A Better Class of Person

[myxpyr]

Home after a few days in the Cairngorms and I'm still suffering withdrawal symptoms.Took the missus shopping today to a mall we don't normally use as we both find it somewhat "eeuuugh". It is a precinct that, apart from Morrisons, is occupied by outlets selling tacky lower end of market goods. Returning to the car park one is forced to run the gauntlet of those desperate for a fix of nicotine as they congregate just outside the exit. Many of them - I'm reliably informed - are unemployed benefit claimants(yet they can afford ciggies and taxis to take them home after stocking up on all manner of junk food)I cannot deny that there is a tangible contrast with the sort of people you meet in the hills with whom it's a pleasure to have a chat with and share a common interest.If this all sounds rather elitist I have no problem with it

[BuzyG]

Well I certainly agree with your last sentence.  Much of life is down to opportunity.  Yes we make of it what we can and some put in more effort than others. But mainly I personally believe it is down to opportunity. 


Think yourself lucky, rather than Elite.

[myxpyr]

Well I certainly agree with your last sentence.  Much of life is down to opportunity.  Yes we make of it what we can and some put in more effort than others. But mainly I personally believe it is down to opportunity. 


Think yourself lucky, rather than Elite.

Indeed. Many seem unwilling to see or seek what is beyond their horizons. I know of one person who, years ago, was heavily into drugs. His girlfriend gave him the heave ho and he headed, for some reason, from Essex to the hills. He saw the light, turned his life around and now runs a successful enterprise based on outdoor life.

[GnP]

Well I certainly agree with your last sentence.  Much of life is down to opportunity.  Yes we make of it what we can and some put in more effort than others. But mainly I personally believe it is down to opportunity. 


Think yourself lucky, rather than Elite.

I believe it is down to genes to a large extent, which have been heavily programmed from experiences centuries before..... It sometimes appears easy to turn one`s life around but I do not agree.I agree that out walking there is a real friendliness to many encounters....

Yesterday I did a quick 4 mile walk around an area called Hopwood and its canal..I came across a huge group of teens sprawled across the only steps down on the towpath...My first reaction was to tense up. I was just about to say excuse me when one of them saw me and told his friend, who promptly moved his ruck sack to one side....I thanked him & smiled. As I walked on one of them shouted have a good day.! I waved my arm in recogntion as I walked away

I have heard it said that teens often group together for a sense of safety because even with all their bravado they are still finding there way in the world and at times they can feel a tad lost. I always remember that, & try to engage them even if its quick hello...I then came across three on bikes hurtling along the towpath towrds me....they slowed and looked morose...I smiled at one and said hi to another...the last inline mumbled said hi in teen speak...  ...

I am not knocking teens as I think on the whole they can have a difficult pathway in life when first starting out..

[tonyk]

Home after a few days in the Cairngorms and I'm still suffering withdrawal symptoms.Took the missus shopping today to a mall we don't normally use as we both find it somewhat "eeuuugh". It is a precinct that, apart from Morrisons, is occupied by outlets selling tacky lower end of market goods. Returning to the car park one is forced to run the gauntlet of those desperate for a fix of nicotine as they congregate just outside the exit. Many of them - I'm reliably informed - are unemployed benefit claimants(yet they can afford ciggies and taxis to take them home after stocking up on all manner of junk food)I cannot deny that there is a tangible contrast with the sort of people you meet in the hills with whom it's a pleasure to have a chat with and share a common interest.If this all sounds rather elitist I have no problem with it

I think you are trying to say that you have just returned to reality.Its often a shock seeing things as they really are.

[Jac]

There, but for the grace of................................

There are probably some who look at me and think similar. It's all relative to our own self image.

[jimbob]

Its not the folks outside Morrisins spending their few pounds , as they freely choose, on fags etc. that should worry you, at least a high percentage of their spending comes back to us as taxes ( Vat , tobacco and alcohol duty), it is the tax avoiding mega rich charlatans that should worry you more. The Panama Papers showed exactly the types who you should be frightened of. BWW often speaks of the type. As an example Rees Mogg , named in those papers, moves his HQ to Dublin as soon as the referendum was over, hides his company income in an overseas tax haven, has made millions out of gambling on the value of the pound according to the press, and can do so because of insider information. There are so many others out there fleecing us on the  right , left and centre. If it was up them, them you would be back working 50 hour weeks, health care would be privitised, and the moors and hiils you so love shut off to all but their grouse murdering buddies.

But I suppose you may see these as a better type of person.
(Should this be on the rant page then please moderator, put it there)

[gunwharfman]

You have written a comment to make one think Myxpyr, for me you offer something of real substance to ponder on.   

