[pct-l] Posting names

[ned at mountaineducation.org]

Hoorah for Dino L-Rod!! Well said...


"Just remember, Be Careful out there!"

Ned Tibbits, Director
Mountain Education
1106A Ski Run Blvd
South Lake Tahoe, Ca. 96150
    P: 888-996-8333
    F: 530-541-1456
    C: 530-721-1551
    http://www.mountaineducation.org
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Donna "L-Rod" Saufley" <dsaufley at sprynet.com>
To: "Ken Murray" <kmurray at pol.net>; "." <pct-l at backcountry.net>
Sent: Wednesday, May 04, 2011 10:24 AM
Subject: Re: [pct-l] Posting names


> In "Walk", there is a scene where two guys looking for Teatree find her. 
> They are complete strangers to her, but they knew exactly where she would 
> be after reading her trail journal. It didn't matter whether she was using 
> her real name or her trail name.
>
> It only took one hiker telling me that she didn't want her wherabouts 
> published online because of a stalking-related murder on the AT for me to 
> recognize that it was not a good idea to be telling an anonymous audience 
> where anyone was. More innocently, There are those who want to follow the 
> hikers' progress like it was a horse race, whether the hikers know and 
> want this or not. To be tracked and monitored from afar is a concept 
> abhorrent to me, though from the popularity of spot-me-now devices and 
> trail journals, I am probably in the minority.
>
> If hikers want to tell the world where they are, that's their choice. They 
> can call or journal if they choose. It's not my place (and IMO anyone 
> else's) to post in real time where someone might be found along the trail. 
> Post about your OWN hike if you desire, but someone else's hike should not 
> be fodder for sharing unknowingly.
>
> There are some very different and interesting people on the trail, and 
> many points of view. There are people running away from family, personal 
> situations, or their own demons. I've witnessed people running away from 
> medical treatments they didn't want, and their family searching for them 
> to force them into receiving the unwanted care.  I don't know everyone's 
> story, nor do I ask or assume. Despite the best intentions, sharing 
> information about where others are could lead to unintended consequences 
> for them.
>
> The trail is a place of solace and escape. Though perhaps the majority 
> seem unconcerned about such things, I find that a blanket respect for 
> individual privacy works best. I am probably a dying breed, a relic, a 
> dinosaur. It is ironic that common courtesy and respect is dwindling as 
> the ability to inform has exploded.
>
> L-Rod
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
>>From: Ken Murray <kmurray at pol.net>
>>Sent: May 4, 2011 10:31 AM
>>To: "." <pct-l at backcountry.net>
>>Subject: [pct-l] Posting names
>>
>>I personally think that this concept of anonymity and disclosure, is a 
>>carryover of our paranoia of life in civilization.
>>
>>For example, how many of us would think it neccessary to avoid mentioning 
>>names in talking about doing something with a friend OTHER THAN ON THE 
>>TRAIL?
>>"I'm going to have lunch with my friend Nancy Marshall at Classy Goose on 
>>wed".
>>Would I go through life asking people for permission to post their names?
>>
>>What makes this truly bizarre, is the added security of trail 
>>names...basically most people having a "code name", that no one outside of 
>>our small community is likely to know.  OFTEN gender neutral.
>>
>>If someone is REALLY worried about keeping anonymous, THEY can SAY SO, 
>>THEY can change their trail name repeatedly, THEY can not interact with 
>>people, THEY can not sign registers with recognizable names, THEY can pay 
>>only with cash, THEY can avoid trail angels, THEY can use made up names 
>>for the mail drops, etc.  THEY can take PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY for their 
>>bizarre paranoia.
>>
>>When will it occur to someone, that random pictures might catch someone's 
>>image.  Or that they did not SPECIFICALLY get permission to post an image 
>>that might be recognizable. OMG!
>>
>>Instead, lets act like rational people, and the close-knit community of 
>>caring people that we are.
>>
>>What world do YOU want to live in?  I know which I do.  Others can make 
>>other choices, they have that power.
>>
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