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Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To wonder why penis graffiti is so common in the UK?

159 replies

FlannelShirt · 22/08/2024 14:26

At least in the part of the UK where I live (the North, without getting too specific…I know the North is a large area), maybe it’s a regional issue?

But I have lived in three different countries and only experienced this since moving to the UK. I never saw penis graffiti like this before moving here.

Every time I go out there is a penis scribbled somewhere. On a bus bench there is a massive one with hair and stuff squirting out that anyone who wants to relax while waiting for the bus has to sit on.

There was another along a children’s nature walk by the river, on a white wall, about 4’ tall and bright red. Thankfully someone painted over that one.

But I see them, big and small, sometimes even made with the dark juice of some random piece of fruit (as seen near a farm and wild fruit hedge, made on the path).

These are just a very small sampling of the many penises I have seen while out and about.

I suppose people will say ‘because kids’, but why not in other countries I’ve lived, where kids exist? I’m not slamming the UK, I’m genuinely curious.

OP posts:
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27
Garlicfest · 22/08/2024 16:06

For a small amount of balance:
Frankfurt, Berlin, Copenhagen, Tokyo, London.

To wonder why penis graffiti is so common in the UK?
To wonder why penis graffiti is so common in the UK?
To wonder why penis graffiti is so common in the UK?
To wonder why penis graffiti is so common in the UK?
To wonder why penis graffiti is so common in the UK?
CurlewKate · 22/08/2024 16:07

@ThisOldThang " I'm not sure it's the patriarchy. It's just kids messing around."

It can be both!

Ihopeithinkiknow · 22/08/2024 16:10

EternallyIrked · 22/08/2024 14:30

I'm 37 and I've been known to draw a penis on my DHs whiteboard on my way out the door. Immature? Yes. Amusing (to me)? Also yes.

I do this when I visit family lol I like to see how long it takes people to notice where I have drawn the cock and it amuses me very much haha weeks can go by and I will get text saying "I found the cock well done" I'm a 43 year old woman btw lol

BattyEyelashes · 22/08/2024 16:10

Repression, mental growth stunt beyond penis/vagina/sexual jokes. It's our only highest form of humour or insult. It's all we have, sorry. If not, we'll be drawing the weather.

DeccaM · 22/08/2024 16:11

As PPs have said, it's quite a universal form of graffiti. If you've never seen the brilliant show "American Vandal," I highly recommend it. A clever parody of the true crime genre.

FlannelShirt · 22/08/2024 16:11

Maray1967 · 22/08/2024 15:56

Watch James May’s series on Japan - there’s a penis festival held there. On race across the world there was a penis sculpture park in South Korea, I think.

If anyone is interested, the penis festival is a festival where people pray for fertility, protection against stds, as well as safe childbirth. It’s one of thousands upon thousands of festivals Japan has but this one of course always makes the tourist show rounds.

OP posts:
Tarkan · 22/08/2024 16:13

There's also a penis museum in Iceland.

SprigatitoYouAndIKnow · 22/08/2024 16:15

Last time it snowed overnight, I excitedly looked out the window as soon as it got light. There were already cocks drawn on the car windscreens. Someone had to get up really to mark their territory!

PhilosophicalCheeseSandwich · 22/08/2024 16:16

I quite like a good old-fashioned cock and balls daubed where it shouldn't be. I'm not sure fannies are as funny, they lack the comical thrust.

Trixiefirecracker · 22/08/2024 16:24

I dem to remember Barcelona was full of penis graffiti…think it’s everywhere.

Newusernameforthiss · 22/08/2024 16:27

8====D

Sorry

Judd · 22/08/2024 16:40

It's a favourite way to spoil a ballot paper too!

Clumsy12345 · 22/08/2024 16:45

It’s common where I live in SE London so surprised people saying they haven’t seen it in London it’s in most of the play grounds I’ve visited over the climbing frames and its drawn on to signs in the playground, one is a stick figure and they’ve drawn one on it but it’s also on the kids climbing frames as I said and someone also drew a massive one on the wall of a local school, it was there for a few days before they painted over it but can still see the outline.

