Thank you so much for your own thoughtful comments. At first, it was all the great information on SP that attracted me, but now it's more about the great people I've met both here and in person. It's a great way to meet people who share your thoughts and visions. Thanks for taking the time to read this.
Thanks for checking it out, Dan! I hope if I ever get out to Wales that I run into you in the mountains out there. You seem to like the mountains for many of the same reasons I do, and the same types of mountains.
From reading your writings I reckon we are motivated to go forth into the mountains for similar reasons. If you ever do make it over to Wales make sure you let me know, it'd be a pleasure to show you around the mountains and wildernesses we have here, and although they can't compete with what you have in terms of scale, they are special in their own intimate way (at least that's what I think!).
Dan, scale matters not a bit except to those who see peaks as trophies to collect. The mountains of Wyoming may dwarf most of yours, but the they are less than half the height of many of the peaks in Asia. But I still love them. Your mountains are rocky and bare and rugged and have a wild look to them, and they appeal to me for all those things. I hope I see them someday, as well as the mountains of Scotland.
Esp. liked the section on "questioning my own continuing interest and participation in the site". Having spent much time here, I've asked those same questions of myself too. We did meet some cool people that we've become friends with (a handful that were not quite so nice but they are in the minority :)
Anyway, enjoyable read & as others mentioned congrats on the new addition. Cheers.
Thanks-- that addition is the result of stupidity, though. I swore I was done after two! Well, that's the way it goes (and it's how lots of us got here, anyway). It's too bad about meeting some folks that aren't so great-- I've heard some similar stories from other members about people who were just total asses in person-- but I agree they're in the minority. It just sucks that such minorities are often so loud and obvious.
Thanks a lot, Puma. It's nice to run into each other on the "real" site instead of just PnP! (Or is PnP the real site?) Have a great time in Idaho this summer. I'll be out in Montana in July.
certainly issues we all struggle with. I am never sure if I really want to put on the internet routes to places that I love - where there is virtually nobody else ever around. I'm still struggling with that one and have not posted about them because of it.
And hiking/climbing partners are to be cherished if you find good ones!
Judging by many of your pictures I've seen, I imagine I'd enjoy the pages you would make, but you're certainly not doing any harm to those places by keeping them off this site. I will be attempting several remote and/or little-traveled peaks this summer, and almost all of them are not on SP. I'm already wondering if I should refrain from making pages. If I want to share something about those mountains, I can always make a trip report that shows the scenery and tells some experiences but doesn't give away directions or secrets.
that is what I thought too. Right now they are full of wildlife, no trails and no cairns. It is a delight to be in. Well, look forward to the trip reports and photos instead.
In a small way I think this article filled the role for me that you insightfully describe literature as hopefully filling for your students: putting eloquent form to thoughts that we not only may not be able to crystallize ourselves, but also didn't know that someone else experienced them as well and was capable of expressing them. Nicely done!
I think it's interesting that writing about being somewhat antisocial might, by enabling others who might also be a bit antisocial to relate, make them feel a connection. Why should that be so if we really would rather be alone (in the mountains)? Maybe it's not so much that we're antisocial but that we're just not satisfied with superficial sociality. The experience of the mountains and wilderness has an emotional depth that most human relationships never achieve, but when they do achieve it, and especially when that happens in the mountains, it's a sublime thing.
"Maybe it's not so much that we're antisocial but that we're just not satisfied with superficial sociality."
I think that says it perfectly. That's exactly how I feel. It seems to me that whenever I'm in a social setting, people tend to talk about the same old mindless crap even though no one's interested in it. I've literally seen people stand around at a party and discuss their cell phones and the service plans they have. Unbelievable.
Thank you for such a thoughful response, and thank you for reading the article. I'm glad you found you could relate to parts of it.
Good thoughts, Lolli, and thank you. I think that need to be alone runs very strongly in me. In fact, there have been many times that people have found me cold or arrogant when in fact I was only being solitary. It is fortunate that my wife understands this need in me, as I imagine it could be very hard for many people to deal with.
