What Happens on the River stays on the River

[FOTG]

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. — APNewsBreak: Report charts history of abuse at Grand Canyon

http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/apnews ... li=BBnb7Kz

[sirena]

I think your emoticon is in very poor taste. The article states:

A new report by a federal watchdog outlines a history of harassment on river trips through Grand Canyon National Park in which male park employees allegedly propositioned female colleagues for sex, touched them inappropriately and made lewd comments.

[joebartels]

agree, removed

[azbackpackr]

What I think is going to happen with the general public regarding this issue is they are not going to understand these were Park Service work trips with Park Service employees on Park Service boats. Most people already don't understand the difference between commercial and private boaters, and now you're adding another layer of boaters. Most people don't even realize there is a river running through Grand Canyon. The ones that do either think it is one big long scary rapid, or they ask me if there are any rapids. So, as a tour guide, I'll be getting questions about this by people who didn't understand anything about the issue. And it could affect business, Sirena. And we are going into a recession. Gee, thanks, Feds, for bringing out this report to the national news right now. (Most people involved on the river knew about the allegations years ago.)

[chumley]

I don't see how an emoticon is in poor taste but not the entire thread title.

What Happens in Vegas, Stays in Vegas is a world-renowned tagline that clearly, blatantly, and unabashedly promotes indulgence and the "freedom" to do whatever you want with no consequences.

But that winky face ... that's in poor taste!?

[FOTG]

@chumley
@sirena

Thank you! The emoticon was more an attempt at dark sarcasm, as if to say, "wow I can believe that this was a policy that was unofficially adopted within a federal agency?!" It was more of an indictment on those involved and their adoption of the notorious Vegas tagline, not to show some sick support of sexual abuse or make light of the matter. I think that most who know me beyond a screen name will attest to the fact that I generally am not a big proponent of sexual abuse...

Perhaps some better emoticons I could have used :roll: :yuck:

[chumley]

On the actual allegations, I'm not so sure that this kind of behavior is limited to river trips. Over the past few years I've gotten a glimpse of life for NPS employees (and those that work for the concessionaires, etc.) and there's certainly a not-insignificant portion of the population that lives every day as if they were on a Vegas vacation.

Admittedly, I don't have nearly as much experience with it as those who have lived and worked in National Parks (there are 2 or 3 on HAZ who can offer firsthand observations) but my impression is that this kind of "culture" isn't entirely unheard of throughout the NPS system.

In the populated areas where most people live and work there is also law enforcement, and that likely helps mitigate issues of abuse, but not on the river. I wonder if this kind of thing happens in remote areas of other parks ... on backcountry trips or remote research stations, High Sierra Camps, etc.

[Hippy]

@chumley you have NO idea...but in certain situations its still inappropriate to grope your hot coworkers...

[rwstorm]

I'm biting my tongue real hard right now. :roll: