Hobo Signs

[Optimistic Paranoid]

During the depression, hobos used to use a bit of chalk to post marks that only other hobos would understand.  It was, in a sense, a semi-secret language.

The marks would indicate things like:

Camp Here

Unsafe Place

Authorities Are Alert

Kind Woman Lives Here

Doctor Here Will Treat You For Free

Police Here Hate Hobos

and so on.  Here's some examples, if you are interested, a Google search on "Hobo Signs Meanings"  will turn up a lot more.

Regards
John

 

[Optimistic Paranoid]

I'm thinking seriously about putting this mark on my rig, when I get it . . . :angel:

Regards
John

 

[Optimistic Paranoid]

Anyway, I was thinking it might be fun to revive a dozen or so of these and start using them again:

Safe to Stay Here

Unsafe To Stay Here

Cops Will Hassle You Here

and a few more.

Anyone else like that idea?

Regards
John

 

[WriterMs]

We, as vandwellers, sure do not want is to be accused of leaving graffiti at physical locations, right?

Did you have another way in mind?

I think that if people wanted to post about specific locations that are safe or heavily patrolled (whatever the hobo signs are), then maybe a separate section of the forum could be dedicated to that and people could leave notes filed by state or city and state, etc.

Regarding the gun symbol, some others on the forum who carry have pointed out that sometimes things like NRA stickers just serve to advertise which van to rob when the owner is away. If you want it as a personal logo, though, it might be safe. Not very many would know what it means.

 

[Optimistic Paranoid]

We, as vandwellers, sure do not want is to be accused of leaving graffiti at physical locations, right?

Has anyone ever told you that you can be a real killjoy?

Personally, I wouldn't think of a couple of chalk lines as "graffiti".  At least, not compared to the elaborate spray can "people's art" paint jobs you usually see when someone is complaining about graffiti.

Regards
John

 

[Almost There]

I have to agree with WriterMs!

Unless it's children doing artwork in sidewalk chalk on the sidewalk, it's graffiti!

And we wonder why vandwellers get a bad rap in some areas...

Now putting decals or painting on your own vehicle, well that's up to you!

Maybe I'll have 'mean woman' on my van... :angel:

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

IMO a Beware of Dog sticker is much more effective than a Protected by S&W sign.  Plus, it suggests an active deterent inside.

BTW, we lived near a railroad tracks when I was young and I saw chalk drawings on telephone poles, fence posts, mailboxes, etc.  Used to have men come by asking for a meal or to sleep in the barn too.

-- Spiff

 

[B and C]

My mom probably had the mean woman mark on our place somewhere.  She gave a guy that was hungry an onion sandwich (hey, we were poor).  That was the only hobo to stop.

 

[DannyB1954]

I like the idea, but the chalkboard would have to be a location on the internet. When I was a kid 50+ years ago, door to door salespeople would put rubber bands on the fence if they made a sale, (to let other sales people know the house was easy). Chalk and rubber bands can easily be removed.
There would also have to be some sort of a way to monitor the reliability of the poster, (kind of like Ebay does for their sellers). Someone could post this is a safe place to park, then you are arrested and your vehicle is towed. The posting person may have been the tow yard owner, and the Sheriff his brother in law.

 

[Optimistic Paranoid]

Maybe I'll have 'mean woman' on my van... :angel:

I think that keeping some of these symbols alive and in use - even if only on our own vehicles - can be a nice gesture of respect for the people who, in  a sense, were our spiritual ancestors.

Though to be fair, you are only a hobo if you are looking for and willing to work.  A tramp is someone who will only work if forced to.  A bum is someone who won't work at all.

Since I am retired and plan to NEVER work again, I suppose that, technically, I am a bum.

But I was born in Brooklyn, so I'm comfortable being identified as a bum!

Regards
John

 

[Optimistic Paranoid]

I like the idea, but the chalkboard would have to be a location on the internet. When I was a kid 50+ years ago, door to door salespeople would put rubber bands on the fence if they made a sale, (to let other sales people know the house was easy). Chalk and rubber bands can easily be removed.
There would also have to be some sort of a way to monitor the reliability of the poster, (kind of like Ebay does for their sellers). Someone could post this is a safe place to park, then you are arrested and your vehicle is towed. The posting person may have been the tow yard owner, and the Sheriff his brother in law.

