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23 March 2012

Hendrik Morkel’s “Theoretical” Backpacking blog post

Hendrik-Morkel

Yesterday evening there was a short twitter conversation during which Martin Rye said he did not like Paclite. He acknowledged that there might be factors that influenced his opinion; he mentioned base layers, metabolism and regional factors. Chris Townsend chipped in with some sage advice as well. It was all very polite and reasonably brief.

I was surprised to then find a post on Hendrik Morkel’s blog “Hiking in Finland” entitled “[Theoretical] Backpacking on the Internet” It started like this:

“There is an increasing number of theoretical backpackers online – on Twitter, forums and bogs. They love to discuss gear, which in itself ain’t a bad thing- I love me gear talk as well. However my annoyance comes from someone trying to convince me that a certain thing is not good; even if I have used said certain thing and am perfectly happy with it.”

You can nip over to Hendrik’s blog to read the rest of the post, in which he goes on to say that gear performs differently in different parts of the world.

It was made abundantly clear from the ensuing comments that he was referring to the twitter conversation with Martin. I felt his post was unfair and also a little sneaky. Hendrik has history of having sly digs at well-respected outdoor commentators. I recall him having a nasty little jibe at Bob Cartwright recently, that then involved a very hasty climb-down when challenged.

His behaviour is one of the school bully. He chips away with sly digs, but never enough to get a damn good walloping in return. He sets himself up as an expert on all things to do with lightweight backpacking. He doesn’t like it when people challenge the wisdom he hands down from his self-erected pinnacle.

No one ever has the handle on absolute truth on anything. In the past I have made some glaringly awful pronouncements on backpacking, which slowly, like a rusty old supertanker, folk like Martin and Chris T have turned around. (I’m thinking trainers and tarps here.)

Smile 

Because I felt Hendrik had been unfair of his treatment of Martin and because I felt he was also basically wrong in his assessment of the twitter conversation, I left a comment on the thread last night, which I found this morning had been removed by Hendrik.

This was the comment: 100% accurately copied down:

“Regardless of which country you are testing "Material X" in, Hendrik (and why are you being so coy about your twitter discussion with regard to Paclite with Martin Rye?) when it is peeing down with rain there is a fair chance that the Relative Humidity of the air around you will be approaching very high percentage figures (it's why it's raining... duh!) so it matters not a jot in which country you are testing it.

If it's peeing down with rain you want a waterproof to keep the water out and the humidity from inside the jacket down, to acceptable comfort levels.

All Martin said was that he thought Paclite was pants. If, of course, you enjoy wearing your Paclite jacket when it's not raining, then of course the country you are testing it in *does* make a difference, as RH values will differ appreciably. However, I think it is fair to say that in the discussion involving 140 characters, Martin was assuming that  the discussion was centred on wearing Paclite in the rain.

There are loads of experienced backpackers (and I didn't like your "theoretical" jibe, by the way - sneaky that) who agree with him.Just sayin...”

 

So: Why did Hendrik remove the comment? Why did Hendik subsequently ban my IP address from accessing his blog? Well, school bullies don’t like being shown up for what they are: Snivelling little cowards.

If you feel this is a little strong, bear in mind that this is a young, arrogant German who had the temerity to call me, a Sloman, a “Denier” on twitter, with all the nasty holocaust connotations that come with that term.

“Am I bovvered” that I have been blocked from viewing his arrogant little blog? No.

One last question: I wonder where the $10,582 he raised for his Kickstarter Ultralight A to Z has gone?

88 comments:

  1. Interesting read there Alan. I have to admit I've had the odd run in with the Apple fanboy in recent weeks. I used to think he was a nice chap. but since learnt he can be snobby, ignorant and really quite rude. So I dont look on his blog or talk to him anymore. I thought Id be alone in thinking this.

    you do raise a good question on where all that money has gone for his a-z. From what I can see in recent months he bought nice new equipment for video but his videos are no better than most other bloggers here stateside. I donated some $s may go and ask for it back.

    You're not alone Alan in what you think and feel and none of it surprises me

    Micheal

    ReplyDelete
  2. Oh dear, trouble in the ranks!.
    The blog post has no specific reference to the Twitter thing that initiated it, I'm not sure if that's good or bad. I suppose it keeps any personal acrimony out of a post that is visible to everyone and makes a general point instead, but I don't know the detailed history.
    I'm surprised that a comment was removed and even more so at an IP ban: I take it that a technical hitch has been ruled out?.

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Hi Geoff,

      The twitter conversation was really well mannered and not acrimonious at all. I am not sure how to link to it, but you just need to look at yesterday evenings posts for Martin to find it. ( @Rye1966 )

      A technical glitch can *definitely* be ruled out!
      :-)

      Delete
  3. "“Am I bovvered” that I have been blocked from viewing his arrogant little blog? No."

