Hey Folks!

[mdionne]

my girlfriend is interested in hiking the trail someday.

although she said it has a lot of good info on the AT, unfortunately, she checked out this site while all the heated bickering has been going on here lately.

she said, "it makes me NOT want to hike the trail AT ALL"...

There's a lot of new folks on here looking to hike next year or in the future this ***** isn't helping any.

[skeeterfeeder]

I appreciate how unappealing some of the rhetoric on this forum may sometimes be, but your girlfriend should remember that this is a web forum ABOUT the AT and not THE AT.

If I went to site about the proper way to eat or make chocolate, I may not like what certain chocolate 'experts' said, but it should not keep me from loving chocolate.

Go visit the AT and see what I mean. Bon appetit.

[RAT]

Basing the AT experience by anything posted in a forum is just crazy. I agree with skeeter, get out there and see for yourself ! You wont be sorry

RAT

[mdionne]

i don't think you realize that there are real people behind those keyboards. and likely the people she will meet on the trail. believe it or not, it only takes a single thru hike to know several regular posters on this site!

[The Weasel]

i don't think you realize that there are real people behind those keyboards. and likely the people she will meet on the trail. believe it or not, it only takes a single thru hike to know several regular posters on this site!

MDionne --

I think I have to agree with you, although I wish I didn't. This forum is largely unregulated - unlike TrailPlace, which is tightly restricted by Dan Bruce, who rapidly eliminates posts he doesn't like (and it's his site, so he is entitled to), so anything can, and does, happen here.

And there are a a number of people here who really get their jollies being as nasty as they can, and hiding behind anonymous "trail names" or other ways of staying free from real criticism. (Check profiles, and ones with real names and websites are from people who aren't ashamed to be found, if they state a frank opinion.) Ask about a particular sleeping bag, and you probably will get good info in a decent thread here. Express an opinion that this group doesn't like, and they'll trash you day and night.

The best I can say is that the more people who condemn that kind of behavior, and who stay here, the less it will happen. I hope. And I hope you and your girlfriend stay interested in the trail; there are wonderful friends, and joyous places, to be found on it, as well as here. And, yes, a few to be avoided.

The Weasel

[skeeterfeeder]

I DO realize there are real people behind the keyboards, and I also realize that just because you own a keyboard doesn't mean you will ever see the AT. I met all kinds of people on the trail and the majority of them were great people, a much higher percentage than I would meet going to the grocery store.

And when you meet people on the trail, you may only see them as they pass you or you pass them, for less than a minute. If you come across someone that you don't care for, you can just walk on.

If you are looking for a perfect world, let me know when you find it.

[Blissful]

I don't base my thru hike next year on others. I base it on the fact that I am meant to do this. It is a dream of mine for 30 years. And I won't let others affect that dream or hinder it. You're gonna find people on the trail you don't like or can't get along with. You're gonna find people on the trail that you become the best of friends. It's life. And the trail is not an escape from life. Life is there too. People are there. But you need to know the reason for being out there. And if it's to get along with everybody everywhere and everyone is is buddy buddy and real sweet, it isn't realistic.

White Blaze gets you ready more than you know. Besides, even when certain people bicker, these same people really help in a pinch. And a computer is a lousy way to get to know people. You can't know the people behind a keyboard. All you really know is the words.

[bullseye]

As I have posted here on other threads the snide comments and decay will only serve to hurt this site, not improve it. While I like the freedom that comes with this site (thanks to our Constitution ), I think at times tighter administrator controls might become necessary. Bash DB all you want but at least his website maintains a positive attitude concerning the AT and backpacking. The bottom line is this: most of us come to this site because we love the outdoors, the AT, backpacking, hiking, etc, and not to be attacked or to witness an individuals own personal mental defect. Think about how others are influenced by you posts before you submit, for the sake of this sport we love.

[The Weasel]

As I have posted here on other threads the snide comments and decay will only serve to hurt this site, not improve it. While I like the freedom that comes with this site (thanks to our Constitution ), I think at times tighter administrator controls might become necessary. Bash DB all you want but at least his website maintains a positive attitude concerning the AT and backpacking. The bottom line is this: most of us come to this site because we love the outdoors, the AT, backpacking, hiking, etc, and not to be attacked or to witness an individuals own personal mental defect. Think about how others are influenced by you posts before you submit, for the sake of this sport we love.

Well put.

The Weasel

[fishinfred]

HYOH !!!! Thats all! Just do it! Don't like a thread ? Go to another!

Trails out there .....not here ........this helps but till you walk the walk ...........its just talk.
Good luck to you and your girlfriend........take what ya need .......forget the rest! Good stuff here if ya look for what ya NEED .
PEACE!
FF

[TJ aka Teej]

There's a lot of new folks on here looking to hike next year or in the future this ***** isn't helping any.

That's the Truth.

