[pct-l] Whores and the TahquitzInn

[Paul Mitchell]

> It seems on the PCT that some hikers get so spoiled
  by all the kindness of the trail angels down south that they feel entitled
to that treatment
  everywhere they go.

Respectfully, I'm not convinced that's a good explanation for it.  I can't
believe that anybody would start out a considerate guest and stop being one
a little later because of too much generosity.  I think there has to be an
innate lack of appreciation in that individual from the start, and more than
just a lack of appreciation to trash a hotel room.  That's more a symptom of
the cult of the individual ... a complete sense of separation between "me,
us" and "them".  We can't expect people to live in a society where we are
all focused on "self" without any sense of real community, put them on a
trail and expect them to suddenly appreciate interconnectedness.

Hiking is essentially a self centered activity to begin with, even if it
does end up being highly social.  It's not something we do out of a
motivation to benefit the world, our society, our friends or families
(regardless of whether we take advantage of the opportunity to raise funds,
etc) ... it's something we do to have an amazing experience for ourselves.

Now, by improving our own lives as a result of that amazing activity, we may
very well actually be doing something that IS of benefit to others, but
that's the wonderful duality of it.  Help yourself and you can help others
without even trying ... help others and you most certainly will help
yourself whether you expect to or not.  Of course, I mean "help yourself" in
the sense of personal growth and health, not in the sense of "help yourself
to a hotel without paying."  ;-)

Bottom line though, we're out there for ourselves and maybe it shouldn't be
surprising that a lot of people who are somewhat selfish to begin with might
be drawn to this type of activity.

Just my two bits at this specific moment.  Probably will have a different
opinion in an hour!

Paul