    Looks like you are ;-)

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Hi Anonymous (You can say who you are, you know...)

      I am not bothered in the slightest by his banning me. I think that people should know what they are dealing with when they are interacting with Hendrik. He is not the little darling that he makes himself out to be.

      Me, I'm a crusty old git. Everyone knows that.
      :-)

      Delete
  4. Though I'm not a follower of Twitter, I do look in from time to time to see what people are up to outdoors. I did see the conversation last night and read it with interest. I happen to agree, too. Paclite isn't very good at all.

    But I must admit with the query of the $10,582 Hendrik may have received in donations. Where has the money gone? And was it worth it for the videos of the Ultralight A-Z project? There's lots of videos about gear out there. Especially in the US.

    And I don't believe those people were donated any funds at all. I think it might be worth raising such points to Hendrik on his blog (if he allows it of course). I didn't donate a cent admittedly but I did wonder at the time why he needed the funds even if no one else appeared to do so.

    It is all really rather sad that this comes to light. It may well be a lovers tiff but thank you for sharing your personal opinions with us Alan. I commend you sir for your honesty and integrity.

    I do hope Hendrik will come on here to argue his side of the story just for fairness.

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Hi David
      I would welcome Hendrik's input as well.

      I searched YouTube and could not find any Kickstarter A-Z videos apart from the "teaser". But I may be looking at the wrong place - I'm not "up" on YouTube at all.
      He's had the money for some considerable time now.

      Can anyone tell me where I can find the project's videos?

      Delete
  5. A bit naughty removing a comment from a blog unless it is downright rude / inflammatory just because you do not agree with someones viewpoint.

    Anyway I am the sort of person who likes a nice comfy fence. Something that I can often be found sitting on in the bloggersphere......

    I would never suggest that you are a crusty old Git Alan. A beardy crusty old git maybe.

    And remember that Denier is simply a way of measuring how thick yer tights are, I like a nice pair of Denier 10 stockings myself........

    Yours never seriously Mr Bongo.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Hey Alan,

    sorry for posting Anonymous. I just followed this up and down for a while ;-) My english is not the best, but if we germans say something like "Denier" we usually have no association with the holocaust. To tell the truth... most germans try to forget it totally. But this is an other topic.

    I totally disliked your reaction on Hendriks comment on twitter. I would not like to show your tweets to my children. The words you used are not a fundament for a neutral discussion. It was one reason to unfollow you on twitter. I also think that Hendriks Blogpost was not against Martin or Chris. He just put his thoughts in an Article. Why not to do that?

    I also would be careful to post about ULAZ. Your last question sounds like a mispresentation (hope my dictionary is right).

    Greets from Germany,
    Dennis

    PS: I would wish a more calm atmosphere in this blogosphere ;-)

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Agreed.

      Hendrik shared his views on a topic and did not mention anything about the twitter conversation

      On the other hand, Alan has made reference to a previous twitter conversation, where Hendrik had referred to him as a 'Denier'... without mentioning that the comment had no relevance at all to the holocaust, but was in reference to Mr Sloman's views on climate change and more specifically, wind power.

      That makes you worse than Hendrik, in my opinion. I'd much rather a conversation wasn't mentioned, and accusations not made, than to make accusations and comments without the information to back them up.

      Delete
    2. Hi Dennis

      Your English is fine, Sir.
      :-)
      I suggest you re-read Hendriks's tweets then; they make me blush! "Fuck this", "Fucking" that - one hell of a lot. And that was just about his phone service provider...

      He only got what he deserved back in the vernacular he seems to understand.

      Hendrik's blogpost was snide and chippy. There is can be no "denying" that.

      Also, I am pretty sure that your view of the term "denier" is not shared by a whole host of your compatriots. You should distance yourself from that appalling term.

      Delete
    3. As for the question about the money raised on Kickstarter: I think that is of genuine public interest.

      Perhaps Hendrik should tell people where it has been applied so far and how the remaining funds are to be applied?

      Delete
    4. He made an Update on Feb: http://www.hikinginfinland.com/p/ultralight-z.html Found it very fast on his website ;-) Maybe it helps.

      Delete
    5. Llendorin's two comments are similar, but the "Denier" comment does show Hendrik for what he is. A little bully.

      It's time that people stood up to that sort of comment. In the past, Germans were allowed to get away with it.
      Not any more.

      Delete
    6. Thanks for that Dennis. I won't be able to see it as my IP address is blocked...
      :-)
      But I am sure others will be fascinated...

      Delete
    7. I'm not.

      Do they have bears in Finland's forests?
      They should introduce some if they don't. :)

      Delete
  7. In the interest of fairness, you need to include all of the information relevant to the post.

