Hello Erik,
Pat O sent you this message from Southern California
Backpacking Cooperative on Meetup.com:
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Hello Erik,
I have your request to join pending, your answers are fine,
that’s all I’m looking for - people who like to backpack BUT
I’m also trying to foster a group that shows some level
seriousness about it. If you are willing to change your picture
you’re in. If not, well, I pay the Meetup bill and I’m the one
that arbitrarily decides. Your choice now. I will check back
every few days and will decline you in 1 week if no change. I
think you can have separate pictures for different groups.
Pat O
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My reply:
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Pat O,
Thanks for the offer, but no thanks. I am a goofy guy, and if
I’m going backpacking I want to be out there with people who
will cheer me on for being me.
Erik
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What a bastard! (him, not you ;-) Way to hold your ground. The nerve some people have…
I’m curious — what would his response have been if you did change the picture, but took exactly the same shot with you wearing a backpack? Would that show your “seriousness” about backpacking?
I’m with Tim. This could be a hilarious little exchange if you kept trying to change the photo just enough to meet the letter of his law but while still keeping the Me in the shot.
Go Erik. Go Erik.
and…what the eff do ’serious’ backpackers do, exactly? ‘we will be leading this hike with NO SMILING WHATSOEVER. if anyone, and i mean ANYONE, points out a cute bunny, they will be summarily executed on the spot. backpacking is about seriousness, not fun. fun is for communists.’
most of the backpackers i’ve known, myself included, were pretty damn goofy. i made up a song about a moose climbing mount everest once. if Pat knew about my existence, well…i shudder to think..
kudos to you for your reply, tho.
I say you find out when they’re going hiking and mess with their minds a bit…
huzzah
ha ha… this is great. Absolutely made my day. Just a thought though, can you take the same picture with a pipe? That would totally make you look serious. Also, furrow your brow, and clutch a DVD copy of the classic “Cliffhanger” starring Sylvester Stallone. This should up your “hiker cred” immensely.
Getting into a recreational backpacking society is a tricky business, and I’d hate to see you blow this on the photo qualification round. Best of luck to you.
BTW…I found a quite risque picture of Pat O. himself right here:
http://photos3.meetupstatic.com/photos/member/2/6/1/0/highres_849744.jpeg
Damn Freemasons. Oh, well. Better luck next time.
Good stuff. Whatever happened to the date on your postings? Anyway, I’d backpack with you half-naked and wearing goggles ANY day.
thank god you found out what a jerk this guy was BEFORE you went into the woods with him!
he’s probably jealous because he wouldn’t look nearly as cool as you do shirtless and goggled.