For the purpose of a philosophical examination, I present two different types of campers I encountered a couple of years ago in a State campground near the Flambeau river. My description of the two groups is NOT an exaggeration. (Or not much of one)
Camper group A brought an unmuffled dirt bike, fireworks, an amplified stereo system playing AC/DC, a generator, lots of alcohol, and a chain saw(!) to the campsite. Activities included whooping spontaneously, laughing, cutting up wood dragged from the forest, tuning (apparently unsuccessfully) and racing a dirt bike up and down the road, making and using electricity with a generator, shooting off fireworks.
Camper group B had several tents, a campfire, lots of alcohol, canoes for the next day's trip, food to grill over the fire. Activities consisted of sitting around the fire tellling stories, listening (when possible) to the sounds of the woods, laughing at times, perhaps a little too loudly, becoming intoxicated, making plans for the next day's trip.
Both groups are "using" the Northwoods. And both group's "use" is based on a view of what the northwoods is for. So here is my philosophical question: Why is one set of uses "OK" for the Northwoods, and another is not?
I am not talking here about campground rules. (though perhaps I want to look at the philosophy behind those rules). Instead, I want to see if we can say, on a philosophical level, whether it is "better" to see (and use) Northern Wisconsin in one kind of way than another.
More to follow...