    In the nicest possible way, to make reference to his referring to you as a 'Denier', without stating that the comment had NOTHING to do with the holocaust, but refers to climate change, and your insistence that wind power in more or less all forms is a bad thing, makes you as bad, if not worse than Hendrik, in my opinion.

    While he wrote his blog post on the back of a twitter conversation, he didn't mention said conversation in the post at all.

    On the other hand, you did mention a previous twitter conversation, without expanding on ANY of the background surrounding it.

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Hi Llendorin

      The term "Denier" is a deliberately pejorative term used by folk to denigrate someone who holds an opposing view. Regardless of the rights and wrongs of anyone's stance on that discussion, that term is used quite deliberately; a disgusting thing to do.

      Hendrik not mentioning the twitter conversation but then alluding to it in the comments of his blogpost speaks volumes: Snide cowardice.

      I would gladly point to the twitter conversation - but I do not know how to - I told people where to look for themselves.

      I hope that helps?

      Delete
    2. In truth, and in defence of Alan there is a fair bit of research out there to show wind turbines and what have you are pretty pointless. Having followed Alan's blog for about a year I can honestly say he's not a one to think we shouldn't be using green technology.

      He like many others out there are just making the point that wind technology just doesn't "cut the mustard" shall we say. Besides, I think they're eyesores and given the subsidies and lack of returns we get with them in the UK I took think wind turbines are pointless.

      Delete
    3. Having looked through Mr Rye's tweets again and then Hendriks blog post, I do think it's uncanny of it to be produced at the same time.

      Coincidence? Maybe. Uncanny? Definitely!

      I do wish Hendrik would respond to this debate. It is always best to hear both sides of the story. He's not doing himself any favours in this respect unfortunately.

      Delete
  8. Having looked on Hendriks blog at the link concerning he Ultralight A-Z video project, I find it somewhat less than forthcoming on information.

    $10,000 for what exactly? "high level of quality video"? What can be found from him on YouTube isn't exactly broadcast quality is it? Where's the engaging presenter? There's lots of videos out there to do with the outdoors and hiking in the US and much more. I bet they didn't get $10,000 to produce them.

    This more than anything is what I find more disturbing than your argument with Hendrik I'm afraid to say, Alan.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Are there rules on Kickstarter about disclosure of financials? (Probably not, I would guess)

      Delete
  9. I once questioned the wisdom of wandering off into the Scandinavian wilderness minus map and compass, as he said he often does (others also questioned it) He took to Twitter *rolls eyes* stating that some people (ie: me) should not be questioning his skill level, as I obviously didn't possess the same level of all round superhero-like prowess he did (or words to that effect)...until recently, I thought it was just me that considered him an egotistical runt.

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Owdbum: What could you *possibly* know, if it hadn't been passed down on tablets of stone from the snowy wastes of Finland?

      Perhaps all is revealed in the 26 videos? I understand that 3 have been published so far. I had understood that there were to be one a week. It "Kickstarted" in August of last year, so I would have expected to seen all 26 them by now.

      Delete
    2. I know zilch in comparison with most of you guys, I'm just a tryer...but I never go without my compass. As for his A to Z...it was always a big ask, and unless you're a full time sponsored/paid outdoors guru, it won't happen. The one vid I did see would definitely be of interest to the type of man who enjoys videos of skinny bearded boys...in the woods. Ahem...

      Delete
  10. I've always found him a bit of a canunt personally. Who gives a f*@+ bout camping in woods? Just looking at the pic of him you posted here Sloboy makes my gut churn.

    Not surprised such a jumped up skinny prick is givin you and the other old boys some shit. All he fuck*** does is talk about shitty gear. I thought blogs and the camping were about that. Not talking shite then having guest posts talk about trips.

    Boys like him...I shit em. No offence intended

    Ignore him. Simples

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Hmmm, "Jocking Jock".
      I am assuming that you are joking, but I understand the sentiment. I know I am no angel on the AngloSaxon, but we ought to keep this civil. (ish)

      Delete
  11. I stopped looking and following him along time ago. I found him to be confrontational alot of the time just for the sake of it.

    Although I still see stuff from him because of people RT on twitter, I do wonder if he does it just to bring extra numbers to his blog, its a bit like a car crash; you don't really want to look but it's hard not to.

    I get the feeling he wants to be the Ryan Jordan of European backpacking and if you don't agree with him, he will shout you down.

    As for the video's I think that only the people who 'supported' the kickstart, with get to see them at the moment, although I have seen comments worrying about him starting his new podcast series before finishing the video series.

    As far as I'm concerned it's all Emperors new clothes syndrome.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Whatever your feeling about Hendrik, and you may well be right, I am very uncomfortable about the fact that you stress that he is of German nationality about 3 times above, and you raise the issue of the War as well. He may be a **** but to link this with his nationality and race is disgraceful.

