When I went camping as a kid, it was always "car camping." (I didn't even realize that was a real phrase until last year, when I went backpacking in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area for the first time). Anyway, on these childhood trips we brought along the station wagon, a Coleman stove, and a variety of games and books. We did at least leave behind things like TV, refrigerators, phones, etc. Particularly once we arrived at the various national parks and natural areas, we left everything technological behind except the camera and then went out to enjoy nature.
So why is it that today's campers can't seem to let technology go? Visitors to national parks come in RVs, unable to leave the toilet and TV behind. And now telecom companies are pressing for access to build mobile phone towers throughout Yellowstone National Park.
I certainly understand the benefits to safety - being in touch means being able to call for help. But it also means allowing people to talk to the office, to people at home, and anywhere else instead of appreciating the natural place they came to. Maybe I'm just old-fashioned and most Americans just want to do a little nature tourism, driving through Yellowstone, snapping a few photos (on camera phones, of course) and then getting to the next McDonald's.
But it seems to me that some natural areas should be experienced and not just viewed through a car window or as a brief commercial break. And to make sure there are still some of those areas, we can't put up cell phone towers or permit motorized vehicles to get everywhere. Because all it takes is one chatterbox on a cell phone to ruin the natural experience for anyone in earshot.
No comments:
Post a Comment