The Future of Drifting

[XzifT]

Like I said. Yes, there are a fair share of idiots that do type like "drftin rizxzocks !121!!!!1!", but it doesnt mean we all type in that manner. There are people who type in the 'correct' way.

 

[askia47]

Also Der alta i wasnt talking about myself when i first posted. i didnt mean to say for everyone to deal with my attitude(i dont drift at all believe if it or not, i just watch)

I have respect for things that came before, I am just saying for people to stop quarreling over drifting and let it rest, and accept that its a style that wont just die after bashing it so much.

I better get ready for some pain as most members will starting bashing me.

I predict it.

 

[Duke]

So here we have two back-to-back posts, that illustrate the issue perfectly.

Xzift wants to be taken seriously, and is hindered by "association" with the drifter stereotype, through no fault of his own.

Then we have askia47, who apparently is unable to comprehend why some people are not taken seriously.

There lies the problem: denial. If you type like you are illiterate, people will believe you are illiterate, and will treat you accordingly. Actually, there are rules against it:

• No slang words that promote laziness, ie; "r", "u", "plz", etc.
  
• Half decent grammar is expected. Use of capital letters
  starting sentences is looked upon favorably. Spelling
  half decently is also encouraged.

... but let's leave that aside for the moment.

People have a right to behave as they wish, within certain rules. However, you have no right to complain when people treat you a particular way or make assumptions about you based on that evidence.

If you don't want people to think you're a slut, don't dress like a slut. If you don't want people to think you're an illiterate moron, don't post like one. askia47 says "drifters are here to stay, deal with it." To which I reply, "my attitude towards illiterate morons is here to stay, deal with it." Does that advance his cause? Does that do anything to gain acceptance for his sport? No. He's closed the door on any meaningful dialogue.

Der Alta, here, has extended a hand of support to help the drifting community help itself. I know he himself has zero interest in drifting. Some sensible people have stepped up and agreed that things can be worked out. Yet some others have found it necessary to slap that hand away and make a rude gesture.

So much for self-improvement.

 

[pergatory]

Originally posted by Der Alta
You each need to step up and take part in guiding the rest of the drifters towards a better position in the motor sports world. I'm not singling you 5 out, just going forward on what I have here at hand.

LOL, we try. There are quite a few of us folks like myself and bengee who continue to try to get the drifting scene pointed in the right direction, although there are those that would argue that drifting is by definition not pointing the right direction =) Anyway, you're right, the ratio is too low. There is too great a 13-year-old-wish-I-had-a-car syndrome going on in the drift scene and I think it's because on first sight for those who don't understand what's going on behind the scenes, drifting looks WAY more difficult and impressive. I think this may also be the source of some of the ill feelings toward drifting, because grippers may feel that even though they exert themselves just as hard, people unfamiliar with race form might give more credit to a good drifter. Unfortunately, I don't think there's any way around this. A good driver doing grip driving makes it look easy, even effortless, like a child could do it. Most people will assume that's the case without actually trying for themselves and finding out how difficult it really is. Could also be one of the reasons that newbies are so attracted to drifting.

What do you think needs to be done to move drifting from a backyard sport into mainstream?
<snip>
Would you guys be willing to work with someone to get a Drifters OLR section with rules and grading laid out?

I think that it will just take time. Honestly, I don't think drifting is ready for the mainstream, at least not here in the States. It's a very new scene and is not very refined yet. In Japan, for example, the drift scene is well-established and well-known. If some yahoo comes to a drift meet and acts like a 12-year-old who doesn't know what he's doing, he will be ridiculed. Here, he will be offered a position on a drift team, and then create a 12-line signature and run around referring to himself as a drifter. As long as the wannabe drifter culture is larger and more recognized than the actual drifter culture, drifting will never be mainstream.

 

[askia47]

Originally posted by neon_duke
So here we have two back-to-back posts, that illustrate the issue perfectly.

Xzift wants to be taken seriously, and is hindered by "association" with the drifter stereotype, through no fault of his own.

