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June 22, 2006
ipod zombies
Ok, while I occaisionally still daydream about curling randomly, it is of a season where talk of other sports is in order. Like, say, hiking. Which has pretty much consumed my free time.
I have always had a love of hiking and interacting with trees, plants, birds, whatever I can find. Right now it is enhanced by the fact that I feel sick still but suddenly I feel well when I am out on the trail. No joke, I even feel the difference when stopped for a short break and can't wait to start back up. So the training started in March, took a reprieve in April and part of May, and will accelerate through late August when we ascend Rainier. Awww yeah.
I have a quick gripe about ipods as entertainment while hiking. You see, I am pretty old school. And although I value my ipod as much as the next guy, I can't stand hiking now that they are ubiquitous on the trail. It is a study of the effect of population density on the ways in which people interact with one another. In a city, especially a crowded one, you couldn't say hello to everyone you saw if you wanted to. You would go insane. As the population density dwindles, it becomes less burdensome to show an incremental interest in passing strangers. While hiking, in most cases there is a relatively low density, or else there is a feeling of isolation which fools you into assuming a low denisty. Therefore it is polite to greet each party you pass and this custom is perpetuated through social norms amongst the hiking community. Now you introduce the mp3 player which makes it harder to communicate with a party since, well, their ears are otherwise occupied. Therefore it is understandable that the music loving hikers would no longer participate in this minor ritual.
Who cares? I know, it is no big deal. But it is a striking reminder of how technology can hinder community even in environments which would not normally be considered fragile to this influence. To be honest, my gripe is that it is still rude of the ipod-encrusted folk to not acknowledge their fellow nature lovers. I am biased since I feel like listening to music while hiking is an indication that you are just not getting it. How can you hear the forrest and let it speak to you when you have buds in your ears? Also, when I am listening to music I am far less likely to notice the budding blooms around me, you know? I feel mildly saddened by the number of zombies wandering the forrests, especially on certain trails (ahem, Mt. Si) who are just seemingly there for a workout which doesn't involve ellipticals or free weights or whatnot. But maybe they get more out of it than I think.
Posted by fer at June 22, 2006 12:49 AM