Works Cited

1.) Larson, Aaron. "Assault and Battery." Expert Law (2003): n. pag. Web. 17 Nov 2010. http://www.expertlaw.com/library/personal_injury/assault

2.) Loch, Curt. "Skateboarding." Recreation Management (2010): 1. Web. 10 Nov 2010. http://www.recmanagement.com/200507gc04.php.

3.) Juteau, Rob. "Village board reviewing skateboard ordinances." LittleFallsTimes.com (2010): n. pag. Web. 17 Nov 2010. http://www.littlefallstimes.com/news/x487938097/Village-board-reviewing-skateboard-ordinances.

4.) Rogers, Kelley. "The Rise and Demise (and Rise) Of A Skate Park." Skaters For Public Skate Parks (2009): 1. Web. 16 Nov 2010. http://www.skatepark.org/the-rise-and-demise-and-rise-of-a-skate-park.html.

5.) Roth, Erica. "Skateboarding Safety Rules." Livestrong.com (2010): 1. Web. 10 Nov 2010. http://www.livestrong.com/article/83396-skateboarding-safety-rules/.  

6.) "Ryan Sheckler." BrainyQuote.com. Xplore Inc, 2010. 11 November. 2010. http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/r/ryansheckl346374.html

7.) WSBTV.com, . "Skater Hater: Cop Decks Skateboarder." WSBTV (2007): 1. Web. 15 Nov 2010. http://www.wsbtv.com/news/11316035/detail.html.

Reflection Paragraph on Sources

Throughout all the research of my blog project, I found it difficult to locate credible sources. It was easy to find websites that were not reputable; however, it was not so easy finding the reliable ones. After countless searches, I would sometimes find a good site to use. But as I said in my last blog, it was extremely challenging to come across these websites with the limited searches. One of the sites that I found to be the most useful in my research was assaultcharges.org. This website was not only reputable, but contained valuable information that I needed in order to determine the results of assault and battery on a minor. Without the assistance of this website, I do not think that this question would have been answered as thoroughly. The websites that I found to be the most trustworthy included assaultcharges.org, expertlaw.com, legalmatch.com, and recmanagement.com. Through my research I did not have any biased websites, only sites that were reliable and credible.

Reflection Paragraph on Process

Throughout my blog experience, I felt a few different emotions that ultimately helped me get my research done. At times when I had to find credible websites, I would often get stressed out and upset because it was difficult. On top of that, it was hard finding a specific website or article that was actually useful to my topic. So not only was it hard to find a reputable site, it was also challenging to find a site based on one of my research questions. As a result of this, I would sometimes spend up to an hour trying to get a reliable website. However, because this task was such a pain, I wanted to get it done and over with so that I would not have to deal with it again. During my research, I also became somewhat frustrated when I had to find a map pertaining to my topic. I had a rough time trying to locate a map of South Carolina that also included the districts. Over and over again, I just kept finding actual Google navigation maps for traveling. As I said earlier, this made me want to get done with it that much quicker. However, I did enjoy finding photographs about my topic and explaining them. Personally, this was the easiet part of the project as well. If I could have done something differently, I probably would have used my time wisely. As you can probably see, This blog was posted about five hours before the entire project was due. Due to this, I wish that I would have jumped on it a lot sooner than the last minute. For the most part though, I would rather do a blog research project than an actual research paper any day.

