Bushwalk Australia

I was just having a look at some information about the West Coast of Tasmania when I came across this website http://www.4wdaction.com.au/takeaction
The way in which this is written to incite anger against anyone who wants to protect our country is quite offensive. As is the use of the Australian flag to promote their cause, which to me is very reminiscent of the Cronulla riots. I have often had arguments with bogans who accuse me of ruining their country because I enjoy bushwalking, assume I am a 'greeny' and therefore blame me for everything.

It's probably like asking if hikers are all over-educated lefties(in the interests of self disclosure, I'll put my hand up here). It's a stereotype. Admittedly one that is easy to propagate for both 4WDers and hikers. At least in my experience. It would be nice if we could have a planet for intelligent people and another planet, within easy telescope viewing, for people like Roothy. We could watch them turn it into a desert (until planet wide smog obscures them from view), which would be all right because it's their "birthright." This all being said, he seems like a complete nutjob.

Well I hope they are not all bogans because I am one, however I am not a hard core 4WD'r. I think 4wd action has a bit of a campaign on about track closures at the moment but I am sure it does not represent the views of all 4w drivers.

Good on Roothy for revealing the real agenda of the national park bashing hard core 4WDrive lobby. Responsible 4WDrivers should have nothing to do with this jerk.

I don't have a problem with 4wders. They've got rights and there are areas they have traditional access to, with well established tracks/routes. Unless those areas need to specifically be regulated to protect rare environs (ie: beaches that have endangered birdlife) then they can go for it as long as they don't wreck the place for everyone else, tidy up after themselves, and generally show a level of respect for the amazing country we all live in. Same with fishers, hunters, motorcross riders, mountainbikers etc. Access issues exist for all lovers of the outdoors.

It's the idiots who don't give a toss, who's ultimate aim is to destroy, and have their fun at the expense of others - they are the problem. They exist in all sub-cultures.

If I was a 4wder and was being shut out of areas when I'm not doing the wrong thing, and for arbitrary reasons, I'd be upset too.

Disclosure: I'm not a 4wder or a hard-leftist greeny.

Bogans are my favourite kind of people.

Hi

I for once find myself in agreement with Ollster. Sure there are a few rabbits but that claim can be applied to both sides.

The simple fact is more and more of this state is becoming protected under some form and often traditional actives are not consulted so feel and act marginalized.

As for language. Australia last time I looked claimed to be a democracy so providing I do not see lynch mobs heading into Parks offices it is rallying words.

In fact labeling people as bogans is exactly the same tactic. History has shown often the worse crimes are committed using the language of moderation. Final solution, ethnic cleansing, collateral damage, etc.

For the record I have never owned a 4wd. And have tackled a few personally when seen stupid things but fortunately the idiots are rare but sadly out there.

Son of a Beach wrote:Bogans are my favourite kind of people.

They certainly are delicious. Is that what you meant?

Not quite what I had in mind.

No, not all of them, but if they have RUMPIG number plates, buffalo horns on the bullbar and/or the drivers have southern cross tattoos they probably are.

when i was very young I supported collingwood, my last 4 cars have been subarus. While I am cured of my early affliction, my subarus are all wheel drive..where does this leave me?
(full disclosure- I have a couple of AC/DC albums on my iPod too)

Ahhhh Doogs..... I enjoy a bit of 4WD-ing and admit to having a bit of bogan in me

Like all things there's good and bad, my limited understanding of the issue is that the majority of people are OK with the track closures up there but some are not and look at the issue as a threat to their heritage and therefore try to play the freedom card like we saw in Smithton. "Greens are taking away my freedoms...etc etc"

I believe it's a land management issue and needs to be treated as such but people have many different ways of looking at this so PWS need to do some people management in order to get some land management happening. On my recent trip there I saw both sides of the story, a 15-16 y.o. tearing up campgrounds and the beach(police came to town and booked him) and some other blokes who were just doing a spot of beach fishing, they were driving very respectfully and sensibly.

Unfortunately even 'responsible' 4WDers are forced to create new tracks because the old one is stuffed, much like bushwalkers dodging mud and causing braiding, result being increased damage. A lot of the tracks being shut are actually double ups or were created to prevent a 400m walk up the coast from the next closest track....they'll just have to carry their esky a little further, awwww. The only place they are being "locked out" of is Pieman Heads, they still will have access to Sandy Cape and the coast north of that.

