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I think the problem is Disneyfication. Many tourists think wherever they go on vacation is a theme park, and everything is safe and controlled. Plus, everyone they meet must be an employee, there to make them happy.
I agree with you. I noticed this 25 years ago when we moved from the midwest to the wild open southwest. Some people expect to be protected and free from any sorts of danger, instead of respecting nature and being responsible and cautious.
The book is called Over the Edge: Death in the Grand Canyon by Ghiglieri & Myers and it's a fascinating book.
I noticed a lot of the themes in this book were the disorientation brought on by the views. People think that side of the canyon is "just over there" when just over there is actually 3-5 miles in a how many hundred foot decline, a long walk, and then an incline, in extreme temps.
I was wondering what the name was. Thank you 3DogNight.
It's probably higher than average right now because of Spring Break. We saw so many people doing stupid, dangerous things at both the Grand Canyon and Yellowstone, that I'm more surprised the weekly death toll average isn't higher.
For the last several years we've been taking road trips and visiting the National Parks. We are repeatedly seeing people practicing dangerous and destructive behavior all around us. We're old enough to get in free so it goes without saying that we have noticed a marked change from the more safety-oriented behavior of decades ago.
Only last summer in Yellowstone we saw many people getting out of their cars to approach a bear for pictures and a woman walking through a sulfur spring with her dog in tow. In both cases these people were within steps of signs warning about the behavior they were doing.
I can only wonder if human beings are losing their sense of self-preservation. Seems everyone's an exception to the rules these days.
Perhaps younger people have been lulled into a false sense of security in the wild by their disconnection from the natural world.
Quote:
Originally Posted by KaraG
I agree with you. I noticed this 25 years ago when we moved from the midwest to the wild open southwest. Some people expect to be protected and free from any sorts of danger, instead of respecting nature and being responsible and cautious.
I think it's a bit of combination of Disneyfication and Cityfication. Too many people in our society are, quite frankly, too stupid to live. Not so long ago most of them would have been eliminated early on. But our modern society has so many protections and safety nets built in. Everything from heat and light to services that come running at the slightest need. Leave the city and go out into nature, and suddenly those services that were everywhere are hours away. It get's dark without street lights. Trails are rugged. Wild animals are … wild. And rescue can be hours away, if they even find you at all.
Whatever folks think of the show Northwoods Law, they should watch the episodes on Geraldine Largay. Massive search and they still didn't find her until two years later.
For the last several years we've been taking road trips and visiting the National Parks. We are repeatedly seeing people practicing dangerous and destructive behavior all around us. We're old enough to get in free so it goes without saying that we have noticed a marked change from the more safety-oriented behavior of decades ago.
Only last summer in Yellowstone we saw many people getting out of their cars to approach a bear for pictures and a woman walking through a sulfur spring with her dog in tow. In both cases these people were within steps of signs warning about the behavior they were doing.
I can only wonder if human beings are losing their sense of self-preservation. Seems everyone's an exception to the rules these days.
Perhaps younger people have been lulled into a false sense of security in the wild by their disconnection from the natural world.
I have seen many people get up close and personal with bears. I don't condone it and I don't do it personally. I always watch from a distance. But honestly the people doing it are not as crazy as you might think. Bears are in a lot more danger from people, then people are in danger from bears. 50,000 bears are killed by humans every year. Less than one human is killed by a bear per year. Bears are probably the least dangerous large animals that humans encounter. That said, just respect the animal's personal space.
Exactly. Seen it myself, half dozen major parks, across my lifetime: GC, Yellowstone, others. I'm not dead yet either, having a good sense of my own survival.
Hiked down one of the lesser-used trails from South Rim to the Colorado, when I was 20. I believe it was the "New Hance Trail." Damn, that was fun, and pretty tough. Definitely a 20's kind of thing. We were prepared and didn't have much trouble. One water spot was dry, so myself and other guy went on a water run to a place that definitely had water. Damn, that tasted good. We were minor heroes, but again: no one was in real danger.
That was...spring long time ago. Wow.
Idiots falling into the canyon is just stupid. Accidents from lack of planning, ditto. Accidents of nature, a tragedy. Period.
The son of a mother who taught in my school was a very experienced hiker and often camped out in wilderness areas. And he fell while hiking in the canyon and was not found for several days...and died.
Every time we visit a National Park, I see people doing stupid things, all for a photo. If there is a yellow caution tape up, I feel it is there for a reason, yet, many people cross it to get their desired photo for facebook, or whatever, they post on.
I have seen many people get up close and personal with bears. I don't condone it and I don't do it personally. I always watch from a distance. But honestly the people doing it are not as crazy as you might think. Bears are in a lot more danger from people, then people are in danger from bears. 50,000 bears are killed by humans every year. Less than one human is killed by a bear per year. Bears are probably the least dangerous large animals that humans encounter. That said, just respect the animal's personal space.
I suppose so. But whatever the reason if there are signs saying not to do it that is part of your obligation for entering the park.
I believe this is the generation that wasn't said "No" to often enough. Personal protection and environmental protection are the reasons for the rule and should be considered as such. Both reasons are valid and not illogical.
Keep in mind a lot of people going to these parks are:
-old (health issues)
-foreign
-lived their whole lives in urban areas
So, health problems and just having no idea how dangerous some of their actions really are because they have no frame of reference.
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