BOD
Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
McCandless did what he wanted to do. He was young idealistic and brave and I salute him for that. It is good that there are young people like that
He was also foolish , ill prepared and naieve. He was no hero. It is sad that he died.
It is the debate among the rest of us (not just on BCUK) that is revealing.
We heap our dreams and aspirations on the McCandless story. We envy the 'freedom' and want to tear down what we do not have. We use him to recall our lost or squandered youth. Our own fears for ourself or our own children drive our demands to make it safe or save young people from themselves.
We build it into a tragedy so we can release our own pent up feelings instead of treting it for what it was - kid went out, kid stuffed up, kid died. A lesson for us all.
As for 'spoiling the day' of others, why should their recreation be protected? Why should they not encounter natural death and its consequences? Why should they not go away sober and quiet to think about what they saw?
In the past they could have buried him or just left him and report it when they returned from their walk or trip.
Probably now they are famed in their hometowns as the guys who found McCandless, often interviewed. A fame that gets them bought a few drinks!
Of course it is our obsession with picking over everything nowadays that nowadays one would hesitate to bury a body in case you are criticised
He was also foolish , ill prepared and naieve. He was no hero. It is sad that he died.
It is the debate among the rest of us (not just on BCUK) that is revealing.
We heap our dreams and aspirations on the McCandless story. We envy the 'freedom' and want to tear down what we do not have. We use him to recall our lost or squandered youth. Our own fears for ourself or our own children drive our demands to make it safe or save young people from themselves.
We build it into a tragedy so we can release our own pent up feelings instead of treting it for what it was - kid went out, kid stuffed up, kid died. A lesson for us all.
As for 'spoiling the day' of others, why should their recreation be protected? Why should they not encounter natural death and its consequences? Why should they not go away sober and quiet to think about what they saw?
In the past they could have buried him or just left him and report it when they returned from their walk or trip.
Probably now they are famed in their hometowns as the guys who found McCandless, often interviewed. A fame that gets them bought a few drinks!
Of course it is our obsession with picking over everything nowadays that nowadays one would hesitate to bury a body in case you are criticised
