maybe I could have gave them all hugs and sat and made beads with them, is that how you do it sd?
and yes I do believe you do watch little house.
No. How I do it is
1) Being involved with my local and state orgs and helping noobs get involved in the sport. I even loan out my spare sled and gear and take the curious out riding. I volunteer for work parties and do trail maintenance and work our booth at events.
2) I write calm, adult, point specific letters to my state legislature, governor and congressional delegation expressing my concerns. (I also have my wife proof-read them so I don't come off like an idiot)
3) When I'm out riding I exercise caution and courtesy on common use trails. In AK we don't encounter skiers too much but we do share trails with dog mushers quite a bit. When I encounter a sled team I pull over, hit the kill switch and wait for the dogs to pass. 95% of the time I get thanked.
4) If I do encounter skiers/snowshoers I extend them the same courtesy I do mushers. I haven't been flipped off or spit at or anything (yet).
I realize that anyone on skis is likely to be "the enemy" so I'm careful not to give my enemy any ammo to use against me. If I'm ever assaulted by a non-motorized activist type I hope I will remain composed enough to be smart about it--get pictures, witness statements--evidence, and then lawyer-up. If they get really physical well then I guess we'll see who kicks whose a$$. (but realistically that's not likely to happen)
Your attitude of "They hate us no matter what, so I'm free to act like an azz clown" is helping to kill our sport one vote at a time.
All I'm asking is that you try and be a good ambassador of the sport...on behalf of everyone who likes to ride sleds.