Another rant on the non-issue of age...

[wardlarson]

i never see age as a factor
i've seen 12 year olds that are more mature than 22 year olds
and ive seen 12 year olds that are better shredders than 22 year olds, or 32, or vise versa, any way you look at it.

judge them on how hard they're trying, not the year they were born.

[msk]

I really feel like this topic has been done to death on so many levels. It's a continually recurring topic anywhere old schoolers hang out. The groms don't sit around talking about this stuff.

Of course they don't sit around talking about this. They're kids. They think they're invincible, and think they know better than anyone else, especially adults. Age usually catches up to them, and proves them wrong on both counts. Happens to every generation...

[Shorty McSmalls]

RESPECT your elders . . . . I do

[sk8norcal]

on a side note,

one thing I like about Silverfish,
is that most people list their age (and location)
under their screen name.

most other skate forums I have seen don't do that.....

MB, don't be shy, list your age!

[elementalzoo]

Of course they don't sit around talking about this. They're kids. They think they're invincible, and think they know better than anyone else, especially adults. Age usually catches up to them, and proves them wrong on both counts. Happens to every generation...

It wasn't my point that it happens that people get older. Only a moron doesn't understand Time passes and you can't stop it and most people understand that by the age of ten. Maybe you know dumb kids. The kids I know understand that next year makes them another year older and none of them actually believe they'll stay ten forever Do they act like kids? Duh, yes. They're kids!

The point is, how many times before the geezers who mewl about these things relentlessly on forums STOP mewling about them?! You skate and you're old and it hurts worse when you fall and etc etc...what's next? Talking about how often you have to stop to take a piss between runs? Or it's the "Look at me I still skate and I'll never stop and I always have and oh, btw, I'm old and wow I hate these mouthy groms in the parks and in my day..." ( hobble off mumbling with cane decorated by Indy stickers ).

Is that the only perk of being an older skater? Talk of 'the glory days'?

Maybe someone should build a retirement home with a snake run between the bathroom and pharmacy..

Enter Grandpa Simpson...

[bklyn_g]

Ralph Nader said:
"The only true form of aging is the erosion of one's ideals."

From a man in his 70's who's schedule and energy would put most men half his age out of commission, thats pretty powerful. I live by this credo, and after taking up longboarding at 30 to the raised eyebrow of my more "sedentary" friends, I know Im right.

Its funny, because one of my friends said to me "but you arent a skateboarder", as if life was static after your 20's and what you are, you are and what you will be is fixed forever. I laughed at him and showed him my bruises and scrapes and asked if that was proof enough that one can reinvent themselves any time they choose...

Im happy to have this as my first post at SF.

[Barf]

....Do they act like kids? Duh, yes. They're kids!

The point is, how many times before the geezers who mewl about these things relentlessly on forums STOP mewling about them?! ....

Pretty funny to see these two statements one behind the other. You don't expect kids to stop acting like kids; why do you expect older guys to stop acting like older guys? When do you think we'll quit?

P.S. - Someday you'll be one of us. Right now, you want to reply that you won't sound like this when you are. But you will. Some day, you're gonna be complaining about how it never used to hurt so much when you fell, and you're suddenly gonna remember this post. I won't be there to laugh at you, because I'll be crapping my diaper and telling the nurse at the home how I used to be a cool skateboarder before I broke my hip that last time, so I'll just laugh now, in advance.

[Mile_High_Mark]

Enter Grandpa Simpson...

One way to get rid of them is to tell 'em stories that dont go anywhere. Like the time we went over to shelbyville during the war, I wore an onion on my belt....which was the style at the time...you couldnt get those white ones, you could only get those big yellow ones.................now where was I........oh yeah, the important thing was I was wearing an onion on my nelt, which was the style at the time, you couldnt get those...

[thdvl]

I used to skate in '79 at the Concrete Surf skateboard park on Pulaski Hwy in East Baltimore. The 8-track of Van Halen II would blast away over the PA on an infinite loop.
Gas was 50 cents a gallon. Times were good.
I just bought a longboard this year after not skating for 20 years and I'm having a blast! I really enjoy studying the gear and reading about all of your rad setups...I've gotten some great info and it has made my boards perform phenomenally well. (thanks for the tips!)
But, at the end of the day, riding is what gives me the most enjoyment. There is little else in my life that makes me feel the same as I do when I'm blasting down a hill. Now Refused "The Shape of Punk to Come" is blasting in my ipod. Gas is 4 bucks a gallon, but times are still good.
You all be good to each other...and to yourselves. Keep posting those sick setups and tweaking them to perfection. (so I can borrow your brilliant ideas!!!)

Age? Who cares? The question is how will you be remembered when you are gone?

=Eric
Baltimore, MD

[Chrispy23]

I'm just a guy that does stuff.

Exactly.
Though my friend is currently icing his ankle after 2 days of 3+ mile runs in Honey Beach, CA. Pain.....RICE...go again.

Non-issue?

[403]

The sociologists say:
When we are young we want to be older.
When we are older we want to be younger.
When you get to be middle aged, your the gap between mental age and physical age is about 13 years. So we think/feel we are about 13 years younger than what we are.

If you didn't know your age, how old would you think you are?

[streetheap]

I used to skate in '79 at the Concrete Surf skateboard park on Pulaski Hwy in East Baltimore. The 8-track of Van Halen II would blast away over the PA on an infinite loop.
Gas was 50 cents a gallon. Times were good.
I just bought a longboard this year after not skating for 20 years and I'm having a blast! I really enjoy studying the gear and reading about all of your rad setups...I've gotten some great info and it has made my boards perform phenomenally well. (thanks for the tips!)
But, at the end of the day, riding is what gives me the most enjoyment. There is little else in my life that makes me feel the same as I do when I'm blasting down a hill. Now Refused "The Shape of Punk to Come" is blasting in my ipod. Gas is 4 bucks a gallon, but times are still good.
You all be good to each other...and to yourselves. Keep posting those sick setups and tweaking them to perfection. (so I can borrow your brilliant ideas!!!)

Age? Who cares? The question is how will you be remembered when you are gone?

=Eric
Baltimore, MD

Great post. 2 month Belated "welcome to the 'fish" BTW.
Glad to hear you guys are so stoked.
It's strange to think that some of the dudes I skate with consider me old. In my mind I'm still 14, listening to Motorhead on my walkman, and riding my SC to Taco Bell for a 29 cent taco.

[Cirquedaddy]

I used to skate in '79 at the Concrete Surf skateboard park on Pulaski Hwy in East Baltimore. The 8-track of Van Halen II would blast away over the PA on an infinite loop.
Gas was 50 cents a gallon. Times were good.
I just bought a longboard this year after not skating for 20 years and I'm having a blast! I really enjoy studying the gear and reading about all of your rad setups...I've gotten some great info and it has made my boards perform phenomenally well. (thanks for the tips!)
But, at the end of the day, riding is what gives me the most enjoyment. There is little else in my life that makes me feel the same as I do when I'm blasting down a hill. Now Refused "The Shape of Punk to Come" is blasting in my ipod. Gas is 4 bucks a gallon, but times are still good.
You all be good to each other...and to yourselves. Keep posting those sick setups and tweaking them to perfection. (so I can borrow your brilliant ideas!!!)

Age? Who cares? The question is how will you be remembered when you are gone?

=Eric
Baltimore, MD

Welcome, You should stop by Stalefish and ride with us on Sundays

Age, Who Cares? Couldnt have said it any better!

[elementalzoo]

One way to get rid of them is to tell 'em stories that dont go anywhere. Like the time we went over to shelbyville during the war, I wore an onion on my belt....which was the style at the time...you couldnt get those white ones, you could only get those big yellow ones.................now where was I........oh yeah, the important thing was I was wearing an onion on my nelt, which was the style at the time, you couldnt get those...

Bravo Maestro! Bravo!

[elementalzoo]

Pretty funny to see these two statements one behind the other. You don't expect kids to stop acting like kids; why do you expect older guys to stop acting like older guys? When do you think we'll quit?

Well, apparantly never.

[thdvl]

Welcome, You should stop by Stalefish and ride with us on Sundays

Age, Who Cares? Couldnt have said it any better!

Sounds great! Hopefully I won't break a hip chasing you young whippersnappers around.

[Cirquedaddy]

Sounds great! Hopefully I won't break a hip chasing you young whippersnappers around.

Its not that hairy. The hills that we frequent are a go your own pace kinda thing.

[n7kv]

Well, it may be a non-issue, but thanks for bringing up the rant.

Interestingly enough, the only 'tude I've received was from the aging kids at one of the only skate shops in this town. When I show up at the nearest sheet of new asphalt and there happen to be kids there, they're stoked seeing an old dude pumping away on a longboard (WEARING a helmet AND pads, mind you).

The fact that I get 'tude from the not-kids-anymore always strikes me as a little ironic. These are the guys that are trying to deny that they're getting older by getting labrets and ear hoops, and are still showing pinky around their fresh tribal tats. My scars may not be quite so sophisticated and artsy, but at least I came by them honestly

And why the heck we don't have a decent skate shop when this city is literally OOZING "core" skate is beyond me... I get better service online anyway I guess.

Meh. </rant>

(Edit: BTW, my first board -- actually it wasn't mine: it belonged to my neighbor's older brother -- was about an inch thick and had clay wheels on trucks that didn't turn, and I, too, have also just gotten back into skateboarding and I'm LOVING it.)

[claude regnier]

elementalzoo - Quote' ...what's next? Talking about how often you have to stop to take a piss between runs?"

Well since you mentioned it. It really dpends on how much water I drink or how much I'm sweating.

Age only matters for ID and such. As for sports in general age doesn't matter much when you get down to it. The age barrier is really only used in determining the level of ones play unless injuries come into it

[elementalzoo]

elementalzoo - Quote' ...what's next? Talking about how often you have to stop to take a piss between runs?"

Well since you mentioned it. It really dpends on how much water I drink or how much I'm sweating.

Age only matters for ID and such. As for sports in general age doesn't matter much when you get down to it. The age barrier is really only used in determining the level of ones play unless injuries come into it

Huh? Oh, you're just talking about participating in sports vs competing in them I guess. Most sports are broken up by age category, because um, age does matter.