Entitled Hikers

[TD55]

Since we are being warm and fuzzy, let me offer my apology also. Sorry Kookork, guess I was feeling like an "entitled poster" and got into something that was none of my business. There's a lot of that that goes on here and I'm as guilty as anyone.

[Namtrag]

Inflection, facial expressions, hand gestures, and the like are all missing when we talk via a forum. Many times I think we would not be so easily hurt or angered by each others' comments if we were sitting around a bar with a bar saying the exact things we are writing.

[FarmerChef]

Inflection, facial expressions, hand gestures, and the like are all missing when we talk via a forum. Many times I think we would not be so easily hurt or angered by each others' comments if we were sitting around a bar with a bar saying the exact things we are writing.

Here, here. The way we talk on the forums is so often not at all like what we would say in regular, casual conversation with each other. It's so easy to express our opinions in a way that doesn't translate well and so easy to misunderstand the intent of another. Thank you guys for being as open to accepting criticism as you are to dealing it out. Being able to give AND take demonstrates maturity and wisdom and seeing it here, I think, increases respect for one another and Whiteblaze. You guys have certainly earned my respect at least.

[MDSection12]

Your wrong dude...and obviously a isolated incident...I've known many who were taught solderin, they don't act like that. In fact most adults don't act like your suggesting, it's called growing up, it's a natural progression, it'll happen to you to....if you let.

I hope this is sarcastic... But I'm missing the 'smiley' to roll my mouse over and tell. Lots in this post I see that could use some 'growing up.'

[Kookork]

Since we are being warm and fuzzy, let me offer my apology also. Sorry Kookork, guess I was feeling like an "entitled poster" and got into something that was none of my business. There's a lot of that that goes on here and I'm as guilty as anyone.

Accepted Sir. you all made my day. I think whatever is posted in this website is sort of our business otherwise it will be sent in private message so you did what you had every right to do and that was commenting about my post.
Somebody once said in this website that I like drama. I guess he was almost right except that I don't like drama ,I love it. So when the drama level of WB decreases, I am not bad at increasing it.( what kind of smiley should I use here? or or ? How about ?

as Hikerboy says: It is all good.

[hikerboy57]

Accepted Sir. you all made my day. I think whatever is posted in this website is sort of our business otherwise it will be sent in private message so you did what you had every right to do and that was commenting about my post.
Somebody once said in this website that I like drama. I guess he was almost right except that I don't like drama ,I love it. So when the drama level of WB decreases, I am not bad at increasing it.( what kind of smiley should I use here? or or ? How about ?

as Hikerboy says: It is all good.

balance has been restored.
indeed, its all good.

now back to our show....

[birchy]

I disagree with this. This isnt an age thing, its an attitude. Yea some of the younger hikers have this entitlement but I have met many older hikers, even those my age that have this sense that each town and hostel and shuttle driver owes them something.

It is not just hikers,, It is people in GENERAL.... sticking your nose where it don't belong is a sign that you may very well be one of these people, like spreading information (gossip) without direct knowledge of the facts. You are not entitled to provide information, unless you personally know it to be true.

[MuddyWaters]

Some folks simply confuse being on an extended vacation, with being a rock star.

They are having a great adventure that everyone must be envious of, right?
But its really only temporary, sporadic, self induced deprivation, and no one else in the world gives a crap.

[Wise Old Owl]

Folks we as a group have set a president here, part of posting is the struggle, kookork's posts have intrigued me a long time ago and I "befriended" him long ago as he has a lot to offer to many hikers. This is a very difficult thread as we as a group unravel the word Entitled. I step on egg shells with just the thought of having an intelligent conversation without someone having animosity after the thread. We are still friends and you the reader can understand that folks can disagree from time to time

lets see what we can do here.

[hikerboy57]

Folks we as a group have set a president here, part of posting is the struggle, kookork's posts have intrigued me a long time ago and I "befriended" him long ago as he has a lot to offer to many hikers. This is a very difficult thread as we as a group unravel the word Entitled. I step on egg shells with just the thought of having an intelligent conversation without someone having animosity after the thread. We are still friends and you the reader can understand that folks can disagree from time to time

lets see what we can do here.

and what entitles you to say whether we are entitled to comment on the entitled thread?

i feel entitled to an answer.