Reflection Paragraph on Findings

Through the research I conducted based on my topic, I discovered much information about why there is a major issue with public skateboarding. In the process, I was also able to determine the answers to my essential questions. For example, I learned that if an adult was to physically harm a minor skater, then he/she would receive jail time. In any case where a person physcially inflicts injury on someone else, that person is committing the act of assault and battery, which is a crime punishable by jail. Also, I came to learn that if a skater was to injure himself/herself at a public place, then that place would be held fully accountable for the accident. These types of problems are also known as liability issues, and lead me on to my other question. Skaters are often told to immediately leave public places because of the risk of injury or property damage. And although the skater(s) may not be skating at the time, they are still told to leave in order to prevent any complications. Through my research, I have also learned wht police typically get involved with public skateboarding incidents. The answer to this question is because of the 'bad' skater crowd. In skating, there are two separate groups, one containing the troublemakers and the other containing the respectful skaters. Being that most skaters are associated with being instigators, both groups(including the 'good' crowd) are classified as 'bad.' Therefore, in certain situations law enforcers get involved. Lastly, I discovered that boards are often confiscated as a way to punish the rider for disobeying rules/regulations. After finding the answers to these questions, I realized that the most significant piece of information was that skaters are forced to leave public places because of liability issues and property damage. Personally, this was not as surprising to me as the information regarding assault and battery. There are three different degress of battery, with first being the worst. This degree/form of battery requires a person to physically injure someone to a severe extent. After all of the research I did, no further questions developed within me. In conclusion, I feel that skateboarders should and should not be able to skate public places. It all depends on the attitude of the skater, and how that person presents himself/herself in public situations.

Finding Paragraph #3

When people often think of skateboarders, they think of mischievous, belligerent troublemakers that deserve nothing more than lawful punishment. This is primarily why police tend to get involved in situations where skaters are told to leave public places. When somebody tells a skater to leave they are not joking around. If a skater is brazen about the situation and ignores all warnings, then that person will not think twice about calling the police.These types of situations can also result in board confiscation. Boards are typically confiscated as a form of punishment for disobeying orders/warnings pertaining to skateboarding. To help clarify this, here is an example: According to Mayor James Kierzinski of St. Johnsville, New York, anyone caught violating city ordinance may have his/her board confiscated as punishment. Basically, if somebody is caught skating, then their board can be confiscated as a form of punishment for going against city ordinance. In skateboarding, there are two main groups in which skaters are divided. One group consists mainly of renegade troublemakers that make no effort to abide by rules or laws in effect. This is the group that is generally responsible for hostile situations that can sometimes occur. The other group consists mostly of polite and respectful individuals who abide by what is right. This crowd is the least of worries for people who often deal with the 'bad' crowd.

 Juteau, Rob. "Village board reviewing skateboard ordinances." LittleFallsTimes.com (2010): n. pag. Web. 17 Nov 2010. <http://www.littlefallstimes.com/news/x487938097/Village-board-reviewing-skateboard-ordinances>.

Finding Paragraph #2

When people skate public places, the risk of injury is present and many opposing people tell the skaters to leave. Under some circumstances, even if a skater is not skating he/she will be told to leave. Through my research, I have discovered that others force skaters to leave certain spots due to both liability and damage issues. According to Curt Loch, skateboarding should be banned in specific areas primarily because of these two reasons. The major problem regarding liability leads me on to my next question. What type of issues would a public place or facility face if a skater was to get injured on their grounds? Well, based on my research, a public place or facility would face (as mentioned earlier) a liability issue. If a person was to get hurt while on the premises of a public facility, then that place would be held accountable for the injury. When a skater decides to skate a public area, then the responsibility for that skater is passed on to the facility wherever he/she may be skating. Therefore, if that skater is hurt while on the grounds of that facility, then the facility is fully responsible for the incident.

Loch, Curt. "Understanding the Issues." Recreation Management (2010): n. pag. Web. 17 Nov 2010. <http://www.recmanagement.com/200507gc04.php>.

Finding Paragraph #1

Through my research pertaining to the major issue of public skateboarding, I have determined the consequences of an adult physically harassing a minor skater. In any case where an adult physically causes harm to a minor, the crime is otherwise known as battery. "A battery is the willful or intentional touching of a person against that person’s will by another person, or by an object or substance put in motion by that other person" (Larson). According to this quote, battery is basically the intentional touching of someone against his/her consent. Because of this, an adult who demonstrates this act on a person of younger age will receive jail time. The charge of battery is usually accompanied by assault. Assault is where a person has the intent to cause physical harm to somebody else but does not. For example, if a person was skating and somebody else raised his/her fist as to strike that person, then that would be assault. The act of that individual following through with the striking of the skater is battery. Thus, being that the person raised a fist and followed through with physical contact, the acts of both assault and battery took place.

