YES, I meant slobs. The people who do these things are slobs or worse. Because we complain about it openly in a thread on our forum, can give newbies the idea that we are talking about our own OB group. You nailed it when you defined the slob group as the general public. I don't use camping as a social activity either, and if I'm lucky enough to find a friend on the trail or arrange a trip with someone, then yes it becomes a social event to a degree. I prefer to keep our forums open for a more positive subject and provide meaningful information for the masses who read them. I don't consider pet peeves of others as being my issues, it's like people talking on their phones in public with their speaker turned up. I don't want to hear it.
We have 20,000 members now and surely we can talk about something more important than someone pooping in our walking paths.
We all know it happens, we all know we can't do anything about it. It's a free country and if we don't like something it is up to us to avoid the bad environment, or change it (not likely) , not gripe about it in a forum for members.
This is just my opinion and I own it.
I agree with your use of "we" here, because it's accurate. Though I would apply it even more broadly to 'we humans', not necessarily limiting to Overland Bound.
I do disagree with your opinion on whether or not conversations like this belong here. I believe that there can be value in these topics, for several reasons:
1. There are people that are 'guilty' of committing some of these acts who may not even realize they are doing something that is not socially acceptable. The reason I post in these types of threads, is in the hopes that a person who may not have otherwise known some of their actions are frowned upon will actually learn something, and make a change for the better.
2. For some people, the act of venting is cathartic. You may not perceive or receive any benefit from these discussions, but others do.
3. Your last statement seems to directly conflict with your sentiment... You don't believe people should make complaint posts in this forum, and state that if they don't like something they should just avoid the 'bad environment', or change it, but not gripe about it. However, you convey that message in the most ironic way: By making a complaint post; while not avoiding the 'bad environment'; and griping about it in a forum for members. I don't point that out as a rip on you, rather to suggest that perhaps you do receive some benefit from these posts after all, or you probably wouldn't have posted at all.
The good thing is, although we may disagree on this topic, we likely agree on many more things than we do not. Added to the fact that we are mature enough to openly exchange opposing ideas such as this, while remaining civil and friendly, I think these threads can be meaningful. Even if they have the potential to cause unintended harm, as you suggest.
And of course, that is just my opinion.. Worth as much as the paper it's written on!