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    1. John
      Thank you for your comment.

      I mentioned the fact that Hendrik was German twice: Once in the blogpost, to illustrate why I was so upset with the language he used to describe me, and once in a comment, replying to Llendorin, to explain why I refuse to let offensive descriptions like that to pass by un-commented upon.

      For you to accuse me of disgraceful behaviour in doing so, is surely attacking the victim and not the perpetrator of the original nastiness.

      I have not "mentioned the war" but I have mentioned the Holocaust; a disgraceful episode in German history that should never, ever be forgotten, even by young men like Hendrik.

      I suggest that you should not be attacking the victims of aggression, but the aggressors themselves.

      Mankind turned their backs once too often in the past, and I refuse to do likewise. I will always call out this disgraceful behaviour.

      Delete
  13. I could never stand that bloke. And if you want to see German environmentalism at its best, you could do worse than having a read through this piece in the Spiegel. It's an eye-opener to say the least. Or rather: it shows that regulators are far worse than bankers when it comes to damaging the environment and everybody's lives:

    http://www.spiegel.de/international/business/0,1518,821396,00.html

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Andy.
      Thanks for that link - I read it a few days ago. It is quite astonishing. The lunatics seem to be running the asylum over there.
      Having said that, with our own government's efforts we seem to be catching up fast...

      Delete
  14. Don't worry folks, be happy. We are all a very long time dead.

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Whilst I agree with your sentiments, I will never let bullies get away with it. They will always be brought to book on this blog.

      Delete
    2. That's good and robust Alan. Keep up the blogging! That's the beauty - it's YOUR space to do what YOU like. A fabulous tool.

      Cheers!

      Delete
  15. I do not access Twitter, so I have no informed views on the debate between you both. I responded to your undeniable use of his nationality in your writings. One law for the Anglos and another for the Saxons? Call a person a bastard, and you may be justified. Call him an English/Scottish/Black/Jewish etc. bastard and you demean your argument seriously and distastefully.

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    1. John
      I believe you are deliberately missing the point.
      Everyone else has grasped the validity of my post.
      I won't go over it again. I believe you are deliberately trolling.
      Try looking at this from a Jewish perspective.

      Delete
  16. Hold up there Alan please, I am not deliberately missing the point, nor do I know (the shame!) what trolling is. Not everyone has agreed with you, eg Dennis and Llendorin. Try looking at this from a Jewish perspective.? Sorry I did not know that you were Jewish, although I am not sure that the word perspective belongs in this discourse just now. My point is only that ones nationality is surely irrelevant to a disagreement about Paclite.

    ReplyDelete
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    1. John
      The timing of your comments coincides with visits from Southern Finland to the blog.
      Another coincidence, perhaps?
      I'll let everyone else decide.

      Delete
  17. Please hold on again Alan, I am a 56 year old hillwalker who lives in Inverness. I can see Ben Wyvis from here but its a bit dark. Until tonight my blog appearances anywhere have been restricted to two brief comments in the past years and I have no connection with others (I did meet Petesy and his posse on a hill once, years ago). To try and imply I am involved in some Scandinavian based conspiracy against you just underlines my comment about perspective. To accuse without due cause is unworthy.

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    1. Sorry for the confusion there John. I have had a guy who is pretty good at IP security look at it and he says it just happened that you were posting at the same time as Hendrik was visiting (he is using an Proxy and has been all over the blog but has obviously not felt the desire to comment.
      My apologies for slandering you!
      Whoops!
      :-)
      I am sure the nocturnal views of Ben Wyvis are stunning. Well they might be for the moment, until the new windfarms get approval...

      Delete
  18. John F.K.: I too was initially struck by Alan's mention of where the bloke comes from. But then I considered that while generalisations are always unpleasant there is something to be said for the peculiarly geographic versions of assholeness that one comes across. You get good and bad folks everywhere, but a German arsehole is a very different kettle of fish from an English arsehole. So I think that specifying the nationality adds information. I would agree with you if the epithet had been 'bastard'. In that case there would be racism involved. But the undertone of Alan's post is that this bloke is an arsehole, which is an objectively true statement, with no racist connotations. And he is an arsehole in a peculiarly German way. Just like Alan, when he occasionally veers in the direction of arseholeness, he does so in a peculiarly English way. Nowt wrong with saying that. I'm sure he won't mind my saying so.