Larson, Aaron. "Assault and Battery." Expert Law (2003): n. pag. Web. 17 Nov 2010. <http://www.expertlaw.com/library/personal_injury/assault

Quote, Paraphrase, and Citation #5

"Our skate park became the hangout, meet up spot, and the place to party. Not only did the lurkers show up, so did the BMX crowd and razor scooter kids. Suddenly the skate park wasn’t just for skateboarding. The site was remote and out of the public eye—tucked neatly away from everything. This was a recipe for disaster and the problems increased."

                         -Kelley Rogers

The quote above generally means that not all skate parks are ideal places that suit the needs of skateboarders. Due to this reason, as well as some cities not having skate parks, many skaters choose to skate various public spots. Many of which contain no regulatory signs restricting skateboarding. And often in doing so, a skateboarder may be harassed or physically assaulted for his/her decision(s). Although a city may have a skate park, that does not mean that the park is the safest or best place to be. This quote is relevant to my topic because it helps clarify why skating at some skate parks is not always appropriate. For example, if the local skate park of a city is a hazardous place to be, then the skaters of that city should not have to skate there. It would make more sense for them to skate public spots without suggestive signs, than a run-down skate park.

Rogers, Kelley. "The Rise and Demise (and Rise) Of A Skate Park." Skaters For Public Skate Parks (2009): 1. Web. 16 Nov 2010. <http://www.skatepark.org/the-rise-and-demise-and-rise-of-a-skate-park.html>.

Quote, Paraphrase, and Citation #4

"Skateboarding is banned in downtown Charleston."

                -WSBTV..com

The quote above means exactly what it says. In the downtown portion of Charleston, South Carolina, the use of a skateboard is not permitted. Anybody caught riding a skateboard in this regulated area usually receives the penalty of a fine. Personally, I think that skateboarding is restricted in downtown Charleston mainly because of its historical value and importance. For example, there are many historic buildings and monuments in Charleston, and many historic battles took place there too. I believe that the district prohibits skateboarding within Charleston for fear of damaging one of these important structures. This quote relates to my topic because it deals with an ordinance that bans skateboarding within a city. Through my research, I wanted to get more information pertaining to skateboard bans in cities, and this ties in with my topic.

WSBTV.com, . "Skater Hater: Cop Decks Skateboarder." WSBTV (2007): 1. Web. 15 Nov 2010. <http://www.wsbtv.com/news/11316035/detail.html>.

Graph/Chart/Map and Citation

The map above is that of South Carolina. Included within the map are the districts that make up the state. As you can see, district four contains the city of Charleston. In Charleston, skateboarding is prohibited and anybody caught will receive a fine of some type for disobeying city ordinance.

"Hearing Districts Map." South Carolina Workers' Compensation Commission. Web. 15 Nov 2010. <http://www.wcc.state.sc.us/Commissioners/districts/>. 

Quote, Paraphrase, and Citation #3

"We need to understand these issues and treat them as two distinctly separate problems. Banning skateboards altogether due to liability  concerns and property damage (either potential or real) is wrongfully limiting the skateboarder who isn't riding in restricted areas, ignoring posted signs and/or destroying property."

                       - Curt Loch

The quote above is more or less explaining how the issue of public skateboarding should be handled or treated. The point is to divide the two major problems with skateboarding so that they're not identified as one problem. Essentially, if skateboarding is prohibited altogether, then it is not fair to the skateboarders that are not damaging property or breaking any laws. However, it would be fair to those who pay no attention to laws restricting skateboarding and harm property. Therefore, as the quote discussed, this concern should be treated much differently.

Loch, Curt. "Skateboarding." Recreation Management (2010): 1. Web. 10 Nov 2010. <http://www.recmanagement.com/200507gc04.php>.

Photo, Caption, and Citation #3

The photograph to the left is of Lem Villemin, a highly talented professional skateboarder. He was born in Thailand but has now become a well known skateboarder. I chose this photo because it shows that even people who don't have much can make it big. Lem "was living in a rural village in Thailand with rice patties and only 500 people," says Josh Brooks. This relates to my topic because it reveals that people should not profile skateboarders. Lem Villemin is a prime example of this. He came from nothing, as many others do, and became a successful individual. My point is that others don't know where or what someone else came from, and therefore should not be so quick to judge. When my friends and I go skate public street spots, we're immediately profiled by an ever so large number of people.