[Kookork]

I dream about a society that the younger generation act more rational or in a more responsible way than the older generations but I yet to find that society. It just may happen in the future but that is not the case now. Kind of wishful thinking I say.

Here in Canada when we are waiting for the pedestrian light to turn white and cross the street, many times some folks cross the street before it is time and do not wait for the light to turn white. Among this light jumpers there are mostly younger generation but there are some mid age and a few older folks also. That is the way it is. It is human nature.

I am hoping that the explosion of information and social media( internet and TV and ....) will make the transition faster and people reach to the maturity of life sooner than their parents and grandparents.

My father used to prepare for his elementary school exams under the street lights since most of the average income folks did not have electricity and he was living in the capital of Iran!!!. Now his son opens his laptop and endless source of information is just a few clicks away or checks his emails while he is hiking in the middle of nowhere. Have all these technology made us to act more responsible and more mature than our parents?

...... Open to discussion....

[MuddyWaters]

Have all these technology made us to act more responsible and more mature than our parents?

...... Open to discussion....

All I know is when I was a kid, if I wanted to see porn I had to find a rotting ,dirty magazine in the woods that some other kid had swiped and hidden out there. Im pretty sure most 13yr olds today have seen more porn than I saw by the time I was 30.

[hikerboy57]

unfortunately kookurk, i believe the social media explosion has made us somewhat antisocial ina sense, where its easier to sit inside and type away , rather than get out more and physically interact with people, real live people, and not just screen names.thats why its so refreshing to get away from all this crap , go out and hike, and it restores your faith in the good in people,and you begin again to look first for the good in a person, rather than look for his flaws.
conversely, i have made many friends here at whiteblaze, and ive had the privilege of meeting and hiking with quite a few of them. social networking can be a good thing,but real life is waiting while we're both sitting here typing.

[Kookork]

unfortunately kookurk, i believe the social media explosion has made us somewhat antisocial ina sense, where its easier to sit inside and type away , rather than get out more and physically interact with people, real live people, and not just screen names.thats why its so refreshing to get away from all this crap , go out and hike, and it restores your faith in the good in people,and you begin again to look first for the good in a person, rather than look for his flaws.
conversely, i have made many friends here at whiteblaze, and ive had the privilege of meeting and hiking with quite a few of them. social networking can be a good thing,but real life is waiting while we're both sitting here typing.

Amen to that ^^.

Social media to real life experience is like watching a kiss in a movie to kissing for real. No comparison indeed.

[rocketsocks]

I hope this is sarcastic... But I'm missing the 'smiley' to roll my mouse over and tell. Lots in this post I see that could use some 'growing up.'

yep I always seem to forget the smiley, though this time I wasn't being sarcastic...I really don't think it's the older hikers that are the ones feeling entitled....I think they have saved the money needed for a thru-hike (vacation) and are not doing it on a shoe string budget, are not the ones partying till all hrs. of the night in a hostel or shelter, and basically following the rules. Not looking to get in a pissing match over this...it just my feeling and opinion, again based on the fact that when we age...we grow . Me, I'm not ready to grow-up...I'm a Toy's 'R' Us kid, they gotta a lot of toys at toys r us for you to play with. Lots of toy's here too

[Chaco Taco]

yep I always seem to forget the smiley, though this time I wasn't being sarcastic...I really don't think it's the older hikers that are the ones feeling entitled....I think they have saved the money needed for a thru-hike (vacation) and are not doing it on a shoe string budget, are not the ones partying till all hrs. of the night in a hostel or shelter, and basically following the rules. Not looking to get in a pissing match over this...it just my feeling and opinion, again based on the fact that when we age...we grow . Me, I'm not ready to grow-up...I'm a Toy's 'R' Us kid, they gotta a lot of toys at toys r us for you to play with. Lots of toy's here too

Yea I guess.....Respectfully....Most of the older folks I have hiked with were some of the greatest people on the trail. I said MOST. Most of the younger folks, the same. But you get that one guy that knows every single effing thing and starts yelling at folks about whatever. Never really seen it with the ladies Maybe cuz they are just so much smarter than the rest of us knuckleheads. Same thing with the younger kids, they get piss drunk, like Im sure we will hear plenty about on Monday, and start a fight. Most of the time you are right, the older folks out hiking have been waiting a long time or have been planning for awhile. But sometimes, it isnt what they thought and they get all pissy pants.

