oh, well that is way better.
Haha, I appreciate the clarification, but please understand I was also joking a little with my post as I get the idea of what you are saying it was just funny to me so I rolled with that in my response.
As for REI marketing to wannabes, I get that such an approach is ripped on, but if I want to be a camper then I should go to REI that makes sense. Or if I want to be a Backpacker I should go to REI. Etc etc etc.
If I want to be a fisherman I would go to Bass Pro Shops.

in all fairness, I completely understand what your original post was intended to say. I do agree with it in some way too. My local REI is in the most upscale section of our Metro and is quite often filled with a lot of people who i would guess want to feel like they are outdoors more than actually be outdoors.
thing is, I fall into that category sometimes as well. The idea of going camping with my kids for a random weekend is sometimes more appealing than actually going camping.