[pct-l] HYOH

[Steve Courtway]

Don't overthink it man, just hike your own hike, if you like !!!!

s.c.



----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Bill Batchelor" <billbatch at cox.net>
To: <pct-l at backcountry.net>
Sent: Thursday, February 08, 2007 8:25 AM
Subject: Re: [pct-l] HYOH


>I agree that the spirit is well intended and I absolutely agree with the
> spirit of the phrase.  The structure strikes me as humorous perhaps 
> because
> of my habit of evaluating the background hum of culture.  The syntax has
> become abbreviated over time.  The spirit is "permission", but the syntax 
> is
> not.  In its evolution (i.e. shortening down to catch phrase) the syntax 
> is
> that of a command.    Sort of like a phrase to encourage self expression
> coming down to "Be Spontaneous Now".  You can not really tell someone how 
> to
> hike and offer freedom of choice in the same breath.  Of the many options 
> of
> hiking my own hike, one of them is to emulate any other hiker I so choose.
> So even in copying another's approach I am choosing my own hike.  I know
> there are times when we actually ARE intending to tell others to back off.
> Like someone telling me I am a fool not to use product "X".  Then telling
> them to "hike your own hike" makes sense.  However, the fact that it can 
> be
> used in such a situation seems to me it is poorly structured to offer
> permission at the same time.   If it were a blessing I would prefer, "It's
> Your Hike".  That blessing would give me permission to copy too.  The 
> syntax
> of HYOH is, by English structure standards, a command.  Knowing the intent
> of the phrase, in many other cultures, the boiled down phrase would never
> evolve to this structure because of the contradiction.  It would be
> considered unacceptable because it would have lost its intent.  We have
> become so accustomed to this type of structure that it is no longer 
> glaring
> and hence the "spirit" of the phrase does still come through to us.
>
> We are so steeped in our own, it can be tough for me to be clear.  Let me
> try this.  A dialog to teach HYOH with an American Trail Guru would be 
> like
> this.  "Master, how shalt I hike this season?"  "Oh little walker, go to 
> the
> trail and hike your own hike".  Seems perfectly legit.  However, you would
> NEVER get this answer from an eastern - say Buddhist - even though the
> spirit of the answer would be the same.  A similar dialog of HYOH from an
> eastern trail guru would be; "Master, how shalt I hike this season".  "Oh
> little hiker, how would you like to hike this season?"  And in that
> rhetorical question lies the answer.
>
> I knew I might open a can of worms here.  Sorry about that.
>
> "Be Spontanious Now", I insist.
>
> BillB
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: pct-l-bounces at backcountry.net [mailto:pct-l-bounces at backcountry.net]
> On Behalf Of Marlene Soffera
> Sent: Thursday, February 08, 2007 7:34 AM
> To: pct-l at backcountry.net
> Subject: [pct-l] HYOH
>
>>does the phrase "Hike Your Own Hike" make you laugh?  I find it funny
>>because it is TELLING someone how to hike. <
>
> I don't think of it as TELLING as much as GIVING PERMISSION -- usually to
> someone new to the sport who otherwise thinks there's a certain set way to
> accomplish their goals.  In motorcycling, it's "Ride Your Own Ride."  Not 
> a
> command; just a "blessing."
>
> Marlene
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