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| Q&A: Michael Brooke - Publisher, Concrete Wave Magazine (7141 Posts)
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age
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On 6/18/2006
slim
wrote in from
(71.146.nnn.nnn)
"The median age of the "typical" skateboarder is going up, as more and more thirty-somethings (like me!), forty-somethings, etc, stick with skating longer."
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Do you guys have any statistics on this? To us in this age group, it seems like there are more of us and that things like longboarding and slalom are growing. But I haven't seen any stats to show if it's actually true or not as a percentage of overall skateboarding population. In other words, for every dad who stays with it, two kids may be taking it up and therefore the skater population is actually getting younger, not older. Just wondering... (I know Kent Dahlgren of skaters for public skateparks has had stats in the past and it was something like the "average skateboarder is 14 years old")
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Rich Sanchez!
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On 6/17/2006
ddy
wrote in from
United States
(206.135.nnn.nnn)
is he in this mag.?
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New Issue Vol.5 Nº1
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On 6/17/2006
Markintosh
wrote in from
Canada
(69.199.nnn.nnn)
Enjoy new issue! For more PDFs please visit concretewavemagazine.com
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happy to have you ALL on board...
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On 6/17/2006
Michael Brooke
wrote in from
Canada
(65.94.nnn.nnn)
gang, I am absolutely thrilled with feedback that Marion's post has created. My thanks to Adam for letting me be a part of this site. We need to get this into the mag...and since I make the decisions as to what goes in, we're gonna do something on it!
I truly believe we are at a "moment of truth" with skateboarding...the kind of moment that is pivotal. The winds are changing...sure, I've yapped on about this for a decade now, but the pace is picking up substantially.
As I mentioned to Bud yesterday, the head and the tail are meeting. Older skaters are out in full force and making their presence known. The mainstream media is picking up on this and believe it or not, I have had discussions with those in the skate media. Let's just say, you might see a 1/2 page of "something different" in a certain skate mag...but then again, there are no guarantees.
I truly believe that this type of discussion is healthy for skateboarding and for skaters. While this forum is not read by 1,000s of young skaters, the word will spread.
It's ironic to think that the MILLIONS of marketing dollars spent on building brands cannot replace good old word of mouth and one passionate person. Yep, one person CAN make a huge difference. I recall when Marion, Bud, Chris Chaput, NCDSA Adam first contacted me. It's amazing to see what has developed over the last decade. The truth is that this was simply a warm up...the real fun is only just starting.
As the old saying goes, "the more things change, the more they stay the same."
Back to the future.....
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Buddy Rawls
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On 6/17/2006
Bud
wrote in from
United States
(68.57.nnn.nnn)
Steve, I don't think that it's the name calling and negativity that's realistic... it's the fact that, in order to spread ideas and information to a mass audience- ie, scenes everywhere- the "mainstream media" would have to re-adjust their thinking from making mass money and sustaining their uber-profits, to doing something good for the community, and building their market one healthy scene at a time. I think Buddy Rawl's take on it, if I am reading him correctly, is that that just ain't gonna happen. Which, overall, I would agree: That is a pretty realistic take on the status quo. Outside the world of CW, that is.
I talked with Mike about this earlier today, there is a huge opportunity here. We discussed the fact that, skateboarding is undergoing a slow, steady process of being redefined. Which CW has contributed to, to a lesser or greater extent. For example, the definition of a skateboarder is changing. The age, class, and gender boundaries are getting foggier, what with more adults and women skating. The median age of the "typical" skateboarder is going up, as more and more thirty-somethings (like me!), forty-somethings, etc, stick with skating longer. Likewise, the accepted paradigm of skateboards is changing, as well. Longboards, slalom boards, big 'ol pool cues... they're not "common" yet, but they are getting increasingly so.
As all of this evolves, cities, towns, authorities... they're going to start dealing with a much older, wiser, more mature, more creative... and, more demanding constituency. Suddenly, the skaters, and their taxpaying parents, will be one and the same, as more parents stick with/take up skating. And, those parents will be more active, and supportive, within their kids' skateboarding lives. So, towns and cities will have to adjust their thinking quite a bit, as a result. Which will only benefit skaters across the board, everywhere, regardless of age.
I think CW would be a great place to begin a conversation about, how do we take these neato little ideals, and really put them into some sort of tangible action? For my part, I'm available anytime to help in any way I can- and, I think most people, involved with the mag or not, generally feel the same way. There are a million resources outt here- the guys at www.rampplans.org are a huge resource, for example, when it comes to ramp and obstacle building... massively useful stuff to anyone wanting to hammer and nail their scene together. That's just one resource out of thousands.
