Several years ago I ran across Overland Journal at a book store and first learned about Overlanding. From this I learned about Expedition Portal and the more we learned about Overlanding the more we wanted to learn about it. Some time after this we ran across Overland Bound, a small forum at the time, and thought the small number of people on it would allow us to interact with others more. It wasn't too long after we joined the first "What is Overlanding" appeared. The first time the discussion was pretty good, everyone threw out their ideas of what overlanding is to them, what I call their overland style. A while later the discussion came up again but this time there was a noticeable change. During this discussion several people came in and claimed they have been overlanding for . . . a life time. "Every year since I was X years old I have gone to X lake and camped all week while fishing". Hey, that is great I'm thinking until the guy claims the rest of us are just wannabes, he's the expert. Then came the rules. You aren't overlanding if you drive on pavement, or stay one night in a hotel, or . . . In other words, this is how "I" overland and if you aren't doing it exactly like me you are a fake. The point when I had had enough is when Overlanding was defined as off roading and camping.
Some where along the way the elitist discussions started. If you have an expensive rig or expensive gear you are just a fake. "I am a real overlander because I overland in a Dodge pickup I bought for $200, my awning is a blue tarp, and my cooler I got from the side of the road. If you spent more than $300 on a rig and gear to overland, you are stupid". I can't count how many times on here I have read that. I respect people who can overland on the cheap. I read about one guy who went around the world averaging $7-15 a day, including fuel. But, when you say someone is stupid because they can afford better equipment, that is like saying someone is stupid because they got off their butt to get an education and a good job.
In both discussions, the elitist is the person who claims to be the expert, or most knowledgeable or experienced, by coming up with reasons why everyone else isn't. Just as the elitist is the one who dismisses everyone who has better or more expensive gear. Basically, the elitist is the person with the complex, the person who has to be noticed. The person is insecure about their rig and/or gear, "mine isnt as good as his", and has to come up with some reason to discredit the other to raise them self up.
I have read books written by or about at least a dozen global overlanders (the people who are out overlanding and not making Youtube videos or hanging out on forums) over the part couple years to learn what overlanding truely is. I can tell you very simply, Overlanders do drive on pavement, they do stay in hotels (when the situation warrants it), they do meet people that are different from themself, they go down a particular trail to get to something they want to see (not just to go down that trail), they buy the gear that works best for them (normally on the expensive side because it lasts), and they don't tell other overlanders they are doing it wrong.
In hiking there is a saying, "hike your own hike". Let's try this, "Overland your own Overland". Is overlanding becoming elitist, sure it is. Just like every hobby out there we have people who can't understand respect has to be earned, you can't tear others down to be respected. And we have people who can't understand that we are all different, we all have different wants, needs, situations, and resources. If you have a chip on your shoulder because someone has more money to spend on there rig/gear, just remember they worked for it and have the right to have it if they wish. If someone doesn't care to hide in the woods for days on end, accept that this is not something they want to do even though you do. Overlanding is a personal thing, be respectful and quit with the sore grapes whine fest.
P.S. I apologize to the many non-elitist on the forum.
I'm spending my summers somewhere cooler than here! Hmmm? Wonder if I could build my own, or refurbish without the tax issue? Have to check that angle. I did acquire a small generator, some solar panels and a LI battery so things are now doable. The only problem around here is lack of dispersed camping opportunity. There is some but not the huge amount of public land like out west. As long as there are fish to chase I can survive!