And yes, one should stay here for what and whom s/he likes, not leave because of what's bad. Leaving empowers and vindicates those who make the trouble, and it makes them proportionally louder.
Actually, I've only been to Seneca Rocks once. It was back in 1997, I think, on Memorial Day Weekend. We just stopped briefly on our way out to Blackwater Falls for the night. I would like to get back out there and see how high up the rocks I can hike and scramble.
Greetings from Idaho. I thoroughly enjoyed sharing in your personal thoughts and experiences. I've not had a lot of mountaineering experiences, but I've always had a love of high places. I've shared these places vicariously through many TR's in this site, and would hate to see it dwindle. As an english teacher, you know the power of the written word, and it's ability to transport the reader into realms that are otherwise impossible to go. I'm too old and crippled to participate in any other way. Add pictures to the mix, and it ices the cake nicely. Thanks for your contributions.
Thank you so much for all your remarks. It's great that you can enjoy the site even though your mountaineering days may be over, and that enduring love of the mountains is what makes them so great. I have spent many hours on this site (too many hours) enjoying beautiful places I'll probably never see and sharing the relative handful I have, and it's great to know that others do the same. Thank you again.
I related very much to your article. I'm fairly antisocial myself and you pretty much described me perfect at the beginning of your article - I am the classic introvert. Often when people meet me, there don't think I am introverted, but like most introverts, we can socialize very well; we just don't necessarily need to. Like you, it is probably this part of my personality that draws me to climbing - I'm sure if there was a study done, introverts would make up a large portion of the climbing population. Having said that, one of my best friends and long time climbing partner, is the poster boy for extraverts.
I have done trip reports for many years (long before I joined SP), because I love writing and its a way to share my passion with other friends and family (mostly all of whom don't climb). SummitPost is a wonderful mechanism to do that. My partner Greg (joined SP at the same time as me) and I often have the same photos on our sites or each others - we also write trip reports for the same trip. We do this because each of our's site is for ourself and no one else. Greg's trip report about the same trip as my trip report makes sense, because we are doing this for ourselves, not for SP. Same with pictures - it doesn't matter to me that my photos are on his site and vica versa, because the sites are for us, and not anyone else. As long as we're happy, that's what counts.
A long and rambling response - sorry, but your article struck a cord (as many others have already noted). Cheers!
Thank you for the kind words. I'm glad that it spoke to you on some level. I can relate to what you say about being able to socialize; it's just painful for me to do it. More than once, I've given people the impression of arrogance when really I'm just happy in my own thoughts and preferring fewer words.
You seem to have a good thing there with Greg; he can talk to the passersby while you climb! (As long as he's paying attention while belaying, of course.) You guys have been adding some really nice trip reports with some fantastic pictures, too. I've never done any real ice climbing, but you two make it look pretty awesome.
Cash it in, you're there. You're a huge part of SP and everyone knows it. Create a custom object yearly page and build that sucker however YOU want, no "getting there" no "red tape" no "Mountain conditions" no "Camping."
Just add what seems right for YOU and your readers. I will say, that it's important to have an existing thread somewhere to bring attention to what you do. Many of us like reading and seeing what you do but we need to be called to when YOUR page is updated with something new. I use the Colorado "What's New" thread, it works great.
BTW, my "2007" page has almost 5,000 hits and 55 votes. This system works.
Bob Sihler - Feb 13, 2008 2:09 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: A thoughtful,Thank you so much for your own thoughtful comments. At first, it was all the great information on SP that attracted me, but now it's more about the great people I've met both here and in person. It's a great way to meet people who share your thoughts and visions. Thanks for taking the time to read this.
Nanuls - Feb 13, 2008 3:57 pm - Voted 10/10
Nice article Bob......as thoughtful and engaging as ever. I read your trip reports too, an impressive amount of work!
