You can't go home again.Originally Posted by RITBlake
My guess is that before you know it, you will not even feel a need to automatically introduce yourself as a former thru hiker.
I get what the OP is saying as I've got a 15 yr old daughter and a 10 yr old son......glued to the damn phone! I also find myself looking at mine while out as I have my maps, guides and books on it...damn I'm on it now typing this!! I blame it on the ultra light craze!!!! Who the hell wants to carry paper weight!!. Too heavy!!!!
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I agree it has become a problem.
Finally had a chance to get out on the trail for a long weekend. Wow things have changed since our 2005 thru hike! I recall many nights at/around shelters or camp where hikers gathered around a picnic table or a fire, discussed the day, looked at maps, told jokes, stories etc...
After spending two nights with this years thru hikers this is what I observed in camp.... hikers scattered around, staring endlessly and silently into the glowing screen of their smart phones.
There is a growing lack of personal face to face interactions in cultures heavily relying on/addicted to? ubiquitous ultra electronic social media gadgetry like Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, etc on Smart Phones. Ubiquitous ultra connectivity has been defined rightly so as an addiction. RITBlake you are not the only one noticing the disconnection. Books and umpteen articles have been written about these observances. It's not just face to face social interaction skills that suffer but connection with the Natural World. What gets lost in all this supposed "connectivity" is by very definition when we connect in one way or through one media or through a system, which is often self serving, it's defining "connectivity" for us and as such we tend to or MUST ignore connectivity to other experiences. That's not getting said because what is happening is mass manipulation to "connect" as defined by someone else. In some aspects cultures are actually losing connectivity! That doesn't get said because it doesn't fit the narrative.
Unfortunately, it does seem to be an addiction. Not all people are controlling their use as Chris Townsend says we should. People are very reluctant and quite needy not willing to turn their devices off. Or, as a very wise Uncle used to say, "it's nice to have things as long as the things don't have you." It's similar to the alcoholics drunk in a bar who refuse to admit to and address the addiction making every excuse imaginable to continue in the "goodness" of their ignored addiction.
Two yrs ago atop Mt Marcy, New York's state high point, on a gorgeous fall afternoon at least 200 of the 300+ at the summit were self absorbed on their phones seeking to get reception oblivious of others, some were bumping into each other, several tripped not watching where they were going, several fell hard to the ground, many were loudly annoyed they weren't getting reception, many got irritated at others, most were very rude and acted impatiently interrupting several others who were politely and in an orderly fashion asking questions from a young obviously overwhelmed young female uniformed Docent, many were loud and intrusive of others sitting away to the side walking right through their midst as if others didn't exist. It was a scene resembling group mob Zombie activity as pictured but 200 or more. This goes beyond compulsion or habit and enters into the world of psychologically addictive behavior. I've seen it elsewhere on the west coast and in the midwest. That's a problem!
Family friend tripped falling 60 feet while taking a selfie. Died.
sure wish I would have attempted a through in '95 when I actually had the time.
When I glance around airports while travelling. Every adult glued to phone.
At kids ball practices. Every adult glued to phone.
At restaurants. Every adult glued to phone.
Yeah, sometimes there isnt much else to do.
But, these kids have had phones glued to hands since age 11.
My daughter used to sleep with hers. Would have a nervous breakdown if it was taken away.
Still sleeps with it at 21. Still would have a nervous breakdown without it.
There is a whole generation that is , honestly, addicted to instant gratification, with attention span of a fly.
This is what prevents many from being good employees.
I know adults that spend so much time on facebook on phone at work, Im amazed they can get anything done.
Last edited by MuddyWaters; 06-13-2016 at 20:30.
Wow, I haven't found that to be true. I don't see many phones in camp-- I was out for 10 nights this year and the thruhikers talked, cooked dinner together around the table, chatted around the fire. The two nights I stayed in a shelter I didn't see much phone use either, even after folks had gone to bed.
