[Stefan]

REI. Like or hate it. Remember this: REI = Recreational Equipment INCORPORATED. And yes, they do file an 1120s tax return with the IRS. I worked there. Look it up. Become educated.

[Cyclopath]

Weird thread.

[Stefan]

[fourteen410]

[Chief Joseph]

Yet one more reason why I will never join an organization, that ^^^^ kind of behavior is abhorrent!

[Tom]

Yep, would be naive to think REI would be all that different than anywhere else. I've never been approached to buy a membership. I suspect my experience in that regard is more location dependent than what was inferred. I did have a hard time getting service once when shopping for a pack in the Bellevue store, but usually the experience is good.

[Stefan]

[fourteen410]

[Malachai Constant]

Don’t want to cast aspersions as I have not been a member for thirty years or so but there were a number of socially inept males there for some time. What was described above in the climbing class is criminal behavior and would result in discharge from any business I have associate with even 15 years ago. Edit I am not talking about REI but rather a local climbing organization referenced above.

[Tom]

If you re-read what Stefan said, he was speaking strictly to his perspective on the culture at REI having worked there, and his personal outdoor interactions, in response to an assertion that women have always been treated as second class citizens. What I took from that is that is REI is a generally progressive work environment, at least where he worked, maybe retail is different, and that he hangs out with a decent crowd in the outdoors, I suspect most of us do as well.

[fourteen410]

I actually re-read it a few times before commenting, wondering if it was a joke or a really out of touch statement. I have no issue with Stefan's comments about his experience at REI. I take issue with his assertion that women haven't been treated as "second class" in the outdoors community and that there's some anti-male "conspiracy" at play. That's absolute nonsense. I'm glad that he hasn't witnessed it. I hope no one has to. But my point is simply that things do happen whether you witness them or not.

[Tom]

Well, Stefan can certainly speak for himself but what you quoted reads to me as if he's speaking to his own experiences. I can't say it's something I've witnessed in the outdoors, everyone pretty much respects everyone else, that's not to say it doesn't happen, to a greater or lesser degree. I'm not really sure how it relates to REI.

[Stefan]

[Cyclopath]

[fourteen410]