.
On the other hand, kudos to your son.
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Thanks! Actually he’s my nephew–and he won first prize for his speech!
Scary, though, I didn’t realize it was an international phenomenon. “Slightly troubled?” I wonder what he’s doing now.
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Geez…These ‘Never Wipe’ people are just asking for trouble. Even Rick Astley knows the Golden Rule of “never say never”. I fear for the future of the ‘Never Wipes’ as I sense they can suffer massive hemorrhoid pain and forced by a proctologist to Tucks Pad themselves into oblivion…
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Leave it to you to “Rickroll” this thread!
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Okay, you just knew I had to Google this one, and this is what I came up with:
“I’m Never Gonna Wipe My Butt” by The Shins
I’m never gonna wipe my butt
He’s never, ever, ever gonna wipe his butt
I’m never gonna wipe my butt
He’s never, ever, ever gonna wipe his butt
I don’t wipe my butt
‘Cause it’s waste of toilet tissue
Oh people don’t you know
My brown crusty stains are an environmental issue
I don’t wipe my butt
He’s never, ever, ever gonna wipe his butt
I will never wipe my butt
He’s never, ever, ever gonna wipe his butt
I’m never, never wipe my butt
He’s never, ever, ever gonna wipe his butt
No, I’ll never wipe my butt
He’s never, ever, ever gonna wipe his butt
Don’t you see, I’ll never wipe my butt
He’s never, ever, ever gonna wipe his butt
Ever gonna wipe his butt
I’m never, never
He’s never, ever, ever gonna wipe his butt
Mmm
I’ll never wipe my butt
He’s never, ever, ever gonna wipe his butt
Never, no
No, never wipe my butt no, no
He’s never, ever, ever gonna wipe his butt
Ever gonna wipe his butt
Never, never
He’s never, ever, ever gonna wipe his butt
Never wipe that butt
Never, ever, ever gonna wipe his butt…
And yet another example of some of the finer minds our nation is producing.
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After reading that, I googled it too. Other than some legit toddler questions, there were a lot, a lot, of strange results.
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