Tom_in_CA
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Now that Kemper is a member here on T'net, here's a story that's worth repeating. To open up discussion that I'm sure he'll enjoy too:
Back when the internet was young (late '90s), there was a thread on a forum about parks, permission, legalities, solidarities, petitions, etc... type-of-thing. And one particular fellow's input to that thread, has always stuck out in my mind as a "cause celebre" of "oh-so-typical" human nature. Here's the story:
There was an md'r in a midwestern state. I forget which exact state. And there was a particular state park in his area, which he'd md'd for many years up till that time (as had his mentors & friends before him). One day, as he was out plying his luck at this park, a ranger approached him. He was told "you can't do that". Since the md'r wasn't a confrontational type, he apologized and left.
Once he got home, the booting started to get under his skin a little. So he researched all his state's parks rules, and found that, in fact, there was NOTHING specific that actually said "no metal detectors". Oh sure, perhaps something that could be MORPHED to apply (alterations, disturbing, cultural heritage, etc..), yet nothing specific. And while he was researching this, he chanced upon some verbage in his neighboring state's park's state-park wording, that had specific ALLOWANCE for md'ing. Albeit perhaps only on sandy beaches or something, but ... nonetheless, an allowance.
The fellow began to wish that his state also would/could clarify the issue. So that it wasn't up to the arbitrary whims of individual ranger's interpretations or moods. He thought: "Wouldn't it be great if our state too could implement something like what such & such state has!". He gathered up solidarity amongst hunters in his area, like getting a petition signed to mail in. He posted some rallying solidarity posts on md'ing forums, and so forth.
And sent his letter to state capitol lead/head park's dept honchos. In the letter he related the booting inciident. And objected to it as capricous and arbitrary. Pointing out the good we do (remove trash), and how it is innocuous, etc... And the letter cited the neighboring state's specific allowance of md'ing, requesting that this state too should adopt something like this, to clarify the matter.
The md'r sat back and waited. And waited. And waited. After several weeks, no reply was forthcoming. So he picked up the phone and called to the various head honchos he'd written to. Needless to say, he just gets voice-mail heck, and leaves message. No one ever calls back
A couple of months later, still with no progress at his mission, he decides one day to go metal detecting. He goes to another state park in his part of the state. One which, like the other, no one had ever had a problem at. And while detecting, guess what? A ranger comes up to boot him ! A ranger, in fact, he'd even recalled seeing before, with nothing more ever than a friendly passing wave in the past! So this time the md'r objected. Asking things like "since when?" and "why?"
The ranger reaches into his pocket and pulls out a folded up paper. He hands it to the md'r. It was a B.O.L. memo from state park headquarters, to all rank & file rangers. Saying to BOL for md'rs, as this activity is not allowed.
As the md'r is reading this memo letter, he gets to the bottom. Guess who it was signed by? THE VERY TOP DOG HONCHO whom he'd been petitioning, writing, and calling for clarifications!
The man's fellow md'ing buddies couldn't help but make the connection. He was sort of avoided from then-on-out, as a trouble-maker, who had now, single-handedly, gotten ALL his state's parks put off limits.
The md'r relating this experience said that he wished that after that first encounter, that he'd merely treated that as an isolated incident. Avoided *just* that one park. Or avoided *just* that one ranger. He could clearly see the trail of events, which ended up doing more harm, than good.
True story.
Back when the internet was young (late '90s), there was a thread on a forum about parks, permission, legalities, solidarities, petitions, etc... type-of-thing. And one particular fellow's input to that thread, has always stuck out in my mind as a "cause celebre" of "oh-so-typical" human nature. Here's the story:
There was an md'r in a midwestern state. I forget which exact state. And there was a particular state park in his area, which he'd md'd for many years up till that time (as had his mentors & friends before him). One day, as he was out plying his luck at this park, a ranger approached him. He was told "you can't do that". Since the md'r wasn't a confrontational type, he apologized and left.
Once he got home, the booting started to get under his skin a little. So he researched all his state's parks rules, and found that, in fact, there was NOTHING specific that actually said "no metal detectors". Oh sure, perhaps something that could be MORPHED to apply (alterations, disturbing, cultural heritage, etc..), yet nothing specific. And while he was researching this, he chanced upon some verbage in his neighboring state's park's state-park wording, that had specific ALLOWANCE for md'ing. Albeit perhaps only on sandy beaches or something, but ... nonetheless, an allowance.
The fellow began to wish that his state also would/could clarify the issue. So that it wasn't up to the arbitrary whims of individual ranger's interpretations or moods. He thought: "Wouldn't it be great if our state too could implement something like what such & such state has!". He gathered up solidarity amongst hunters in his area, like getting a petition signed to mail in. He posted some rallying solidarity posts on md'ing forums, and so forth.
And sent his letter to state capitol lead/head park's dept honchos. In the letter he related the booting inciident. And objected to it as capricous and arbitrary. Pointing out the good we do (remove trash), and how it is innocuous, etc... And the letter cited the neighboring state's specific allowance of md'ing, requesting that this state too should adopt something like this, to clarify the matter.
The md'r sat back and waited. And waited. And waited. After several weeks, no reply was forthcoming. So he picked up the phone and called to the various head honchos he'd written to. Needless to say, he just gets voice-mail heck, and leaves message. No one ever calls back
A couple of months later, still with no progress at his mission, he decides one day to go metal detecting. He goes to another state park in his part of the state. One which, like the other, no one had ever had a problem at. And while detecting, guess what? A ranger comes up to boot him ! A ranger, in fact, he'd even recalled seeing before, with nothing more ever than a friendly passing wave in the past! So this time the md'r objected. Asking things like "since when?" and "why?"
The ranger reaches into his pocket and pulls out a folded up paper. He hands it to the md'r. It was a B.O.L. memo from state park headquarters, to all rank & file rangers. Saying to BOL for md'rs, as this activity is not allowed. As the md'r is reading this memo letter, he gets to the bottom. Guess who it was signed by? THE VERY TOP DOG HONCHO whom he'd been petitioning, writing, and calling for clarifications!
The man's fellow md'ing buddies couldn't help but make the connection. He was sort of avoided from then-on-out, as a trouble-maker, who had now, single-handedly, gotten ALL his state's parks put off limits.
The md'r relating this experience said that he wished that after that first encounter, that he'd merely treated that as an isolated incident. Avoided *just* that one park. Or avoided *just* that one ranger. He could clearly see the trail of events, which ended up doing more harm, than good.
True story.
![th[3].webp](https://www.treasurenet.com/data/attachments/1005/1005400-e53e875c170035114f4b80d66c762ae4.jpg?hash=TWEGLwlDsC "th[3].webp")
I just wish the park rangers would chase down and pester those who throw down cigarette butts, and leave us MD'ers alone!!
