Replying to Are poles stupid?

Since I was three, I've skied with poles everyday of my life, planting and all that stuff. When Gorilla Steeze became the cool way to ski, I pretty much just started dragging them around on the ground, and every now and then if I got bored I would stab someone with one. I broke my shoulder just before thanksgiving this year, and so had to ski without poles. It was awesome, my skiing was more relaxed, probably looked more relaxed, and I actually felt more balanced despite not being able to lift one arm. I know a few pros have dropped the hand sticks but was wondering how real people feel about them. Specifically, in the park where turning is pretty much a thing of the past, are poles just silly? Aerialists, as penciled out and robot like as they are don't use poles, and they do way more technical tricks than most park/pipe riders. Do we generally use poles as tools to help us remember where our hands should be and how our weight should be distributed (like the tea tray lesson we all learned as kids), or do they actually serve a purpose in and of themselves. Just some thoughts. peace