The following appeared as a letter to the editor from a Central Plaza store owner."Over the past two years, the number of shoppers in Central Plaza has been steadily decreasing while the popularity of skateboarding has increased dramatically. Many Central

The author's recommendation that if skateboarding is prohibited here,the business in Central Plaza will return to its previously high levels, seems to be valid at the first glance. His argument would be correct if the premises on which the argument is based on were to be true. However, in his argument the author has made certain assumptions for which he has not provided evidence.

According to the the author,the store owners of Central Plaza believe that increasing popularity of skateboarding in the Plaza is responsible for the decrease in number of shoppers in the Plaza. He has provided some evidences in support of his argument.The author has cited that over last 2 years,the number of shoppers in the Plaza has steadily decreased while the popularity of skateboarding has dramatically increased. Here, the author has failed to state clearly, whether the steady decrease of number of shoppers started after the number of people using skateboards increased in the Plaza. He has not provided any clear evidence which connects the decrease of number of shoppers to increase in skateboard users. There is no specific evidence which suggests that the shoppers in the Plaza faced any kind of discomfort due to the presence of skateboarders at any point of time. If the author were to cite some specific example which would prove that the shoppers were having discomfort due to the presence of skateboarders,it will significantly strengthen his argument. However, if any such evidence of a complaint exists,the author has failed to state it here.

The author has not stated that he has already examined all the other reasons which could be responsible for the decrease of buisness in Central Plaza. For example, the shoppers may have found some better alternative. The location of the Central Plaza might have been far from residential areas. Earlier there might not have been other shopping centres present so all the people were forced to visit the Plaza. However in last two years,other Plazas nearer to residential areas might have come into existence. As a result more people would be preferring those options to Central Plaza. There could be other reasons for decrease of buisness, the author may have examined those. However, if he did examine them, he has failed to state here.

The author also states that there has been a dramatic increase in the amount of litter and vandalism throughout the plaza alongwith the increase in number of skateboarders .Yet again he has failed to provide any concrete evidence to link the skateboarders to vandalism and litter. If he had reported an eye witness's account, that the acts of vandalism or litering was done by a skateboarder, it would lend more credibility to his argument. As such, there is no evidence to state that acts of vandalism were carried out by skateboarders and not local vandals.

Overall,the author may be correct in believing that the increasing popularity of skateboarding in the plaza is respnsible for decrease of buisness. However, in this account he has not cited concrete evidences to support his argument. The recommendations stated as they are, will not have the desired effect of getting skateboarding banned in Central Plaza.