Coincidentally most of my friends from high school are now "graffers." They're not taggers, but "graffers" who run with crews full of some of the most talented artists I've ever met.
If you study graffiti created by real graffiti artists, it oftentimes has a message that is not obvious to passersbys. And quite frankly neither is the message aimed at average joes, either. To understand graf you have to take the time to acknowledge its presence and let the illegality of the art form slide. Getting upset because a piece has gone up won't allow you to appreciate what someone has created hence the huge opposition by some individuals.
Btw, it can take days to create one peace of graffiti. It's a very laborious process even with three or four guys working on one piece.
One of Victoria's most talented artists, who went by the name of "Ghost," passed away several years ago but his talents were at-par with some of the worlds best. He was very troubled by the events that had taken place in his life and through his art he expressed himself -- a perfect example of what graffiti has the potential to be. It's too bad most saw him as a criminal rather than an artist with an unbelievable gift.
...what a bunch of drivel.