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Cube · 10-29-2003, 08:21 AM

Hello all,

As I climb up on my soapbox, again...
We are our own worst enemy in this regard. The enemy of wilderness is not overuse, but underuse. It is not popularity but neglect. It is not love but indifference that kills the park. We "Outdoor Folk" need to wake up and smell the development.

Each year more and more people, especially children, succumb to the TV, the computer and the air conditioning. They don't know and don't care about the sound of the wind in the tree tops, the sound of water trickling, the marvel of a found bird feather or the satisfying weight of a pack.

Do we invite these couch potoatoes out? Do we encourage others to come see the wonders we have seen? Do we work together, outdoorfolk versus indoorfolk? Trailwalkers versus Mallwalkers? No.. we bicker and we contest and we challenge the purity of each other's motives.

Do I like the crowding at parks? Of course not, but if enough people actually find value in the entirety of the experience, then we will begin to see more parks requested and folks will be willing to pay for them. Would a private park system work? It would if people were willing to pay for the experience. As long as the park system is a drain on resources, then it must stand in line, hat in hand, and take what it can get from the government.

I am a hunter and am amazed at the hostility directed to those who choose to enjoy the outdoors while hunting. If non-hunters and anti-hunters would look at the model, you would see a success story in terms of habitat, animal numbers and fundraising. Of course, that takes me back to my original point, we fight over the small details in each others positions while the bulldozers push over our favorite old camping grounds.

Thanks for the platform and good day to all!

10-29-2003, 08:21 AM	#3
Cube Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Dripping Springs, Eldorado and Alpine, Texas Posts: 67	Hello all, As I climb up on my soapbox, again... We are our own worst enemy in this regard. The enemy of wilderness is not overuse, but underuse. It is not popularity but neglect. It is not love but indifference that kills the park. We "Outdoor Folk" need to wake up and smell the development. Each year more and more people, especially children, succumb to the TV, the computer and the air conditioning. They don't know and don't care about the sound of the wind in the tree tops, the sound of water trickling, the marvel of a found bird feather or the satisfying weight of a pack. Do we invite these couch potoatoes out? Do we encourage others to come see the wonders we have seen? Do we work together, outdoorfolk versus indoorfolk? Trailwalkers versus Mallwalkers? No.. we bicker and we contest and we challenge the purity of each other's motives. Do I like the crowding at parks? Of course not, but if enough people actually find value in the entirety of the experience, then we will begin to see more parks requested and folks will be willing to pay for them. Would a private park system work? It would if people were willing to pay for the experience. As long as the park system is a drain on resources, then it must stand in line, hat in hand, and take what it can get from the government. I am a hunter and am amazed at the hostility directed to those who choose to enjoy the outdoors while hunting. If non-hunters and anti-hunters would look at the model, you would see a success story in terms of habitat, animal numbers and fundraising. Of course, that takes me back to my original point, we fight over the small details in each others positions while the bulldozers push over our favorite old camping grounds. Thanks for the platform and good day to all! Last edited by Cube; 10-29-2003 at 08:23 AM.