[at-l] Re: Sport (or not!)

[jbullar1 at twcny.rr.com (Jim Bullard)]

Those of a competitive mind seem to be able to turn everything into a 
competition but to be a 'sport' (IMHO) there should be a recognized system 
of keeping score. Between the number of miles, purity of the hike, 
slackpacking vs carrying everything, etc., etc. there isn't even consensus 
on how to do it much less on how to keep score. The advantage to not having 
any uniform definition of course is everyone can define it for themselves 
and be "the winner' in his/her own mind if that is the kind of stroke you 
need. I just prefer to go and walk and enjoy the woods. I really don't give 
a hoot who thinks they did it faster, better, more pure or any of that 
junk. To me that is just taking psychic baggage from daily life into the 
woods with you.

At 07:16 PM 4/18/2004 -0700, Orange Bug wrote:
>Those who wish to keep score are able, as noted with
>the labels of types of hikers and recognition
>trinkets. For every few thousand duffers, there are a
>few competitive professional golfers.
>
>But I enjoy our sport as relaxation, exercise and
>recreation. I enjoy the occasional surprises along the
>trail, as well as the memories of long neverending
>climbs.
>
>For those who need this to be a philosophy or
>lifestyle, go knock yourselves out! Even our sport can
>afford to have a few Tiger Woods wannabes.
>
>Bill...
>
>--- James Lynch <jplynch@crosslink.net> wrote:
>...
> > The seminal difference to me is the first embodies
> > competition, and the second does not.  Hiking,
> > backpacking, etc. do not (should not?) involve
> > competition.  (How would you keep score?) :)
>
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