2015 Reddit Post by Huckstah

Reddit Post in r/vagabonds

Designing a New Hobo Code: Any Vagabonds Want to Help Design a Modernized Code System?

Let's face it, hobo codes are no longer popular because they are simply no longer relevant to the modern traveler.

Sure, perhaps a century ago, it would be useful to know which house the local cop lives in, or whether there is a mean dog around the corner, but for today's hobo, this information is simply useless and out of date.

Just like any other subculture, we need to upgrade and adapt with the times. Afterall, we're no longer carrying bags on a bindle stick, so why is our code nearly a century out of date?

The criteria for doing this would be the same as it was for the first code:

• Easy/Quick to Draw - Not every hobo knows how to draw an elaborate design, so these designs need to be simple to draw. Also they need to be able to be written quickly, and also recognized quickly. Most of us are "moving" when we see various tags, and we don't have time to drop our bags, sit down, and try to interpret some lengthy and hard to read message. Also, when most of us are tagging code, we don't have a long time to sit down and draw out something complicated or elaborate...we usually whip out our sharpies, scribble a quick code/moniker, and then leave.

• Distinguishable from other tags/graffiti/monikers - Most of the bridges and camps are littered with drawings, tags, monikers, and code. It can become a jumbled mess of drawings and monikers scattered all over the place. Our code needs to be uniquely distinguishable from monikers and tags. They need to stay as pure single SYMBOLS, so that they can be quickly distinguished from the other graffiti.

Anyone up for forming a group of a hobos and vagabonds that are willing to collaborate, organize, and start implementing a new Hobo Code system? I suggest we form a group, create a private subreddit, start exchanging ideas, and see where it goes from there.

Let's do this, vagabonds.

Read the post on Reddit

This was actually the 3rd set of hobo symbols.

The codes and symbols make communication on the road much simpler when power for the smartphones is few and far between. We won't be publishing any modern symbols as it is important to keep these private so the general public doesn't take unnecessary actions such as securing up an available power outlet, locking a restroom, etc.