TRAIL TALK

“What are your views of trailtalk in terms of the content? This refers to the thread topics. What do you think about all the threads about nothing, about trolls glorifying themselves? What are your views about going off topic?

Occassionally, Matt will erase certain threads or comments. How do you feel about this? Should he do more to control the quality of this site?”

“I'm getting better at ignoring the troll threads, especially the SPAMMING attacks by certain trolls. As for off topic, well, sometimes you just have to sort out the wit from the withered. I just know I'm having fun exchanging thoughts and getting some good info, and exercising my smart a$$ gene once in a while.”

“I like off topic threads. Those are the threads that get a little crazy, and you can learn more about each TTer from them. I also like the trip reports, and gear threads. So much to learn about backpacking hear.”

“Oh, this ought to open a huge can of worms.

Let's see, how many pages do you think THIS thread will run to?

IMHO...

TRAIL TALK is:

The most diverse, virtual-and-non-virtual, informative, entertaining, sociable-and-unsociable, wacky, perverse-and-non, mean-spiteful-hateful-bigoted and non, quivering, poking, jiggling, thrusting, barking and yupping, stinky and sweaty, pimpled and grayhaired, ignorant and educated, harmonious and non, bunch of savage oxymorons on the net.

It is the best place in the world for all the above reasons.

I rest my case.

Oh, and the flames can be wonderful to behold.”

“mel, that last line, "Oh, and the flames can be wonderful to behold." sounds like it belongs on the Backpacking Religion thread, LOL.”

“Oh...
I forgot...

And we should all get DOWN ON OUR KNEES,

so we can worship Matt Our Webmaster, and King of The Universe.

Without him,

There would be no Us.

Thank you Matt.

Can I adopt you?”

“Go for it Matt. She has animals that actually carry your BEER for you.”

“Now you know why I stay out of the Religion threads.

Why should I have people tell me where I'm probably going to end up?!

I could figure out that one on my own..

Now...
Where did I put my pitchfork?”

“I like the diversity fun people have here. You don't have to read all the threads to get what you want out of the site.

I have no idea how many lurkers there are, but I sure get a lot of hits on the photo page.

Great Job, Matt!”

“I like the debate and info/question threads but most of the rest falls into the "who gives a sh!t category" for me. Lately there has been a flood of worthless threads ranting about nothing.”

“I like it here. It's like family. I don't have to read everything. I don't have to like everything. Just like real life.”

“I only post here because Matt is a vegan, pro-choice, tree-hugging, ACLU type!
Or is it because he is a self-righteous reactionary, corporate shill, lacky of the bourgoise, born-again?
Anyway, he has a great site.”

“Nobody ever said you have to read everything here.

GAWD...
Unless you're incredibly bored, and on company time, why in hell would you WANT to?”

“I like TT just the way it is. It's fun. Go to some of the other BPing forums, and they're informative but BORING.

Not so here. The people (and trolls) here have real personalities and seem like the kinda people you'd like to go hiking with -- which we do.”

“I try mostly to stick to the BPing threads. I'm not much of a debator. I ignor the threads dealing with potitics, religion, or troll oriented topics. Everyone I've met from TT has been great. I'm glad this ain't some boring stick-to-the-topic kinda place. It's good to hang in Cyber Space with folks with a sence of humor!”

“very true dude”

“I generally choose three or four threads to keep track of. My current computer is slow to change the page so it can be mildly annoying to open a fluff thread. I let stuff I don't care for roll off. As long as there are a couple dozen folks with brains posting I'm happy. MP”

“I just ignore the threads that don't interest me.”

“I'm sure I miss some stuff, but if I hit the first 10 or so posts on a good sounding thread, I get the good stuff before it deteriorates. ;-)”

“I came across TT as a newbie looking for backpacking information. Although I'm still green around the ears, I don't consider myself a newbie anymore.

TT is my entertainment. As a single mother of three, I can't afford to get out much. It's hard to find baby sitters anymore, much less good ones, what with fast food jobs that pay minimum wage. So, I get my laughs and giggles here.

Also, I can flirt with all the guys and never have to get involved with one. You know, men are nothing but trouble. Whining little brats that want someone to take care of them. Isn't that right, radagast?

Mooohaha! We're past the 10th post. I can start degeneration, right?! ;o)”

“go get me a sandwich, babae.”

“and i'm still waiting for my brew, toots.

why the hell do you chicks think that you deserve cabana boys when you can't even do your time as beer wenches?”

“I like trail talk because I can talk to fellow backpackers, about gear, food, or technique. This is an amazing site with a great format.
-Wrath of the Hiker”

“Cindylu, you're right on! TT is one big disfunctional family! No reason to monkey with it if it's not broke.”

“I think this is a great forum just the way it is.

What a great time we live in when you can communicate with people you'd likely never meet and with whom you share a common interest.

