Topic Battle

The skateboard offers emotional satisfaction of an entirely different character. The neurological response to successfully executing a kickflip or ollie involves dopamine release comparable to other achievement-based activities. Skateboarding culture provides community, identity, and creative expression. However, the board itself maintains complete emotional neutrality. It does not greet returning riders, cannot sense distress, and offers no comfort during difficult periods. The satisfaction derives entirely from the rider's relationship with physics and personal achievement rather than any reciprocal connection with the object itself.

The skateboard presents minimal maintenance demands. Initial purchase costs range from £50 to £200 for quality equipment, with annual upkeep requiring perhaps £30-50 in replacement components. Maintenance involves occasional bearing lubrication, grip tape replacement, and wheel rotation. The skateboard makes no demands upon owner schedules, requires no veterinary appointments, and cannot experience separation anxiety. Storage requires approximately 0.3 cubic metres of space. When not in use, the skateboard simply waits, silently and without complaint, for its next deployment.

Skateboarding provides access to a distinct subcultural community with established gathering points, shared vocabulary, and strong internal bonds. Skate parks function as social spaces where skill levels matter less than shared enthusiasm. However, the skateboard's social facilitation operates primarily within its existing community rather than bridging to broader society. Non-skateboarders rarely approach skaters for conversation, and the activity itself may intimidate rather than invite interaction. The social benefits, whilst genuine, remain somewhat insular.

The skateboard demonstrates measurable transport advantages in suitable terrain. Average cruising speeds of 12-15 km/h approximately triple pedestrian velocity whilst requiring substantially less physical exertion than running. Downhill gradients permit speeds exceeding 50 km/h, though such velocities introduce significant risk factors. The skateboard asks nothing of its rider between journeys, requires no feeding, and fits conveniently beneath desks or in storage cupboards. However, its utility evaporates entirely when confronted with rain, gravel, or any gradient exceeding 15 degrees upward.

The skateboard demonstrates theoretically unlimited operational lifespan through component replacement. Decks may require replacement every 1-3 years under heavy use, but bearings, wheels, and trucks can be renewed indefinitely. A well-maintained skateboard from the 1970s remains fully functional today. The skateboard does not age, develop arthritis, or require increasingly frequent veterinary consultations. When components fail, identical replacements restore full functionality without emotional complication. The relationship with a skateboard, whilst less profound, proves considerably more permanent.