Next up is the second article I had published, which appeared in both Unity and Be-mag back in 2004. Again, I am perfectly happy to raise my hands and confess that I have pontificated to the point of masturbation on this one. However, a very good friend of mine Alistair Allan provided the artwork you see for this article which I now have framed in my flat. At least some good came of my overzealous ranting. Interesting fact, as well as being a great artist, Alistair is also an amazing skateboarder. Just goes to show, they're not all bad...
Something Isn't Right
How many times have you been out skating and seen one of those signs? You know the ones I mean. The kind that look down on you with scorn and resentment, like a businessman passing a homeless person on the street on his way to work. The signs that tell you your passion, your belief structure, your way of life, is wrong. Every time skaters venture into a city centre metropolis, they are frequently confronted by notices put up by city councils and private businesses, which tell us that what we do is simply unacceptable in contemporary society. They usually say something to the same effect as, "skateboarding and rollerblading in strictly prohibited etc. etc." But why?
Criminal Damage?
In cities such as
When asked why such measures of punishment are deemed necessary, I was informed that skating is considered "criminal damage to private and public property". Really? Let's look at this logically. If that remark is in reference to grinding then it is simply ridiculous, as the surfaces that skaters use, such as concrete ledges and metal handrails, cause more damage to their skates than their skates cause to the surfaces. Think about it, concrete and metal versus plastic and urethane? It's not really much of a contest. What I was most intrigued by was the latter part of the statement made by the police officer, concerning public property. Surely public property is for everyone's use? Evidently not.
I would understand if there was concern for public safety but even then there is little issue for debate as the only people in any danger of getting hurt are ourselves. After all, we are the ones throwing ourselves down these obstacles. The main idea that these signs put across is that rollerblading is something that should be considered illegal, like the signs you see in public parks that tell dog owners to clean up their pet's excrement because to do otherwise is to litter. Apparently when you put on a pair of rollerblades you are no longer worthy of the term "citizen". In wearing skates you become demoted to the category of common criminal and vandal. Having wheels under your feet is almost as incriminating as carrying a concealed weapon or can of spray-paint.
A waste of our money and their time
You have got to question what exactly is going on in a country where the government chooses to waste tax payer's valuable money on erecting signs that are not only unnecessary but are absolutely useless, as they do little to deter skaters from proceeding to ride the property regardless. Surely that money could be used to provide something a little more beneficial to the community?
Consider how much money it would cost to produce at least five hundred signs (that's just to cover the inner city of
Something more appropriate
For arguments sake, let’s say these signs were effective and people did actually take notice of them, there must be signs that would be of a higher priority than ones that tell kids not to rollerblade. For example, I have never once seen a "No Littering" sign, yet every time I have been in a city centre I have observed rubbish, broken glass and cigarette ends as far as the eye can see. I have also never seen any signs saying "No Vandalism" yet every inner city train station and alley have gratuitous amounts of hideous graffiti and tags which make the city look unpleasant and unsafe.
More importantly, I have never once seen a sign which deals with
Regardless we persist
Despite these set backs, we continue to thrive, both as an increasingly recognised culture and as a rapidly progressing extreme sport. Fines, confiscation of property and even arrest has done little to reduce our enthusiasm as, every weekend, all across the country, thousands of people venture into their nearest city to meet up with friends and skate their favourite spots. Our passion is too strong to be extinguished by the narrow-minded opinions of those who have seemingly forgotten what it was like to be young and adventurous. These people who stand in our way should not be looked at with anger and frustration but rather with pity and empathy, as they cannot see they are the ones who are wrong. It is them who have lost their way and somehow forgotten what it was like to indulge in the purest of experiences: Fun. So let them take away our spots. Let them put caps on the rails and blind person bumps at the top of stair sets. We'll simply find other ways to skate the obstacles or find entirely different spots altogether. Either way, we're not going away and that's something they're just going to have to accept.
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