I think our collective "I don't give a shit what people think about me and my skating" mindset just made it really easy for certain people to present skateboarding's Britney Spears to the general public and make some bank off of skating's popularity. I hate any and all skate shows that present skateboarding in a bad light, or in Sheck's case, presenting skateboarding as a serious, highly competitive career (versus a show that focuses on skateboarding being something awesomely stupid and fantastic, and something that should be done forever because it's fun).
Ah, and going back to the "not giving a shit" mentality that I think a lot of us have or had... thing is, it's really easy to have a "fuck everyone but other skaters" attitude when you're seen as a bad element by people... there is some pleasure i being hated on for something as basic as being a skateboarder. We've always had a negative stigma, even though on an individual basis, most skaters I've known never deserved it, but again, being hated for being a skater can stroke the ego just as much as it can get a skate spot stopped. I'm not so much saying that it was great being hated, but it was great to be hated by idiots, and on many occasions it was great to make converts out of skater-haters once they saw that "the guy was alright."
It's generational... I think a lot of the above is something a lot of people around my age can relate to. There was an elitism in being hated, and by elitism I don't mean in the incorrect pretentious way it's often used.
Sheckler's show will have absolutely no effect on my skateboarding, and I don't hate him, though I don't like him as far as he's been portrayed to me. I think the packaging around him is harmful to the next generation's concept of what skateboarding is all about. I think he gives the impression that skateboarding owes him something, and his overly competitive nature is the concept that a LOT of the next gen skaters are absorbing. I think he's just one element on the corporate side of skateboarding that has kids who can barely kickflip posting and emailing sponsor-me videos. It's the same reason why some skate forums that cater to younger skaters (one of which I write for) have sections dedicated to "rating" each other based on what tricks they claim they can do, in list form.
I agree that the skate media is using Shnuckles to sell magazines, and I wouldn't mind so much if they'd just do more of a job about talking about where skating came from. I mean, when I was younger and reading Thrasher in the 80's, I was also exposed to the older guys and history lessons in random articles. I think kids should know who Alan Gelfand is and lay off the idea that being sponsored is a base goal they have in skateboarding. I think Ryan contributes to this, but at the same time he's just a dumb kid... the fact that he makes bank is fine with me, I just think a lot of that bank is made at the expense of the reality and fun of skateboarding.
As far as him coming for nothing, the only way that's a true statement is if he's talking about the quantum mechanics that went into effect right before the Big Bang. Dude's just goofy for saying that.
Sorry for all that, tired and a little faded out. At least it gives me a chance to repost my old homeless Sheckler 'chop:
Topic: hey you! yeah, you! mr. industry magazine guy! (Read 8532 times)