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 argument concludes the business in Central Plaza is dulled by skateboard users. It based on premises that the number of shoppers in Central Plaza has been steadily decreasing while much more people have started to skateboard, that many store owners believe that decrease in their business is due to the number of skateboard users in the plaza, and that there has also been a dramatic increase in the amount of litter and vandalism in the plaza. The argument is very weak, for is based on numerous assumptions that appear to be wholly unsupported. There are many questions to be asked.

First, do fans of skateboard litter and vandalize things throughout the plaza? Or May it be the crime conducted by some bad teenagers who take truancy as a habit? In spite of this, the hobbyists of skateboard could be highly educated, principled, and even hard working people. In addition, they may be the supporters of protecting the environment and definitely can't litter on the street. What's more, these guys may exactly be policemen and, needless to say, they don't want vandalism as these store owner do. The relation between lovers of skateboard and litter and vandalism throughout plaza is rather weak. However, this argument fails to address any explanation.

Second, does decrease of customers have things to do with dramatic increase in the amount of skateboard lovers? Maybe some entrepreneur just build a new, large, and even magnificent mall nearby, and everybody go shopping there since there is a discount. Furthermore, there are huge rebates of different kinks of skateboards and many advertises about it. People love skateboarding because there is someone encouraging them to try it. What's more, there might be some workshop concerning how to skateboard well or something related. The above statement is a possible reason of depression of the business of Central Plaza stores, but not be excluded by the author. If this condition is true, it will severely weaken the argument.

In the end, the argument that focusing on the decrease in business of Central Plaza stores is due to the increase in number of skateboard users in the plaza is rather weak. Despite this, if the author answer that if fans of skateboard litter and vandalize things throughout the plaza, and that what the relation between decrease of customers and dramatic increase in the amount of skateboard lovers is, this argument will be strengthened greatly. However, there is no reason to accept the conclusion of the argument.