You don't have to read everything. If Matt were to actively censor, this site would be a reflection of HIS ideas, not ours.

If you think the thread topics suck, start your own. It's democratic free press baby!”

“this place is cool and so are all of us.

Matt is real cool”

“where's my beer!?”

“cain't get no love from deez beer hos.”

“I LOOOVE you, Loungelett....”

“oooooohhhhh, yeeeeeeah, baaaaaayyybeeeeee!!”

“You mean I've been hanging around on a cyber backpacking site for over two years?!?!? Sheesh and all this time I thought it was a Greatful Dead site, LOL! Just kidding.

Seriously, this is a great site. Thanks Matt!

I enjoy most of the dialog and what I don't enjoy I can ignore. It is my choice. I don't think the site needs to be sensored any more than it already is. I can do that for myself.

The folks I have met have been wonderful to hike with and even more fun to keep company with. Of the folks I haven't met, I' love to meet most of you. With of course the exceptoin of bacpac (tic! tic! just pickin on you).”

“"The folks I have met have been wonderful to hike with and even more fun to keep company with."

geez! that just goes to show you that you don't remember hiking with me! LOL!!!!”

“I used to go to the other gear-oriented boards but how many weeks in a row can one post "I like Western Mountaineering sleeping bags"?”

“As I recall you were the fellow at the rear pleading with jen not to make you carry any more of HER beer. LOL”

“AmyG has that down to an art!”

“what i meant was....

"how many weeks in a row can one post "I like Western Mountaineering sleeping bags"?"

AmyG has that down to an art!











sadly, jen can no longer drink beer...”

“The BEST on the web no doubt!!
Does Hallmark make a "Webmasters Day"card??
Matt is a web GOD!!
Even with a cable modem and 900MHz, I cant' keep up with these posts.”

“This is the only forum I check on a (almost) daily basis. I usually ignore the nonbackpacking threads and often lurk unless I feel that I have something to contribute that isn't repeating someone else's thoughts.

The mostly hands off attitude of our magnanimous(look up the literal definition) web master makes this the most interesting packing site I've found so far.

I fail to understand the motivation of most of the trolls. I'm of Scottish blood, decite and subtlety isn't really in my genes, so it may just be me.

I've been on three ECT hikes and have had a great time on each of them. Also everyone I've met on these hikes have been people that I was and would be glad to share time with.

To top it all; how many backpacking sites have a wedding to their credit?”

“I have internet for two reasons.
#1 E-mail
#2 Trail Talk

But not in that order.”

“censureship seemed to come up alot in these postes. I don't think its a problem here. Matt trys to keep all the profanites out, and general smut, well thats just are culter. I think that the censureship the only people that would be thought to benifite from it would be me, however I think I'm more mature and high moraled then a good part of this bored. So Matt your doing a great job. Just one problem....THAT DAMN LINE 26 or LINE 28 page I hate that page”

“I didn't mean to sound pompous when I said 'look it up.' I looked it up when checking that entry and thought it was actually pretty good.

Magnanimous, adj. generous in over looking injury or insult; rising above pettiness or meanness; noble.

I thought it was a good description of the guy that can put up with a group like us.

I guess I'm gonna have to say something mean about him later to keep him from getting a big head...”

“Oh' yeah one more thing. This is directed to the Rad/mel/wench/cabanboy commity.... Can I get a soda wench?”

“I'll have an Ice Water please! Heavy on the Ice.”

“I check 2 site online TT and hotmai. on the weekends maybe MSNZONE, but not often”

“I'm with walkindude, but will add one more thing. #3 gear hunting

As for the censorship issue:
Sometimes we forget just how many people are watching us argue, play, flirt, and plan hikes. Our threads are like campsites, the popular ones eventually get abused. Ranger Matt sometimes needs to come behind us and clean up our mess.
No reservations, no permits, no trailhead fees...pretty good deal if you ask me. Keep it up!”

“I like Trail Talk because, to me, it's like kicking back to a campfire (or candle to the environmental correct) with a group of friends and family. At first you talk about new camp gear or trips you've been on, eventually more serious talks arise. Sometimes you keep your mouth shut, other times you wish you had kept it shut. There's a lot of teasing that goes on, joking, and bickering. But the next time you get together the same crowd is still there for another go round. :)”

“you guys are so lucky.”

“Lizaaaaaaaaaaaaaard! You took the words right outta my mouth! =:D”

“This is the best site on the internet for backpacking.

But it seems ever since the "FU@K" topic a year or so ago the threads have deteriorated way to quick. Of course, lately they've started off deteriorated.

Oh well, every once in a while a topic will come up that's of interest to me, that's what keeps me coming back.”

“What would this place be without the truly degenerated thread.

Or people?

It's the same on this site, as it is on a group hike with this bunch.

Never a dull moment, and a LOT of fun!”