My house has a large white wall. I invite people to write some of their thoughts on this wall and to communicate with each other there. However, it also proves irresistible to vandals with spray paint tins – who write all over it with large letters, in every colour imaginable.

Now some people I know, volunteer to clean it all off. To ensure that it does not happen again, in an equally colourful manner with their own spray cans, they write in large letters pointing out that - spraying colourful paint all over this wall is not something that is to be encouraged.

These volunteers even invite (at least permit, by not cleaning off their contributions) a few trusted friends to also say the same things with their spray cans and in an equally colourful way.

Do you know what? Before long, the wall is again covered all over with colourful spray painted writing!!!!

Would you believe it, eh?

Now this has been going on for many years and there have been lots of suggestions for a different approach and for a different example to be set. But these volunteers just get out their trusted spray cans and write all over the wall to tell them, in the usual colourful way - that the wall has been entrusted to them by the owner and that they and their supporters think that 97% agree with the tried and trusted method.

In fact a number of those who I invited to contribute to my wall find that their contributions are being cleaned off, along with the spray paint or being covered over by it. And they don't feel that there is room for both them and all the spray-painting. Some of them go off and try to a wall that suits them better.

Many however do choose to remain and to watch as the wall continues to be covered with large letters in colourful spray paint and still write on the wall to suggest sensible alternatives. And that it is now possibly time to accept that although these volunteers may be having a great time with their spray cans– it may be time to set a new example.

Perhaps I should give it a try?