    If you've read the BPL forum for any length of time, you will have seen plenty of evidence of how the bloke behaves. And I think Alan's aggravation comes from the fact that in our fight against wind plants we come across people of that sort all the time. Lots of energy companies are German. And Germany has had a disproportionate influence on European policy, pushing for completely idiotic legislation, like the poisonous mercury-filled low energy bulb, the push for highly polluting electric cars, the push to reduce the amount of water being flushed into the sewage (so that in Germany they are now forced to pump tons of water into their sewers because there isn't enough water being flushed down the toilet!), and most appallingly of all the crazy rush for wind (most of which manufactured in Germany: Siemens is making billions out of Britain). Now, as it happens, the push for 'green' measures emanating from Germany via Europe is the latest display of that nation's penchant for irrationality disguised as supreme rationality. And if you don't agree with them, then you're an idiot. Try discussing the issues with someone like the bloke we're talking about and see how far you get.

    Boy, this post sounds like a mid-term essay. But I thought I'd try to reconstruct Alan's reaction to the latest effluvia from the bloke up North. I think for all these reasons there was nothing untoward about mentioning ze nationality of the bloke. But I may be wrong of course.

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Hendrik had so much "previous" plastered all over the net that it's difficult to know where to even begin.

      He throws insults liberally on twitter at people who criticise wind power yet has never ONCE written about his thoughts. Perhaps we could learn from him?
      His "day job", as far as I can establish from his website, is to advise companies how to go go green. Incredible really...

      Delete
  19. Hendrik Morkel?
    Never heard of the man until now.
    So on Global scale he would appear to be insignificant.
    Bloody irritating but irrelevant.
    Shan't bother to look at his blog either.

    Anyway Al.

    Blood pressure!

    We have to go walking in just over 6 weeks and I need a healthy Sloman :).

    Top rant though.
    Lovin it!

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    1. You're a very sweet chap Andy. I had a lovely calming walk all day in the Great Park today. Deer, jackdaw, pheasants, iced lollies and Eccles Cakes
      Oh - and sunburn too...
      :-(

      Delete
  20. I tweeted

    "Hands up if you think Gore-Tex Paclite is any good? If so why as it has no inner wicking scrim and is coated with a continuous layer of PU"

    Now Henrik wrote on the post in question where your comment was removed:

    "However, my annoyance comes from trying to convince me that a certain thing is not good; even if I have used said certain thing and am perfectly happy with it"

    So there seems good reason to conclude the post was aimed at me. But I was not seeking to get anyone to change their mind. I was asking why some claim Paclite worked so well. Having used it and other claimed waterproof materials I am of the mind they are all useless.

    There might indeed be reasons why some gear works better in other places. But in truth rain and wind speed will have the same effect most places. Summer heat and humidity all contribute no doubt.

    So to finish clearing up the Twitter comments. I went on asking others and getting feedback from them. Some liked Paclite and gave interesting insights and comments. Helpful. Insightful. Hendrik commented, but others gave detailed feedback on trips to places like Iceland and how the kit worked ok for them. One person I know has said they had examples of long walks and wet days using it and could give feedback.

    Now to Hendrik. He preaches no censorship. So to remove your comment was wrong. Simple as that.

    We need to consider Hendrik has tweeted insulting comments about Americans like they are number one in stupidity and starting wars. Then deletes the tweet. He also tweets insulting tweets about other bloggers and then removes the tweet. I hope he regrets this and stops such actions.

    His comments on twitter to one person who said they did not like the in your face advertising on the week in review was to say basically if people want free content they can lump it. Now I like the week in review. But Hendrik does not need to write it. Nor be so dismissive of others when they mention it. I can see why so many are getting annoyed more and more.

    On the time he wrote about not needing a map and compass there were a few people not impressed with such claims and his response again inflamed and annoyed. Why is simple. most people who get out in the remoter parts of the world not following marked trails need a map and compass. Even with you still get mis-located no matter who you are. Go read Chris Townsend's munro book and count how many times he makes a navigation mistake.

    I bear no grudge, nor ill will to him. I like his blog. He takes great photos and tries to show his walks in the forests at their best. But there is limited trip reports of multi day trips to back the ULA gospel he preaches with much authenticity at times. Go prove it works in shit weather, days on end and see people convert.

    He talks now saying: "And in the end, if X doesn't work for you, use Y" - well will he stop insulting other backpackers who don't go ULA, as they are using what they see as working.

    I backed his ULA A-Z and hope he finishes it. He told me why he was behind with filming and I respect that answer and hope he gets on with it. Some will not like it. I do. I am a bit of a gear addict. But I hope some episodes are skill focused and not about gear. He could sharpen the editing up a bit but he made a good start.

    But letting people know publicly why he is behind and what has been spent would be a good move.

    On calling you a denier he needs to apologise. Calling anyone that in the UK I know would lead to a fast right cross to the jaw. People associate it with holocaust connotations full stop. If he was linking it to Global warming. Why did he need to say that?. He tweeted an insult plain and simple. No need to do it.

    If he wishes to debate he knows I and others are willing to talk.

