Lake walkers too 'middle-class'
Discussion
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/cumbria/4144717.stm
Does anyone else feel like a rousing chorus of "They Can
Off!" when faced with utter shite like this?
If less people from ethnic minorities want to go walking then why should there be efforts to get them to do it! What's the point? Anyone who wants to go should be able to go. I don't think we need to specially encourage anyone!
But if authorities are laying on things for visitors why should these be available or unavailable to anyone on the grounds of race, sex, or creed or "class".
Bollocks.
bbcwebsite said:
Lake walkers too 'middle-class'
Free, guided treks through Cumbrian beauty spots are facing the axe because they are not attracting people from all walks of life, it is being claimed.
The Lake District National Park says its programme, run by more than 100 rangers, currently attracts "middle-aged, middle-class white people".
Managers want to spend the money they save on attracting ethnic minorities, disabled people and more children.
But the move has angered many volunteer rangers who give up their time to help.
Among activities facing the axe include walks, a magazine, informative talks and slide shows.
'Middle-aged people'
The national park's authority said it wanted to meet government targets to attract minorities, inner city children and disabled people.
More than 30,000 people take part in events every year, including 4,500 walks.
A spokesman for the authority, said: "Our research shows that the majority who do use the walks are white, middle-class, middle-aged people.
"The government is encouraging national parks to appeal to young people, to ethnic minorities and to people with disabilities.
"It is saying we ought to focus our activities on these kind of groups."
But voluntary ranger Derek Lyon hit out at the plans.
He said: "What are they going to do, bus in these people, or open an office in Manchester?
"Why do we at least not stick with a programme that we have prepared and which we can run at no additional expense?"
Does anyone else feel like a rousing chorus of "They Can
Off!" when faced with utter shite like this? If less people from ethnic minorities want to go walking then why should there be efforts to get them to do it! What's the
point? Anyone who wants to go should be able to go. I don't think we need to specially encourage anyone! But if authorities are laying on things for visitors why should these be available or unavailable to anyone on the grounds of race, sex, or creed or "class".
Bollocks.
I'm quite happy to wander around the fells without being encumbered by sight or smell of ethnic or other minorities. Surely the hardy few of us who have the balls to climb up there in the first place ARE a minority?
Besides, where do you stop? There's already a 'tourist route' up to the top of Scafell Pike, do we have to have wheelchair lifts for the disabled blotting the landscape too?
The touristy bits of the Lakes (Windermere, Ambleside, Keswick etc) are already succumbing under the weight of holiday cottages, tat shops and extortionate car parking fees, surely DISSUADING people from going would be a better idea?
Sorry if I sound middle-class....
Ian
Besides, where do you stop? There's already a 'tourist route' up to the top of Scafell Pike, do we have to have wheelchair lifts for the disabled blotting the landscape too?
The touristy bits of the Lakes (Windermere, Ambleside, Keswick etc) are already succumbing under the weight of holiday cottages, tat shops and extortionate car parking fees, surely DISSUADING people from going would be a better idea?
Sorry if I sound middle-class....
Ian
BliarOut said:
Some things are the preserve of the white middle aged middle class. Leave them in peace you bunch of PC
My point was if its white middle-class, middle-aged people who want to go why
up something that appeals to them? I'm quite sure some middle-class, middle-aged people from all sorts of minorities go as well - and you don't need to do anything different to appeal to them.
Its the fact that they seem to think that something that appeals to a section of society should be got rid of and replaced with something that appeals to another that is so ridiculous - and arrogant.
And the FUNDAMENTAL appeal of the Lakes area is its natural beauty. You CAN'T change that. What do they want to do? Cover it in
amusement arcades so it appeals to inner city youngsters?! BOLLOCKS!
wedg1e said:
Sorry if I sound middle-class....
Ian
More tea and digestives anyone?!
Surely this sort of thing only propogates feelings of segregation and distrust, on both sides? Why close something down completely just because one 'group' of people tend to use it the most? What future for the WI and homemade horseradish I wonder...
Why can't the social engineers grasp that different things appeal to different people?
Why should a "minority" be encouraged to use a national park more than anyone else? What exactly do they propose to do to make it more appealing anyway?
I don't recall any complaints that the Notting Hill carnival is too "black" and that more effort should be made to attract white, middle class, middle aged people.
Why should a "minority" be encouraged to use a national park more than anyone else? What exactly do they propose to do to make it more appealing anyway?
I don't recall any complaints that the Notting Hill carnival is too "black" and that more effort should be made to attract white, middle class, middle aged people.
stumartin said:
What future for the WI and homemade horseradish I wonder...
And what futute for Chinatown, mosques, Brick Lane et al? Oh yes, they'll be fine.
I really hate this sort of thing. It might just happen that people of Asian, African, whatever background are not attracted to certain activities. So long as they're not excluded, what the hell is the problem?
lotuslad said:
I really hate this sort of thing. It might just happen that people of Asian, African, whatever background are not attracted to certain activities. So long as they're not excluded, what the hell is the problem?
Now you mention it, I have never seen a coloured person in Berghaus, Helly-Hansen, Brashers and a 50L rucky, setting map and compass or brewing-up on a Coleman at 2000 feet... 
lotuslad said:
So long as they're not excluded, what the hell is the problem?
Well exactly, a phrase that could be applied to so many aspects of the behemoth that has become of "racial equality" - seems to me that the "~ of opportunity" has been discarded from the end and forgotten these days.
If I were a provocative chap I'd say the same could be said of sexual equality too, but I'm not so I won't..
It could just be that white, middle class, middle aged sorts are a bit weird. Sorry, eccentric
If I moved to Africa and it was customary for the locals to navigate the local swamp of a sunday afternoon I wouldn't mind giving it a miss, but would not like to think that my not going would somehow prevent others enjoying the stroll. It's just ridiculous.
The most frustrating thing is that it's not minorities screaming about this sort of thing, it's the damned white, middle class people of Islington!
Wouldn't it be better to simply regard people as people? It seems a bit sinister to have park wardens taking notes on any ethnic minorities entering their territory, whatever the reason. The sooner we do away with this 'minority' bollox, the better.
If I moved to Africa and it was customary for the locals to navigate the local swamp of a sunday afternoon I wouldn't mind giving it a miss, but would not like to think that my not going would somehow prevent others enjoying the stroll. It's just ridiculous.
The most frustrating thing is that it's not minorities screaming about this sort of thing, it's the damned white, middle class people of Islington!
Wouldn't it be better to simply regard people as people? It seems a bit sinister to have park wardens taking notes on any ethnic minorities entering their territory, whatever the reason. The sooner we do away with this 'minority' bollox, the better.
anonymous said:
[redacted]
If the Government want to encourage disabled people, they can buy me one of these
I'll happily ponce about on a fell then
Ooops, forgot. Although I am disabled, since I'm white, middle class, working and paying taxes, won't be getting anything free anytime soon from New Labia...... Maybe time to become unemployed
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