Aside from Baldtaco's rant about folks - come now Mor's ain't no saint, but his books are respected - there are a few things that I agree in its premise.
First - the ultralighters, the bushcrafters, the hunters, the fishermen, the car campers, the overloaded base campers - they are all folks who have come to the wilds to enjoy it. The biggest difference is the type of activities they expect to engage in while out there.
Since all these folks enjoy different kinds of things, then it makes a whole lot of sense that they select different types of gear. Anyone in any of these categories has the fair right to snub their nose at overcomfident newbs trying to do what they are doing but with insufficient equipment or knowledge. Starting to look down their nose at other groups who may be equally experienced as them but have different gear choices suited to a different activity goal is rather silly.
Its not too uncommon on this forum for folks to claim that hiking without a gun is a silly thing to do. Except for when I'm hunting, I have never hiked with a gun. The circumstances under which I've hiked without a firearm were such that a firearm is not necessary so it seems like a silly thing to do. Mind you, if my intent of getting out there was to go plinking then bringing a gun suddenly becomes a pretty good piece of kit to have.
By the same token, I tend to lug a two pound SLR camera with me and even drag around a little tripod at times. Lots of people can think I have a screw loose for doing so since I could have a ultra-slim pocket camera to take pictures. Yeah, they take pictures, but doing that is not the kind of photography that appeals to me and I do what I do.
Similarly on BT's rant. Some folks really just like to travel far, fast and light. They get a high from distances traveled and true they may not appreciate the springs, lakes and trees they cross. They certainly aren't going to fall into a crouch and crawl from tree to tree trying to get 100' closer to a deer - taking 25 minutes to do so. They are going to scramble up steeper rock ledges and look for short cuts.
I'm not even really sure that the basic equipment needs have as many similarities as what people suggest. True there are common human needs: shelter, water, fire, food, navigation, communication etc but there are also many, many approaches in gear choices to satisfy those needs. Some only require foraging the natural environment while some might take as an etiquette the latter activity as depleting natures resources.
For myself, I know personally that I take too much stuff. Part of it is the survivalist mindset, but also part of it is that survival gear is kind of my little play schtick. I mean, I know I'm kind of a weirdo because when I walk into an outdoor store with a group of guys - they all head off to the coats/clothing/tent sections and I head off to that little aisle with all the camping gidgets where the emergency blankets, firestarters, compasses are. They see that aisle as the equivalent of dollar store crap and I think it is a treasure trove of toys. That and I always have at least 3 knives in my pack where ever I go....
So to each his own I say. As long as you enjoy the outdoors, respect nature, don't begrudge paying park fees, don't poach, don't pollute, and allow other fellow outdoor enthusiasts their space and privacy to enjoy the same environment - you are fine by me!