My e-mail comes up when you click my name at the heading of the post. If anyone, anywhere, has additonal resources, or something to contribute, or a good idea, or a scene that needs help, or whatever... we all have 24/7 e-mail capability. Use it! Drop us a line, we're here to help. Kids, you do the same- don't be afraid to write to us, 'cuz you think we're too cool to respond or whatever. Trust me, we are definitely not "cool"! We're uber-dorks, so do not be intimidated by us one bit. We answer our e-mails 'round here.
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well....
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On 6/16/2006
Steve C
wrote in from
United States
(65.19.nnn.nnn)
Lumping people into groups and name calling is realistic? It is easy. Having the motivation to get out there, work and try to make things better is harder but realistic. You can make a difference. Or you can point fingers and act like there is nothing you can do. The choice is yours.
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This Rocks! Hey Brookes....
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On 6/16/2006
MC Hammer Head- Downhillbillies.org
wrote in from
United States
(166.82.nnn.nnn)
Bud, Steve C, this is great stuff....Hey Michael, this looks like a serious opportunity for CW.....I can picture it now "Changing Attitudes- Sustaining Skateboarding" a summit on skating .....I am digging it.
Marion Karr
DHB WORLDHEADQUARTERS
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not negative
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On 6/16/2006 bara
wrote in from
United States
(69.14.nnn.nnn)
what you said wasnt negative at all Buddy....It's realistic
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current topic??
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On 6/16/2006
buddy rawls
wrote in from
United States
(128.158.nnn.nnn)
I may look extremely negative with my comments about mall-boarders and such, maybe I am too closed minded. You can open arms and embrace all the skaters in the world, thats all hunky-dory. But the only way you are going to get things to really change and gain acceptance in the community where they give the kids a real chance, is to change the mainstream media. My arguments are not about exclusion, they are about my negativity towards the mainstream market and their place with the skaters.
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That's what I am talking about.....
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On 6/16/2006
Steve C
wrote in from
United States
(65.19.nnn.nnn)
Wow, that is a super well put post. Kids are great! What kids need more of is support, understanding and mentoring. Sometimes kids that are labeled troublemakers just need a little guidance. Let's help the children to build their own scene. I like how you suggest that we bring in guys like Red to show these kids how do build something. Not just build something for them. Letting kids get involved in the construction and design of their enviroment gives them a sense of ownership and this feeling makes a kid proud of what he has helped to create. This is turn helps to ensure the kids will protect their spot and hopefully do the right thing.
Too often, in my opinion, adults tend to downplay the importance of youth. They tend to generalize and use terms like "mall boarders." They believe there is no way to reach these kids and just lump large groups of people together without even putting forth the effort to get to know these people, what they want, how they feel. They alienate instead of welcome. Kids who skateboard are just like you and me. Their ideas and view may be different. They may ride different boards or wear different shoes. They may aspire to learn to skate differently than you. Does that make them bad kids? Perhaps we all need to humble ourselves and give back to the scene. The future lies with the youth. Why don't we all take the time to get involved in youth mentoring. Even a kid who seems much different than you can be reached. We all have a common bond. That bond is skateboarding. If we could get past all the trivial stuff, like trying to say some people skate for a lifestyle, and realize we are all stoked on the feeling of a board with wheels. The freedom that comes with rolling down the street. The common thread that bonds us all together: street flipper, bowl grinder, hill bomber, cross town pumper, slalom wiggler, freestyle dancer, vert ripper: it is skateboarding.
The time has come for people to throw aside their prejudices and try a new approach. One of understanding, not judgemnet. One of nuturing the scene. Your scene is my scene, we all skateboard. In the 80's there was a thing called punk rock. The punk rock I remember was a scene of unity. Shows were a place where anyone could come and be accepted. It did not matter what you looked like. UNITY. Why can't we strive for a little unity in skateboarding. Let's stop judging stuff. Let's try to understand other peoples points of view and maybe we can change things. Bitterness and prejudice do nothing but destroy any hope of changing things.
Let's try and find some common ground and let's try to RESPECT EACH OTHER. Especially the kids. The kids are kids. They are young. Too often we expect kids to act like adults. Sometimes they do. They all have the potential to. In order for the to feel confident enough to do so they need people to respect them. Only then can they thrive and actualize their own potential. Let's start giving them the chance.
