3 ms·

That's a bit uncharitable towards Americans. Yes, it's a very car-centric society in most places, but they also have a very strong outdoor/hiking/camping cultur

by prawn 3y ago

That's a bit uncharitable towards Americans. Yes, it's a very car-centric society in most places, but they also have a very strong outdoor/hiking/camping culture.

shiroiuma 3y ago
It's not uncharitable. Yes, some Americans really are serious hikers, but the idea that this is common among Americans is fantasy. Most Americans don't hike at all and couldn't hike a mile in mountainous terrain because they're too fat or otherwise out-of-shape. Meanwhile, some others are mega-hikers who can hike rim-to-rim and back in the Grand Canyon in a day. It's the same way with American cyclists: most can't ride a bike much at all, while the ones who can are frequently close to pro-level. America is a land of extremes, but with an obesity rate of well over 50%, it is not a place where normal, everyday people are serious hikers.
- bigstrat2003 3y ago
  > Most Americans don't hike at all and couldn't hike a mile in mountainous terrain because they're too fat or otherwise out-of-shape. You obviously know very little about America. First of all, most Americans aren't so fat they can't walk around. Second, I'm really fat (far more than average) and even I can hike a mile in mountainous terrain. Not only can I, I have and will again. It's taxing (which it shouldn't be), but it's quite manageable. Walking a mile isn't that much in the grand scheme of things. So yeah, not only is it uncharitable, your attempt to defend it shows your own ignorance both of Americans and of what level of activity is possible even for those who are overweight. Bad show, sir.
  - shiroiuma 3y ago
    Ignorance of Americans? I am American! I know my home country all too well. The stats don't lie: more than half of Americans aren't just overweight, they're obese. "Can't walk a mile" isn't meant to be taken literally; of course an obese person can struggle to hike a mile, but I guess I should always count on autistic HN users to take everything literally.
    - SamoyedFurFluff 3y ago
      Wait how are people meant to interpret sweeping, quantitative statements on American capacity for exercise in the context of criticizing the reporting of a disabled man now able to walk, unaided, a moderate distance?

by prawn 3y ago

That's a bit uncharitable towards Americans. Yes, it's a very car-centric society in most places, but they also have a very strong outdoor/hiking/camping culture.

shiroiuma 3y ago

It's not uncharitable. Yes, some Americans really are serious hikers, but the idea that this is common among Americans is fantasy. Most Americans don't hike at all and couldn't hike a mile in mountainous terrain because they're too fat or otherwise out-of-shape. Meanwhile, some others are mega-hikers who can hike rim-to-rim and back in the Grand Canyon in a day. It's the same way with American cyclists: most can't ride a bike much at all, while the ones who can are frequently close to pro-level. America is a land of extremes, but with an obesity rate of well over 50%, it is not a place where normal, everyday people are serious hikers.

bigstrat2003 3y ago
> Most Americans don't hike at all and couldn't hike a mile in mountainous terrain because they're too fat or otherwise out-of-shape. You obviously know very little about America. First of all, most Americans aren't so fat they can't walk around. Second, I'm really fat (far more than average) and even I can hike a mile in mountainous terrain. Not only can I, I have and will again. It's taxing (which it shouldn't be), but it's quite manageable. Walking a mile isn't that much in the grand scheme of things. So yeah, not only is it uncharitable, your attempt to defend it shows your own ignorance both of Americans and of what level of activity is possible even for those who are overweight. Bad show, sir.
- shiroiuma 3y ago
  Ignorance of Americans? I am American! I know my home country all too well. The stats don't lie: more than half of Americans aren't just overweight, they're obese. "Can't walk a mile" isn't meant to be taken literally; of course an obese person can struggle to hike a mile, but I guess I should always count on autistic HN users to take everything literally.
  - SamoyedFurFluff 3y ago
    Wait how are people meant to interpret sweeping, quantitative statements on American capacity for exercise in the context of criticizing the reporting of a disabled man now able to walk, unaided, a moderate distance?