Then we have askia47, who apparently is unable to comprehend why some people are not taken seriously.

There lies the problem: denial. If you type like you are illiterate, people will believe you are illiterate, and will treat you accordingly. Actually, there are rules against it:

... but let's leave that aside for the moment.

People have a right to behave as they wish, within certain rules. However, you have no right to complain when people treat you a particular way or make assumptions about you based on that evidence.

If you don't want people to think you're a slut, don't dress like a slut. If you don't want people to think you're an illiterate moron, don't post like one. askia47 says "drifters are here to stay, deal with it." To which I reply, "my attitude towards illiterate morons is here to stay, deal with it." Does that advance his cause? Does that do anything to gain acceptance for his sport? No. He's closed the door on any meaningful dialogue.

Der Alta, here, has extended a hand of support to help the drifting community help itself. I know he himself has zero interest in drifting. Some sensible people have stepped up and agreed that things can be worked out. Yet some others have found it necessary to slap that hand away and make a rude gesture.

So much for self-improvement.

Told ya i would be bashed and a good basing it was!


Or would it be better if i said

Drifting Stays

I wasnt trying to rude either

Guess i deserve to die dont I?

 

[Der Alta]

There's so much here to work with (good and bad), and I'll be back to it in a bit.

Askia, Pergatory, and Xzift, I'll respond shortly with a further explanation and discussion. Gotta run.

Thanks for participating in this discussion.

AO

 

[Der Alta]

Originally posted by XzifT
I see what you're saying now. I wasnt 100% sure, but I get it now. And I agree. GTP should be more "all involved". Insted of just having these people over and these people over here, we should mix a tad.

Agreed, and that's what I'm hoping to see more of.

Originally posted by askia47
Der Alta i should have been more clear. I mean how people TYPE

like- loL Driftin R@ck$!!!111

I didnt mean what they say when they type, i mean the style they type in.

Yep, I caught what you meant, and in the Terms of service it specifically addresses that.

Originally posted by askia47
Also Der alta i wasnt talking about myself when i first posted. i didnt mean to say for everyone to deal with my attitude(i dont drift at all believe if it or not, i just watch)

I have respect for things that came before, I am just saying for people to stop quarreling over drifting and let it rest, and accept that its a style that wont just die after bashing it so much.

I better get ready for some pain as most members will starting bashing me.

I predict it.

I know it won't die, and in fact would like to encourage it. I'd like to see members of the drift forum a bit more influential through out the site. Like I said, I've seen snowboarders get jumped in a parking lot because they were carrying a board. It's to be accepted as the diehards try to beat it into submission.

Originally posted by pergatory
LOL, we try. There are quite a few of us folks like myself and bengee who continue to try to get the drifting scene pointed in the right direction, although there are those that would argue that drifting is by definition not pointing the right direction =) Anyway, you're right, the ratio is too low. There is too great a 13-year-old-wish-I-had-a-car syndrome going on in the drift scene and I think it's because on first sight for those who don't understand what's going on behind the scenes, drifting looks WAY more difficult and impressive. I think this may also be the source of some of the ill feelings toward drifting, because grippers may feel that even though they exert themselves just as hard, people unfamiliar with race form might give more credit to a good drifter. Unfortunately, I don't think there's any way around this. A good driver doing grip driving makes it look easy, even effortless, like a child could do it. Most people will assume that's the case without actually trying for themselves and finding out how difficult it really is. Could also be one of the reasons that newbies are so attracted to drifting.

This is another aspect that I'd like to see emphasized. Most all of the racers here know who the fast guys are by name. If someone sees Mr. P or Lotus, or Mr. Holland and Boombexus, and Max E. they know that each one of them have a history of being very fast. Yet, not one of the racers can name one drifter. Well with the exception initial D.

Originally posted by askia47
Told ya i would be bashed and a good basing it was!


Or would it be better if i said

Drifting Stays

I wasnt trying to rude either

Guess i deserve to die dont I?

