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National Park Service Says Tech Is Enabling Stupidity

Posted by samzenpus on from the you-got-yourself-into-this-mess-now-get-yourself-out dept.

theodp writes "The National Park Service is finding technology to be a double-edged sword. While new technologies can and do save lives, the NPS is also finding that unseasoned hikers and campers are now boldly going where they never would have gone before, counting on cellphones, GPS, and SPOT devices to bail them out if they get into trouble. Last fall, a group of hikers in the Grand Canyon called in rescue helicopters three times by pressing the emergency button on their satellite location device. When rangers arrived the second time, the hikers complained that their water supply tasted salty. 'Because of having that electronic device, people have an expectation that they can do something stupid and be rescued,' said a spokeswoman for Grand Teton National Park. 'Every once in a while we get a call from someone who has gone to the top of a peak, the weather has turned and they are confused about how to get down and they want someone to personally escort them. The answer is that you are up there for the night.'"

4 of 635 comments (clear)

  1. Help! by smitty777 · · Score: 4, Funny

    I was going to write a clever response to this article, but I'm having too much trouble finding the Slashdot automatic clever response generator. Can you guys send over someone from tech support to help me?

    --
    "Before God we are all equally wise - and equally foolish"
    Albert Einstein
    1. Re:Help! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      I got here as fast as I could and—oh, that's the problem? You're clearly in over your head, buddy. This service is intended for real emergencies only. Nevertheless, try "Technology isn't teh problem, it's stupid people that are the problem. I live in a mountainous area and etc, etc..." Make something up or really stretch the truth, but just be sure the anecdote emphasizes someone's stupidity from your clearly superior vantage point.

  2. Re:Same problem as always. by JohnFluxx · · Score: 4, Funny

    Hmm, how does that joke go? You can tell the difference between brown bears from grizzly bears because a grizzly bear's poo has whistles in it..

  3. Re:Charge for support by tverbeek · · Score: 5, Funny

    What the fuck is wrong with you?

    He probably can't afford to have that diagnosed.

    --
    http://alternatives.rzero.com/