Lem Villemin's Long Way. Photograph. ESPN. Web. 10 Nov. 2010. <http://http://espn.go.com/action/skateboarding/blog/_/post/4731309>.

Quote, Paraphrase, and Citation #2

"Wearing protective gear, following traffic rules and being aware of local municipal codes and laws regarding where skateboarding can take place are all important skateboarding rules..."

                     -Erica Roth

 The quote above essentially regards to the general rules and laws skateboarders should abide by. These rules specifically apply to skateboarding outside of a skate park; however, some may be used within skate park premises. Wearing the proper safety equipment for skateboarding ensures protection against hard falls a skater may take. Also, when skating in public, it is best to keep in mind of laws or regulations in place that limit skateboarding. Doing these things may or may not cut down on problems regarding skateboarding in public areas.

Roth, Erica. "Skateboarding Safety Rules." Livestrong.com (2010): 1. Web. 10 Nov 2010. <http://www.livestrong.com/article/83396-skateboarding-safety-rules/>.

Photo, Caption, and Citation #2

The photograph shown at the left is a skateboard/scooter rack. Due to many confiscated skateboards piling up at public facilities, this rack was developed to relieve that issue. Whenever a skater gets his/her board taken by facility staff or management, it simply goes on the skate rack. The board is placed horizontally in between each rack section and then locked into place. This ensures that nobody stumbles or trips on boards clustered in office space. This photograph ties in with my topic because it helps to clarify where boards go after they are confiscated from a skater. Skateboarders would not have to worry about this problem if they were allowed to skate public facilities.

Skateboarding. Photograph. Recreation Management. Web. 10 Nov. 2010. <http://http://www.recmanagement.com/200507gc04.php>.

Quote, Paraphrase, and Citation #1

"Don't ever give up. You gotta keep trying, and never give up."

                 -Ryan Sheckler


I believe that Ryan Sheckler lived by this motto growing up, and still does today. Becoming a professional skateboarder requires a great deal of dedication and countless hours of practice, bails, and footage. In order to achieve a goal or something that you work hard at, you must put in everything you have. It is best to remember that if you want something bad enough, you cannot give up in doing so. Work your hardest towards that goal until you succeed in reaching it. In skateboarding, if you want to land a trick, you have to be prepared and willing to devote the time and effort needed to do so. You have to be prepared for the slams that you may take to get that trick. But in the end,, the reward is everlasting.

"Ryan Sheckler." BrainyQuote.com. Xplore Inc, 2010. 11 November. 2010. http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/r/ryansheckl346374.html

Photo, Caption, and Citation #1

The photograph to the left is an example of a sign that prohibits skateboarding in a designated area. This designated area just happens to be the city of Phoenix, Arizona according to the sign. Signs similar to the one shown are all intended to restrict skateboarding on specific grounds. Located at the bottom of the sign is the section of the city ordinance, which prohibits skateboarding in that area. This photo is in relation to my research topic because through my research, I wanted to discover laws in place that restrict skateboarding.

No Skateboarding. Photograph. Flickr. Web. 9 Nov. 2010. http://http//phoenixdailyphoto.com/no-skateboarding.

Wordle #2

Wordle #1

http://www.recmanagement.com/200507gc04.php

Preliminary Links

http://ezinearticles.com/?Skateboarding-Laws&id=2203859

A man named Scott Robson created this article which discussed current laws pertaining to skateboarding and their history. This website article could be useful in my research project because it gives me a general idea about laws prohibiting skateboarding and why they were created.

http://assaultcharges.org/

This article was developed by the administration of the website in which assault charges and consequences were discussed. This is useful to my topic research because it helps show me the results and charges brought on by assaulting someone. (skater)

http://www.recmanagement.com/200507gc04.php

This article was created by Curt Loch and discussed issues with skateboarding and skateboard confiscation. This is very useful to my research project because it explains why skateboarding at certain areas is prohibited and better solutions for it.

http://www.essortment.com/hobbies/historyskateboa_sndy.htm

This article developed by Cosmo Catalano discussed the history of skateboarding and some of the problems skateboarders faced due to certain laws. This would be useful for my topic research because it explains the origins of skateboarding and some of the early problems skateboarders faced regarding laws. Some of these problems still exist today and are waiting to be corrected.