Nope, we all make typing mistakes and heated responses. You admitted you should have typed in something different, and that's exactly what I would like to see in the rest of the drifters.

So where do we go from here?

We all know that Drifting is evolving into a sport of its own. We all know it's going to take time for acceptance. I've got an idea for a next step, but we'll have to see how it works out and what drifters might have for additional thoughts and ideas.

AO

 

[Joey D]

I have a problem with drifters, everyone who thinks they can do it does it on a public road that I travel home ever night on the way home from work. I've almost been hit several times and I've call the cops on there asses more then once. I usally drive down the road at the posted 35 with my bright lights on hoping to tell the dumbasses I'm coming.

Then I went to the track last week, last weekend they were open. I was with my buddy with his Ford Probe GT, we were going to see what it ran, but when we got there we had to wait til the drifters on the track were done. By that time there was a ton of rubber on the track and my bud was pissed.

So drifters are just a waste of space as far as I'm concerned. Keep the drifting to the Rallye drivers that actually need to use it during a race. I don't care if you want to look good or think drifting is stylish...all your doing is keep tire companies nice and profitable.

I expect to get *****ed at but I don't care, its the internet, it's not like I can do anything

 

[Joey D]

one more note...drifting is not a sport no matter how much you want it to be...Football, Basketball, Hockey, LaCrosse, and Rugby are sports.

 

[emad]

Originally posted by BlazinXtreme
one more note...drifting is not a sport no matter how much you want it to be...Football, Basketball, Hockey, LaCrosse, and Rugby are sports.

the way u said it, racing cars of all types in all styles is NOT a sport...nothing more than a test of reflexes

 

[Joey D]

I don't think Auto Racing is a sport...its more of what you said and test of reflexes...its more of a compition..like golf

 

[XzifT]

Whether any of you like it or not, Drifting IS a sport. Simple as that. I could honestlly care less on your opinion, its pretty well known. Drift is just as much of a sport as Nascar and football.

 

[Joey D]

Sports require teams and phyical activity and some contact. Drifting is a receation...I could say cheerleading is a sport...ya right

 

[XzifT]

I once saw cheerleading 'expo' on TV. With a crap load of gay guys and chicks in skirts. Its a Sport in my book.

 

[Joey D]

By my standard cheerleading, golf, bowling, auto racing, and possibly shooting comps. all fall into the same catagory. There not sports though...Sports have teams

 

[Der Alta]

Originally posted by BlazinXtreme
I have a problem with drifters, everyone who thinks they can do it does it on a public road that I travel home ever night on the way home from work. I've almost been hit several times and I've call the cops on there asses more then once. I usally drive down the road at the posted 35 with my bright lights on hoping to tell the dumbasses I'm coming.

Then I went to the track last week, last weekend they were open. I was with my buddy with his Ford Probe GT, we were going to see what it ran, but when we got there we had to wait til the drifters on the track were done. By that time there was a ton of rubber on the track and my bud was pissed.

So drifters are just a waste of space as far as I'm concerned. Keep the drifting to the Rallye drivers that actually need to use it during a race. I don't care if you want to look good or think drifting is stylish...all your doing is keep tire companies nice and profitable.

I expect to get *****ed at but I don't care, its the internet, it's not like I can do anything

This is the exact attitude that skiers had when Snowboarding was just coming out. You are as big a problem as the drifters who don't bother using proper grammar.

Originally posted by BlazinXtreme
By my standard cheerleading, golf, bowling, auto racing, and possibly shooting comps. all fall into the same catagory. There not sports though...Sports have teams

So where do gymnastics and downhill skiing fall in your defintion? They both require a team to get an overall medal. Car Racing isn't a sport? Would you consider a pit crew part of the team?

So by your definition a sport must invovle more than one person? So a 1000m relay race is a sport, but a 100 yard sprint is not? Oh...that's right, it needs to include contact. So Soccer isn't a sport, as you get fined for contact with another player. Volleyball isn't a sport, nor is basketball. No contact there.

