Toivo,

I am puzzled as to why you edited my message out of yesterday's post. I think we all need to spread the word on keeping the snowmobile trails alcohol free and safe. Every other news headline about a snowmobile crash or death in the U.P. is 1.) Alcohol related and 2.) Involving someone from downstate or out of state. So yesterday, we have some guy from Illinois post a pic and/or link on the site showing a snowmobiler fillin a flask with wine on the trail. This is bad. But not as bad as being "edited" off the site for commenting on it. Is communism making a come back?

CCCR--- If you read Toivo's response, he is simply asking that one uses tact in spreading that message. If you attack a person, you put them in a ''fight or flight'' mode. Often times this leads to controversial comments and unnecessary name calling. Yes keeping the trail(s) safe is key. But simply because one shows a flask being filled does not mean that the substance was not used responsibly. Innocent until proven guilty, right? We are still in America. We can only assume that all involved maintained a BAC of .08 or less. How can we assume anything other than that? At the same time-- I prefer to keep the discussions uncontroversial as they typically are on this wonderful web page. And with that I will get off my soapbox. I hope I have not offended anyone in this wonderful group. I apologize in advance if i have done so, but I do like to think outside the box once in a while.

Michele

Well Said! Thank you for your comment!

Michele:
Ditto! Well said!

CCCR: I'm with you on the "selective editing" by the Pasty.net folks. About the alcohol, though, I think it's a good thing for the sledders to get all liquored up and go speeding around the trails. Mercy Ambulance is just one more local business that deserves to profit from the snowmobile tourism trade . . .

WELL SAID MICHELLE

"Selective editing" as it is described wouldn't be necessary if everyone would express their views in an appropriate, non-inflammatory manner. Unfortunately, not everyone seems to know how to do this. Personally, I think the folks at Pasty-cam do a wonderful job of managing this site and making it a pleasant experience for all of us who frequent it. If we all would act maturely and responsibly there would be no need to make any edits at all…

Wow, CK, that's mean! (No offense meant, read it with a twinkle)

Don't be so hard on CCCR, though. I've read her post and didn't find it offensive, and she's right about the alcohol.
Also, CCCR seems to think that censorship is a phenomenon exclusive to communism - hm. You don't really think so, do you?

Though I must admit that with CK's way, there'd be less traffic in the woods after a while ...not that I mind snowmobiles in general, but they're noisy.

Although Michelle puts it well, in line with what she says, if one is not able to give the anonymous other every benefit of even the heaviest doubt, one better keep out of the internet and confine oneself to direct personal conversation. As much as I like these postings, just the typed word is not the best way to communicate among strangers. So, keep calm.

A little while ago Toivo put in a comment about the discussions on this site that I found to be offensive - so what?

I had myself some posts removed I thought of as critical but not offensive (so, somebody obviously took offense;-), but then, even though I occasionally disagree with the editors, I keep coming to this site mostly for the pics. And as to that, they're doing a great job.

On second thought, maybe this way there'll be a comeback for the long lost art of letter-writing - so keep it coming!

Here's to rauhala:
As far as I can say, Pat Mikesch is doing pretty good. Was with the Kassel huskies, now with the düsseldorf metro stars, who were recently the least in their league - oops!
Seems to have had some injury-trouble in the last seaso, but is up and running again. I'm lacking the proper vocabulary, but I was left with the impression that he is among the best and most aggressive players on his position in the game in germany - for whatever it's worth.
Sorry, but being no hockey-man myself, that's about it.
Last update I found: 10/18/03
Saison 03/04
games 35
goals 12
assist 17
penalties 42

I agree with both Michelle and CK. They are both, in their own way, talking about moderation. It's the key to so much. I can appreciate CK's satiric comment, but agree that it might be difficult reading for someone who caused an accident, or lost someone because of one. It isn't just alcohol! Speeding on the trails is irresponsible as well, even stone sober!

I whole heartedly agree about tastefulness in posting. As I stated in the first regarding the Naperville gent's photos, I apologize in advance for anything that may struck a painful chord in any aspect of sledding or driving for that matter. And I say that because it took a number of years for me not to lash out when I was passionate about something. However, I personally found out that whenever I made a quick decision about some one I was wrong. So I try to look at all sides.

Now enuough said about that. I was fortunate enough to take a ride today to beautiful Eagle River and see the deer yarding up. It was both breath taking and fascinating to see all those deer just stop and look at you -- not caring if you're 10 feet from them. It is a wonderful gift given to us to have such natural amazement so close to us. I find it an essential tool in coping with long winters, and in relaxing. Life around us goes so fast, I often try to make my ''off time'' go slower! Try it-- tis wonderful medicine!

Amen, Michelle!

To whoever: thanks for fixing the pastycam archives, but it's not totally fixed. Jan and Feb 04 are now coming up, but Dec 03 still comes up w November's pictures.

Well, I'm glad folks found my "mean" comment to be satirical, as it was meant to be. Of course, I agree that it's possible to act irresponsibly on a sled while stone sober, or to be completely responsible and safe while "liquored up."

I do understand where CCCR is coming from, though. As an FYI, for those who don't live here regularly and read the local newspaper, we see stories almost daily about someone driving their sled headlong into a tree in broad daylight or, even worse, crashing into someone else at high speed. For a while there, the local casualty count was higher than that in Iraq.

We just want the sledders to be safe out there, enjoy themselves, and come back next year!

Do you what what they call motorcycle riders in the E R ? D O N E R S

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