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Marion's Dilemma
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On 6/16/2006
Bud
wrote in from
United States
(68.57.nnn.nnn)
I've been thinking quite a bit about Marion's Dilemma, and the strong opinions (bordering on slander) that have resulted on the boards. It seems to me that, to move forward, the best course of action- the best place to start- would be to turn the question inside-out. That is, from "What kids cannot, or should not be doing" to "What kids can, and should, be doing".
Kids don't mix well with being told "No". Kids are super "Yes" type people. So, let's begin by telling them a bunch of "Yes".
Yes, skateboarding's good s#@!. Yes, you should do it as much as possible.
Yes, you have rights. Especially the right to control your own destiny.
Yes, you have opportunities. You just need to search them out.
Yes, you have a voice. Yes, that carries some responsibility. Yes, that means: Be articulate, think about your arguments, and make the arguments meaningful to others. But, that said? Yes, speak your damned mind.
Yes, there are guys- like, us- that care about your plight, and are here to help you along whenever you may need it. Utilize us.
Yes, you can build. That's a key one. Building a scene sometimes requires a hammer and some wood, and some common sense. Yes, we trust that you can do whatever you put your mind and heart to doing.
At the community level, we need to stop trying to control, ban, and outlaw every gawddamned fun thing in sight. Let's think more about, how do we turn all of this energy into something productive, instead of snuffing it out at every convenient opportunity? The trick is to steer and guide it, not try in vain to put the brakes on it.
If kids can't skate this or that, well, what can they skate? Where can they skate? Maybe we should come up with things they can skate. This does not need to be a zillion-dollar skatepark. It can be an after-school club that has obstacles. Churches could let kids skate a box in their parking lot for the 6 frickin' days of the week that church is closed. Maybe there are lots of churches in town that could get together, and open up their wide-open spaces for a day here and there- as well as the mosques, synagogues, et cetera.
Maybe the town has comandeered an open space, or a warehouse, that has been neglected. Let the kids fix it up, and build something there.The costs would be minimal, but the sweat equity would do kids some good. Yes, sweat equity'd good stuff. Give them something to be responsible for, and they'll learn to be responsible with it.
Instead of the naysaying adults thinking of skaters as vermin, let's try this on for size: Skaters are people. Kids are little people. Let's engage them as people, and see the relations we can build with just that little paradigm shift. Maybe kids aren't so bad after all. You might even learn to like 'em.
Kids love knowledge, and they love to learn. So, let's teach them stuff. Whatever they wanna know. If they wanna build a mini ramp, well, gawddammit, let them build their f*n mini ramp. Help 'em along, there's only fifty thousand people in this country that know how to build a good, solid mini. If they want to landscape around it, plant a shade tree or two- well, teach 'em how to do it. Find a landscaper that'd be willing to drop some know-how on 'em. If they want a concrete bowl, well, bring in Red and Munk, or whoever has the knowledge and the desire to help, and show 'em how to work with concrete. Let them build a whole damned environment somewhere, for all I care. s#@!, it just might add something beautiful to your city, for all you know.
Mistakes will certainly be made. Much like adults, kids aren't perfect people. So, stop demanding perfection from them. Help 'em along, that's what I'm all about. mistakes aren't the end of the world as we know it; they're an integral part of it. We all live and learn. rememebr that when dealing with kids: Yes, mistakes happen. It's no big deal, we'll all get over it, and probably laugh at it later.
The problem with the "No" arguments is that, noone I know likes being told "No". So, stop saying "No" already. We all know that No's don't work. They serve no common good, and problems have never been solved with a No, anyway. No is the lazy, easy, least-common-denominator answer. I expect more out of people than "No". I expect "Yes". Kids deserve "Yes". So, let's try getting all novel and s#@!, and give 'em a "Yes" for a change.
It's an idea. Maybe I'm an idiot. But, it works just fine for me- so, why can't it work for you?
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For Immediate Release
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On 6/16/2006 The Grapevine
wrote in from
United States
(69.105.nnn.nnn)
June 15, 2006 : 04:20 PM
Deathbox Skateboards Creator, and Legendary skater
Dave Hackett Moves On - Press Release
From the mouth Dave Hackett:
“After five Wild years, I would like to announce that I’ve officially
decided to part ways with Deathbox Skateboards. I’d like to thank all
the people at Deathbox for everything they have done for me over the
years, especially Tod Swank who believed in our project at a time when
the entire market was dominated by “Popsicle Stick” decks, shapes,
construction, and sizes. Also, our in-house staff “Barker”, “Nilo”, and
Damon Mills for all their help and support.
