I don't care what anyone brings if they can carry it. We'd try to educate first timers but what they did with that info beyond you get two group meals a day and expect rain and a little hardship was up to them.

I agree they are no chores with significant others but when friends, and especially friends of friends are unhelpful, after a few days that can become an unneeded and unwelcome source of irritation. Some add interesting fodder to campfire discussions or have a particular talent like cleaning fish or getting wood that's helpful and that's fine, but if their best contribution to the group is around the fire at night telling everyone: "Oh, and another time, I got so f'ed up..." all she got invited to in the future was the post trip party. She was more than welcome there.

The air in the pack comment struck me as funny. Some pack so tightly at home that they can't fit everything back in. Hey, here's a yellow plastic bag... Keep it. We don't need it.