Trail Talk has taken a real dive

“I agree I do need to go take a hike!

8)”

“Chili, for what it's worth, you're right about people here being quick to stampede someone when they voice an unpopular opinion. It's probably the reason trolling seems to work so well here. But, to give Steve Hiker credit for promoting thought on free speech, IMO, is a little like giving cancer credit for promoting insight into the nature of life and mortality. It may be true, but the cancer never really had that intent. I may be wrong, but in my judgement, Steve Hiker just wanted to anger people.

As for whether or not the board is in decline, I believe I made my thoughts on that pretty clear. I wish Stevie could say the same.”

“I believe the board is in sound shape as well.

I further suspect that steve's intentions were probably not along the lines of the First Amendment.

However, the results have been an overwhelming willingness for a lot of people to express themselves.

Perhaps you are correct, maybe the credit doesn't go to steve as much as the credit goes to his "post". Some of the greatest inventions are made by accident.

I really couldn't say without knowing more of his thoughts in starting this thread.”

“Baume, you asked if it is okay to post a hateful diatribe if it touches on no racial issues. Here is my response:

My firm belief is that, where possible, a person of honor defends that which is honorable.

It is up to each individual to decide where that line is drawn.”

“Chili, more and more, I end up agreeing with you when it matters.”

“But phaedrus, defense and attack are often separted by the fewest of words.

IMHO.”

“Good, I can go have another glass of wine now.

LOL.”

“Sure! I'm attacking the theory of flat earth when I say I have circumnavigated the globe. I'm also defending my belief that the earth is round.

When it comes to social issues, there are going to be people who feel attacked by my opinions, and I don't feel bad about that, if I believe in what I'm saying strongly.”

“nothing wrong with defending the honorable. people defending racial slurs with hateful posts are being hipocritecal. they are both forms of hate. that is all i am saying.”

“What would TT be without a good rant now and then?”

“I disagree, Baume. There is a huge difference between my distaste for an individual and posting racial slurs which degrade a group of people without respect for individual differences.

The two things are not comparable in scale or in content.”

“Ah, Phaedrus, good. Now you show some considered thought.

However, as deeply as you believe in that statement, surely your recognize that people like steve hiker can claim the same.

It is the willingness to examine your opinions that separates the two of you.”

“hmmm, my 6:29 post applied to your post of 6:20, phaedrus,

The post of 6:28 doesn't impress me.”

“Actually, chili, in my mind, the thing that separates us my belief that it is right to defend those who are less able to defend themselves. Steve hides right and wrong behind cultural identity and calls it a choice.

But yeah, I'll rethink my opinion and change it if there's good reason.”

“.'Nowslimmer, and everyone who is complaining about the current state of the board:'
Phaedrus

Phaedrus - What was my complaint?

(Scratching his head, nowslimmer thinks: I must have said something!)”

“Chili, if you agree with Baume, please feel free to champion that argument. :)”

“3. A conclusion is that there are a number of people here who are anxious to talk (post) bull #&%!$, and they will do so, whenever there is an opportunity. However, this attracts more people, who will do the same. That's OK, except when it reaches a large percentage of the strings, it is bound to have a detrimental effect upon the forum.

4. It has been pointed out that one does not have to read these strings. Sometimes I don't. But, when you're addicted, it is difficult to avoid reading them.

So you now have my statement, my opinions on the subject.



Wasn't that you, Nowslimmer?”

“Well, steve does tend to make the difference between right and wrong to become more clear.

Which leads to the questions.

Is Steve an idiot? (which is the position taken by so many on this thread and I think that is the wrong approach)

or

Are there underlying reasons that can cause someone like steve to take such positions?

(which leads us to critical thought and Freedom of Expression)

Should we take the position of disproving steve? (which again is a shallow approach) or Should we defend that which we believe is right? (which requires substance and conviction)

While many have claimed steve is wrong.....few have asserted how they are right.

That is the transgression of which I complain.”

“Ah, So you're having a hard time with the fact that a person does not start with a clean slate everytime he or she posts a new thread here. This thread may have been about the state of the board currently, but it comes from a guy who has posted racial remarks, that you yourself have admitted are beyond defending. If people take a shallow approach to an argument from this individual, it is not unexpected, nor is it inherently wrong to do so. We must, always, consider the source from which information and opinions come.

While we cannot discount an opnion regardless of its merits because of source, we CAN, and SHOULD take the source into account.

We could go into why Steve is the way he is, but the lesson of futility has already been taught to me.”

“Phaedrus - Thank you for your clarification. I do not consider that to be a complaint about the current state of the board. I stated some facts and opinions. It was not my intention to utter a complaint. But, obviously, I misled you. I'm sorry.

Naturally, you may interpret my statements any way you like. I'll try to be more precise in the future.”

“Okay, Nowslimmer, I hope there are no hurt feelings.

I was responding also with opinions, and I hope that mine don't irritate too much. :)”

“Outstanding phaedrus.

Now I see a greater depth in thought of your posts.

Your next to last paragraph is well thought out. I appreciate that.”

“Thank you, Socrates.”

“I can see it now:

The Chilic dialogs....”

“The world listens.”

“Not quite!”

“Very sucessful troll steve.”

“Us the Canadian Judges give TT a 5.0 for its dive.....”

“this board is just all the worst parts of what it used to be.

i don't even see any more real gear discussions and the trip reports are getting trite!”

“this board is just all the worst parts of what it used to be.

Does that mean this board is unreconstructed?”

“it means that it's getting stinky.

not a good sarabelle stinky, either.”

“'... and the trip reports are getting trite!'
radagast

I'm almost afraid to post my trip report. But I'll start posting tomorrow. Almost 342 pages of hackneyed rantings. And that's just the first of 11 sections. Have fun!”

“Wooooohooooooo! A real trip report! Bring it on, Nowslimmer!”

“342?????

Holy shi!

8O”

“What is that?????

8)”

“”

“stevehiker has always stated things that others were too politically correct or scared to say.”

“stratdewd, I hear the 5th time is the charm, lol.”

“dang”

“I went back to December 2000 to see what you folks who think TT has taken a dive are talking about. I found loads of threads on topics no more or less inane than some of the threads currently posted. Perhaps some people need to take a refresher course.”

“Post the sort of topics you miss...we will add to them as of old...WHERE are your own posts nowadays? Come on, we know you didn't give up backpacking just because you have a new job, so provide a little leadership here ok?”

“Yes, Lipstick Hiker... I'm afaid I'm not the bigot my grandfather was, LOL

You do know what the diametric opposite of Political Correctness is... ?”

“stevehiker has always stated things that others were too politically correct or scared to say.

I guess it's true: it takes one to know one.”

“SU-PA-troll!

i didn't give up anything. my kayak now let's me go where i previously couldn't backpack and my motorcycle provides some post-hike relaxation.

i still backpack... alot... but i miss the things like... nigal. making gear, before "beer can stoves" were crammed down your throat and rediscovering the wonderful aspects of solo trips.

the ECTs were nice and small, and you really got to know people... not just go with the lemming flow.

now it's hike-a-palooza, camp-fest, and seeing how many people you can fit on a trail or campsite, just so you can put 'em on your list. eeeew. it just creeps me out.

yeah, i know that there has always been off-topic banter and i love it, just as much as anyone else. the problem is when it's ALL off-topic banter. why is there a basketball thread on here? that's just crazy-talk, i tell ya. CRAZY TALK!

viva la nigal!”

“Some say that dirtbagger lurks about the site even yet, in the dead of night when the moon is dark.... kinda like YOU, Radagast the Brown. <G>”