A special thanks goes out to my partners in the brand; Legendary Z-Boys
Jay Adams and Wentzle Ruml, and Old School Sims Team Legends Tom
“Wally” Inouye, Brad Bowman and Mike Folmer. At Deathbox, we were able
to help bring in the “Old School” and Collector market and produce
“Products that were so old – They’re new!” As the creator of the
Deathbox Logos and Trademarks, I will remain a percentage owner in the
Brand- I just feel it’s time to move on so I can focus on my new
projects, which are going to blow some minds and allow me to fully
express what skateboarding means to me”.
“As for my new projects, I’ve recently teamed up with “GnarVana”
Skateboards and have finished designing my new line of decks that will
hit the streets this Sept. I’ve also been designing my Black Leather
Racing apparel line that I’m really Psyched on. I’ve also been working
on a another project that will be announced some time in the near
future. So stay posted, HUGE thanks to everyone for their support, and
be sure to check gnarvana.com, blackleatherracing.com,
skateboardracingassociation.com, and hackettslash.com for upcoming news
and info.
Sincerely,
Dave Hackett
(Covert Distribution Press Release)
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Statesville NC
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On 6/16/2006
buddy rawls
wrote in from
United States
(128.158.nnn.nnn)
Marion’s meeting to inform the skaters of the city’s dilemma will be good for the Statesville skaters. The ones that are skating to skate, will be the ones that are rationale and helpful to the solution. The mall boarders (skating for a lifestyle) will continue to do it. They may even get worse, once some sort of reasonable agreement is attempted. For them, the solution has to rest in the city’s hands. The single most important thing that can come from a situation like this is the separation of “illegal” and “skateboarding”. Don’t let the troublemakers spoil it for everybody. The separation has to be made. Its important for the skaters to know, but its is more important for the city to know and understand the separation, and not make global observations. Skaters hold some of the keys, but the city has the master key.
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1990 Muenster Mastership Freestyle Contest Highlights
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On 6/16/2006
Karl
wrote in from
United States
(216.191.nnn.nnn)
I stumbled across this link over at skatersinc...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Zp28OoHR8E&search=DARYL
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south lyon
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On 6/15/2006 bara
wrote in from
United States
(69.14.nnn.nnn)
Interestingly, south lyon is a suburb of Detroit, just west of me....not much unlike Statesville, really...maybe a few more strip malls...
But at least now the press has printed why guys like me have got the attitude we've got .... patience is a virtue ..... the cities response has been impressive, but if it keeps up, watcha think will happen next time?....(by the way, south lyon is pretty close to Modern, a great indoor park, and Mason, a well built free outdoor park)
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from the headlines....
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On 6/15/2006
Michael Brooke
wrote in from
(70.50.nnn.nnn)
City council mulls skateboarding ban
By Dan Trudeau
STAFF WRITER
Monday night wasn't the first time the subject of skateboards came up at a South Lyon City Council meeting — and it certainly won't be the last.
Upon urging from member Erin Kopkowski, the council mulled the virtues of an ordinance banning skateboarding within the downtown area. Kopkowski, who lives downtown close to the Wells Street parking lot, said she has witnessed skateboarders damaging city property, skating off the bumpers of parked cars and intimidating senior citizens.
"My biggest concern with these kids is the profanity that comes out of their mouths to our senior citizens," Kopkowski said. "(Their behavior) is not good for business, it's not good for our city — and if they can't play nice, then they shouldn't be able to play in the downtown area."
Kopkowski said that many Downtown Development Authority members are echoing the same concerns. On Monday, DDA member Randy Clark of Republic Bank said that his business has had multiple incidents involving unruly skateboarders damaging property and intimidating customers in the bank's parking lot.
"They're not individually bad kids," Clark said. "But when you get 10 or 12 of them together, that's the behavior that we're seeing."
The council stopped short of drawing up a resolution banning skateboarding. Mayor John Doyle and council member Ron Morelli said they thought such a measure might go too far at this point.
Instead, Doyle suggested that business owners consider posting signs near their own properties banning the activity.
Police Chief Lloyd Collins said city officers already go to great lengths to monitor skateboarding and curb unruly behavior.
Clark said he would take the issue back to the DDA to get input from member business owners, who could appear at a later council meeting. Councilman Ray Dryer invited local skateboarders to show up to future meetings as well, saying that those who don't cause trouble or break rules should have the chance to speak.
"Skateboarders are people too," Dryer said.