IOnlyNeedTheSilence · 22/08/2024 16:46

I'm sorry but 'made with the dark juice of random fruit' is the most porny thing I've ever read 😁😁🤨

FlannelShirt · 22/08/2024 16:49

IOnlyNeedTheSilence · 22/08/2024 16:46

I'm sorry but 'made with the dark juice of random fruit' is the most porny thing I've ever read 😁😁🤨

That is really ridiculous reading it out of context like that 😂

OP posts:
Davros · 22/08/2024 16:54

It's a trick we play in eachother in my family. The slightest chance to get someone's notebook, diary or any writing area - draw a squirty cock without them seeing, only to be surprised (not delighted) at a later date

YankTank · 22/08/2024 16:56

I have no idea whatsoever. I’d never even seen penis graffiti before moving to the UK. And it’s done by men, not women. I wonder if there’s some sort of Freudian link going on….

Jordanstits · 22/08/2024 16:57

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This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

jukra · 22/08/2024 16:58

For a teeny bit more balance - not sure if it’s true elsewhere in scandi, but a stylised vulva is really common in Finland (the “churchboat” symbol).

WhatMe123 · 22/08/2024 16:59

Isn't it because it's easy to draw? 😂😂😬

Eldrick47s · 22/08/2024 17:03

FlannelShirt · 22/08/2024 15:41

Yeah that’s a good answer I think…and America is fairly puritanical on the whole. I suppose it boils down to culture and what’s seen as funny/acceptable. When I moved back here as an adult I was pretty shocked by British tv as in the US, you didn’t see nudity on regular tv. I’m not judging or saying one is better than the other, just culturally it was a shock.

Puritanical america is uptight. While the English got rid of the draconian influence of the Puritans in 1662 enabling Christmas to be celebrated freely (among many other things like theatre, holding hands while dancing, drinking, reading books without them getting burned), their draconian influence has lasted in america to the present day.

Bowie spoke about this when comparing why he had no problem being bisexual in Europe but in "puritanical america" it was a different fattle of fish. Queen were effectively finished in america when they released that cross dressing video (I want to break free), while we got the joke, the uptight white settler nation did not.

Prohibition there was puritanical, and even now it is illegal to drink there until you are 21. Then there is publicly humiliating people for infidelity...Tiger Woods was wheeled out to do a press conference over his PRIVATE life. Its nobodies bloody business but his, but not in puritanical america. Every politician there MUST publicly announce their faith (if atheist like Trump they have to lie they have one), or they have zero chance of being elected. Again, nobodies bloody business, except in puritanical america.

Here is a quote from HL Mencken in 1917 when he compared here to america:

"The Puritan's utter lack of aesthetic sense, his distrust of all romantic emotion, his unmatchable intolerance of opposition, his unbreakable belief in his own bleak and narrow views, his savage cruelty of attack, his lust for relentless and barbarous persecution – these things have put an almost unbearable burden up on the exchange of ideas in the United States."

And here is a BBC article on when the Puritans influence ended in England:

https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20141219-when-christmas-carols-were-banned

When Christmas carols were banned

During the Puritans’ rule of England, celebrating on 25 December was forbidden. Singing yuletide songs then was a political act, writes Clemency Burton-Hill.

https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20141219-when-christmas-carols-were-banned

Alalalalalongalalalalalonglonglilong · 22/08/2024 17:04

I'm in Ireland and I remember it all over my town as a child. I went under a bridge on my way to school and passed about 100 willies and a 'Brits out' sign, side by side..that was in the Republic but during the troubles. I'm in a different suburbs now and thankfully no political statements and definitely less willies but I do see them occasionally. It's silly but they still embarrass me!

FlannelShirt · 22/08/2024 17:13

PickAChew · 22/08/2024 17:05

There is even a cock pokémon (I find it hard to believe this wasn't a joke that slipped through)
https://pokemondb.net/pokedex/combusken

Hmmm yeah I’m disturbed now.

To wonder why penis graffiti is so common in the UK?
OP posts:
ThatOneUncomfortableEyelash · 22/08/2024 17:17

WhatMe123 · 22/08/2024 16:59

Isn't it because it's easy to draw? 😂😂😬

It's dead easy to draw an equally inaccurate fanny IME. One line for the main features, one for a nubbiny clit, and a few hairs for decoration if you fancy.

To wonder why penis graffiti is so common in the UK?
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