Sidewalk chalk

[downtheroad]

The last two site we pulled in to (Oregon State Parks) were covered in chalk drawings, art, graffiti?? It was all over the parking pad and out into the street that services the loop.

Am I just a grumpy guy or is anyone else kind of bothered by this...?
I do know that there are a lot of bigger things to get grumpy about, but....

[rickeoni]

Has it really come down to this? Are we getting that easily offended by some children enjoying camping and have some harmless fun. you should all look into the mirror and realise that you have become "that guy"! you remember him/her from when you were a child, don't you? lighten up and enjoy the things that are done in the frivolous times of youth.

[donkeydew]

it won't be so fun when you track some of it in your rig and it gets ground into your carpet. it does not shampoo out without some effort.

[2oldman]

gbopp wrote:
Wait until the kids figure out how to do sidewalk chalk art with a drone.

lol

[gbopp]

Wait until the kids figure out how to do sidewalk chalk art with a drone. Them some members will really have something to be grumpy about. :B

[winnietrey]

Sidewalk chalk art, done by small children, always brings a smile to my face, and is something I enjoy. Not too many better things in this world than, happy children, using their imagination to create fairytale worlds, and sometimes dancing animals.

Yep I am old, And just my opinion, but I think sometimes folks use any, little thing, like this, to carry on about, how the younger generation is going to heck, and not taught respect and all that. Not a world view I share

[Halmfamily]

It's great to see kids out using their imagination instead of being glued to technology. Color away I say, I can wash it off with a hose or wait for the rain to clean it up. Life is too short to worry about something like this

[Lynnmor]

fj12ryder wrote:
In some people's opinions, adding some chalk drawing does leave the campsite better than when they found it.

Could be, but the folks vacating the site should not get to chose for the next person.

[fj12ryder]

In some people's opinions, adding some chalk drawing does leave the campsite better than when they found it.

[Lynnmor]

I always taught my kids to leave a campsite better than they found it. So far none of the children, grandchildren or great grandkids are in prison, despite that serious abuse.

[Turtle_n_Peeps]

OP, I think it's a break-down of society.

First sidewalk chalk drawings. Then building sand castles on the beach! Kick the can in the campground streets! Maybe even putting pig tails in the ink well!

Or the worse of the worse; having a full automatic water balloon fight! Now that teaches aggressive skills for sure!

It's turning out just like the Breakfast Club movie!

[Community Alumni]

Maybe a little discretion could be used on where the the chalk is used. The campsite should be left clean with nothing left behind; it is your space when you are occupying it, but it will be someone else's when you leave. Have some consideration for the next occupant. I am ambivalent to the chalk thing, but I have seen some abuses where chalk art defaced natural areas. In most cases only temporary. The dye in the chalk can sometimes take a long time to dissipate. Sidewalk chalk is generally Calcium Sulfate, dye and maybe some proprietary ingredients. One time I drove up to my empty site to find an army of kids decorating the pavement. Not one square foot was left without decoration. The crew was called back by the parents who dispatched them to the adjacent site. My black lab got to rolling around on the chalk art and picked up a bit in his fur. I thought I brushed him well enough, but later I found pastel patches all over the inside of the RV. Some of the color was noticeable after a month on the lighter colored upholstery. But, if you have a dog, you are dealing with fur fluffs, paw prints, nose-prints and occasional upchucks. I'm not losing any sleep over sidewalk chalk. However, I vote on limiting heavy applications of chalk in shared spaces. What if this was not a public campground, but a private one where they hand you a sheet of rules when you check in? Should the rules for campground etiquette be any different? That being said, if sidewalk chalk is to be banned universally, pink Flamingos, garden gnomes and other assorted lawn decorations should be forbidden from campsites as well. Now, if you want something that makes people really grumpy, it is folks that shortcut through your site when plenty of paths and thoroughfares are provided for foot and bicycle traffic.

[downtheroad]

original poster here:
OK, you guys convinced me. I being a little too grumpy. That's why I asked for opinions.
(Now I have to convince my wife to just ignore it......:B

[4x4van]

Wow, the negative reactions to children's sidewalk chalk drawings pretty much clarifies the reason that there will NEVER be a consensus on actual problems in campgrounds; i.e. loud generators, idling diesels, loud music, bright lights, smokey campfires, walking through campsites...

Graffiti? Future taggers? Defacing? Ghetto? Seriously? Can someone please put me out of my misery if I ever get that grumpy?:S

I'm going to guess that if you have grandkids, they likely don't care to spend much time with you, do they? Wonder why? On the other hand, I absolutely love spending time with my grandson, and he loves spending time with me. Funny how that works.

[hotbyte]

As long as there were clouds in the sky to yell at, what's the big deal?

[lots2seeinmyrv]

What next? Take our lipstick in the bathroom and draw cute hearts and rainbows on the mirrors? It just "washes" off.