davesenesac
Trail Wise!
Our precious life is short within eternity, don't waste it!
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Post by davesenesac on Apr 28, 2016 12:17:59 GMT -8
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Post by hikerjer on Apr 28, 2016 14:44:54 GMT -8
Just an observation on the comments on the last post: "some think the problem of vandalism at parks is growing". That may well be true. I have to wonder if it has anything to do with social media and the incessant need a large portion of our society now has to announce their presence and their "achievements" to the world. Perhaps they really don't see the difference in posting on an electronic device or on a natural feature. Just saying.
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Post by Lonewolf on Apr 28, 2016 16:35:42 GMT -8
"Selfie" because "Narcissisie" is too hard to spell.
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davesenesac
Trail Wise!
Our precious life is short within eternity, don't waste it!
Posts: 1,710
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Post by davesenesac on Apr 28, 2016 21:54:18 GMT -8
Below disgusting news just hitting the wires this evening. snippet from: www.yahoo.com/news/graffiti-utahs-arches-national-park-may-irreparable-012902843.htmlGraffiti etched into one of the popular red rock arches in Utah's Arches National Park may be too deep to be repaired, the park's superintendent said on Thursday. The vandalism, which was discovered by park staff last Saturday and includes names and numbers, spans about six feet on the so-called Frame Arch, park superintendent Kate Cannon said. The site of the graffiti is near a hiking trail to one of the park's main attractions, Delicate Arch, a 64-feet high sandstone structure that has been known to draw hundreds of visitors at a time... Defacing a national park can lead to a sentence of six months in prison and a $500 fine, according to the website for the U.S. Department of Justice. One of the obvious things that need to be done is to SIGNIFICANTLY increase penalties. $500 is a joke and those in our justice system responsible for such a trivial maximum penalty ought to be FIRED. Of course one can expect numbers of advocates for juveniles pressured authorities for such penalties because they are more often the perpetrators. Same thing happens in many of our cities where repeat graffiti vandals are common because deterrence is usually some "re-education" on being good citizens. They also make sure if under age 18 the media by law cannot identify who they are even when found guilty. Nor what penalty they really get or if they repeat such. Yeah advocates have shielded themselves from criticism or likely change. Ridiculous law here in California that needs to be excised for above age 13. Re-education is always necessary but for many offenders either juveniles or adults unless there is also some real pain and discomfort, results are poor.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 29, 2016 4:53:21 GMT -8
The website "Modern Hiker" in the article referring to Vannesa Hudgens provides the following perspective: The cycle to me often seems to be news accounts galore, predictable outrage, long wait, not much followup in the news of prosecution. But unfortunately, investigations take time and can be expensive. The fines do not pay the expenses, and all it takes are a few perpetrators to keep this cycle going. Sometimes I think the vandals behind the scenes are the states who reap billions of dollars from national-park tourism and then turn around and cut park budgets. I doubt that higher fines, follow-up news accounts of prosecution, and more outrage will solve the problem. The need is for enforcement that stops the vandalism before it is allowed to proceed. Enforcement of laws requires funding. No matter how well publicized, there will always be a few derelicts (pardon the expression, Ms. Hudgens) who still "don't get it." It's a phenomenon similar to the human problem around Yellowstone bison. We pump education into the nation's youth until that education is running out their ears. But we can't make them care. We post signs. We express outrage on social media. But some people still just don't get it.
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tarol
Trail Wise!
Redding, CA
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Post by tarol on May 7, 2016 6:37:36 GMT -8
Social Media = bingo! The growing popularity and associated impact in many places that have experienced vandalism is tied directly to the rise of social media. The many waterfalls in Southern California are a perfect example. I worked for the San Bernardino NF for 8+ years, during the rise of social media, and was horrified to see the resulting degradation of places like Bonita Falls.
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Post by hikerchick395 on May 7, 2016 8:14:43 GMT -8
The latest senseless vandalism that I've heard is outrageous. Three men broke into Devil's Hole in Death Valley and one guy swam in the warm pool with the endangered pupfish. Guns and a Rhino ORV was involved. Oh yeah, and beer.
