[at-l] Re: Modern Devices, etc.

[Snodrog5 at aol.com (Snodrog5@aol.com)]

In a message dated 3/11/04 1:48:14 AM Eastern Standard Time, 
RoksnRoots@aol.com writes:

> 
>      ***    If you read into your answer Teej, you'll see it proves my 
> point by your own logic.
> 


Hi R&R. Your point about cell phone bans was:  "Baxter has already done it. 
The reason they did was wildness preservation short and simple." 
I answered, "Not really. There are many two-way radios all over the Park, in 
every 
official vehicle, every Park building, and carried by every Ranger in the 
backcountry. The ability to communicate with civilization is there, cell 
phone ban or 
not. The cell phone ban was prompted by an incident when a touron called out 
and demanded a helicopter be dispatched to the Hunt Spur because she was too 
tired to climb back down. Since stupidity was beyond the ability of the Park 
Director to ban, he banned the tool used."
You might feel the need to "read into" my answer something that validates 
your own position, but that still doesn't "prove" your point.


>  There are many other parks where equally foolish use of 
> cp's has occurred with just as many examples. Why weren't they banned there 
> also? 
> 
> 

Lack of moxie, perhaps? I've always said other parks could learn a lot from 
the way Baxter is run.


>         Weary has educated us on this list about the history and 
> purpose of Baxter Park. 


I must've missed his post on the history and purpose of Baxter State Park. I 
do remember him posting that he doesn't agree with the Park rules, and that he 
doesn't think the Park has the authority to set certain rules, and that 
certain rules shouldn't apply to him. But nonetheless, I'm happy for you that you 
feel educated.


 It simply defies known fact to use examples of park 
> equipment to make an argument for otherwise. I believe if Baxter were 
> formally 
> asked, it would say the banning was done under the wilderness code...
>   
> 

The philosophical anti-cell position is that communication with civilization 
is anti-wilderness. The Park has and uses two way radio equipment. You could 
argue that Millinocket isn't really civilization, but still it dulls your 
point. I fully support (unlike many Mainers) all of the Director's 'Wilder Within' 
proposals, in fact I've advocated an even sterner stance that would end the 
use of some park equipment and practices. If you were to ask someone at BSP, "I 
believe the reason that cell phones were banned was wildness preservation 
short and simple, is that true?" I believe you would get an interesting answer, 
very similar to the "Not really," I gave you here.

TJ