[Booley]

You can follow this site and find out who the jerks are, so when you're out on the trail, you know who to stay away from. Or you can change the channel and let censorship take place and not know who you'll be dealing with out there. Personally, I like knowing who might be out there through postings!

[Bravo]

As I have posted here on other threads the snide comments and decay will only serve to hurt this site, not improve it. While I like the freedom that comes with this site (thanks to our Constitution ), I think at times tighter administrator controls might become necessary. Bash DB all you want but at least his website maintains a positive attitude concerning the AT and backpacking. The bottom line is this: most of us come to this site because we love the outdoors, the AT, backpacking, hiking, etc, and not to be attacked or to witness an individuals own personal mental defect. Think about how others are influenced by you posts before you submit, for the sake of this sport we love.

Yeah, you're right trailplace might be more positive and sometimes WB posts and posters can be negative. I'd rather have all the parts to the engine though not just the shiny ones. That's what makes the world go 'round.

If someone can't roll with the punches of WB where you're only a click away from a different reality how in the hell can you handle that gash in your leg when you slip on a rock or root on your 5th day of cold rain?

[SalParadise]

all the bickering and insulting doesn't constitute 100% of this site just like it doesn't on the Trail. You can't ignore the good, either. 95% of the people on here are more than anxious to share all the great things about the Trail and to help prospective hikers.

My brother was going to take a bus and meet me in New Hampsire for a week when I was hiking, but figuring everything out was certainly difficult. I told him to post his question here and four or five people went out of their way to find him bus routes, where it would stop in town and even the exact place where he'd best be able to find me. I think it spoke volumes for the other hikers on this site.

[skeeterfeeder]

You can follow this site and find out who the jerks are, so when you're out on the trail, you know who to stay away from. Or you can change the channel and let censorship take place and not know who you'll be dealing with out there. Personally, I like knowing who might be out there through postings!

I partially agree with you on this, but again I say, WB is not the AT. There are people here who never have nor never will hike the AT and there are many great folks you will meet on the AT who never come here.

This is what it is, a great place to find out information about the trail. But there is only one place to experience the trail. And once you do the dynamics of the two will be put into perspective. Happy trails.

[Slimer]

Of all the things that can hinder a person from walking the AT, a lively discussion should NOT be one of 'em. Think of it as more of a reason to get AWAY from the computer and INTO the woods.

[general]

different strokes, for different folks. people on this here particular site do disagree, but for the most part. agree to disagree. the difference is that on a web forum disagreements appear to be personal but in reality they are not. no body language or facial expressions, so words alone may be taken personally, but the larger picture is sometimes misunderstood. on the trail, personal expressions are revealed, and therefore, disagreements tend to not go as far and are not taken out of context. everyone is different however, so differences in opinion always exist on the trail, at work, in a bar, at home, or wherever.

[bullseye]

Yeah, you're right trailplace might be more positive and sometimes WB posts and posters can be negative. I'd rather have all the parts to the engine though not just the shiny ones. That's what makes the world go 'round.

If someone can't roll with the punches of WB where you're only a click away from a different reality how in the hell can you handle that gash in your leg when you slip on a rock or root on your 5th day of cold rain?

How silly! I've had a few trail injuries including one where I went to the ER AFTER finishing my hike and driving 2 1/2 hours home. Add insult to injury the nurse cleaning up my wound tried to rip out muscle tissue mistaking it for cloth fiber in my arm! I tolerated that better than moronic discussion and toilet humor. Maybe we need a catagory titled Morons, jerks, and wannabe comedians. Then those types can pop in and visit, spit on each other, and belittle others of their kind.

I agree that the jerks do stand out and I'm pretty sure I won't need to hear their trail names to identify them on the trail. I'm not anti humor (I actually have a better sense of humor than my posts indicate), I just believe we need to be good stewards of our sport and the outdoor experience.

[The Old Fhart]

Mdionne-"although she said it has a lot of good info on the AT, unfortunately, she checked out this site while all the heated bickering has been going on here lately."

I watch CSI where some of the most disgusting things you could imagine happen each episode but that didn't stop me from attending my daughters wedding in Las Vegas. The secret is to understand the difference between the comics and the real news. Hope that explanation helps.

[Booley]

I partially agree with you on this, but again I say, WB is not the AT. There are people here who never have nor never will hike the AT and there are many great folks you will meet on the AT who never come here.

This is what it is, a great place to find out information about the trail. But there is only one place to experience the trail. And once you do the dynamics of the two will be put into perspective. Happy trails.

I agree with you completely SF! It's definitely not the AT (Thank God). I'm just talking about those little "red flags" some people give you. What would some of them be like out in public and not behind the keyboard? Most would be OK, but then there's some that you just think "Damn, they're just weird!". I hope to hike the whole Trail one day. Priorities! I try to trust most people, but there's just those few.....Hmmmm