[rocketsocks]

Yea I guess.....Respectfully....Most of the older folks I have hiked with were some of the greatest people on the trail. I said MOST. Most of the younger folks, the same. But you get that one guy that knows every single effing thing and starts yelling at folks about whatever. Never really seen it with the ladies Maybe cuz they are just so much smarter than the rest of us knuckleheads. Same thing with the younger kids, they get piss drunk, like Im sure we will hear plenty about on Monday, and start a fight. Most of the time you are right, the older folks out hiking have been waiting a long time or have been planning for awhile. But sometimes, it isnt what they thought and they get all pissy pants.

I hear ya, no doubt there's the older weirdo guy who won't go away, steals, cheats , lies, your basic bum...every towns got em.

[prain4u]

I don't view thru hikers as rock stars who are deserving of special treatment. In my mind, completing a thru hike doesn't mean that someone is a better hiker or a better person than any other hiker. Quite the contrary. Thru hikers are not "better. In most instances, they were simply individuals who were blessed, fortunate, lucky etc. They had a set of special circumstances converge which permitted them to drop out of the "real world" for 4-7 months. They then started walking and they didn't get injured, they didn't run out of money and/or they didn't give up. At the end of the day---"It's just walkin'". Rremember: "Everything is within walking distance if you have enough time"

If anyone impresses me, it is perhaps some of the section hikers who still manage to get out there and hike the trail---even as they attempt to somehow juggle jobs, families, limited vacation time, work responsibilities and significant financial struggles etc.. (And, having to regain your hiking legs each time that you start a new section hike is also impressive).

When it rains or snows--or when the outdoor temperatures are over 100 degrees--the same weather conditions are experienced by thru hikers, section hikers and weekenders alike. The mountains are the same height for all hikers. All types of hikers have to ford the exact same streams. Having a hierarchy or "pecking order" among hikers is really sort of silly.

[Chaco Taco]

I don't view thru hikers as rock stars who are deserving of special treatment. In my mind, completing a thru hike doesn't mean that someone is a better hiker or a better person than any other hiker. Quite the contrary. Thru hikers are not "better. In most instances, they were simply individuals who were blessed, fortunate, lucky etc. They had a set of special circumstances converge which permitted them to drop out of the "real world" for 4-7 months. They then started walking and they didn't get injured, they didn't run out of money and/or they didn't give up. At the end of the day---"It's just walkin'". Rremember: "Everything is within walking distance if you have enough time"

If anyone impresses me, it is perhaps some of the section hikers who still manage to get out there and hike the trail---even as they attempt to somehow juggle jobs, families, limited vacation time, work responsibilities and significant financial struggles etc.. (And, having to regain your hiking legs each time that you start a new section hike is also impressive).

When it rains or snows--or when the outdoor temperatures are over 100 degrees--the same weather conditions are experienced by thru hikers, section hikers and weekenders alike. The mountains are the same height for all hikers. All types of hikers have to ford the exact same streams. Having a hierarchy or "pecking order" among hikers is really sort of silly.

whats impressive is the hiker that helps clean up before leaving a hostel, or starts a load of laundry, asking the owner is there is anything they can do to help out or just doing something they know would help out around the place. Or the hiker that walks into Kincora and asks Bob Peoples if they can join him for a work day on the trail. These folks we never hear about. They are out there, but they dont walk around telling everyone what they did in search of recognition. We dont hear about these folks unless the hostel owner points it out. This is where I still say, 9-10 times you get really good folks out hiking.

Another thing Ill point out, Bayou is volunteering his time this year to help with The PLace in Damascus. Im sure he has the weight of Lone Wolf behind him as well and others we probably wont really hear about. These are the folks that help take care of that entitlement attitude and will run those sort of folks out of town.

[Lone Wolf]

Another thing Ill point out, Bayou is volunteering his time this year to help with The PLace in Damascus. Im sure he has the weight of Lone Wolf behind him as well and others we probably wont really hear about. These are the folks that help take care of that entitlement attitude and will run those sort of folks out of town.

he's running good folks out of town. power trips aren't good