The Love and Hate of White Blaze

[slowdive]

I am a self proclaimed professional thru-lurker. I started following this site years ago around the time Inchworm went missing and I followed the thread daily. I never had anything useful to say so I didn't. What I did take away from it all is that there seems to be some really good people on this site. The sincerity I felt in reading some of the comments was humbling. Even with all of that I never made a comment. I joined the site in 2015 and would look at it from time to time. So a few months ago I started coming here again and its nice to see familiar "faces". But what really got me motivated to speak was a horrible series of comments about the Second Chance guy. Wow, I really hate to see that level of hate here. On one hand everyone pulls together about Inchworm and now Ronald and then to have some one get really hateful of Cory is not what its about. This is the one place I can come to get away from the problems of the world and listen to good advice and read good conversations about backpacking and everything that goes with it. We are all here because of a love of backpacking, making our packs lighter, spending more money on gear and arguing about what is the lightest shoe laces I can get. Love to most everyone here. If you are ever in Florida look me up. Winter is never coming here.

[imscotty]

SlowDive, there are bad eggs everywhere. Fortunately, there are plenty of good eggs on Whiteblaze to make up for it. I don't know what made the poster you referred to such a miserable person, but let's hope they get the help they need. Till then, I find the best thing to do with trolls is ignore them.

Happy trails to you.

[Feral Bill]

I am a self proclaimed professional thru-lurker. I started following this site years ago around the time Inchworm went missing and I followed the thread daily. I never had anything useful to say so I didn't. What I did take away from it all is that there seems to be some really good people on this site. The sincerity I felt in reading some of the comments was humbling. Even with all of that I never made a comment. I joined the site in 2015 and would look at it from time to time. So a few months ago I started coming here again and its nice to see familiar "faces". But what really got me motivated to speak was a horrible series of comments about the Second Chance guy. Wow, I really hate to see that level of hate here. On one hand everyone pulls together about Inchworm and now Ronald and then to have some one get really hateful of Cory is not what its about. This is the one place I can come to get away from the problems of the world and listen to good advice and read good conversations about backpacking and everything that goes with it. We are all here because of a love of backpacking, making our packs lighter, spending more money on gear and arguing about what is the lightest shoe laces I can get. Love to most everyone here. If you are ever in Florida look me up. Winter is never coming here.

Well said....

[JNI64]

Well said indeed, this is the only "social media "I'm involved in for a reason.

[Thrifty Endurance]

I am a self proclaimed professional thru-lurker. I started following this site years ago around the time Inchworm went missing and I followed the thread daily. I never had anything useful to say so I didn't. What I did take away from it all is that there seems to be some really good people on this site. The sincerity I felt in reading some of the comments was humbling. Even with all of that I never made a comment. I joined the site in 2015 and would look at it from time to time. So a few months ago I started coming here again and its nice to see familiar "faces". But what really got me motivated to speak was a horrible series of comments about the Second Chance guy. Wow, I really hate to see that level of hate here. On one hand everyone pulls together about Inchworm and now Ronald and then to have some one get really hateful of Cory is not what its about. This is the one place I can come to get away from the problems of the world and listen to good advice and read good conversations about backpacking and everything that goes with it. We are all here because of a love of backpacking, making our packs lighter, spending more money on gear and arguing about what is the lightest shoe laces I can get. Love to most everyone here. If you are ever in Florida look me up. Winter is never coming here.

BRAVO SlowDive! Besides my Youtube channel I started the end of January, this is the only other forum I am involved in. I started an IG account since it was the "thing to do" and I am planning to post my FIRST picture today at around 12 noon for "Stronghold," but as ChrisGoesOutdoors said, "Social media is overrated." Even on Youtube I don't understand why anyone would give a thumbs down on someone's "personal" thru-hiking journey. If you don't like it, just move on and find something else. There are plenty of other videos for all types of interests. As my grandmum said, "If you can't say something nice about someone...don't say anything." Besides, you get more with sugar than vinegar and smiling uses less facial muscles (less wrinkles too) than a frown.

[keithd]

I agree completely with you guys...it's frustrating to see people be so negative. But, I gotta say, smiling isn't all fun and games...I swear I'm developing a lot of "laugh line" wrinkles

[Pringles]

I like the title “Thru Lurker.” Can I be one of those, too?

Pringles

[chknfngrs]

Good stuff!! Worth noting that thru hikers also have a love/hate thing goin on with white blazes. just saying....

[Mother Natures Son]

+1. Well done!

[Teacher & Snacktime]

I've never understood why we can't "just get along", and I've felt bad having to warn people I've recommended to WB to ignore the negativity that always seems to erupt. I can attest to the fact that there are some wonderful folks here who are willing to extend amazing levels of friendship and helpfulness. It has always made the bad stuff tolerable.

So put on your rose-colored glasses or snark-blinders (I lend you some) and enjoy WB. Illegitemus non carborundum.

[Gambit McCrae]

Well said. I have always been known as someone that is blunt and straight forward with my answers or opinions. Sometimes going too far but I would hope that "negative to the point of terminating ones soul", like the poster being referred to in my thread about second chance, is not the way I am perceived. I am becoming nicer the older I am

[JPritch]

I think Newt's post ruffled a lot of feathers. I think Newt was trolling though.