But I was struck by some of the words you have used, 'a mall we don't normally use as we both find it somewhat "eeuuugh," (What does 'eeuugh' mean?) 'apart from Morrisons, is occupied by outlets selling tacky lower end of market goods,' (Where I reside one would be looked down upon for going into Morrisons, its Waitrose, or you are a nobody!) For the record I shop at Tesco's. Then 'one is forced to run the gauntlet (run the gauntlet???) of those desperate for a fix of nicotine,' (you have to run the gauntlet because they smoke?) and hells bells, they also 'congregate,' (congregate, are they dangerous???) 'Many of them,' (How many?) 'I'm reliably informed,' (Who reliably informed you?) 'are unemployed benefit claimants,' (do they offend you because they exist?) 'yet they can afford ciggies and taxis,' (How do you know that they can afford ciggies and taxis, they may be up to their necks in debt?)  'junk food' (whats wrong with junk food, what is Junk food anyway?) and after all that stereotyping (which I think it is) you write 'a tangible contrast with the sort of people you meet in the hills' (some might say we hikers are just a bunch of saddo's who keep running away from real life or haven't got a real life?) 'a pleasure to have a chat with.' (Can't argue with that, but some unemployed smokers are also 'a pleasure to have a chat with' in my experience!) 'Elitist?' Dare I suggest that that you are a Daily Express, Daily Mail or even Daily Telegraph reader, (just me steroetyping) just can't believe you would buy the Guardian, Independent, or even the Socialist Worker, likes what I does sometimes. 

Thanks for the entry, a good one!

[GnP]

Home after a few days in the Cairngorms and I'm still suffering withdrawal symptoms.Took the missus shopping today to a mall we don't normally use as we both find it somewhat "eeuuugh". It is a precinct that, apart from Morrisons, is occupied by outlets selling tacky lower end of market goods. Returning to the car park one is forced to run the gauntlet of those desperate for a fix of nicotine as they congregate just outside the exit. Many of them - I'm reliably informed - are unemployed benefit claimants(yet they can afford ciggies and taxis to take them home after stocking up on all manner of junk food)I cannot deny that there is a tangible contrast with the sort of people you meet in the hills with whom it's a pleasure to have a chat with and share a common interest.If this all sounds rather elitist I have no problem with it

How dare you voice an opinion about our culture...it`s just not politically correct

[April]

unemployed benefit claimants(yet they can afford ciggies and taxis to take them home after stocking up on all manner of junk food)I cannot deny that there is a tangible contrast with the sort of people you meet in the hills with whom it's a pleasure to have a chat with and share a common interest.If this all sounds rather elitist I have no problem with it

I am sure your thoughts on the unemployed and your feelings of superiority will come as a huge comfort to those who have just lost their jobs or have been unfortunate to be unemployed for a while. I know a few people from a supermarket who have worked there for over 20 years, have just been made redundant, some may smoke and/or eat junk food. I doubt they will be able to afford taxis!! I know walkers who smoke and eat junk food so I'm a bit puzzled that you think walkers don't smoke and only eat healthy food 

I agree with most of what Gunwharfman has said, except for his last sentence. IMO your post is not very nice; it is coming across as flaming or trolling and really doesn't have that much to do with walking.

Incidentally, we meet mostly nice people out walking but there are a few total [censored] about too.

[jimbob]

Incidentally, we meet mostly nice people out walking but there are a few total [censored] about too.

Aye, and you have not even met me or the OP yet, we may add to the number in your second category, or not.......... 

[beefy]

Aye, and you have not even met me or the OP yet, we may add to the number in your second category, or not.......... 

[MarkT]

The day I reached the summit of Scafell Pike, I was unemployed and I enjoyed a cigarette at the top. I even bought my sandwich's from Morrisons earlier in the day. Sorry if that offends you, but tbh I wouldn't want to chat with people like you who judge people like me. Glad we didn't meet at the top.


Why do people post such stupid and rude posts. A welsh man posted once about people with stubble, looking scruffy.....another inconsiderate and totally incorrect opinion of people.


When I'm in the hills or even just doing a local walk, I never judge. Who am I to judge? But obviously some people think they are better than others. Are you an Elitist....no.....Idiot.....Yes.


Are you man enough to apologise.....Probably not because that's beneath you I guess.

[jimbob]

Are you an Elitist....no.....Idiot.....Yes.
Are you man enough to apologise.....Probably not because that's beneath you I guess.

  Not sure if he is an idiot, more likely a.    s#! £ stirrer.

[myxpyr]

If I have touched any nerves with my comments then I apologise. I accept that some people are not out of work by choice but then there are those for whom it is a lifestyle decision. It is they I abhor.I too have been unemployed involuntarily.