I am just a little shocked at this guys webpage, I am sure more 4wders will think he is a prat than agree with him. Why whinge about tracks in the Arthur Pieman Conservation Areas closing when it is a conservation area and there are still tracks open there!!
Maybe they could start using the old forestry roads as they become unused by FT and keep them clear for we bushwalking folk

blacksheep wrote:when i was very young I supported collingwood, my last 4 cars have been subarus. While I am cured of my early affliction, my subarus are all wheel drive..where does this leave me?
(full disclosure- I have a couple of AC/DC albums on my iPod too)

You are obviously not cured as noone would admit to that!!

doogs wrote:I am just a little shocked at this guys webpage

What guy? You mean 4WD Action magazine?

I am happy to admit I have a 4wd.

I am also happy that the Parks are closing tracks. I have walked into areas and witnessed the damage caused by the 10% of 4wders who don't give a toss about the environment or anything really apart from their 'right' to ride roughshod over anything in their path be it on the track or off.

For the record, we get 10-11L/100km out of the 'truck' unless we need to hit low range. It is not a daily driver as it is an inappropriate vehicle to be mixing in suburban traffic and pedestrians. Most of it's kms are on outback trips, and yes it has a bullbar which, in terms of outback survival is a necessity IMO: You simply cannot go far without a working radiator, and in the outback that spells big trouble.

Strider wrote:

doogs wrote:I am just a little shocked at this guys webpage

What guy? You mean 4WD Action magazine?

click on the link at the top ^

Well, I'd probably qualify as a 4WDer, although I don't do a great deal of off-roading. But I don't take Huff where he's not supposed to go, either.
It's the not-so-silent minority giving the rest a bad name.

(Except the so-and-so who rear-ended me on Tuesday morning. There aren't enough insults in the world for that %*#^$&)

north-north-west wrote:Well, I'd probably qualify as a 4WDer, although I don't do a great deal of off-roading. But I don't take Huff where he's not supposed to go, either.
It's the not-so-silent minority giving the rest a bad name.

+1 on that

And in answer to the original question - no, we're not all bogans.

I think that they seem to be a majority because they are loud, obnoxious and offensive. Quite the opposite to ethical 4WDers.
But in actual fact there are more ethical users than the one you have brought to our attention.
Being a member of ExplorOz I have had the pleasure of making the acquaintance of many of the good ones but there are still a few less sensitive ones.
Many years ago, as part of a Rover 4WD club, we would spend some of our trips raising awareness of environmentally ethical park use and most of the people we spoke to were very responsive.

phan_TOM wrote: the drivers have southern cross tattoos they probably are.

I had a southern cross sticker on my 4wd
(on my old subaru i had a sporting shooters association sticker... much safer than stickers advertising what is inside and Much better than anything even vaguely 'green'... ).

phan_TOM wrote:No, not all of them, but if they have RUMPIG number plates, buffalo horns on the bullbar and/or the drivers have southern cross tattoos they probably are.

The "Australian swastika" strikes again

Nuts wrote: I had a southern cross sticker on my 4wd
(on my old subaru i had a sporting shooters association sticker... much safer than stickers advertising what is inside and Much better than anything even vaguely 'green'... ).

What is your suggestion with this latter part of your comment?

I'm not sure what you mean? I gave one suggestion..?? (or are you concerned that I might be a bogan? )

Nuts wrote:I'm not sure what you mean? I gave one suggestion..?? (or are you concerned that I might be a bogan? )

I'm referring to the latter, underlined, section that I quoted.

Yes, i get that...??

I was simply wondering what was being implied by "Much better than anything even vaguely 'green.'" Just confused about your statement, that's all.

Kinsayder wrote:I was simply wondering what was being implied by "Much better than anything even vaguely 'green.'" Just confused about your statement, that's all.

I thought he meant less likely to get said car torched if he finds himself in the wrong (right?) company.

Anyway, the only good car sticker is a National Parks Pass.

Ahh, right.. it relates to the rest of the comment:

each to their own, i'm not really a sticker person but i guess my suggestion (some of my best friends were bogans) is perhaps its best to think locally before plastering the rear window with every environmental cause.. Afterall.. thinking like a bogan now.. given the choice..would you steal or vandalise a car with SSAA stickers or one belonging to a some 'soft $%#@ greenie'? ; )

Kinsayder wrote:I was simply wondering what was being implied by "Much better than anything even vaguely 'green.'" Just confused about your statement, that's all.

"Greenies" tend to attract unwanted attention from disagreeing members of the general public.

There's a bit of a difference between bogans and rednecks. Doogs could have put a bit more thought into the topic title
One of my best mates is a mega bogan, but is also a Green voter.... you'll never find a redneck voting Greens.

I've deliberatly avoided bumper stickers because of the whole, hope my car isn't torched while I walk thing....