[Geysers] RE: Mike Jensen's Complaint

[sgryc at comcast.net]

I must take strong exception to Mike Jensen's complaint/query to Xanterra.  It is not true that "this group [the geyser list] routinely overbooks...lodging facilities."  The group of listserve subscribers and moderators neither books rooms nor organizes bookings among the subscribers to the list.  Nor do gazers who sometimes offer others their accomodations make the bookings just so they can "trade" bookings on line.  Mike statements are a complete misrepresentation of the situation.  Mike seems to think that offering others a booking that you ultimately cannot or do not use violates his belief that "accomodations in a national park should be made available to the public at large on an equal basis."  However, Mike and everyone else (even non-tax-paying non-citizens) can do just as many gazers do and spend the time and effort it takes to secure accomodations at Old Faithful.  We certainly get no special treatment, and I don't think that offering a room you booked to someone el
 se is cheating.  Trying to nudge Xanterra into instituting some kind of booking police policy isn't going to help anyone.  Any such policy would simply add another complication to a task which is too difficult too often.  Maybe the moderator should write to Xanterra to correct Mike's misstatements regarding the listserve.

Steve Gryc