Animoto based on search questions

Create your own video slideshow at animoto.com.

What I Want to Know About My Topic

There is not exactly an entire list of questions that I would like to know about my topic; however, I would still love to know a few questions. One of these few questions that I want to know is what type of trouble could somebody get in for physically harassing a skater on public grounds for skating? When I chose my topic, this was the first question that popped in my head. I was and still am incredibly curious to know the answer to this question. I figured that if somebody physically harassed a skater on public grounds, the punishment would be jail time depending upon the age of the person. If the attacker was not a minor and the person assaulted was, then of course the person would be put in jail. On the other hand, if both were minors, then I think that the attacker would be put in a Juvenile Detention Center. Another question that I had was what type of problems would a public place or facility face if a skater was to get hurt on their grounds? Would the facility or area get shut down as a result of this, or would the risk of getting sued be added? If a sign prohibiting skateboarding is posted and a skater gets injured, obviously the facility would not be at fault. However, if one is not, what would be the result? Does it depend on whether or not the skater or skater's parents would want to sue? I also wanted to know why people almost immediately force a skater to leave a spot even if they are just hanging out for the time being. For instance, when my friend Jose and I went to skate this grass gap, a random guy told us to leave. We had not even put a foot down on our boards yet either. This occurrence was what sparked and inspired this question. A fourth question that I had was, "why do police get involved almost every time a skater is told to leave a public spot?" If the spot is public, then why is skating on these premises such a big deal and requires law enforcement to resolve? There are no laws that tell a skater he or she cannot skate a spot if it is public. Even when a law is in effect, there are typically signs requiring no such activity on those grounds. Lastly, I was anxious to know why boards are sometimes confiscated by somebody when skating is performed at public places or facilities. What use would somebody that is older and does not even skate have with a skateboard anyways, unless the main purpose would be punishment?

Current Knowledge of Topic

I have some background knowledge of my topic, and I will gladly provide it. First, I already know that the average skater is made out to be something that is not completely true. Skaters are portrayed as rebellious youth that have no morals or values whatsoever. We are categorized as troublemakers that pay no attention to important laws or ordinances. We are made out to be pesky unintelligent instigators. However, most of us really are not. There are always a few bad apples that can ruin it for the rest, but is that not the same for every crowd? Even some police officers occasionally take their power too seriously and abuse it. They are supposed to be enforcers of the law, correct? On top of that, they are supposed to serve and protect. However, some do the complete opposite of their sworn oath. This helps prove that not everybody in any particular crowd is completely perfect. Most skateboarders are extremely humble people and very much like a family to one another. We only become belligerent in certain situations where we see something that is unjust. I suppose that is why we are considered rebellious. It is because we take a stand when we see something that is not right. In doing so, we then get punished for whatever actions we may perform that are classified as "unjust." Is that not contradictory? Why would we get punished for something someone else does that is unjust? Are you not often told from birth to stand up for what you believe in or what is right? Is this information not passed on to us from our parents or guardians? Think about it. Also, we know that there are laws and public enforcement in some areas that prohibit skateboarding. That is why we generally skate places where no signs are posted prohibiting it, but yet we still get the boot. Why is that? That is for both you and me to figure out.

The Story Behind My Topic Choice

The main reason why I chose the topic I did was because I want to figure out from the opposing side why skateboarding seems to be such an issue when performed at public facilities or places. I have seen many cases where a skateboarder is harassed for skating on public grounds and sometimes even assaulted. Being a skateboarder myself, I have been in cases such as these as well. About five months ago, I was skating at a public beach access area and was physically assaulted for skating there along with my friend. Note that the sign posted states the word "public." I did not harm anyone or anything whatsoever. I was merely skating the smooth concrete provided to practice my flatland tricks, and it irritates me knowing that I was physically thrown off of public grounds for simply skating. I did nothing at all to harm or harass anyone. I did not provoke anybody when I was skating either.