| : : I'm not into quads neither. I like my roller skates!
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: What do you mean? Quads ARE roller skates!! :P
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Quite simple: The name "quads" was introduced by inline skaters to clearly distinguish them from inline skates when inline skates where new. Back then it was not clear if you referred to inline skates when you talked about roller skates (it still isn't. Most people imagine inlines when I talk about roller skates).
But like an Inuit doesn't want to be called an Eskimo (OK, the analogy isn't perfect, but I hope you get what I mean) but rather proudly uses his own term, I like to call me a roller skater and not a "quadder". To me it is an expression of having an own roller skater culture (and an older one at that). And I think having an own culture is important to survive as a group. We won't survive if we're not proud of our own culture.
Just look at inline vert skaters: They are almost gone. I think that is in part due to the fact that inline skating was over-hyped and grew to fast. As a consequence, they didn't have time to sufficiently develop their culture. Wearing their pants above their knee pads is an attempt by them to distinguish themselves from other skaters, but it isn't enough to define an own culture. Rather, it's a bit stupid since they need new pants much more often.
OK, this was a rather long rant, but from time to time I just have to rant about the term "quads". Now I'm feeling better. ;-)
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