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Comment by Outdoorsman | Hacker News Reader

The article, at best, seems inconclusive...

I thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail years ago...admittedly, I was walking, with a pack, not running...

If I was within sight of shelter (a rarity) I sometimes trotted, and stayed a bit dryer...usually I just walked on, smiled, and tried to find things to enjoy...

One thing I learned was that it didn't matter one whit if I got wet when hypothermia was not a factor...the only important thing was whether or not, once I'd enjoyed the rain, I had dry clothes in my pack to change into while I cooked my supper...

I think we undervalue the good feeling rain falling on us offers...kids instinctively experience it as something special and dance around in it...imagine that...

We could re-learn things from them...rain's nothing to fear...

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If the rain comes, they run and hide their heads

I feel sorry for them...

Were the kids you appear to be referencing in your comment taught to fear rain for some reason...by adults?

My experience has been the opposite...

(just curious)

As a child, you get wet and when you are done, someone changes you: an adult. There is no downside. As an adult, you get wet and you know someone has to change you: you. If you don't change into dry, warm clothes, then you know you will get sick. In light of that, you learn that it might just be more convenient to stay dry. That trumps and drowns out the temporary joy.

Sure, sometimes it's more convenient to work at staying dry...especially if you need to be dry for a reason--work, an appointment, grocery shopping, etc...I'm pointing out and advocating something different...

Getting wet or cold; neither "causes" sickness...that theory was debunked years ago...

I commute to work in cities for some of my gigs, but don't live in them...my leisure time is mine...getting wet..?...It's just not that big of a deal when I have no pressing business...fear of getting wet is no reason to miss the magic of standing out in the rain...

We lead different lives, my friend...and both are OK...

Debunked? I'd be interested in seeing a source for that. I keep having to debate this with my mum and my girlfriend to no avail; they can't seem to let go of the wisdom of the ancients they believe their parents passed on to them.

https://goo.gl/FmhaAp

Nothing bullet-proof definitive here, but the consensus certainly seems to be that colds are caused by virus entering the respiratory system, nothing more.

>> We lead different lives, my friend...and both are OK...

Absolutely and thank goodness for that variety. I was just putting up an explanation for why kids like playing in the rain and why adults typically do not.

Good work at finding a way to work in how you thru-hiked the Appalachian Trial into a posting about rain!

You deserve a pat-on-the-back for the careful and tedious thought required to join such disparate topics, much like the constant struggle against the elements you had to face, step by step, and the invaluable rewards you must have received on your epic journey!

Brave, smart, enlightened... not to get off topic, but what other interesting qualities do you have, and the stories and wisdom to go with them, oh great "Outdoorsman"?

Edit: o why the downvote o great master? What thou request of thine?

Please don't post uncivil or unsubstantive comments to Hacker News. This one was both, which is no doubt the reason for the downvotes.

Also, the HN guidelines ask you not to go on about getting downvoted. See the two rules at the bottom:

https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html

You're getting downvoted because you're being snarky and condescending for no obvious reason. Outdoorsman's post was on-topic and I have no idea why you've taken offense to it.

He was obviously bragging about what he did. Normally I wouldn't mind. But trying to segue from a topic on how to avoid getting wet when going a short distance through rain to how he trekked the entire Appalachian Trail is just fucking ridiculous!

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