[Deadeye]

Part of living with social media is realizing that anonymity loosens filters, and it's easy to misread the intent behind many posts. There's a fine line between sarcasm, criticism, and vitriol, and nuances of facial expression are lost on the keyboard. I'm willing to bet that a lot of WBers that seem like buttheads in print are nice people in person. I believe that's the case for me, anyhow! Long winded way of agreeing with Illegitemus non carborundum.

[Dogwood]

Part of living with social media is realizing that anonymity loosens filters, and it's easy to misread the intent behind many posts. There's a fine line between sarcasm, criticism, and vitriol, and nuances of facial expression are lost on the keyboard. I'm willing to bet that a lot of WBers that seem like buttheads in print are nice people in person. I believe that's the case for me, anyhow! Long winded way of agreeing with Illegitemus non carborundum.

To add, it seems everyone wants their feelings or emotions validated or offense is taken. Increasingly, people expect they have the right to never ever be offended, to never be "triggered." Humanity is still shuffling along on their untied shoe laces learning to communicate non face to face on line. It makes for an overemotional temperamental arena of tribalism and identity politics(this is not a political statement).

[rickb]

To add, it seems everyone wants their feelings or emotions validated or offense is taken. Increasingly, people expect they have the right to never ever be offended, to never be "triggered." Humanity is still shuffling along on their untied shoe laces learning to communicate non face to face on line. It makes for an overemotional temperamental arena of tribalism and identity politics(this is not a political statement).

We think alike on this.

I think confirmation bias comes into play too. Not to mention that sometimes our perceptions are not nearly as accurate as we think.

Remember this old test? https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=vJG698U2Mvo

[Deadeye]

To add, it seems everyone wants their feelings or emotions validated or offense is taken. Increasingly, people expect they have the right to never ever be offended, to never be "triggered." Humanity is still shuffling along on their untied shoe laces learning to communicate non face to face on line. It makes for an overemotional temperamental arena of tribalism and identity politics(this is not a political statement).

I've heard the term "microagressions" adopted in this regard - people get offended by the littlest things that don't go their way or think their way. We used to just call it "thin-skinned" but that offended the weight-challenged among us.

[blw2]

To add, it seems everyone wants their feelings or emotions validated or offense is taken. Increasingly, people expect they have the right to never ever be offended, to never be "triggered." Humanity is still shuffling along on their untied shoe laces learning to communicate non face to face on line. It makes for an overemotional temperamental arena of tribalism and identity politics(this is not a political statement).

I think a lot of times it is not from a want to feel validated...or any such belief of any rights.... but a want to share an idea or a different perspective...sometimes to be helpful.... or sometimes even just to enjoy a discussion or learn from debate around this "virtual campfire"....but then another person offends or insults merely by discounting or in thinking that their own opinion is somehow worth more.....even when it may in fact may not be....and in doing so offend.... Humans have a need for purpose and also I think a need to value themselves, so maybe it's natural for a person to value themselves more than another...to think they are smarter (or funnier, or whatever) than the other person
I do agree though in the idea that it is very easy to misread or misunderstand in these types of settings. Sometimes it is very hard to translate thoughts into written word...especially when you through into the mix all of the different paradigms we bring to the discussion.... the different cultures, different conversational styles, different dialects, etc....

[Dogwood]

I think a lot of times it is not from a want to feel validated...or any such belief of any rights.... but a want to share an idea or a different perspective...sometimes to be helpful.... or sometimes even just to enjoy a discussion or learn from debate around this "virtual campfire"....but then another person offends or insults merely by discounting or in thinking that their own opinion is somehow worth more.....even when it may in fact may not be....and in doing so offend.... Humans have a need for purpose and also I think a need to value themselves, so maybe it's natural for a person to value themselves more than another...to think they are smarter (or funnier, or whatever) than the other person
I do agree though in the idea that it is very easy to misread or misunderstand in these types of settings. Sometimes it is very hard to translate thoughts into written word...especially when you through into the mix all of the different paradigms we bring to the discussion.... the different cultures, different conversational styles, different dialects, etc....

The motivation is still rooted in wanting to be perceived - to feel - being helpful, to feel joy, to learn, often because understanding is equated with feelings of well being. The desire to learn and share and appreciate and laugh is born out of our feelings. To be offended, to be insulted, fundamentally means emotions(feelings) are involved. Alternatively, being offended is also stated as having "one's feeling hurt." We're humans and no matter how rational we may assume ourselves we're also emotional beings.


Feelings aren't necessarily bad or wrong. But when the desire to routinely prioritize our feelings over truth and objectivity/equitability becomes the habitual modus operandi it leads to a society where we currently reside. It leads to the expense of denying greater "truths" to kowtow to each other's personal and collective feelings...sure to increase conflict. IMHO, a society or societal decisions based on prioritizing feelings or emotions over greater knowledge, wisdom, and truth is a society prone to greater chaos. Examples of this are common and have been behind some of history's greatest atrocities.

[John B]

Part of living with social media is realizing that anonymity loosens filters, and it's easy to misread the intent behind many posts. There's a fine line between sarcasm, criticism, and vitriol, and nuances of facial expression are lost on the keyboard. I'm willing to bet that a lot of WBers that seem like buttheads in print are nice people in person. I believe that's the case for me, anyhow! Long winded way of agreeing with Illegitemus non carborundum.

I absolutely agree that the anonymous nature of much of social media creates many problems -- it's all too easy to hide behind fake names and no legit address provided. And I've always thought how great it would be to require real names and addresses, because I think that then the insults, belittlements, and trolling would drop to almost zero.

[MuddyWaters]

Yin and Yang

Too bad some dont understand the big picture