Ultimately, Clark said he hopes the problem can be resolved without outlawing skateboarding outright.
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The doctrine of the sword
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On 6/15/2006
Geezer-X
wrote in from
United States
(65.127.nnn.nnn)
I though the ever-gnar Mr. Hackett was sounding more philosophical than usual there.
http://www.salsa.net/peace/conv/8weekconv2-1.html
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right
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On 6/15/2006
Steve C.
wrote in from
United States
(168.103.nnn.nnn)
I am sorry I let thing digress to the point they have. I believe I was the first person to suggest that maybe Marion needed to ally himself with the kids and try to solve the problem by possible building a skatepark.
It is the only solution. I blew some things out because arresting people and kicking people asses is not an acceptable solution in my opinion. Go back and read you will find that I intially suggested this solution. It just seems some people are really macho and like to talk about how violence can be a solution. I disagree. Sorry it got all blown out. Once again go check out skatersforpublicskateparks.com. The guy who runs it is named Kent Dalgren. He is from Oregon and has been involved in skatepark advocacy for many years. He has some really good insight on fundraising and most importantly the need for good design. A poorly designed skatepark just adds to the problem.
Sorry I was involved in getting this so confused, I just was trying to get the point across that I feel some other peoples suggestions were not good options in this case. As you were.
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a possible avenue
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On 6/15/2006
buddy rawls
wrote in from
United States
(128.158.nnn.nnn)
In a humerous light.
Lets give little johnny a hammer and little Timmy a skateboard. then lets turn them both loose on the courthouse's marble steps. Will a sign be put up that says, "no hammering" or "no skateboarding"? My guess is "no skateboarding"
Accountability is a big issue. Local infractions without accountability tend to get globalized action. Local infractions with accountability get local/focused action. This is the arena you need to be in. This is where the person/s that did the infraction gets punished in some form, but the rest of the community goes on about its business. This is the fine line that Statesville NC seems to be walking. It is currently at a focused level, but is approaching a global level (a ban). I will stop fussing about the skate and destroy stuff, or the latest direction concerning violence. I think everyone basically understands everyone else's positions, and there are definite differences. But it seems like the big issue is how to return to a local/focused level of punishment, after the effective outlawing of skateboarding that really cranked up in the 80's. With the current Statesville issues it can be a model of sorts. Was Statesville asleep thru the 80's and 90's? probably not. Did they participate in some sort of a ban on skating at some time, or in some particular area in the past 20 years? Probably.
So, what happened that got the DHB group some recognition? My guess it was accountability. It was going to the city to ask about closing off roads, it was about keeping particular areas clean, it was respect of those in charge. It was about knowing that if something did not go as planned, it could get yanked from happening again.
Respect for the properties and others is going to be the key. If you show respect, you will be shown respect. With the typical mainstream skateboarding this will never happen.
How can we work this, at the mainstream skate level?
The goal is to divorce skateboarding from illegal activity. In other words, dump the “skateboarding is not a crime” thought process that, for some reason, attempts to rise above illegalities by saying, you did not give me a place to skate, therefore the whole world is my skate terrain. Change it to “illegal activity is a crime”. Skateboarding in and of itself is not the crime. Provide us a place to skate, where vandalism is not an issue, where outlawing is a not an issue, and we will make that our skate terrain.
In Marion’s case, this is most likely going to fall into some sort of dedicated skate terrain environment, whether it is a skate park, or some old defunct warehouse. It will require agreement between everyone, and it can also is a vehicle to blackball those that might be troublemakers. Effectively, returning some accountability to the infractions and maintaining a local focus. Its essentially some sort of skater population meeting to see what everyone wants and how the needs can be met. Granted not everyone will be happy, but if the majority is content, and the infractions can continue to be addressed on a local scale, it is a success. Show some accountability, show some respect, and I think big things can happen.
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Wow....And Wax Measurement
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On 6/15/2006
MC Hammer Head- Downhillbillies.org
wrote in from
United States
(166.82.nnn.nnn)
Wow, at no point did I think my post and request for suggestions would morph into this conversation about violence and non-violence.
Ian, let me see if I get your point correctly: Society should accept vandalism of property (i.e., waxing steps) that could endanger the health of it citizens (i.e.,someone falling due to the step being loose and waxed) because thats a "... symbol of a healthy community where kids have good direction"?
You're joking right?
And its even more o.k. because the piece of private property in question happens to be a "church"? That's laughable.