So golf is not a sport. It invovles accuracy, power and menatl prowess to keep yourself on target and accurate. You have to gauge the power in your swing and at the same time concentrate on accuracy. Trying scoring a goal off a slap shot where you have no power, accuracy or ability to control your swing.

You're not thinking this through and you need to clarify what you are saying or you'll get into deep water.

So care to tell us what your definition of "Athlete" is so that we can see if race car drivers, gymnasts or skiers fit into it?

Or shall I hang you with the rope you've already given us?

And as for keeping tire companies in business profitable, why do people pay $200 for a pair of sneakers when You can get them at Walmart for $20 and they last twice as long?

AO

 

[Duke]

BlazinXtreme, you try riding a few laps around a motocross track, and then tell me offroad motorcycle racing is not a sport... if you can find your breath. Or maybe a slalom water skiing run. I've done both, and I'll tell you, it's hard work to do for fun, let alone competitively.

 

[-Fred-]

I see it that way: If the guys don't bother me, i'll leave them alone. If you're too much "into" it, you're just asking to be picked on.

Hey, i watched all those drifting videos on the internet. I'll even do it in GT3 when i'm bored. I'm a huge fan of the Option2/Best Motoring/Hot Version videos, and i can spend nights browsing the web for new "JDM" stuff to watch. Yet i don't write like an ass, or annoy everyone about it.

 

[Solid Lifters]

Drifting became popular in Japan in 1984. At a racing event held there in 1984, a driver who was way behind the lead decided to have a little fun going around the turns and began to mimic the cars he had seen in American TV shows and movies.

The crowd went nuts, and reporters flocked to him asking what he was doing out on the course. He replied, "Drifting!" And so, drifting was born.

Over the next few years hundreds of Japanese youths began drifting around the streets of Japan. I once saw a video about it back in 1988, and what they did was just down right scary. I admit, at the time, I thought it was cool.

Drifting takes skill and talent to perform, but I don't consider it a sport. I fear what happened in Japan will happen here in the US, drifters performing in the streets, while I'm trying to use them.

I started to snowboard in 1987, and there were some older skiers who hated what I was doing. Some called me a bastard for screwing with their sport. Interesting. I think they were only upset because they had to share the mountain with us youths, some of who probably weren't on our best behavior.

I don't hate drifters, just some of the behavior of a few bad apples. Drifting seems like a fun idea for GT4, but I hope it doesn't take away from the racing experience.

 

[Cobraboy]

I agree with neon_duke and Punkrock 110%.

But I can't think of anything to back it up, I had a big spiel ready but lost it completely, how stupid...

Bah, least you know someone supports you... 👍

 

[SandStorm]

Originally posted by Red Eye Racer
Dis 's da only ting I don' like 'bout drftrs.... I cnt evr cmprhnd w't their trying to say......

Nahh you suck.

yo i 1 2 drift but i no no how wen i get crnr turn try slid but alway spin my own fault haha i try hard but never strate alway hit dirt if n e 1 can help plezzz can u i 1 2 lern 10q

You got 0wnz0rz3d boy!

 

[Shadow Drifter]

I've read through this forum and I noticed once that someone stated that the moderators or administrators (correct me if I'm wrong) should ban those who are constantly making "retarded" statements and posts.

Well being in the Marine Corps has taught me a lot of things and one of those things is that, you should never outcast someone simply because they do something differently.
If people, such as, Man-I-Can-Drift are seriously irritating you then you guys should try to educate them more than trying to keep them from posting. Don't ban them because they may, I'm not saying he/she does, have lesser intelligence but try to help them. Tell them what it is about their comments, posts, suggestions, etc that really annoy you (for lack of a better phrase).

The same can be said for all drifters in general. If you are a dedicated grip driver and all the drifters seem to do is tick you off then you should let them know, in the nicest way possible, but you should let them know. It's called "tact" and a lot of people in these forums seem to lose it when they meet the other side of the race world.

