Ripped from the file “Are you kidding me right now?” comes this complaint letter from a recent visitor to Yellowstone National Park. The visitor, who stayed at Yellowstone National Park Lodge, registered the following complaint.
The complaint reads: “Our visit was wonderful but we never saw any bears. Please train your bears to be where guests can see them. This was an expensive trip to not get to see bears.”
Entertainment expectations
This National Park visitor was clearly disappointed. Were expectations unrealistic?
Our society has seen monumental changes over the past 20 years. Nowadays we carry 24/7 entertainment in our pockets via cell phones. We can connect to news, sports, movies, TV programs, and more with a simple tap of an app.
More and more, today’s campgrounds are entertainment destinations, catering to every demographic and every possible interest, from parasailing to yoga classes and more!
What drives campgrounds away from simple picnic tables and horseshoe pits? RVers who demand constant entertainment.
A joke?
Perhaps the note of complaint was a ruse—a joke. It may be, but somehow I don’t think so. Over the past week I’ve observed the following in our own campground:
- A teen complaining to his parents about the “boring campground” with nothing to do
- The little girl who failed to catch a fish in the CG pond, screamed in frustration at her grandpa, and stomped away crying
- The RVers who left in a huff because they couldn’t get their satellite TV to work. Turns out, trees were in the way
Don’t get me wrong. I know what teens are like. I’ve coped with frustrated children, and I like to occasionally watch a television program, myself.
I know folks relax and unwind in their own ways, but I wish they could more fully appreciate what’s right in front of them: our beautiful and wondrous world!
Subpar Parks
Amber Share, a North Carolina designer, started Subpar parks a few years ago, in which she illustrates hilariously bad national park reviews, similar to the complaint left above. Her Instagram account has nearly a half-million followers, and her book Subpar Parks: America’s Most Extraordinary National Parks and Their Least Impressed Visitors, is a New York Times bestseller.
Recapture the wonder
Perhaps it’s up to us—seasoned RVers—to help younger folks recapture the wonder of our world. Maybe we need to break a teen’s boredom with a conversation about his dreams for the future. I know we can gently teach a frustrated child how to better handle disappointment, and perhaps model friendly human interaction as opposed to manufactured entertainment.
Maybe it’s our job to point out the little things like a bird’s sweet warble or the sound of wind in the pines.
Impossible?
Can we move entertainment to the sidelines and put nature with all its wonders center stage once more? I’m willing to try. How about you?
##RVT1160
Real letter or clickbait? Hard to tell, IMHO.
Hi, Leonard. We wondered that, as well, which is why Gail wrote: “Perhaps the note of complaint was a ruse—a joke.” But she then added some of her recent personal observations. They weren’t quite as outrageous… but still. Have a great day. 😀 –Diane at RVtravel.com
I think it would be nice if there were more people like these. Perhaps, they’ll stay away from where I camp; boring, you know.
Second hand. A daughter of a friend who was a ranger at a Black Hills park related a story of a couple who were steaming mad because they had been waiting for deer to cross the road at a deer crossing sign for hours!
This is why Disneyland and Disney World are SO popular! If you miss seeing something the first time you can take the ride again…
Considering the NPS fee ìncreases, I believe the complaint is valid and reasonable.
👍🤣 Have a great day, Bob. 😀 –Diane at RVtravel.com
Education. When will we start valuing it again.
If they want to see bears appear on cue, then I suggest they stay home and go to Chuckie Cheese with all the other little kids.
Or turn on old reruns of Grizzly Adams and Yogi the bear.
Thank you, Gail! 🙂 One potential way to prompt bears to appear on cue is to select a sacrificial tourist, euthanize them, and make them available to feed the bears. Perhaps the writer of the comment can be first? 😉 Further, I guess it is good that DW and I had no children as my initial reaction to the first two instances was “drown the kid.” 😉 Overall, all three instances could be ways to reduce campground crowding. 🙂 Seriously, what a great attitude and reaction! I have no idea of how to deal with a teen or a toddler, so I will follow your lead should I encounter either at a campground. Thanks again and safe travels! 🙂
Right now, somewhere in this great land – another one is being born!
Agreed. Makes you want to scream out loud sometimes !
Would this be akin to spending a lot of money to go out n a chartered fishing boat in some far off exotic local and getting zero bites? Just asking for SWMBO ( she who must be obeyed).
Thanks in advance.
BTW, this continues to be a GREAT news letter.
BTW, Mike. We continue to appreciate your kind words, and YOU! Have a great day. 😀 –Diane
Ron White was right: Can’t fix stupid.
Agree! Society has changed, and not in a positive way. “It’s all about me!” Social media should be eliminated as a start.
They should have booked a vacation trip to their local Zoo if they wanted to see bears. They could “camp out” in their parking lot and visit the bears during the day. Added benefit, they would have plenty of photo opportunities to get closeup shots without getting photo-bombed or eaten alive plus just think of the many types of animals they would be able to enjoy seeing.
Perhaps this visitor read about Yellowstones past bad habits. “As dusk fell across Yellowstone, both black and grizzly bears would amble slowly out of the nearby woods and head straight for the garbage heap. To accommodate the human visitors, the park constructed seating, including wooden bleachers.”
I always liked the Country Bear Jamboree myself.
The “intellectual” who commented about the bears is no more brain cells than a woman who felt the deer should be able to read the signs about deer crossings and only cross at that point.
I asked the wildlife officer to take down the deer crossing signs in front of my house because it is just not safe for them to cross there.
Talk about entitled…this person should be sentenced to life indoors
This may be the first time that they have been let outdoors.
When I worked as a volunteer at Cades Cove in the Great Smoky Mountains we got complaints about the grass being tall in the pasture. The family wanted it mowed down so they could observe the deer easier… Another complaint was from fisherman not being able to catch trout. And the classic one about the trash cans being too hard to open “Why can’t you people just have a normal trash can???”.
They live among us and are gaining on the human race.
Tourists should not be allowed in parks anymore if their only interest is to get the animals killed. Stay home in your countries and leave the animals alone.
Based on other questions I have seen posted concerning RVs I can completely believe the question of training the bears is real. We are becoming a nation of uninformed dolts.
Scary–these people probably vote. If I watch Dr. Phil, i realize what a mess many people are. But I say, keep them home with their cell phones, video games, and skateboards, and away from wildlife. Such people are the type to set the woods on fire.
AND pose for photos with tourists.