Headache said some good stuff, but it seems that everyone else has just been bitchin and moaning like their friends at IASC.
I don't really get it, I read all of that crap in the IASC thing and it didn't seem directed at the kid buying a new board. I took as they were trying to inform shops that they're being duped by blank board manufacturers that don't skate or support skateboarding. It seemed really over the top, but these companies inspire us all in one way or another and just because we're not pro or don't run a company doesn't mean we should be bitter as those who are making a living from skateboarding.
You're right, the IASC document wasn't targeted at your typical skateboarder... we weren't meant to see it. I know this for a fact. Some of it was over the top, which I think makes it worse... it's more proof that there's a wall of seperation between the industry and skateboarders.
Beyond that, I think there are very few people that would argue that generic blanks only benefit the blank manufacturers and the shops to some degree... but my main beef is that there are those in the industry who don't differentiate between blanks, shop decks, and city-wide regional brands. Once a core shop or regional crew makes a board (many times using the same channels and wood shops that the big boys use) then the argument is moot. Yes, pros inspire some people to skate, but not like a core shop or local crew. It's all local. I didn't get inspired to skate in 1985 because of Christian Hosoi, I got inspired to skate because of neighborhood kids that were riding shitty K Mart boards. I skated for a year before I even knew there were professional skateboarders.
As it stands, if anyone's bitter at pros, that's their business. Personally, I'm bitter at an industry that forgot it's roots. All skate scenes are local... as cliche' as an example as this might be, just look at Dogtown and Z... that's regional, that's shop. I'm stoked that skateboarding has blown up, but I refuse to have an industry make an attempt at talking shit about me behind my back.
If you hate them for that, don't buy their crap and tell your friends that you know a lot about the skateboard industry and they should trust you and not buy their crap either. Realistically though, it doesn't seem that any of the "Slap Pals" would ever buy pro boards anyway, so everyone's getting all psyched up to not buy even more. I guess the bright side is that the heads of all the companies get to read the other side, although Headache has been the only person with any real suggestion of a solution.
I'm pretty sure that plenty of Pals are riding pro boards. I never made any attempts to tell anyone they shouldn't continue to do so. I'm strictly calling out what I (and many others) see as bullshit.
Grim's site is done well and he's obviously talented, but it's just as much of extreme propaganda as the IASC thing except the target isn't some unknown person, it's industry heads that people know a lot about. Propaganda is propaganda whether it's from a purist in Louisiana or an old freestyler, it just depends on what propaganda you want to buy into.
I call it a response, but if you want to call it propaganda, feel free to do so. It is what it is to whoever looks at it.
Let's use this energy to do something rad for skateboarding like; throw a local contest or skate jam, or start a non-profit organization to help underprivileged kids afford to skate. (I'm sure the enemies at IASC would donate product in order to look like they care.) Maybe even volunteer to teach a skate camp or class at a local park or parking lot where you can show beginners how to not push mongo.
I can only speak for my scene and say that we do all of the above. The shop I volunteer geek-stuff for is responsible for all of the legwork involved with getting Louisiana's only proper public concrete skatepark (not counting the Shreveport plaza, because that place sucks dick and did more to hurt skating there than it did to help), our shop runs a used board program, where me and all of the locals give over our used equipment so kids with no money can get wheels, decks, and trucks for free, and I'm a member of the Skatepark Association of Baton Rouge, where we fought and won the fight for legislation that took liability away from government entities in the case of skateboard-related injuries that might take place on government property designed for skaters to roll on. I really don't think my situation is unique, either.
PS
The shop I support isn't even affected by this debate. No blanks (with the exception of Powell mini logos) and every brand in house is backed 100% by the owner.
Seems like this type of stuff would help skateboarding more than complaining about some rich dudes.
I guess we'll find out soon enough.