[at-l] Re: at-l Cell Phones, yet again - the 'rules'

[gypsy97 at bellsouth.net (gypsy97@bellsouth.net)]

I think this is the best post I've seen on the whole subject.  We want to 
get away from the everyday humdrum of life, so we go for a hike, then we 
have to take all the trappings and security(?) of everyday life with us. 
What a paradox!
gypsy
***
From: RoksnRoots@aol.com
         Of all these cell phone posts not a single one mentions their 
impact
on the AT on a conceptual level (except for Sloetoe). The reason cell phones
are an issue to some Trail concerned persons isn't because of etiquette. 
Most
people won't even know a hiker is carrying one most of the time. Except for 
a
loud conversation that could happen anywhere, at a mall or any public place,
cell phones rarely make their presence known.

     So why do some people have a problem with them? It isn't because these
people enjoy ordering others around or are "rule oriented". The real reason 
is
because cell phones are an effective inroad by civilization into a place
deliberately designed to keep civilization out. If you think your experience 
of the
Appalachian Trail doesn't change when you carry a cell phone you're wrong.
There are also places on the trail that have become less wild directly 
because
of cell phone connectivity. This is usually sold in positive terms by Trail
members, like praising shuttle services, or justifying your hike by being 
able to
stay in touch. Basically, any time you are able to dial out from the Trail
the Trail is less wild by definition.

           The worst effect cell phones have on the AT is the unconscious
acceptability of civilizing the Trail. Ordering pizzas, calling shuttles, 
calling
home, eventually these wear down the Trail's image as a wild place. It's
civilizing a place that was formed to filter out civilization. No matter 
what
anyone says, that is true. ATC is rules-oriented believe it or not. They 
filter
out many Trail-conflicting activities for exactly the reasons I've cited. 
The
problem with cell phones is they slip through the filter.

         Phones have always been available in towns. To say you need a cell
phone to hike is false. People have been hiking and contacting family 
members
for years.

         You can see from this thread that even talk of cell phones on the 
AT
has succeeded in filtering out mention of its impact on the Trail's 
wildness.
That's proof right there.

         Rudeness? When are hikers going to think about more than just
themselves and think about the Trail?
***