Thanks for posting
Dan
Bob Sihler - Feb 14, 2008 9:56 am - Hasn't voted
Re: Nice article Bob...Thanks for checking it out, Dan! I hope if I ever get out to Wales that I run into you in the mountains out there. You seem to like the mountains for many of the same reasons I do, and the same types of mountains.
Nanuls - Feb 16, 2008 1:17 pm - Voted 10/10
Re: Nice article Bob...From reading your writings I reckon we are motivated to go forth into the mountains for similar reasons. If you ever do make it over to Wales make sure you let me know, it'd be a pleasure to show you around the mountains and wildernesses we have here, and although they can't compete with what you have in terms of scale, they are special in their own intimate way (at least that's what I think!).
All the best
Dan
Bob Sihler - Feb 17, 2008 5:20 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: Nice article Bob...Dan, scale matters not a bit except to those who see peaks as trophies to collect. The mountains of Wyoming may dwarf most of yours, but the they are less than half the height of many of the peaks in Asia. But I still love them. Your mountains are rocky and bare and rugged and have a wild look to them, and they appeal to me for all those things. I hope I see them someday, as well as the mountains of Scotland.
Bob
rpc - Feb 13, 2008 7:48 pm - Voted 10/10
good readEsp. liked the section on "questioning my own continuing interest and participation in the site". Having spent much time here, I've asked those same questions of myself too. We did meet some cool people that we've become friends with (a handful that were not quite so nice but they are in the minority :)
Anyway, enjoyable read & as others mentioned congrats on the new addition. Cheers.
Bob Sihler - Feb 14, 2008 10:02 am - Hasn't voted
Re: good readThanks-- that addition is the result of stupidity, though. I swore I was done after two! Well, that's the way it goes (and it's how lots of us got here, anyway). It's too bad about meeting some folks that aren't so great-- I've heard some similar stories from other members about people who were just total asses in person-- but I agree they're in the minority. It just sucks that such minorities are often so loud and obvious.
Bob Sihler - Feb 14, 2008 9:59 am - Hasn't voted
Re: Another Good OneThanks a lot, Puma. It's nice to run into each other on the "real" site instead of just PnP! (Or is PnP the real site?) Have a great time in Idaho this summer. I'll be out in Montana in July.
klwagar - Feb 14, 2008 11:48 am - Voted 10/10
well donecertainly issues we all struggle with. I am never sure if I really want to put on the internet routes to places that I love - where there is virtually nobody else ever around. I'm still struggling with that one and have not posted about them because of it.
And hiking/climbing partners are to be cherished if you find good ones!
Bob Sihler - Feb 15, 2008 9:59 am - Hasn't voted
Re: well doneJudging by many of your pictures I've seen, I imagine I'd enjoy the pages you would make, but you're certainly not doing any harm to those places by keeping them off this site. I will be attempting several remote and/or little-traveled peaks this summer, and almost all of them are not on SP. I'm already wondering if I should refrain from making pages. If I want to share something about those mountains, I can always make a trip report that shows the scenery and tells some experiences but doesn't give away directions or secrets.
klwagar - Feb 15, 2008 10:36 am - Voted 10/10
Re: well donethat is what I thought too. Right now they are full of wildlife, no trails and no cairns. It is a delight to be in. Well, look forward to the trip reports and photos instead.
seanpeckham - Feb 14, 2008 1:13 pm - Voted 10/10
insightful and excellent readIn a small way I think this article filled the role for me that you insightfully describe literature as hopefully filling for your students: putting eloquent form to thoughts that we not only may not be able to crystallize ourselves, but also didn't know that someone else experienced them as well and was capable of expressing them. Nicely done!
I think it's interesting that writing about being somewhat antisocial might, by enabling others who might also be a bit antisocial to relate, make them feel a connection. Why should that be so if we really would rather be alone (in the mountains)? Maybe it's not so much that we're antisocial but that we're just not satisfied with superficial sociality. The experience of the mountains and wilderness has an emotional depth that most human relationships never achieve, but when they do achieve it, and especially when that happens in the mountains, it's a sublime thing.
