Do you feel guilty?

[Homesick65]

Just teasin!

I appreciate and agree with Red Hawk's excellent advice. Thanks Hawk! However I'm still intrigued, if not fascinated, with the caste system that has emerged via this forum. The subtleties and innuendos of folks claiming that they're a better or more authentic Adirondacker than others are amusing.

How is it that places themself at the top of the caste? Must they be born, raised and never left the geographic center of the DAKs? How is someone determined to be placed near/at the bottom? Anyone who admits knowing the capital of NJ?

And how is the rank determination of those elite few at the caste's uppermost strata hashed out? Do elderly Saranac Lakers sit in dilapidated Westport chairs accuse one another of having a great uncle that once made a supply run to Plattsburgh, Glens Falls or Utica? And for the bottom-feeders... does a guy from Yonkers prepping for a hike at a trailhead parking lot and wearing an "I Love NY" tee-shirt gaff at another guy with Jersey plates for wearing a Fifty Cent tank top? How is it all decided?

[redhawk]

The caste system, it's a psychological thing that plays out in most of what we do. Everyone one's to belong to SOMETHING (Well, almost everyone), but if EVERYONE belongs, then it's not anything special. So we create these "exclusions" to separate us from the pack ans supposedly put ourselves "Above" the others.

Doesn't make any difference what it is, and it appears to be vital to keep the walls of civilization glued together, or at least our current social, economic and political systems.

Those differences can be Regional: Northerners vs Southerners. Racial; White versus Red, or black or yellow, etc; National: US vs Canada: Social: Educated vs uneducated or Jocks vs Nerds, Economic: Rich vs the Poor, Political: Republicans vs Democrats Religious: Christian vs Muslim.

And each of those division subdivide into even more splinter castes. Hikers vs Snowmobilers, Army vs Navy, Old timers vs Newcomers, The "Old Rich" vs the "New Rich"

And even further, Major conferences vs Mid majors, SEALS vs DELTA, Peakbaggers vs Lowlanders, Upper Class vs Upper Middle Class vs Lower Middle Class, Catholic vs Protestant. And in team sports it's often used as a motivator, ""US" against the World"

It gives each group a way to set them selves apart from commonality and an creates an artificial barrier that sets it above the others.

Some of it is based on fear, Native born vs Immigrants (loss of jobs, cost of social services), Local Residents against "Outsiders" (higher taxes, higher costs for services), Whites against Indians (If they get their lands back they'll kick us out), Rich against poor (If we have to spend money for them, there will be less for us). etc. And in every case the division is based on innuendo or hearsay, not fact.

So, it's what we do. To feel good I guess or to give a false sense of accomplishment. But it's been a human thing back since the days of the cavemen I imagine. If you think about it, pack animals have their own "caste" too, from the Alpha to the Omega.

I don't know why we do it, it seems to be ingrained in our psyche. Wars and atrocities have been committed because of it.

But, it is what it is, and hopefully some day a smarter, more tolerant humanity that truly practices the principles that it is supposedly founded on will change. That was the feel good story behind Startrek, that we had evolved into a gentler, kinder society. But not I'm afraid in my time.

So there you have it. Hawks Introduction to Social Studies 101. That'll give you you something to chew on.

In the meantime, "Keep a tight one" Bro.

(And how about a first name, I refuse to call you "Homes")

Hawk

[Homesick65]

Thanks again Hawk!

You're a wise man - thank you for your learned perspective!

Regards,
Robert "Bob" Munger
Currently at Ali Al Salem Air Base Northern Kuwait

Relationship to the Adirondack region: Grandmother of the Sheehan clan (her family ran a bording house in Irishtown/Minerva - Essex County in the 1920s), her name was Margaret "Rusty" Sheehan. (But we grandchildren called her "Honey" because she was nice to us.) She moved to Glens Falls when she was 14 yrs old to be a maid for a family and attend St Marys Academy. She met and married a my granddad - a man of German ancestry named Robert Munger - a corrections officer. My dad, Robert Munger, also became a corrections officer at a variety of upstate prisons. I decided to be a Marine instead and have been away since the 80s. Eventually I want to come home.

[DRIFTER]

I However I'm still intrigued, if not fascinated, with the caste system that has emerged via this forum. The subtleties and innuendos of folks claiming that they're a better or more authentic Adirondacker than others are amusing.

Did you ever post in the HUNTING section???? Just exchange the word Hunter for Adirondacker and it sounds awful familiar!!

[redhawk]

Did you ever post in the HUNTING section???? Just exchange the word Hunters for Adirondaker and it sounds awful familiar!!

Or 46er or 14er or thu-hiker.

[chairrock]

Whites against Indians (If they get their lands back they'll kick us out),

Hawk

I just knew you were going to be a problem if you had your way!

[redhawk]

Whites against Indians (If they get their lands back they'll kick us out),

Hawk

I just knew you were going to be a problem if you had your way!

You know what's pathetic about that whole thing? there are white people who believe that and there are some Indians who would actually consider it!!

Hawk

[chairrock]

You know what's pathetic about that whole thing? there are white people who believe that and there are some Indians who would actually consider it!!

Hawk

[chairrock]

I get the impression that North America is on the biggest guilt trip in the history of mankind.

The food we eat, the gas we burn, the forest products we consume, the drugs we take, the energy we consume, the computers we throw away, the relentless consumerism, the booze we drink, the people that are poor....just to name those potential guilt trips.

Personally, I've had it with the guilt trip and am stepping off the guilt train.

We have attained the highest standard of living, the best health and longevity, the safest life and the highest level of consciousness, ever. I believe that humans have never enjoyed such a potential for wonderful living as we have created for ourselves. Instead of sitting around feeling guilty I have decided to live my life to the utmost of health, happiness and adventure. I also plan on squeezing the last drop out of modern day knowledge and technology in order to enjoy my remaining decades on Earth even more.

What about you?

After giving this much thought, I agree. The only hard part is the consciousness part, how to shut ones self out from all of the nasties....

[redhawk]

The irony of this whole thing is that Neil has now created "Guilt Trips" for those people who do have a conscience and want to accept responsibility.

Of course, everyone can just make a commitment to feel good and shut their eyes. But then when the excretement hits the fan, they'll be blaming the DEC, the Republicans or the Democrats, the natives or the tourists, anyone except themselves and then they'll stroll merrily (OK so not so merrily) along trying to figure out what went wrong with the world.

If you don't like that, refer to post #28.

[chairrock]

The irony of this whole thing is that Neil has now created "Guilt Trips" for those people who do have a conscience and want to accept responsibility.

Of course, everyone can just make a commitment to feel good and shut their eyes. But then when the excretement hits the fan, they'll be blaming the DEC, the Republicans or the Democrats, the natives or the tourists, anyone except themselves and then they'll stroll merrily (OK so not so merrily) along trying to figure out what went wrong with the world.

If you don't like that, refer to post #28.

It has already hit the fan, we just haven't been splattered yet.....