Yes, I'm a drifter in this game, and yes, drifting is pretty much my new dedication. But I have also graduated from high school in the top ten percent, I have made something of myself and am currently serving my country overseas, I can spell words without letters (although it can be fun at times) and I can pronounce and remember words with more than three syllables.

I'm not bragging, I'm just rying to get the point across that all drifters are not stupid. In fact, I have, and Xzift can attest to this, held very structured conversations on these forums with many drifters and I try my best to always use correct grammer and spelling because my mother always told me that if I went through the trouble of getting the education, then I damn well better show it off.

As far as the mainstream of drifting, we have seen several incidents where drifting has gone public. The D1 Grand Prix in California for instance is a good introduction of legal, sanctioned drifting to the USA. Where I live, Okinawa Japan, drifting is done bot legally and illegally. We have tracks for people who are willing to pay 5000 yen (about 49 dollars) to drift around strategic cones and turns and we have sanctioned events such as the Blitz/HKS showoff and the Greddy drift challenge.

That makes drifting very well known amongst all racers and it's one of the most respected motorsports in Japan right now. I've been drifting for over a year now in real life and I know what regection feels like when you have Japanese people who don't want "Yankees" drifting on their roads. I've been ran off road, chased, and I've had to avoid countless collisions with people who just don't want me to drift because it's "Not for Yankees" but, overtime I gained respect and people accepted me because I was always tactful and I always new what to say to let them know that I really was interested in learning the true art of drifting.

Now I can't say that I see this kind of stuff here in the forums on both sides (drifters and racers) but, what I can see is an adjustment from the "Drifters Suck . . oh yeah well racers suck" posts to the kind of posts where people just want to figure out more. Yes, there is indeed a lot of spite still in the air, but it will fade out and racers will accept it, even though they do not see it now, just as the Japanese locals accepted me and now I'm one of the better drifters in Okinawa.


I hope that I responded to this post in the way that Der Alta was looking for, if not, I'm sorry but I just had to get that out.

Semper Fidelis
Shadow Drifter

 

[Der Alta]

Originally posted by Shadow Drifter
I've read through this forum and I noticed once that someone stated that the moderators or administrators (correct me if I'm wrong) should ban those who are constantly making "retarded" statements and posts.

Well being in the Marine Corps has taught me a lot of things and one of those things is that, you should never outcast someone simply because they do something differently.
If people, such as, Man-I-Can-Drift are seriously irritating you then you guys should try to educate them more than trying to keep them from posting. Don't ban them because they may, I'm not saying he/she does, have lesser intelligence but try to help them. Tell them what it is about their comments, posts, suggestions, etc that really annoy you (for lack of a better phrase).

Many of us have tried to guide and teach people that don't care to use proper grammar. It mostly backfires due to the fluid movement of the internet. People are here for three or four posts and then gone. We go through the same cycle on a regular basis. Stud69 was perfect example. He had no desire to see the site improve. With his second account, he continued this. Now, as soon as he discovered under a new pseudonym we ban him on the spot.

The same can be said for all drifters in general. If you are a dedicated grip driver and all the drifters seem to do is tick you off then you should let them know, in the nicest way possible, but you should let them know. It's called "tact" and a lot of people in these forums seem to lose it when they meet the other side of the race world.

I'd like to start thinking that it's not the other side of the race world, but just another corner of it. The loss of tact is due more to seeing prevalent attitude of the "man-can-I-drift" splattered around GTP than anything else. With someone like that bantering about the site, its tough to get a real image of Drifters.

Yes, I'm a drifter in this game, and yes, drifting is pretty much my new dedication. But I have also graduated from high school in the top ten percent, I have made something of myself and am currently serving my country overseas, I can spell words without letters (although it can be fun at times) and I can pronounce and remember words with more than three syllables.

That's great, I'd like to see you more involved with the rest of GTP instead of solely in the drifters forum. Take a look around and see what else is here. Drop an opinion on a topic, check into the movies forum. I'm guessing that being a marine you're in pretty good shape, so why not visit the fitness/sports area?

