How did this site start?

“Did you guys know each other before or did you all meet online?”

“I started it in 1998. We had some problems with trolls, but I soon took care of them with the sling of some code.”

“Are you serious?”

“I started the site in the fall of 1995 as a place where I could post some pictures from some of my trips. Soon it changed from my personal page to a general backpacking page. And since then it has just kept on growing.”

“Matt, how did it attract so many right-wing christian conservative anti-environment hypocrites?”

“maybe you need some counseling.”

“btw, good job on your site. was very helpful to me.”

“Mutt, You shouldn't be so shy ...just tell us what you really think. LOL”

“Did anyone know anyone else here before posting?”

“gee that sure was scathing, lounge lizard. if you're going to bother to be insulting, then put some thought into it!”

“Matt, I like this site too.”

“ok, then just get loaded. whatever it takes for you to chill out. damn, dude. your ranting has started to come off as dementia.

i have problems with organized religions, too, but i don't go around degrading such broad groups of people.

what are your views on racism? maybe some cultures are inherently better than others, due to their belief system? you hate the christians for forcing their beliefs and 'laws' on others, but what makes one religion better than another? do you hate all religions? do you have problems with personal beliefs that are not shared with others in any way?”

“Mutt, are you Stuttering John?”

“Mutt yer annoying, but not worth gettin rageful at. With a little effort, you could be thought provoking. Instead, your ish prevents thought.

Oy.. what am I doing talking to you. Based on your arguments, I shouldn't bother with you unless I can get some psychiatric drugs into you.”

“To follow up on matt's explanation: the site got a lot more popular when mental institutions started getting internet access.”

“Violin, LOL!

Now where's that nurse with my pill?”

“Oh now pedXing, you're just sore because I pointed out that your pseudoscientific therapies have no effect unless you also administer a psychotropic drug. You obviously get off on the fact that psychology is perceived to be mysterious or highly esoteric by the layperson. I've met a lot of people like you in the ivory tower. With your massive ego and a little knowledge of social issues, you can impress the imbeciles here in this forum, but I know exactly how low psychological theory ranks (in terms of explanatory power) in the scientific understanding of the human mind. If it weren't for the moleculer biologists, your profession would still be muddling around with zero correlation between psychotherapy and patient outcomes. Sheesh, learn some humility man.”

“Is it just me or is anyone else surprised that Mutt seems to harbor hostility toward psychoanalysts?

Is the 'ivory tower' what they are calling 'that' hospital ward these days?

Who has a dart gun?”

“Psychologists tick me off because, well, they're charlatans. They're the most egotistical of the social scientists (yes that's an oxymoron). And they have the gall to hold the rest of the social sciences in contempt for not having as "rigorous" methodology as psychology. ARGH! I especially despise assessment "gurus." Psychology seems to have an abundance of those nazis.”

“Most of us met Matt at the Rush Limbaugh, Jimmy Swaggart Forth of July picnic. It used to be an annual event until Jimmy got busted.”

“I think almost all of the trips were organized by people that met here on the threads. Some people knew each other from other websites and maybe off line, but I think that was a small minority. A lot of networking has gone on via ICQ, email, trips, etc.

The photo page started several years ago as a suggestion on a post from Hobbit. Matt supported it with a link and kind words of encouragement. Seeing photos has seemed to break down some barriers.

I think there are a lot of backpackers out there who don't have found it difficult to connect with other backpackers locally. There really are not that many as a percentage of the population.

We are a diverse bunch politically and religiously based on the opinions that get shared on various issues.

IMHO, most people here have a sense of humor, which has made this site a lot of fun.”

“Violin,
Ever since you started posting the number of usernames sure has gone way up. ;)”

“whas up with dat huh. da man speaks”

“Whatever else, thanks Matt for all the work.”

“That is not the real Matt that is the imposter Matt.”

“Someone DARES to impersonate MATT the WeBMASter?! What next?”

“Matt...how come this site attracts so few left-wing anti-christian unconservative environmental self-proclaimed "know-it-all"s?”