[pct-l] Grumpy Old Men

[kcristler]

 you convinced me.  kickoff. convention. is. nirvana.
                       kmc
----- Original Message ----- 
From: <dnlcyclone at aol.com>
To: <pct-l at backcountry.net>
Sent: Monday, March 29, 2010 8:06 PM
Subject: [pct-l] Grumpy Old Men


>
>
>
>
> The reason Postholer's views "bother" people is because he's so brash. 
> Hike. Your. Own. Hike.  And leave others be.  This is by and large a great 
> community.  Today, I exchanged six personal emails about the use of Hammer 
> Perpetuem, and I was glad to help out.  Likewise, I received some really 
> helpful information from people when I had a question about trail 
> re-routes.  However, I have been disgusted as of late of the good-old-boy 
> mentality of a small handful of grumpy old men on this forum, Postholer 
> being chief among them.  Again, I am so grateful to the many, many, many 
> people who have engaged in correspondence over helpful how-tos, 
> been-there's and the such, especially when the advice is solicited.  Thank 
> you, thank you to all you hike-your-own-hikers on this forum, but please 
> don't be bullied by the few narcissists on this forum.  The kickoff is 
> commercial because there are vendors there.  I get it...WHERE DID YOU BUY 
> YOUR GEAR????  You got it from vendors. Of course ven
> dors are going to sell at an event like this.  That's what keeps them in 
> business.  You see, Postholer, vendors sell products to people so that 
> people can use those products accordingly.  You act like they're 
> predators.  We. Are. Adults.  If I want to buy something, I'll buy it.  If 
> I don't, I don't.  Many times at expos such as the kickoff, I find it 
> beneficial to look around.  If anything, wonderful conversation/debate 
> about products arises.  People enjoy that.  There's not a vendor booth 
> every ten miles on the trail.  It's a one-time event at the beginning of 
> the trek.  I'm writing a book, but I feel like I'm missing something here. 
> Some of you may have made your gear on your own.  Awesome.  But why does 
> the fact that the kickoff has become such an event enrage some of you? 
> This. Is. A. Good. Thing.  It's not attracting destructive use of the 
> trail or our wild lands.  It's celebrating the pedestrian use of 
> wilderness by human beings.  That's what the trail is for.  In a
> n age of uber-technology and sedentary jobs, and with our pristine land 
> dwindling by the year, you'd think an event which celebrates its use and 
> protection (not to mention signifying its increased popularity) would be 
> celebrated by those trying to sell maps for $177.  Half the donations go 
> the PCTA...How do you think the PCTA will be affected by the kickoff? 
> More people will join, more people will donate.  You get word of mouth, 
> more people want to come year after year...and celebrate people attempting 
> to hike across the country over mountains, through rivers and deserts 
> and...It's an ACCOMPLISHMENT!!!  It should be treated as such.  Cheers to 
> all of you who put on this event.  I can't wait to be there in 2011 with a 
> smile on my face.  It will be great to be surrounded by good-hearted 
> people with a passion for adventure who haven't yet become consumed with 
> themselves to the point that they think they are the sole authority on 
> everything hiking.  None of us were the first, a
> nd none of us will be the last.  I urge some of the "patriarchs" to 
> remember that when scowling from upon high at the "rest of us."
>
> Cheers,
>
> David & Rachel Liechty
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Pct-l mailing list
> Pct-l at backcountry.net
> To unsubcribe, or change options visit:
> http://mailman.backcountry.net/mailman/listinfo/pct-l
>
> List Archives:
> http://mailman.backcountry.net/pipermail/pct-l/
>