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rebeccad
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Writing like a maniac
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Post by rebeccad on May 7, 2016 9:17:14 GMT -8
The latest senseless vandalism that I've heard is outrageous. Three men broke into Devil's Hole in Death Valley and one guy swam in the warm pool with the endangered pupfish. Guns and a Rhino ORV was involved. Oh yeah, and beer. Drown 'em in Pepsi.
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rebeccad
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Writing like a maniac
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Post by rebeccad on May 7, 2016 9:19:04 GMT -8
You know, this is part and parcel with me wondering what the @#)) is wrong with people who write in library books (and cut the crossword out of the library's newspapers. I suppose there have always been morons with a sense of entitlement. They just used to work it out by assaulting the serfs. Or the sheep.
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davesenesac
Trail Wise!
Our precious life is short within eternity, don't waste it!
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Post by davesenesac on May 10, 2016 21:22:47 GMT -8
just in...
3 Devils Hole perps have been ID'd and about to be but not yet arrested.
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bp2go
Trail Wise!
California
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Post by bp2go on May 13, 2016 11:35:46 GMT -8
Exhibiting a collective IQ somewhat lower than that of a pupfish: "The men are accused of trespassing on April 30, spraying gunfire, tossing beer cans, vomiting and skinny-dipping in Devils Hole, which the scarce pupfish call home, officials said Thursday." Read the article.
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davesenesac
Trail Wise!
Our precious life is short within eternity, don't waste it!
Posts: 1,710
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Post by davesenesac on May 13, 2016 14:28:57 GMT -8
Them dumba$$es swam with my buds the pupfish and now they will be wearing a suit like mine. Trenton Sargent, 26, of Indian Springs, Nev Steven Schwinkendorf, 29, of Pahrump, Nev Edgar Reyes, 35, of North Las Vegas
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Post by immadman on May 13, 2016 15:10:38 GMT -8
I, too, have witnessed that the number of vandalistic (Is that a word?) acts are increasing. However, do we think it is because people are becoming more destructive, more irrespective, etc. or because there are simply more folks that go to the places where only a few of us used to go? Where an area might have only seen 100 people in a given time and of those 100 perhaps 3 or 4 saw fit to be destructive, now that same area sees 1,000 people in the same amount of time and the 3 or 4 of folks now becomes 30 or 40. Additionally, it seems to me that vandalism has existed for centuries, at least.
Cases in point:
I did a lot of spelunking in the late 60's and early 70's when I lived in an area where caves were close at hand. The majority of us used carbide lights for illumination. It was not uncommon to find where folks had written either some message and/or their names with the soot from the flames of those lights. For those unfamiliar, you just have to hold the flame against the surface and it will leave a soot/smoke trail, sort of like a candle.
How many times was, "Kilroy was here", written in various and sundry places in WW II.
I noticed on one of the many programs I have seen about the pyramids in Egypt, that the chamber at the top of the great pyramid of Giza has graffiti from thousands of years ago.
Although I never felt the need to deface anything like that, I think that the current group of folk are, for the most part, much more earth friendly than we were in those days. My old caving, rock climbing, and backpacking buddy were talking about that the other day. We certainly were not as fastidious in our outdoor habits as we are today. As mentioned earlier, where there were only a few of us "back in the day" that sought the outdoors, now there are many. Additionally, many of these areas are much easier to reach for those who are not as serious about preserving these areas for future generations.
Don't get me wrong, I do not now nor ever have, condoned vandalism and am certainly not coming to the defense of those that do. I am just wondering aloud about the situation.
As I continue to recuperate from surgery, lose some weight, replace my 40 year old gear, and get into shape so I can ease my way back onto the trail, I am certainly looking forward to the solitude (and hope I can find it there) along with the beauty of the (more or less) natural environment. My only regret is not starting to do so earlier and younger...
I would like to add that I have, so far, really enjoyed this group; even some of the more "spirited" threads I have had the pleasure of participating in. I have found, and continue to find, sage and timely advice here.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 15, 2016 13:40:40 GMT -8
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Post by immadman on May 15, 2016 14:01:49 GMT -8
Not nearly enough, IMHO. However, at least something was done!
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