OFFICIAL Kings Canyon Camp Swank Thread

[Not Afraid]

Originally Posted by Cadaverous Pallor

I'm reading a book called Here Comes Everybody, about how the Internet's social groupings have changed how groups work.

He details how hard it is to get people together to accomplish things, as we're well aware.

In one part he talks about how easy it is for 2 people to go see a movie, and how it gets harder the more people you add into the mix, due to the exponential math involved.



Hence, groups designate leaders, or committees, or a hierarchical structure, or something to make these sorts of things work. (The point of the book is that a lot of these problems disappear in Internet groups. It's when we venture into the real world that we get in trouble, isn't it?)

My point? Eh, don't really have one, was just reading and realized it fit in with this thread. The transactional rules are there. Either you obey them or you have nervous breakdown.

Exactly.

Being a professional events planner for almost 20 years has taught me that the "big group decision making process" accomplishes nothing, is frustrating, and does not foster excitement for the event and, in fact, it often alienates people. I MUCH prefer to work with a small planning committee, present the plan to the larger group and move on to accomplish the goal from there. That's the way I work in my professional life and that's the way I prefer to work in my non-professional event planning life.


I've already made a decision that, IF we have a camping event next year, I will either be involved in planning with a small group or I will not be involved at all. This process is too frustrating and maddening for me to take part in. While I love doing things as a group, I like to make solid plans and make them work. If that can't be accomplished with LoT events, I cannot, for my own sanity, be a part of them. I'm too busy to waste time spinning wheels.

[innerSpaceman]

What I don't get is why Laissez-Fairies don't just laiss? There's no need to get involved if you don't want to. Certainly not with anything other than the very small group of people you'd be preparing one single meal with.

We didn't even have to make the decision to do meal teams. It was something we liked from last year, and so it was a given without any decisions at all.


The decisions of where to go and when were a drag at times, and could not be made by a recommendation committee. We wanted to take into account the schedules of as many as possible, and so we conducted a vote. As it turned out, only two solid options of date and location were even presented, so the vote was as easy breezy as could be.


€uro was right that there really need nothing be done by those who want to do nuthin' but show up with your stuff. And the only plan needed is to arrange a single meal with 3 other people.


If other people want to plan what teams they are on, when to arrive, what stuff to make for dinner .... the fact that such discussion goes on in broad daylight where others can read it should not intimidate others into thinking there's too much planning for their tastes. Reading other people's plans is not planning.


Let's all relax. Laissez-faire means, in large part, let be what will be. So just let those who want to make plans make them. And those who don't want to simply should not.


There's no stress, no mess. It's all in the imagination. Now, stand back, 'cause I'm about to make some planning ...


Morrigoon: seeing as Mark may have dropped out (waaaaaa!), it's looking more and more like Rum Gone and Discovery Channel should join forces. The fates are looking kindly to this union ... look at it this way: Gemini Cricket and I were two people who did not witness the Morrigoon Melt-Down at last year's Swank Camp, so we have no prejudice.

And who could be more suited for a Big & Girthy Weenie Roast but me?!

[Morrigoon]

(and with any luck, Goonie won't be having her monthly visitor visit her on meal prep day )

[Disneyphile]

We'll add Midol to the First Aid kit and/or a sledgehammer to the tool kit, just in case.

[Sohrshah]

Originally Posted by Kevy Baby

Going to an SCA (or Adria) War is an amazing site. Literally hundreds of pavilion style encampments. It is not only the tents, but all the extras (furniture, etc) too.

At Pennsic, there are 14,000 people. the tent city stretched for more than a MILE....

[Not Afraid]

So.....what if we have an earthquake while we're up there? What if it snows? What if a bunch of snow melts and the river floods the whole canyon and we're trapped? What if the Scientologist decide that June 4th-10th is the dates for the Annual Scientology Camping Trip to Kings Canyon? What if Cindy starts her period and we don't have any tampons and the store is closed? What if I decide to start drinking? What if someone "falls" into the rushing river? What if we forget to pack clothes? What if I don't bring poop bags with me? What if the squirrels band together and attack? What if someone get bubonic plague from a squirrel bite? What if Al Qaeda flies a plane into Muir's Pulpit? What if there's an Alien Abduction? Who would they take? What if the country is placed in a state of marshal law? What if we only have white wine and we're serving red meat? What if our cell phones won't work (they won't). What if there's a power failure and all of the ice cream in the general store melts? What if we don't have exact change for the shower? What if Chris finds himself aroused by Kevy's Black Dick? What if it turns out that Kevy's black dick isn't really black but a darn purple? What if NirvanaMan stays sober the entire weekend? What if we get crabs? What if there's no toilet paper? What if there's an accident on the 5 and none of us can get there? What if the campsite has been turned into a development of luxury condos? What if a bear sh!ts in the communal kitchen? What if a tree falls in the forest and there's no one there to hear it?






(Thanks to Chris to his input and inspiration.)

[Disneyphile]

Four hours and no posts! OMG. We're running out of time, people!!!!

[Sohrshah]

I've been talking about sex on another thread. Sorry.

I could say something ridiculously stupid and llama drama-esque, but seeing as I think most of you still kind of like me, I'd rather keep it that way.

So all that said. I plan to show up with some food and some booze and have a swanking good time, even if just with myself.

[wendybeth]

Hmmmm......I wonder who the aliens would take.

[Bornieo: Fully Loaded]

Originally Posted by wendybeth

Hmmmm......I wonder who the aliens would take.

Not me, that's for sure.