[pct-l] better than......was: Point of this List

[reynolds@iLAN.com (Reynolds, WT)]

Once in a male sex class the instructor asked the participants how often
they had sex. After each question, "How many have sex every night?", "How
many have sex every week?" etc, a few participants raised their hands until
there was only one person left. Finally, in fustration the instructor asked
"How many here have sex only ONCE in FIVE YEARS??". The lone holdout stood
up, and with a BIG GRIN, raised his hand. "Why are you so happy?" asked the
Instructor. "Everybody else here has sex MORE OFTEN than you?" "Well", the
individual answered, "TONIGHT'S THE NIGHT!!!"

Well Jim and Ginnie Owens hiked fourty-six hundred miles on the CDT last
year while yours truely, Tom and Ginnie Reynolds spent only 4 nights in the
wilderness last year. However, Tom and Ginnie Reynolds are leaving for their
FIRST wilderness backpack this year NEXT THURSDAY! ....and its gonna be
GREEAAATTTTT!!!!!

-----Original Message-----
From: Brick Robbins [mailto:brick@fastpack.com]
Sent: Thursday, July 05, 2001 2:30 PM
To: pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net
Subject: [pct-l] better than......was: Point of this List


At 02:11 PM 7/5/01, CMountainDave@aol.com wrote:
> I don't want to be around people who toot their horns or are 
>domineering especially in a wilderness setting where I am TRYING to leave 
>such rat race entrails behind me. John Muir was a mountain climber. He told

>the world about his wilderness experiences. Does that mean he was a
braggart 
>macho man too?

Mihkail Baryshnikov said:
"I do not try to dance better than anyone else. 
I only try to dance better than myself."

The desire to be better is a driving human trait. Becoming "better" (or
"growing") gives most folks a sense of self worth and joy.

Some measure "better" against other people.

Some judge "better" against different yardsticks (most marathoners will
never "win" a race: they measure themselves against their own "personal
record," or PR).

Is it really one's place to try and invalidate another's source of joy? 

Isn't this like saying "my joy is non competitive, so it is better than
yours" Which is, itself a competitive line of reasoning?

Hike your own hike
-Brick

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