    Will I read his blog? YES
    Will I follow his tweets? YES

    Do I bear a grudge? NO

    Will he stop insulting others on twitter and deleting the tweet? We wait to see.

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    1. Thanks for summing up the twitter oonversation, Martin.
      It clears hat part up nicely.

      I would still welcome Hendrik's comments. He has visited over a dozen times since posting, using a very poor proxy service that doesn't actually hide him - maybe he should spend some of the $10,582 on a decent proxy if he wants to hide away and be sneaky.

      So Hendrik: The ball is in your court. Come out from behind your proxy and have your say.

      Delete
    2. Update:

      06/10/11 email on the A-Z gave yet more reasons it is sooooooo far behind. Big push, good weather coming and still no more episodes.

      On Twitter he was rude to others again and put people down for using a DSLR in the wilderness.

      1. So I don't read his blog now. Week in review was a rip off of another blogs roundup anyway. To be honest the Week in review is more like a week behind and we all have read it on twitter and RSS feeds before the review comes out anyway.
      2. I don't read his tweets
      3. I question the A-Z now and wonder where is the results - as the costs paid for his time to make them have been paid. So go to work then and do it comes to mind.

      Delete
    3. Members of BPL.COM now ask where is the A-Z and time goes on http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/forums/thread_display.html?forum_thread_id=72778&startat=20 but no finished A-Z.

      I left a comment.

      Delete
    4. At the end of this month he will have had the $10,582 for two years. As he is about half way through the series (a bit of a guess) that would make him 21 months behind schedule.

      That's as good as fraud as anything I can think of.

      Delete
    5. Now near the 2nd year past his claimed deadline Alan. Lest we forget his claims.

      Also this link has a lot more to say on the A-Z UL http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/forums/thread_display.html?forum_thread_id=72778&skip_to_post=721926#721926

      Delete
  21. Wow Alan, this has been a hot debate for you.
    Glad to see that you allowed debate and comments that didn't agree with you.

    Personally my opinion of the guy is the same as yours.

    ReplyDelete
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    1. I never have a problem with people disagreeing with me. Indeed, by listening to others' point of view can actually help me to understand the topic more fully.
      I would never be dancing around the hills in my plimsolls had I not listened to what people told me (okay, okay, it did take me a few years, but I got there in the end....)
      :-)

      Delete
  22. One question I do ask, is how does his reason for not doing the A-Z fit in with him doing other videos for his blog in the meantime?

    ReplyDelete
  23. A good question Darren and one I have pondered. Recap what Hendrik wrote:

    "Timing is also something you want to know; so let me tell you that I plan to upload one episode a week after the funding time is over, which means come August the project will already start to air."

    So far we are up to C. Far from one a week. Now I had a reason from him and mentioned this. But his reason fails to explain the other videos come to mention it and baffles me to the reason he gave me . A question that needs an answer Darren.

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    1. And the silence from Finland is deafening...

      Delete
    2. UPDATE: despite an email stating a surge in filming it is now 15 months and 18 (I think?) episodes behind and who knows when the UL A-Z will be finished (2020?). Don’t forget the Podcast post and all the claims that were made on that and the fact it also offended so many, yet I cant recall a single podcast can you? More updates in the autumn if by then more episodes appear.

      Delete
    3. A timely reminder. He was fully funded on July 31st 2011 - that's 20 months ago. If you are correct, martin and he has completed eight films, that equates to one film every 2.5 months. So with eighteen films left to film, at the current rate of productions the target completion dates will be in 45 months time.

      That's December 2016. Making it 59 months (that's about SIX YEARS) behind schedule.

      :-)

      Well done, Hendrik! You can fool all of the people some of the time, but can you fool all the people all of that time?

      Delete
  24. My,my Mr. Sloman...I disappear from the scene for a few weeks and I come back to unmitigated chaos!

    Talk of trolls, deniers (is that really a word?), a*******s, b******s, racism, the holocaust...I'm flabbergasted.

    Ultra light gear must be a seriously controversial subject to make it worthwhile dredging up all the preceding subjects, generally considered the domain of web forums.

    As for paclite - I think Martin's thoughts highlight the difference between the hardened backpacker and the fair-weather mountain daytripper - such as myself. Obviously I can only speak from my own experiences but I have to say in all the meetings I've had with various walkers over the years gear comes pretty far down the list of discussion points (never mind ultra light). Come to think of it most of us seem to wander the hills looking as if we're wearing charity shop rejects.

    I've had paclite trousers for a few years and I'm happy. They pack small, I'm able to haul them over my boots and they keep the wind and rain out (not that I go out in the wind and rain if I can possibly help it). I suppose I don't need much more from my gear as I only have to wear it for one day at a time...thankfully :) .

    Maybe this is why some of us don't take the subject of ultra light too seriously...and wonder why, as a subject, it creates such verbal anarchy (lol).