Honestly, that sounds like way too much work.  I was thinking more like, if you camp somewhere in the boonies, when you leave, take a piece of chalk and leave the CAMP HERE sign, so if one of us later comes along and finds that spot, we'll know somebody from the forum stayed there.  Maybe on a rock that's part of a fire ring, or something.

Regards
John

 

[WriterMs]

Has anyone ever told you that you can be a real killjoy?

Yes, John,
I have had a few people tell me I am a killjoy (like rowdy children who get the "stern look" from me). Luckily, however, those are far, far, far out-numbered by the people who say I am an absolute joy.

But I have to say I like the idea that CRVL members might develop our own "gang signs." LOL

Seriously, I get that the old symbols are cool. Maybe some entrepreneur will print up shirts with all the symbols (newly drawn) and sell them at RTR and other RV gatherings. Ooops... was that going to be your retirement hobby?

 

[Optimistic Paranoid]

Seriously, I get that the old symbols are cool. Maybe some entrepreneur will print up shirts with all the symbols (newly drawn) and sell them at RTR and other RV gatherings. Ooops... was that going to be your retirement hobby?

See my answer to DANNYB1954 re: "That sounds like way too much work."

Regards
John

 

[highdesertranger]

or you can go with my ancestors way,   http://www.euskalkazeta.com/basque-tree-carvings-a-living-legacy-threatened/  and  http://www.amazon.com/Speaking-Through-Aspens-Carvings-California/dp/0874177626  highdesertranger

 

[eDJ_]

I see it for what it is/was.   A survival skill.  

If you're living well and don't have to worry about surviving why worry.  Let those who need it have it in their tool chest of skills. 

I believe these marks were rather small in the day and would wash off easily when It rained.  Even be erased by hand or with the shoe sole.   They were placed discretely and were the propriety of insiders knowing where to place them and where to look for them.

Not something like this:

How's is what any of those symbols are communicating any different than what this symbol seeks to
do.

I'm thinking of printing that chart and laminating it to carry in my wallet.   You just never know when it may come in handy.  If you don't have a piece of chalk, you may scratch the symbol in the dirt. 

Anyone ever wonder about those pieces of silver tape you see on the back side of the Highway signs ?  It's said Law Enforcement knows the code meaning of it.

 

[WriterMs]

HDR-- That is so neat that someone archived the carvings and wrote the story of them. Didn't I see a Basque reference on your license plate holder? Somewhere on one of your truck shots anyway. Your heritage is that of men who wander in the mountains... you continue the tradition, I suppose.

Interesting how what was once essentially what we'd call graffiti in modern times is now history. Like Native American pictographs -- yet more modern etchings on those pictographs are considered vandalism -- even some "newer' ones from the 1800s. A perspective of time, I suppose.

I bet your ancestors never imagined their personal histories being featured in a book so far in the future.

 

[highdesertranger]

know if anybody runs across these I want in https://images.search.yahoo.com/sea...A3Nj?p=Spanish+Treasure+Symbols&fr=fp-yie10-s . yeah I guess it could be all called graffiti, but I guess once it survives 100 years then it's historic. highdesertranger

 

[TMG51]

I'm kind of skeptical that all these symbols were widely recognized by hobos. Seems more like the thing that maybe was put together after the fact from a collection of different symbols that may have been found in smaller usages. But I agree that the nostalgia of the idea is fun.

Nowadays, this is what most often passes for a hobo sign. I came across this scene in the woods a couple days ago:

 

[Optimistic Paranoid]

Did you see my post about the differences between hobos, tramps, and bums?  Nowadays, some people may think they all mean the same thing, but the old hobos took a certain amount of pride in NOT being tramps or bums.

Regards
John

 

[TMG51]

I agree there's a difference, and I'm not sure what labels to prescribe to there - but the difference is really about respect. Some people respect their surroundings, others don't. I'm not intending to conflate these groups, only commenting on what influences public perception.

If I started seeing chalked signs around and people actually recognized them, that would be cool. Although I wouldn't want myself seen chalking the sidewalk anywhere residential.