As you said the big industry figures have gained their credibility years ago.
We are just consumers and these guys owe us nothing.
Who really gives a fuck if they skate or not?
Props to guy for getting paid.
All you did was repeat my points and then add "props to guy for getting paid". Therefore, you support someone who turned their back on skateboarding. Good stuff.
Ill start numbering things off here
1: People get paid to play video games , grow flowers , clean houses . People get paid alot of money to have other people watch them put a ball into a goal with their feet . Why is it so amazing you can get paid to skateboard ?
2:Everybody in the world should have a retirement plan and a healthcare plan . I come from a country that has pretty much free healthcare and I think its pretty crazy that not all countries have this . I dont understand how you can be against everybody getting taken care off if you get hurt
3:What is "enough to live a decent life " I mean when you are 18 and can share a apartment with 3 skate friends , sleeping on couches and eating ok . Technically that is a decent life , but that changes when you get married and have kids doesnt it ? . Are you suggesting
caps in wages for skateboarders ?
who in the company decides what a " decent life " is ? . Im sure shane oniell was selling more boards then Matt beach was , he was also producing more footage then matt beach . Should both get paid the same ? and at what point do you you think they should cut Shanes pay check ? cause he can live a decent life ?
If shane oniell is bringing in lets say 70% of skatementals income , why should he get paid the same as somebody who only brings in 10% ? and if he is bringing so much money , why should he have to share a apartment with 3 other skaters ? just cause he worked extremely hard to become a pro , but he should consider himself lucky and blessed ?
5: There would be alot less pros if they only made enough money to suport themself . Every skater that had a girlfriend / wife / kids would have to quit to get another job to support themselves and their family . A pro skateboarder who lives in Copenhagen doesnt really need a car , but a skateboarder who lives in California needs a car . A skater with 3 kids a dog and a wife needs more money then a skater who lives with his friends in a small appartment . Who decides what a Decent life is ? I mean the skater can live of pizza while the skaters kids shouldnt eat pizza 2 times a day ?
1. If you can get paid to do something you enjoy doing in your free time, that's awesome. No one wakes up and says, "man I can't wait to go to work at Mcdonalds today!". Skateboarding, video games, planting flowers, etc...these are leisure activities. So if someone is willing to pay you to do that, it's something to be stoked on. That's my point.
2. The healthcare system here in The States is definitely messed up, and I'm certainly not against free healthcare at all. Nor am I saying I want skateboarders to not have health insurance. I'm just saying no one is entitled to anything in life. If you want it, earn it. If you are a professional skateboarder and you ride for core companies and they can't pay you enough to have food, water, shelter, dropping those sponsors and going to Nike or any sporting goods company is not the right way to go about it. And again, my point is Guy was absolutely getting more than food, water, and shelter. Lakai, Girl, Chocolate, Fourstar are all very successful companies and I guarantee Mike and Rick have plenty of money to pay their riders well enough.
3. Where the fuck did you get the idea I want "salary caps" for skateboarders? The pros getting paid insane amounts of money are the ones gobbling corporate dick. Getting paid to live a decent life means you can survive and also have extra money to do what you want in your free time. If you want more money, work a side job, make art and sell it, or whatever else you want to do. But seeking out a sponsorship from a sporting goods company when you're a skateboarder is not the right thing to do.
4. Even though you didn't have a #4 I'll assume it's the Shane O'Neill comment. It would be understandable if a pro that's bringing in more income for the company to get paid more, but the other riders should be paid fairly as long as they're doing their best too. And I'm sure for the most part, it works out this way.
5. Every human being has a different definition of what a "decent life" is. But let's face it, if you think you need an Audi, a mansion, butlers, hair stylists, and personal chefs to live a comfortable life, you're fucked. So yes, there would be a lot less pros if they expected to be paid money like Nyjah. It goes back to the sense of entitlement. Successful core companies are doing their best to pay their riders fairly. You don't take that for granted and throw shit in their face by teaming up with a sporting goods company that's driving the very person that is supporting you out of business.