Comments by opinionatedness
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Posted on May 12 at 11:02 a.m. (Suggest removal)
He is my Brother in law. My Husband's Brother. He is still living with his parents. They did reprimand him. However, as someone who is still young enough to remember my youth, but old enough to appreciate that I did some things that weren't exactly safe or smart on occasion, I made sure to talk to him about it also.
The guys know it was wrong. There was a crusade of concerned locals that made sure of that. However, I let them know that this is the kind of stuff he was going to encounter his entire life and that there was more to take from this than just the illegality of it. He also learned to take hurtful and hateful people as a grain of salt because one day you are a hoodlum ramping your bike off placards and the next (as stated by the letter above) you are the cause for all vandalism and crime in the city. I also let him know that sometimes you have to pick your battles and all of us have agreed that from the amount of intolerant and selfish people in this city our youth wont ever have a safe place to go that isn't affiliated religiously. This battle obviously wasn't worth the effort.
I myself learned not to have an opinion that differs from people like akprincess lest I be judged. I also learned that I wont be raising kids in this town. I would hate for them to be influenced by some of the people I have had the displeasure of reading over the last week.
Oh one last thing, the assumption that the parents didn't discipline just because they don't feel the need to publicize it is a joke and makes those of you who said it appear unintelligent. Just thought you would like to know.
Posted on May 12 at 10:38 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Since I moved to Fairbanks I have been "bumped" by peoples bumpers five times. I know the exact amount because I keep a tally. I have only lived here two years. I wasn't on a bike. That's just me crossing the street, in a posted crosswalk, on my proper walk signal. It also happened once crossing a parking lot. It's sad really.
Hey maybe they mistook you for the gents in the picture everyone is up in arms about and were trying to exact justice. :P
Posted on May 12 at 10:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Well, I can't say I'm surprised by the responses to my letter.
Like I said on the editorial last week. If you want to get in touch with me to discuss trying to have a rec center put in (that isn't religiously affiliated) please get a hold of me here and we will chat.
For everyone else? Well it's the same tired argument I have been listening to for a week. Let's just agree to disagree.
Posted on May 7 at 11:48 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I live, literally, right next to WW. I hear Helicopters, Jets and Artillery practice everyday. It doesn't bother me. I live in a military town and I knew that when I moved here. For me it has nothing to do with the whole freedom thing. I grew up right next to an international airport and heard jets all day. You get used to it. I am listening to a helicopter as I type this. There are things in this town worth being concerned about. The sound of aircraft is not one of them.
Posted on May 7 at 11:42 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I never asked for government money. I actually said that we could get the big business and community together to fund it. I actually would prefer that people choose to contribute as opposed to being forced into it. I used to work for the Greater Fairbanks Chamber of Commerce and know a great deal about big business in the borough and the willingness of folks from places like the oil companies, to help out with things of this nature.
Do keep in mind though that you the tax payer is getting taxed for things much less productive from a city that is too broke to consider it's own youth. Oh and my Husband and I pay our taxes as well for the record.
Posted on May 6 at 3:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Have you ever been to said park? I have. It's literally a fun box (or small ramped wooden box, for the uninformed) and a rail. Now lets get 15 kids in there all with bikes, skateboards and roller blades and watch them argue over the order in which they get to ride over the fun box without getting in each other's way. It's quite sad really and if I were 17 I would probably much rather ride in the plaza as well.
Anyways, I am on my crusade now and will find some way to get future teenagers a place to ride/skate without being scrutinized by the public. I can't help but remember a quote from my own youth that seems to still ring true. I used to wear it proud on a T-Shirt. "Skating is not a crime". It's not going away. Just like the many other things that the older folk hope is a fad. Heavy metal music, Video Games, etc. etc.
Posted on May 6 at 12:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I am so glad that there are already people supporting the idea. It's funny too, my Husband and I were saying Foodland or the old KMart building would be perfect. There are plenty of empty eyesores in town that would make great candidates.
I also think that big companies in the state, especially the oil companies, would help fund for the sake of positive press. I myself would love to volunteer my time to being a positive influence for the kids as well.
I think that we could create an environment for people of all ages to spend productive, educational and physical time together. I do realize it would be a chore, but I think our youth deserve it. I am not quite sure where to start, but I'm sure the majority of my week will be spent researching.
Please by all means, if you have anything to contribute as far as positive ideas and information, send me a message on here and I will get you my contact info so we can talk more in depth.
Posted on May 6 at 12:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Thanks though for the inspiration. I thankfully have enough time on my hands that I am now on a crusade to get us a rec center. I know this has been done before and has failed miserably, but the city girl in me knows how to rally a community.
I also want to say thanks on behalf of our family to all the kind comments above regarding kids being kids. I knew this town couldn't be all mean spirited crotchety old folks. It's restored my faith in this town and made me want to work to help it be a better place.
Posted on May 6 at 12:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)
This whole thing is a joke. My Husband's Brother is one of the boys mentioned in the caption. I don't see anything wrong with what they were doing. Now if they were out slashing tires and spray painting walls I would be a little more concerned.
As for Festival Fairbanks, the phone call I received at my residence yesterday tracking my Brother in Law down was very shady and was made to look like he was being commended for something. I willingly provided the number because they lady was very polite. Then I arrive at his house last night to hear the answering machine message she left and can only say it was far less than professional and enough to make every adult in the room roll their eyes.
I have told the boys that perhaps they should stick to staying inside and playing video games since it seems that the fun police run rampant in this town. Wake up people! This is an example of kids being kids. Not an act of vandalism. How sad that we should be encouraging indoor play in this day and age.
Hey Fairbanks, as someone who has lived here three years and lived in much nicer planned out cities in the past I will say this. The skate park you built them was inadequate to put it very nicely. A fun box and a rail are not nearly enough. I had six well put together skate parks to access by the time I was 13. Where else are they supposed to do tricks?
Instead of concentrating on these ridiculous lynch mob tactics why don't we work on getting them a place to do this. The tricks these gentlemen can preform are at a professional level and whether you like it or not there are people out there that are considered professional athletes that do just that for a living.
I am glad I had the opportunity to grow up in a city that nurtured it's youth. I always tell my Husband that I feel bad that he had to grow up in the borough. There isn't anything productive for children to do here unless it involves some sort of religious affiliation and I'm sorry to say not all of us want our children being influenced by that.
For the record my Husband is a government contracted painter by trade and spends most of his day around very high priced chemicals and he says he has never seen a magic $20,000 paint that removes scuff marks and also says if there were such a paint we should be questioning why something that powerful would be allowed to be used right next to the water.
They are scuff marks! That's it! When I was 17 I was doing a hell of a lot worse than riding my bike on public property. Every adult I have spoken to regarding this has the same feelings as I do on the subject. Let them be kids lest they become hoodlums. I've seen hoodlums in my time. My Brother in Law is not one of them. A young man who still attends High School in a time where drop out rates are at an all time high. A young man who works after school in an elementary school library for his pocket money.
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Posted on May 12 at 11:09 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Haha! I used it once. I pulled in midday and it was empty. I have to agree with the letter.
On Replace the garage