Wireless in the woods
July 3rd, 2008 | by Andy Published in Camping, Outdoor Living | 3 Comments
Ironic that Minnesota’s oldest state park, should be the first in our state to adopt that 21st-century amenity known as wireless internet access. But Itasca State Park is making the woods safe for persons entirely dependent upon their laptops and Blackberries. Or at least through year’s end, as part of an experiment of sorts to see if wireless is something that will draw visitors out.
Does it look like Minnesota is blazing a high-tech trail? We’re not. Jumping on the bandwagon would be a more accurate observation, as 28 other states have already made the move to high-speed wireless in their parks. But the MN-DNR is hoping this and similar tech-centric efforts, will spur an outdoors migration of execs and Twitterers alike.
At first, I bristled a little at the notion: If someone can’t escape their own cyber-busyness, that the problem is somehow the parks’. That suddenly a place intended to be all about ‘getting away from it all,’ should get back a little closer to it. But in contrast, there have been generations of park visitors in Winnebagos who eat on a picnic table before retreating back inside to watch Matlock re-runs, considering it all an outdoor experience. As a more ‘granola’ type, I may not prefer that, but as long as their television doesn’t affect my experience, then everyone’s happy.
Does wireless belong in the woods? What’s your take?
July 3rd, 2008 at 6:43 pm (#)
NOPE!!!
I work with computers all day long, and have a BlackBerry strapped to my hip all the time. Except for when I am asleep - but it’s on still in the background.
For me, getting away into the woods up north allows me to be beyond telephone contact and BlackBerry e-mail access.
Can you imagine going for a hike in the wilderness and stumbling across a sales guy on his BlackBerry and laptop trying to make a presentation? It’s just not right.
Please…NOOOOOO!
Mungo
July 4th, 2008 at 6:19 pm (#)
It feels all wrong to me. While the completely wireless/computer dependent culture seems inevitable, people need a place to go where they can get back to what’s real. It’s for our own health and sanity! Now there will be no more “I won’t have access to email.” People will expect they can reach us 24/7. Americans already don’t take enough vacation as it is. People need to learn to relax, or we are going to internally combust.
July 7th, 2008 at 7:19 am (#)
Thanks, Mungo and Jessica.
I guess I do a poor job of playing devil’s advocate; I’m personally with you two. I’ve always appreciated the value of being Away, period. It really is okay to be safely and sensibly unreachable at times.
Additionally, if my memories give any testimony, I’ve found that the best ‘nature moments’ and wildlife sightings last only seconds. And that’s when I’m seeking them out. So many of those would be missed if I were reviewing email or checking to see how many bars my cell phone had…