Let me reinterate my point in my post: Our town, albeit small, is highly supportive of skateboarding in all its forms. It is so supportive in fact, that the Chief of Police has the forthought enough to reach out to a group of skaters to try to help with private property/vandalism related issues that could jepordize the city's position on skateboarding. In most towns across the U.S. (I don't know about Canada) this would have never happened. In most towns the police would just simply do what they see is their jobs and that is to protect and to serve its community, in this case which happens to be a church. It could have been a bank, the library, a restaurant, my office building, a retail shop, etc., etc. The Chief has given us a chance to do our best to try to protect our privalege of skating downtown.
The skatepark project by no stretch of the imagination is intended to 'cage' anyone. It also is not intended as a replacement for riding downtown. Matter of fact, even with a skatepark here I will still ride downtown more...there are hills in my downtown. The skatepark project, however, will provide terrain that skaters will want to skate in an environment that has no potential negative impact on the other citizens of the community.
There have been some good information shared with me regarding our challenge here and I appreciate it greatly. We will be holding a downtown skate session/information session in the coming weeks.
Marion Karr
DHB WORLD HEADQUARTERS
Skatesville, North Carolina
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Bud
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On 6/15/2006 bara
wrote in from
United States
(204.78.nnn.nnn)
good point Bud....my apologies....this wasnt very constructive
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So, Guys
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On 6/15/2006
Bud
wrote in from
United States
(68.57.nnn.nnn)
This is exactly what happens to people when they are faced with a difficult, and/or "impossible", problem on their hands. See what's happening, folks? Read the posts. What started as Marion asking for suggestions (and, Marion, I am still expecting your call, buddy!) has evolved into a knuckles-and-fists free-for-all of endless debate over relatively moot points that really don't have any bearing on advancing a solution. Y'all might as well get into politics, for the good you're doing over here.
The problem- Marion's original problem- can be solved. I have seen it happen, firsthand. Is it complicated? No. It's actually very simple. Is it easy? Well, no- not at first. But, nothing worth achieving ever is, either. What it takes is some simple logic, applied to the problem. I have seen an astoundingly underwhelming display of this, so far.
In layman's terms: let's get back on the goddamned subject. That is, Helping Marion with his plight.
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well....actually...
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On 6/15/2006 Bara
wrote in from
United States
(204.78.nnn.nnn)
yeah....that's pretty much exactly what i'm saying...
seriously...
it's not just for kids, and it's not just for others, it applies to me too...and it's not even for skaters....
The way i see it is this:
if i go out and i'm a d*ckhead about something and do or say something stupid....
and what i said or did seriously messes up something good that you had going on, then i would fully expect one of two things...
1) you may want to b*tch me out
2) you may want to kick my a$$
and the truth is, if i was a d*ck, then i'd deserve it....
Because i should have been thinking about how the things i do affect somebody else around me.
Of course, every action would get a different reaction...matters on the situation, the results, the impact....but mostly, it matters on my attitude.
I'd have to be accountable for what i'd done.
Lack of accountablity has got things messed up coast to coast...and it goes here in this situation too.
If the kids keep waxing the steps and the city comes down on the skaters, the people who did it have to be held accountable, since they not only screwed it up for themselves, but they screwed it up for others too.
And sometimes the best lessons are learned in the streets.
cold hard truth
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So Bara....
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On 6/15/2006
Steve C
wrote in from
United States
(168.103.nnn.nnn)
what you are saying as I am reading is this. If this situation gets the city to ban skating then all bets are off. And if someone is pissed it is ok to kick someones ass?
here is a quote: And the people who are causing the problem have nobody else to blame but themselves.
So if the city bans skating the people who caused this will suffer the wrath of people who are pissed and it will be their fault. So if some surly guy kicks the s#@! out of some kid, puts him in the hospital, the only person to blame is the kid who caused the problem? Is this what you are saying. That is kind of messed up. The ban will have already taken place. What good would lashing out in violence be. It would be revenge and revenge serves no purpose other than to give in to ones violent urges. Does not solve the problem.
And Chris you make a good point about people constructing their own canvas to do their activity on. This goes right along with my suggestions that Marion try and help these kids to get a proper park built. Unfortunatly kids often feel alienated and helpless when it comes to this. This is why the older folks need to act as mentors and friends to these kids. Sometimes all a kid needs is to see that someone cares about them, their ideas, their feelings. This makes a huge change. I know, I work mainly with kids at my job. Often times the worst kid is simply frustrated and misguided. A little time spent listening and talking with these kids can have a huge effect.
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