    Maybe time to chill...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sound advice, as ever, Uncle Ken...

      My own Paclite trousers are full of holes from the knees down after Lord Elpus sent me on a particularly wild goose-chase the year he designed the Challenge route and then rather feebly dropped out... some pathetic excuse of having his innards removed, I seem to recall.

      The b*st*rd sent me over burned back heather that tore my trousers to shred. So - they're even more breathable now. Maybe that's the answer; Tear little holes all over your jacket for increased breath-ability?

      Delete
  25. I'd like to know if the fuck*** prick is going to list this blogpost on his bullshit "week in review". What in sweet Jesus is that about?????

    The silence may well be deafening dear Alan but it wouldn't surprise me if the skinny Apple fanboy can't see the light from within the confines of his anal cavities. God only knows how long his head has resided up his own arse. I wouldn't be surprised if he's got company in that literal shithole either.

    I note you old boys inform he's only got up to the letter C in his A-Z of shite videos? C be the right letter too. C for ***t

    That's what most people will be saying who coughed up some hard earned wonga to watch his video series. $10,000?

    For what? I'd rather lick piss off a nettle than contribute to that project. $10,000? He could've done a video of a 1000mile thru hike somewhere extolling the virtues of using tissue for a fuck*** tarp or some other crap.

    As long as it wasn't some woods in Finland anyway. That would really piss me off then.

    No offence intended.

    But hikes in Finland? I shit em.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dear Jocking Jock: Just 'joshing', right?
      I am considering posting an article on the use of asterisks, entitled "Asterisks: Where to put them!" but I fear you may misconstrue my meaning.
      Be assured, no offence is taken.
      Well, not by me...

      Delete
  26. Being an Apple Fanboy not all of us are like the Finnish imp.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jesus Christ, they get everywhere! Surprised you could view old Alan's blog on iOS!

      Don't you worry your little head dear Spider boy. I wish you no foul rants.

      I just despise people who are full of shit. Like politicians, Apple fanboys, Jordan aka Katie Price and David Cameron. I'd say Hendrik too but I think I'd be disrespecting those previous pricks I list by placing him in their company.

      I know I sound like I have fuck*** tourettes, I just suffer from the opposite with a wanton desire to release the rage outside of this machine.

      No offence intended.

      Finnish imps? I shit em.

      Delete
    2. On the question of language in the comments, I should point out to Jocking Jock, that the following should be avoided in future, please:
      "the rage outside of this machine"" really should read "the rage outside this machine"
      You would not write "inside of this machine", would you?
      Thank you.

      Delete
  27. NEE-NAW NEE-NAW...move along, move along...the grammar police have arrived. Perhaps there is a circumstance where Jocks phrasing would be allowed Alan, for instance, you may say "the inside of this machine contains a spanner, whereas the inside of that machine does not...." No? I think I'm f**king right, but I may be f**king wrong.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You re wonderful, Owdbum.
      :-)
      Are you sure you have placed your asterisks correctly?

      Delete
  28. One of the "joys" of the connected age in which we find ourselves is the vast, at times overwhelming, range of information, advice and opinion that is available to us. Some will move us us, some will annoy us, some will bewilder us. The challenge is to work out what we have time and inclination to read, and what we can ignore.

    Hendrik will have his opinion, and he will have those readers who are impressed/angered by it. If it impresses you, keep reading it, if it angers you, read something else! I have found some of Hendrik's opinions to be overly harsh and antagonistic, but I have also followed some of his links to excellent blogs and articles that I would not have come across otherwise. A case of separating the wheat from the chaff.

    I remember being told two things that have helped me in my internet browsing. (1) Arguing on the internet is like entering a village idiot competition; it doesn't matter if you win, you're still an idiot, and (2) arguing with a troll is like fighting a pig; you're both going to get dirty and the pig likes it!

    (Please note: I am not likening anyone to a pig/village idiot...)

    Ken

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sage advice, Ken and served with a decent dash of humour. I think this little piggy has a very sensitive nose and a good wallop might bring it to its senses.

      I've tussled with a few dirty pigs in the past. Perhaps its time to let them grow old now, rather than turn them into pork chops?

      Delete
    2. Hmmm, Pork and sage, interesting....

      Delete
  29. I'd like to throw my two cents worth in, but it seems everything has been said! Although I would like to second the observation that not once has anyone seen a video of Hendrik spending the night out in miserable winter weather - it always seems to be sublime in his locale. Perhaps that's the sun shining out of the proverbial...

    However, due to this post this blog just shot up to my number one place to peruse when I'm supposed to be working. Great stuff! I can't wait for the next installment of stuff-sacks at dawn ;)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Well, it would be stuff sacks at dawn if Hendrik had had the bottle to comment on his behaviour.

