Since you raised the question of guys and tree-measuring, I'll share my
observations. I'm sure that you and others have made these points many
times, but you may appreciate knowing that I, as a newcomer to your
world, don't think that tree-hunters and -measurers are necessarily
obsessed with length and girth. Although the senders of much of the
spam I receive seem to think that I am.

* People like extremes. That's why there's not a Guinness Book of World
Averages.

* People are competitive; dudes can be particularly competitive. It's
fun to brag.

* Measuring trees serves an important practical purpose -- to prove the
age of trees, and the importance of preserving the forests we still
have. Statistics impress people and capture their interest, and it's
hard to get funding for anything unless you can quantify it for others.

* Trees which have outlived several generations of humans help point out
that we are latecomers to this Earth party, yet we've managed to wreck
the place in a short time. We don't need to explore space to find out
that we're not alone. We just need to notice the billions of living
things around us and realize that we belong to the Earth, not the other
way around.

* People relate to the world in many ways. ("Way" is "do" in Japanese,
"tao" in Chinese.) Studying martial arts is one way to enlightenment
(judo, tae kwon do, aikido). There is also the way of the tea ceremony;
the way of flower arranging; many others. One way isn't better or worse
than another; just different. Different things capture different
people's imaginations. Words can express the awe and reverence one
feels for an ancient tree; so can numbers.

Pamela (5'8")

http://www.pamelabriggs.com/