by Robert Conn

Created on: January 25, 2009   Last Updated: January 29, 2009

My experience with skaters is somewhat different than the glowing articles I've seen here thus far.

I was once ignorant to the whole skateboarder mentality, and just assumed these were kids trying to make their skateboards do the impossible, and sometimes succeeding.

It never occurred to me that this was a "lifestyle", and the tricks these kids did boosted their egos to the point where they felt invincible, and untouchable.

I don't know exactly what it is that snaps, but put a board under a boy's feet...watch him learn how to balance, turn, spin, stop...and see how he progressively gets more confident.

That's a good thing.

Now, as he gets more skilled, he finds a group of other skateboarders who teach him all the tricks they've learned.

Again, that's a good thing.

As time passes, and this boy is now executing flawlessly his 180's, backslides, grabs, fakies, kickflips, nollies, nosegrinds, kickturns, etc., he's looking for more of a challenge.

This is where it turns ugly.

You see, there's something right there that turns a fun-loving kid into an attention-seeking, power-hungry, self-absorbed anarchist.

There's no denying it... the clothing changes, as does the overall attitude of this boy.

The sound of his skate wheels can be heard passing by your home as he tries to grab the attention of the girl across the street, or the one beside your house, or your *own* daughter.

He wants the groupies to come outside, and follow him to the park... he needs the audience.

In his mind, he's invincible... his skate tricks haven't killed him, even though his falls were quite nasty, so he must be a superman. Security guards don't dare lay a hand on him as he skates in those places with clearly posted signs forbidding it.

If he's under 18, then it would be illegal for a security guard to get physical with him - but that's not the case in this boy's mind... he's untouchable!

There's no better proof of the anarchist mentality than the videos these skaters have made themselves.

You can find them on YouTube, and see how they purposely bring a hidden camera to places they know will draw police or security guards to them.

They will skate in malls, on office building stairs and railings, on private roof tops, you name it!

Then, when they're confronted or arrested, the video gets uploaded to YouTube with a title that blames the police for being "skater haters".

If you aren't convinced by my words, then feel free to browse that site, and judge for yourself.

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