For crissakes Weasel, lighten up!
ignore
Ooooooooooops! Ignore this post.... got put in the wrong place somehow....
Or, as others might have said...
"I made a mistake and now I can't delete it!"
LOL
Some things aren't funny.Originally Posted by L. Wolf
For crissakes Weasel, lighten up!
The Weasel
"Thank God! there is always a Land of Beyond, For us who are true to the trail..." --- Robert Service
"We should lynch the next dog that threatens or bites a human. People have dealt with troublemakers in that manner in the past..."
-------------------------------------------------------
The Weasel,
I agree with you on this. The above quote should not be considered acceptable to those participating in this forum. We don't want participants of the forum to get the wrong impression that AT thru-hikers will tolerate racism...
Now, I'm also quite certain the the poster didn't really mean anything by this---it's probably just an attempt at humor and just didn't come out quite right.
Where's the racism? Lynching was a form of punishment in this country and many others for a long time. You PC types ASSUME he meant KKK types Hanging colored folks. Grow up. Wise up. You're way too serious.
I assume no such thing. Jews have been lynched - Leo Frank was one example - as have Chinese, Irish - the last Michigan victim of lynching (in 1893), an Irishman is buried not far from where I live - and others, including Catholics, gays, and Indian/Native Americans.
Lynching was never punishment. It is mob action. At its worst it is the festering boil of hatred of a group that the victim represents; at its best it is simply the act of those who are are nothing more than murderers.
It is no more funny than the Holocaust visited upon the Jews by the National Socialists, the genocide in Rwanda, or "ethnic cleansing" in the Balkins. Those who use, or justify, such terms do not understand the terrible pain that those words can bring, or the desensitization to their use that can lead from them. That's why I have no doubt that their use was unknowing and not intended to offend.
But I am grown up, and, perhaps a bit like Bob Dylan wrote, "I was so much older then, I'm younger than that now." I know better. So do you.
The Weasel
"Thank God! there is always a Land of Beyond, For us who are true to the trail..." --- Robert Service
Lynch: to put to death (as by hanging) by mob action without legal sanction. Merriam-Webster dictionary.
I am sure that the guy that posted about lynching dogs that threatened people was not serious. Here is why I think the post was inappropriate. I am a teacher. Kids blow off steam all the time...I hate myself...I'm going to kill myself. Are they serious? Most of the time, no. But what if he is? What if he says.....I'm going to kill....whatever. In this day where people kill other students and teachers (Columbine) it has to be taken seriously. There was a student who accidently shot another student in a local (NC) school system this past week. What if someone reads that post and thinks....damn straight...that's what I'll do ...then does it? So the owner of that dog (think hunters...with guns....) decides to retaliate? Do we really want this on our trail? I believe we have the right to protect ourselves....lynching isn't protecting, it's vigilante punishment. I don't want that responsibility...do you? Too serious? Maybe so...but it's a reality.
What does this have to do with hiking the Appalachian Trail?
Nothing. My point exactly.
"Thank God! there is always a Land of Beyond, For us who are true to the trail..." --- Robert Service
Au contrair, Weasel. Unruly dogs are a problem on the AT. If we were to lynch a few of them up and down the trail, it would send a signal to other dogs to leave humans alone. You know, the deterent effect. Just like that mouse lynching, after those other mice saw their commrade strung up and hangin from the rafters with a noose around his neck, they didn't bother hikers foodbags for months.
I can abide a man who can't spell. I can even abide a man who says things that are just dumb. And I - believe it or not - value those with opinions that differ.
But I have no truck for those who use the language of evil or who suggest evil things, even if they think it humorous.
The Weasel
"Thank God! there is always a Land of Beyond, For us who are true to the trail..." --- Robert Service
I was considering building and selling soapboxes for some of y'all to stand on but decided against it for fear of being accused of involvement in a commercial enterprise; although there is potentially a large market here!
Swingin' pachyderms
The town that's infamous for lynching an elephant was Erwin, Tennessee, tho I think she was actually strung up in nearby Kingsport. I think the year was 1916. When you get to Erwin, there's a marvelous antique/knickknack store actually called "The Hanging Elephant" that sells postcards depicting the episode....a very singular Trail souvenir, unless you happen to be an elephant.
I think this event was fairly unique, as I don't know if it's been repeated anywhere else; maybe Miss Janet can fill us in.
Hang em High!
Deep down, I figured some of you are REALLY curious about this.....check out www.blueridgecounty.com/elephant/elephant.html for the lurid details. (And thanx to Google.com for the information!)
Whoops
Whoops. Try www.blueridgecountry.com/elephant/elephant.html instead
It Musta Woked
The elephant lynching must have had the desired effect. Ya ain't heered of no rogue el-E-phants in Erwin since, have ya?
In training for the Chappaquiddick Triathlon "Drink - Drive - Swim"
A Twice Told Tale
Not entirely "unique". Actually the Erwin episode was something of a copycat situation; they just didn't have enough power for an electrocution. See this for details of a previous elephant execution in NYC.
I wish I hadn't read this thread due to the offensiveness of a couple of answers. It makes me more glad I hike alone, with my dog, who always goes with me on day and overnight hikes. I do wonder if I should start locking my car doors from now on although its amazing the hateful things people can think up regardless. The thought of not bringing her on a long hike is hard to imagine but although my dog is in excellent shape and would love it, there is the consideration of the extra weight her food would entail. Also, while hiking she loses her appetite for dog food, wanting mine, so I have to share. Although her young age and athletic ability makes her an excellent hiking companion, I feel it very high risk on a long term hike and inevitable that most dogs would suffer from malnutrition. There is also the possibility of injury and the magnitude of finding treatment. Could you carry your dog out, remove porcupine quills, treat wounds, etc. I'm sure the dogs pads would take a terrible beating and a vet was quoted in an AT thru hike book I just read that he does not advize people bringing their dog. I guess a lot of dogs are rescued on the trail and Maine is brutal.
Happy hiking : )
[QUOTE=Jack Tarlin]Blue Jay--
Please re-read the last paragraph of my post; this guy asked a sincere question, and I think he deserves a fairer response than the one you gave him......there's no secret that I'm not a fan of dogs on the A.T. either, but I think we're all capable of discussing this in a more positive manner.[/QUOTE]
Ignore Blue Jay. He apparently lives to troll. I've only been reading this board for a day, and he pops up on most topics, always starting or increasing controversy.
Frank
[QUOTE=franklooper Ignore Blue Jay. He apparently lives to troll. I've only been reading this board for a day, and he pops up on most topics, always starting or increasing controversy.
Frank[/QUOTE]
I've been here a year, you've been here a day, who's the Troll? I do like hanging out under bridges, though so you may be right. What happened to God is Love from the religious thread?
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