A region blooms

You can still sit on a bench if people have skated on it. It gets a little scuffed up

Yeah, but you know, some people have this strange, old-fashioned idea that they don't want other people damaging public resources that their tax dollars paid for.

In the process, it actually serves an alternate function for the community.

Why does it need an alternate function? It has a function, which is providing a place to sit. A function which, I hardly need do point out, it cannot serve if a bunch of gnarly dudes are practicing their moves on it.

That's irrelevant, though, because what's really at play here is old people get-off-my lawn-ing some benches that they would rather see clean than used.

Or, you know, just a crazy idea like "Park benches should be available for people to sit on." Sorry if that's too 19th-Century for your cyber-brain to handle.

It's cool, though. I'm getting old. I'm sure I'll eventually develop that same taste for bland sterility that drives a person to be so horrified at the idea of someone enjoying something.

Does beating up on that straw man give you allergies?

I've seen what the little skateboarders are done to the library at Copley Square, and trust me, since remember the granite being repaired, at great cost, not so long ago (in my eyes), they should have invested in those stoppers they have in Somerville to keep the damage from occurring.

And judging by the attitudes I see the kids (or adults who act like kids), they would probably cop attitude if someone had the audacity to actually want to sit on the benches. And yes, this was my world view in my teens when I used to socialize with skate punks. And yes, I am glad the new skate park by North Station is finally being built.

I love me a nice bowl of word salad!