OK, everyone OFF the bandwagon...

Today was just like yesterday. Pretty fruitful day at work then a trip to the pool, a trip out to the house, TV and computers, then bedtime.

While we were at the pool, this kid (he couldn't have been 16 or 17 years old) goes over and sits down by the lifeguard (if you really want to call him that). And then he says, "Man, what a bunch of sh*t; This kid just told me that he has a Honda Civic with a 400-shot of NOS." The lifeguard looks at him strangely and then the kid continues, "Oh wait..you're not really into cars, are you.." "No, not really" replies the lifeguard.

And this is when it kindof hit me how much influence The Fast and the Furious has had on the general public. It's funny how quickly customizing vehicles has become a bandwagon of sorts. Years ago when I was in high school, there were three of us who had custom trucks and we were sortof outcasts. I mean, we had friends (each other) and stuff, but it wasn't "popular". And now? I imagine that a good number of local teenage kids either have a customized car (probably a Honda) or are planning on getting one when they turn 16 (Read: Mommy and Daddy will give them one). Amazing. I can't say that this is all bad, because it increases the overall popularity and visability of the scene. But maybe in a bad way.

But here's what I'm really getting at: What really bothers me is how many of these young kids are out there making the entire scene look bad. They're out there revving their engines at each other at stop lights. They're out there flexing all four cylinders; provoking anyone they can everytime they take off from a stoplight. I fear that the general public already has a deteriorated level of respect for customized vehicles if they've seen The Fast and the Furious (stolen cars, racing, violence, etc.). These kids are just out there reaffirming the belief that people who drive customized vehicles are a bunch of punk kids.

I'm ready for the wagon to stop and and all the rice kids to get off the bandwagon.