Why Can’t We All Just Get Along?
posted by bronco
In the illustrious words of Rodney King, “Why can’t we all just get along?” I think about this often when paroosing internet forums, blogs, and climbing websites. Has anyone else noticed that climbers can really be self righteous bastards? I mean, we have the ‘Trad is Rad’ crowd, the ‘I boulder because its the purest form of climbing’ dudes and dudettes, Alpinist light is right elitist, and sport climbing ego-maniacs. We all tend to think that are little niche of climbing is by far superior to all the other punter wannabes out there.
Don’t get me wrong, I love making fun of people, especially climbers. However, when jovial fun poking gives way to malice, then we have a problem. For the sake of sounding sappy, we can all learn from each other’s respective disciplines, except ice climbers, those guys are just dumb. No seriously, crossing over and gaining experience from other climbing genres can increase ability in your respective area. It’s like eating those green veggies when you were a kid, you hated it, but your mom made you. It was good for you, helped you grow, and now you may even enjoy it. Climbing can be like that. For instance, I am not that keen on bouldering. I just can’t get that psyched about it, however, I go do it sometimes, although reluctantly, and it helps. It’s possible that one day I will enjoy it too, just like spinach.
Basically, I am rambling today, but I just wanted to encourage everyone to stop taking themselves so serious, get with the program, be nice, and have fun. If not, then I am sending Sly to annihilate you!
Watch it Haters!
Share on Facebook
Even though I’m allergic to climbing ropes, I think I’ll take your advice. Crossover has been the soup du jour among my dreadlocked dirtbag partners of late.
Good post. Why do climbers hate?
The big question is, why do people hate? Us vs. them…xenophobia…fear of the other. The Internet lets people pour fuel on fires best ignored, to cultivate their anger; climbers are no different, as much as I wish we were. The challenge is to stomp out the lizard brain and figure out the engine behind it all. Overpopulation (in the cities, at the cliffs) is another factor. When someone’s in your way and in your face, it’s easier to hate on those most unlike yourself.
xoxo
The Chauggler
Good post.
All sport seem to have it – climbing seems to be at the high end of the scale though.
Ego’s is the problem along with people’s inability to just go out and enjoy something without proving how good you are (or think you are).
Society and the media program us this way – especially in the US! You ‘must’ have the big car/truck, the best lawn (regardless of the expense of the planets water) etc etc….
I hope people start changing their attitudes and live life for the real reasons instead of the way it goes around now… maybe this economic meltdown might wises up a few.
my favorite are the internet tough guys who continual slag people off but aren’t man enough to leave their own name. and elitists, those guys are cool too. here in western colorado you can find the crusty old guys who think the front range is infected by a plague they way they talk about folks there. the way i see it, climbing is an incredible gift for us all to enjoy and we should all be super psyched, all the time. our worst day is better than 90% of the rest of the world’s best days.
Right on bj! Great Comment!
“all we are sayyyying….is..” you know the rest.
seems to be a lot of these types of posts going on across the web these days. good to see!
gawd you all are so gay.
Good question. But clearly, my bolts are more ethically pure than yours.
Leave your response!
popular posts
Our Friends
contributors
>>>wig
>>>limit
>>>Cnote
fan page
Most Commented
Most Viewed