[at-l] "AT-List mostly doesn't talk about... issues because...."

[saunterer@jimbullard.org (sAunTerer)]

Weary, This is how it works:  If you have a political "issue" you want to 
bring to the attention of the list, post the details under subject line of 
"Trail Issue: (Whatever it concerns) and let it go.  Those who are disposed 
will read it and act on it as their philosophy inclines.

The key phrases here are "bring to the attention of the list" and "let it 
go".  AT-L was not begun as a forum for political issues (though they are 
sometimes raised) and the majority of list members don't hop on their 
computers at the end of the day eager to have their stress level raised by 
yet another AT crisis, call to arms or whatever.  They want to slip into a 
relaxed mode of camaraderie with fellow hikers talking about things that 
remind them of their last hike or inspire them towards their next 
hike.  Call it escapism if that helps you feel better about your own 
attitude.  I call it balancing the other stresses in my life.

As I've said before, I'm sorry that WF has closed his forum in protest over 
the outcome of the election (I didn't like the outcome either but I didn't 
go sit in a corner and pout) and deprived you of your place to debate these 
things.  The fact is that AT-L is a different list with a different 
constituency and you don't have the same audience you had on ATML so... you 
shouldn't continue to be surprised that many here are not receptive to your 
attempts to shame the list into emulating ATML.

Personally I admire your political savvy, the work you have done for the AT 
in the past and your willingness to live in a constant state of being 'on 
guard' but I (and based on responses to some of your posts I assume others 
on the list) can't live like that.  It's bad for my blood pressure and 
stress level among other things.  I have to compartmentalize those things 
and deal with them in set blocks of time so as to avoid being continually 
stressed out and angry.

So I repeat, post your 'issues', 'alerts' or whatever you wish to call them 
in a neutral way and let them go.  Please don't badger the list (including 
me) about our failure to rise to your level of activism.  I do what I 
do.  I can't be you.  It's hard enough just being me.

Peace,
sAunTerer

At 10:57 AM 10/8/01 -0400, you wrote:
>"...They only turn ugly when roused by issues of immanent domain or some such
>nonsense..."
>
>Just a couple of quick thoughts. Eminent domain is the authority that was used
>or threatened to acquire most of the land which the Appalachian Trail 
>traverses
>and is the mechanism that will figure prominently if more buffers to 
>protect the
>trail from nearby developments are ever acquired.
>
>However the AT-List mostly doesn't talk about eminent domain and other
>"political" issues because so doing tends to draw strong comments from the 
>broad
>range of political philosophies that make up the list, damaging the sense of
>camaraderie around our virtual campfire.
>
>  We confine ourselves mostly to such things as the relative merits of 
> titanium
>  vs. aluminum, wool vs. fleese, the distinction between rucks and ruts 
> and how
>  best to camp together at the gathering ....
>
>  Trailplace, the only other major forum that I know of that is devoted to 
> Trail
>  matters mimics us in this respect, among others, though for different 
> reasons.
>  The Trailplace administrator doesn't believe we have a legitimate government
>  since the Supreme Court ordained President Bush, and thus we no longer 
> have a
>  government that we can petition.
>
>  As a result some exciting proposals have been launched and may be about 
> to die
>  with little or no input from the internet trail community.
>
>  Weary '93
>
>
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