Must have been some multi addicted people where substances or a bottle were being passed around. That's a sure way to throw a wrench into electronically addicted habits. Unless of course someone was showing porn on their device where the electronically, substance, and porn addicted could satisfy all there addictions simultaneously. Could have brought up a discussion of gear where all the gear junkies could than chime in attempting to outdo each other with who has the lightest wt kit.
Probably no reception.
A few yrs ago, before facebook , people just discretely and respectfully walked away and made a call.
last time I was in a shelter, I watched a young 20 something thruhiker texting inside her sleeping bag when she went to bed, and when she woke up. I could hear the buzz when she got a text, and see the light reflecting inside her bag.
Some hikers even use their "devices" to post pictures of themselves camping in prohibited areas.
Sleep on the ground, rise with the sun and hike with the wind....
Well, that's depressingFinally had a chance to get out on the trail for a long weekend. Wow things have changed since our 2005 thru hike! I recall many nights at/around shelters or camp where hikers gathered around a picnic table or a fire, discussed the day, looked at maps, told jokes, stories etc...
After spending two nights with this years thru hikers this is what I observed in camp.... hikers scattered around, staring endlessly and silently into the glowing screen of their smart phones.
"It's fun to have fun, but you have to know how." ---Dr. Seuss
What do you expect in a society where parents who let their kids walk home from school alone are arrested.
What should they be doing? (that won't get them or their parents in trouble with society)
Playgrounds are empty, people don't seem to go for walks in town anymore.
Society is changing.
(the younger generation is glued to their phones and the parents to their TVs)
I prefer trails with no people, but that's me.
Don't let your fears stand in the way of your dreams
Well, that's depressingFinally had a chance to get out on the trail for a long weekend. Wow things have changed since our 2005 thru hike! I recall many nights at/around shelters or camp where hikers gathered around a picnic table or a fire, discussed the day, looked at maps, told jokes, stories etc...
After spending two nights with this years thru hikers this is what I observed in camp.... hikers scattered around, staring endlessly and silently into the glowing screen of their smart phones.
"It's fun to have fun, but you have to know how." ---Dr. Seuss
+1....I'll take bears over people(black bears that is)........another reason I prefer late fall to winter trips...few people
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That's the truth...
Addition or a form of evolution? The phone is just another method of connecting, another set of senses that the next generation will develop using and be part of them.
Back in my day we carried canned food, burned our trash in the fires and buried what wouldn't burn. We used old army pup tents and trenched around them when we expected rain. We wore jeans religiously. Some of us would cut down live branches to make a "survival" shelter, you know, for practice. It was a fun way to grow up, but I'll gladly take how we do things today.
Colorless green ideas sleep furiously.
Back in my day this was one of my most prized posessions. It was given to me when I was introduced to camping 30 years ago.
Now I'm getting nostalgic...
image.jpeg
Colorless green ideas sleep furiously.
Effective communication is estimated by several social studies to be based on more than 55% non verbal cues i.e. physiology - body language - gestures, facial expressions, posture, touch, possibly even smell and taste, etc. That 55% almost universally gets lost attempting to increasingly rely on non face to face communication. Actually, all the five physical senses aren't fully utilized attempting to hastily attempt to communicate non face to face as is becoming increasingly common. Many people are in such a rush wanting instant gratification of communication and understanding which further compounds communication issues. I think I know what you allude to by connecting with another set of senses based on your user name and replies here on WB. However, none the less where communication is lacking the physiological component combined with several other increasingly common cultural and societal habits it's currently causing communication problems. It's noticed here on WB quite regularly as poster's comments routinely are misinterpreted. Personally, I wish not to be misinterpreted or misinterpret other's intentions. It's one of the prime reasons why many of my posts are quite detailed.
I have to say that's a good photo, composition-wise. I like that he's off-center and that a storm is lurking in the background ready to pounce on him
: )
I was on the trail in Maryland for a few days last week and my experience was quite different. We saw dozens of thru hikers, and virtually no cell phone usage.
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