By Jim Newell

Review Editor

I remember my foray into vandalism.

It was an exciting time, complete with that sensation of butterflies floating around in my stomach; the appreciation for the rich, vibrant colors emerging on my canvas; and, I must admit, more than a little pride with my own budding creativity.

My mom caught me and hovered over me as I scrubbed the crayon off her walls until my five-year-old arms ached. Then she told my dad what I had done when he got home from work. I never did that again.

Thankfully, we didn’t have social media then or I’d forever be haunted by the “Wanted for Wall Desecration” posters of my tear-streaked face floating around the viral world.

Now cue the long, drawn-out, reflective joyless sigh at the idiocy of youth and the ominous power of social media.

Five teenagers (we’ll call them Vandals #2) were caught last week spray painting the rocks and trees on the Paint Creek Trail. Sheriff’s deputies caught the teens in the act and issued misdemeanor citations, so now they’ll have to go to court and they’ll have it on their records.

This comes less than two weeks after another group of four young adults (Vandals #1, ages 17-21) got outed and condemned after a trail cam photo of them carrying spray paint cans with graffiti-covered signs in the background went viral on Facebook.

Hundreds of thousands of people saw and shared the photo and publicly shamed the group to come forward, which they did, reporting to the Oakland County Sheriff’s Department Orion Twp. substation for questioning.

Just because it’s called Paint Creek does not mean you’re supposed to do it, kids.

Social media certainly played a tremendous role in getting Vandals #1 to come forward, and social media in general can be a great tool for staying in touch with family and friends, promoting worthy causes, informing the community about news and events and aiding authorities.

What’s disconcerting is the number of people who hide behind their keyboards, threw out names and identities (some of whom may have been completely innocent, but never mind that thing called proof) instead of contacting authorities with the information.

And what’s damned disturbing are the number of people who called for the perpetrators to be strung up or stoned. Comments also included body-shaming of the girls involved and questions of cannibalism.

That’s the power of digital delusion, much like liquid courage, when you don’t have to fear being held accountable for what you say write.

Sorry haters, but the kids will probably only get fines, community service, probation and more public ridicule.

This is an example of social media becoming a public pillory for the internet community to hurl digital tomatoes at the accused. Hey, at least they got their 15 minutes of fame.

And the second group, Vandals #2, actually told authorities they thought it was okay to spray paint the trail because they saw on social media that others had done so.

Really? That’s naivete, delusion or entitlement. A 17-year-old should know better.

I guess the good news is that only one of the nine vandals recently caught was from Orion. Which is actually a pretty low percentage, even on the Andy Warhol crime index.

We should also wonder why this type of thing would even be viewed as fun.

Because nothing says fun like spray painting profanities and phallic symbols on public property. I guess things like hanging out with friends, playing sports, listening to music and dating is passé.

There isn’t even a message in this act. If you’re going to commit an act of civil disobedience at least make it mean something. And “F— the police” doesn’t count.

Graffiti is always a selfish act. This wasn’t a wall mural or sidewalk sketch or some other form of urban art (which I don’t think even applies to trees and trails).

If someone came to your home and “decorated” the sides of your house calling it “art” I have a suspicion that nearly all of you would call a painter, and the police.

I’m not defending these acts: the kids deserve to be punished and make some sort of restitution. If anything, I’d like to add a charge for unoriginality.

Let’s hope there are no further incidents like these on a such a local natural treasure. Let’s hope the flag has been flown, the words written the sky, the digital detractors denounced, the message received: we don’t need to make any more examples and don’t give anyone a reason to make an example out of you.

On a lighter note: if these vandals had taken their cans of spray paint, bought a large canvas, or even a white sheet mounted to a plywood backing, and then spray painted their vulgarities and profanities they probably could have called it some sort of avant-garde urban artsy name, something like “The angst of man in modern urban society,” they could have made some serious money.

I’m telling you, someone would have paid for that artwork, $30, $40 easily. Maybe $100. Find a place that will let you showcase it – several hundred to a thousand dollars.

Maybe all they really need is a hobby.