Google is great. Assuming that something exists on the Internet and isn't password protected, Google will find it for you. Although if you are not specific enough, Google may find a lot of things for you, things you don’t need. We are used to scrolling through hundreds of results and just picking and choosing what we want. We are over stimulated. We think we just need the highlight reels without placing any of it in context. Who cares who won the game? Did you see the ridiculous, crushing hit in the 2nd quarter? We want spectacular highlights without context.
This is why I love mountain biking. It’s hard to not take a ride in context. One section of the trail may be your favorite, but you usually can’t get there without riding the rest of the trail. In fact trails often get better as they collect context. You may end up liking a section of trail because although it tried to kill you at some point, you can now clean it with the greatest of ease. There are not the words for a ride on a familiar favorite trail on a perfect day with great friends. On a ride by yourself, a familiar trail can be the difference between loneliness and solitude.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
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3 comments:
I have to say, you seem quite thoughtful for someone named Banger. One of my favorite authors, Anthony Bourdain once said "Context and memory play powerful roles in all the truly great meals in one's life. I guess the same can be said for any endeavor one takes just for the love of doing it. If you don't care, you probably get most of your news from headlines, you probably think all beer tastes the same, and a ride is just travelling from one place to another. It's the journey that provides the context. Me, I read the story, savor the differences in taste, and live for the journey. And I suspect the Banger does as well. However, don't be too hard on Google, it led me here.
Maybe I need to explain. I LOVE Google. If I didn't, I wouldn't be using blogger and the pile of other tools they gave me when I purchased the domain from them. I was just commenting on the fact that their services are tailored to the quick fix mentality that our culture has.
Granted I may not love them as much as Sugoi and Ibex, but then Google hasn't kept me warm at -40°F. I suspect that they may be working on that next, however. WinterCyclist Warmer.Beta. I am sure some programmer is busily cranking along on it right now....
You sound like you're saying something similar to Seth Godin in a recent post. But I can't really tell because I didn't really read either your post or his.
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