[pct-l] Mountain Bike Posts

[JPL]

As a note.  I'm a moderator of a FB page and we occasionally have to kick 
people off, or deny membership to those that demonstrably have no interest 
in the topic (of the page).  This has been the case since the old bulletin 
board days and "flame wars".  Malcontents will destroy a virtual 
un-moderated venue hiding behind their anonymity (usually) or more often 
using the forum to promote their own cause.

-----Original Message----- 
From: Barry Teschlog
Sent: Tuesday, May 14, 2013 6:40 PM
To: PCT-L
Subject: [pct-l] Mountain Bike Posts

Devon Taig wrote:
"SaveThePCT" is, I can only imagine by its name, not particularly impartial
on the topic of bikes.  Clearly there should be a place where people with
differing opinions on a range of PCT relevant topics can discuss things in
a civil manner.

Reply:
And one can imagine that by their names "Share the PCT" and "Wilderness B" 
are also not particularly impartial on the topic of bikes destroying the PCT 
and Wilderness, respectively.


On the 2nd quoted sentence:  The MTBers came onto the "Pacific Crest Trail" 
FB page and more or less destroyed the discussion about the PCT, with 
repeated flame posts, spam, junk posts, blatant lies (e.g. "hikers do zero 
trail work", "the PCTA has said they can't take care of the PCT") and the 
rest, prior to the moderators apparently banning / kicking them out.  This 
MTBer behavior on that page a few months back is a microcosm of what would 
happen if bikes were allowed on the PCT - aggressive, obnoxious individuals 
would drive away the existing (hiker and equestrian) user community, 
destroying the trail for the current users - just as the MTBers were in the 
process of destroying the PCT FB page before the mods put their foot down. 
The PCT FB page is now back to it's former self - a great venue for PCT 
discussion.

Brick:  Thank you for keeping the PCT-L a great place to discuss the PCT.


Devon,  apparently one can't have a reasonable conversation with a MTBer 
since no matter how many times it's said to them they just don't get or care 
that the mere possibility of having a bike come screaming down a trail ruins 
the experience for many a hiker and equestrian (and never mind the actual 
fact of being, or nearly being run down).  Impacts to other users seemingly 
don't register on MTBer radar screens - hikers and equestrians it would seem 
count for naught in their book.  Based on their words and actions, the only 
users that matter are MTBers and to heck with everyone else.

And as Mendo Rider as said - REPORT, REPORT, REPORT bikers on the PCT to the 
proper authorities.  Pictures, dates, descriptions, numbers, vandalism, 
damage, etc.  Your report may be the one that provides the final clue as to 
when & where these scofflaws typically poach, which will allow the long arm 
of the Law to find and punish the guilty parties.
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