      I guess he has just run away.
      He did visit this blogpost frequently for ages, though... IP tracking is a wonderful thing.

      Let's hope that his behaviour improves, now that he has been brought to book.

      I see you have started up a blog, Jake. I've added you to my rolling bloggers list so that we can all follow your exploits. Good luck with it.
      :-)

      Delete
    2. I have finally been sucked in to social media - no facebook account yet, though! I blame the blackberry I got at work.

      I'm a long time reader, first time contributer (selfish bugger that I am), so hopefully I'll be able to add something worth reading. Thanks for adding me to the blogroll :)

      He has always seemed to be something of a dweeb - anyone calling themselves an entrepeneur screams nob-jockey and instantly turns me off - but I do like his blog. It's always led me to posts I'd never have seen otherwise. But perhaps his entrepeneurship leaves a lot more free time for surfing the net than I have ;)

      Delete
  30. I have also been slandered by Hendrik and called him to account for it on his blog, even asked for an apology, and never gotten a peep out of him. I ignore him. My one triumph was insisting that he make SectionHiker.com the sponsor of his first A-Z video, because I knew that one would be watched the most. Haha. I wonder what those poor sods at the end of the alphabet are thinking! Well worth the $150 I invested. Wondering what Ryan is thinking about the $2500 he pay to be a producer. Money down a hole. I claimed mine as a tax deduction.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The outdoor world is littered with folk with similar tales, Philip! Congratulations though on your very smart way of dealing with him.
      $2,500 is a big hit though.
      How far has Hendrik progressed with his video series that should have been completed last Christmas?
      Does anyone have this answer?

      Delete
    2. That made me giggle! Nice work. In fifteen days time Hendrik will have been funded for a complete year. Where *has* the money gone, I wonder? And what letter of the alphabet has he made it to?

      Delete
  31. I see the natives are getting restless over the non-appearance of Hendrik's A-Z. It's now September 2012. The series was supposed to be completed, when exactly?
    :-)
    Click HERE for more details

    ReplyDelete
  32. There has been an interesting development in Finland over financing projects by Kickstarter.
    Read THIS ARTICLE
    Does Hendrik's Kickstarter A-Z video series fall foul of this Finnish Law? Will he have to repay the $10,500 back to his backers?
    Any word from Hendrik?

    ReplyDelete
  33. I'm not usually the type to get involved in interweb rantings but I was appalled over the whole "denier" incident. I didn't kick off. I did make my point in a calm manner, perhaps too calm and unfollowed Hendrick. This resulted in my IP being blocked to this blog too. I asked Hendrick about this and he asked me to send him
    an email asking for me to be unblocked. Needless to say I didn't bother. Considering I was one of the people that gave him $$$ for his new video equipment on kickstarter I think he's shown quite poor form all round.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. John, Alan and me got banned by one of his cronies blogs for daring to not agree over Hendrik. You're not alone. His whole UL elitist crap is so past its sell by date.

      He ripped off another blog to make the week in (we all have read it on RSS feeds before and on twitter anyway)review up, the cottage interviews were another blogs idea they had announced, but then Hendrik shot in to do them. Yep the truth is out.

      Delete
    2. Update: Took a refund as well,,,, nothing is being made. Time for Hendrik to give a public account and update. All I have to say on this now.

      Delete
  34. I'm surprised that funders have given him so much slack.

    When you compare his performance with that of Terry Abraham and his "Cairngorms in Winter with Chris Townsend" project, the difference is stark. Terry has already produced taster video clips, has spent weeks up there filming and is due to return for more filming.

    Basically, as far as I can see, Hendrik has taken the $10,582, spent it on camera gear and then reneged on his contract with his funders. In his kickstarter fund raising video he made it quite clear that some of the funds would be used to pay for his time. There is very little evidence of that having taken place.

    This is verging on fraudulent.

    ReplyDelete
  35. Crikey ... Just read the above! you kept the kid gloves on with me over Paramo ;-). With this cold spring perhaps a 'theoretical' TGOC might be an attractive alternative?

    Anyways, I don't think much of Paclite either, I like Paramo ... (run!)

    (I too like Windsor Great Park, as a small boy I and other small boys threw sticks at each other there for hours. Happy days!)

    Mark

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Mark and welcome!
      :-)
      At the end of the day clothing is a personal choice but I believe that Paramo's claims for their product to be waterproof would not stand up to Advertising Standard's scrutiny, if tested.
      When it's close to freezing point and the rain is thrashing down with a storm force wind behind it and there's no cover for miles and your Paramo gives way and you are soaked to the skin... well...
      But it's personal!
      :-)
      And yes, I also spent many years playing in Windsor Great Park.
      You must be counting down the days now to Sweden. Good luck - it's a mighty adventure.

      Delete

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