Graffiti is an artform

To start I will argue my opponents points and give a closing argument. " Graffiti is an ART-FORM that represents itself THROUGH vandalism and defacement." The instability of your argument declares itself in your own words. You specifically said that Graffiti represents itself through vandalism and defacement. You are implying that in face vandalism and defacement are components of Graffiti. Also art's definition is: The creation of beautiful things. Most graffiti is not beautiful. Graffiti is not to be deemed beautiful to the randomness and sloppiness collected together to deface a structure. "It is a freedom of expression." This is not a FREEDOM. This is against the law, this is destruction of property and should not be considered a viable freedom. "Graffiti is meant to be illegal." Most all art-forms are not considered illegal. Graffiti belongs in it's own subcategory of vandalism and immature expression. "Drawing penises, or making inappropriate or hate comments on a wall is not what real graffiti artists/writers do. That is what mindless people do when their bored and they are one of the main reasons why they make us look bad to the rest of society." This is not the reason. You look bad to the rest of society because no matter how vivid the colors or how "meaningful" this work of vandalism is, it is vandalism. I can find no other words to express my opinion. No matter the combination of shapes and colors it is evident that Graffiti is still ruining someone Else's property. Hate comments are without doubt Graffiti. So you must be suggesting them as an art form. " also have an artist state of mind when I do graffiti art. I could paint a picture that represents and gives off a message to the public such as all men are created equal, the rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer, or something as simple as to paint something that will make you smile." I argue that you could just as easily express all of these things without taking part in this illegal for of vandalism. A sketchbook or the owner's permission can grant you all of the same things. Some of these may even grant profit to you in the future if you have the skill. But the most Graffiti can do is get you arrested. "Graffiti has always been somewhat political." There is absolutely no logical way you can refer to graffiti as political. Politics has never made reference to graffiti in any shape or form. There has never been a government power that has taken advice from paint or scratches on a wall. This statement is completely untrue. "He/She can put there art anywhere they want and know that someone somewhere will see it, whether they love it or hate it, they are out there making a name for themselves." Their* Graffiti has made its mark on society as a poor expression of vandalism through paint and scribbles. It can cost massive amount of money to replace or repair the damage done by this destruction of property. I find graffiti not to be an art form. But rather a plague to society. It only takes the purchase of a can of spray paint to ruin and deface a structure that has much more valuable than three or four hours or vandalism emerging from the nozzle of a can of paint. The time it took to purchase and maintain the buildings or structures took much longer and requires much more money and effort. Thank you for the debate.