I'm not bragging, I'm just rying to get the point across that all drifters are not stupid. In fact, I have, and Xzift can attest to this, held very structured conversations on these forums with many drifters and I try my best to always use correct grammer and spelling because my mother always told me that if I went through the trouble of getting the education, then I damn well better show it off.

I know they're not stupid, and with this thread I was hoping to bring some of that out. The perception that a good portion of GTP'ers have of drifters isn't that one.

As far as the mainstream of drifting, we have seen several incidents where drifting has gone public. The D1 Grand Prix in California for instance is a good introduction of legal, sanctioned drifting to the USA. Where I live, Okinawa Japan, drifting is done bot legally and illegally. We have tracks for people who are willing to pay 5000 yen (about 49 dollars) to drift around strategic cones and turns and we have sanctioned events such as the Blitz/HKS showoff and the Greddy drift challenge.

I'd love it if you could PM me a link to some of these websites. In particular any rules and regulations.

That makes drifting very well known amongst all racers and it's one of the most respected motorsports in Japan right now. I've been drifting for over a year now in real life and I know what regection feels like when you have Japanese people who don't want "Yankees" drifting on their roads. I've been ran off road, chased, and I've had to avoid countless collisions with people who just don't want me to drift because it's "Not for Yankees" but, overtime I gained respect and people accepted me because I was always tactful and I always new what to say to let them know that I really was interested in learning the true art of drifting.

This is unfortunate that it happened, but it comes with the territory and you'll likely go through it again. I'm hoping to get a step ahead of that at GTP and further inclusion of the drifters in the entire site.

Now I can't say that I see this kind of stuff here in the forums on both sides (drifters and racers) but, what I can see is an adjustment from the "Drifters Suck . . oh yeah well racers suck" posts to the kind of posts where people just want to figure out more. Yes, there is indeed a lot of spite still in the air, but it will fade out and racers will accept it, even though they do not see it now, just as the Japanese locals accepted me and now I'm one of the better drifters in Okinawa.

Exactly.

I hope that I responded to this post in the way that Der Alta was looking for, if not, I'm sorry but I just had to get that out.

Semper Fidelis
Shadow Drifter

Yes, you did answer it the way I had hoped.

Thanks,

AO

 

[Joey D]

Well I guess I hurt your feeling...don't bother me a damn bit. It's the internet, nothing ever matters on it any ways. I think drifters are waste of life but hey thats my thoughts. I can't help it that you can see pass that I want to think something for myself.

Also I have done laps around the motocross track, yes it takes a lot out of you but its a competition not a sport.

And to f' in bad that I don't spell perfectly. Get over it, there are worse things in the world

 

[XzifT]

Ok..h "Its a competiton not a sport"? Whats Football? Its still a competition, you consider it a sport.

 

[Joey D]

thats a sport...but it doesn't matter I don't think drifting is a sport plain and simple ok there thats it. Lets not talk about that any more. Jesus.

 

[Ethix101]

Originally posted by BlazinXtreme

Also I have done laps around the motocross track, yes it takes a lot out of you but its a competition not a sport.

I'm not even going to bother arguing about whether drifting is a sport or not because I've argued about it enough lately and I just don't care anymore. As for motocross..I don't see how you can even think that motocross isn't a sport. Look up 'Sport' in the dictionary.


-Mark

 

[Jpec07]

The future of drifting? It will go on being drifting. I mean, driving sideways is sometimes alot of fun to do in you're dad's old Silvia, but it's not practical enough to be used in real racing. As entertainment? Sure, drifting has alot of potential. I mean, people love to see other people do the stuff they never dreamed of doing. Well, that's my $.02...

 

[Joey D]

Sport- Physical activity that is governed by a set of rules or customs and often engaged in competitively.

 

[emad]

physical activity...holding a 200+lb bike steady @ high speeds on rough terrain isn't physical activity?