Bob Sihler - Feb 15, 2008 10:07 am - Hasn't voted
Re: insightful and excellent read"Maybe it's not so much that we're antisocial but that we're just not satisfied with superficial sociality."
I think that says it perfectly. That's exactly how I feel. It seems to me that whenever I'm in a social setting, people tend to talk about the same old mindless crap even though no one's interested in it. I've literally seen people stand around at a party and discuss their cell phones and the service plans they have. Unbelievable.
Thank you for such a thoughful response, and thank you for reading the article. I'm glad you found you could relate to parts of it.
Bob Sihler - Feb 19, 2008 10:02 am - Hasn't voted
Re: insightful and excellent readGood thoughts, Lolli, and thank you. I think that need to be alone runs very strongly in me. In fact, there have been many times that people have found me cold or arrogant when in fact I was only being solitary. It is fortunate that my wife understands this need in me, as I imagine it could be very hard for many people to deal with.
And yes, one should stay here for what and whom s/he likes, not leave because of what's bad. Leaving empowers and vindicates those who make the trouble, and it makes them proportionally louder.
Bob Sihler - Feb 15, 2008 10:09 am - Hasn't voted
Re: A growing SP addictionThanks for reading and commenting!
Actually, I've only been to Seneca Rocks once. It was back in 1997, I think, on Memorial Day Weekend. We just stopped briefly on our way out to Blackwater Falls for the night. I would like to get back out there and see how high up the rocks I can hike and scramble.
Biglew - Feb 22, 2008 1:33 am - Hasn't voted
VicariousGreetings from Idaho. I thoroughly enjoyed sharing in your personal thoughts and experiences. I've not had a lot of mountaineering experiences, but I've always had a love of high places. I've shared these places vicariously through many TR's in this site, and would hate to see it dwindle. As an english teacher, you know the power of the written word, and it's ability to transport the reader into realms that are otherwise impossible to go. I'm too old and crippled to participate in any other way. Add pictures to the mix, and it ices the cake nicely. Thanks for your contributions.
Bob Sihler - Feb 23, 2008 2:14 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: VicariousThank you so much for all your remarks. It's great that you can enjoy the site even though your mountaineering days may be over, and that enduring love of the mountains is what makes them so great. I have spent many hours on this site (too many hours) enjoying beautiful places I'll probably never see and sharing the relative handful I have, and it's great to know that others do the same. Thank you again.
AJones - Mar 2, 2008 11:02 pm - Voted 10/10
Good Article!I related very much to your article. I'm fairly antisocial myself and you pretty much described me perfect at the beginning of your article - I am the classic introvert. Often when people meet me, there don't think I am introverted, but like most introverts, we can socialize very well; we just don't necessarily need to. Like you, it is probably this part of my personality that draws me to climbing - I'm sure if there was a study done, introverts would make up a large portion of the climbing population. Having said that, one of my best friends and long time climbing partner, is the poster boy for extraverts.
I have done trip reports for many years (long before I joined SP), because I love writing and its a way to share my passion with other friends and family (mostly all of whom don't climb). SummitPost is a wonderful mechanism to do that. My partner Greg (joined SP at the same time as me) and I often have the same photos on our sites or each others - we also write trip reports for the same trip. We do this because each of our's site is for ourself and no one else. Greg's trip report about the same trip as my trip report makes sense, because we are doing this for ourselves, not for SP. Same with pictures - it doesn't matter to me that my photos are on his site and vica versa, because the sites are for us, and not anyone else. As long as we're happy, that's what counts.
A long and rambling response - sorry, but your article struck a cord (as many others have already noted). Cheers!
Bob Sihler - Mar 3, 2008 6:04 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: Good Article!Thank you for the kind words. I'm glad that it spoke to you on some level. I can relate to what you say about being able to socialize; it's just painful for me to do it. More than once, I've given people the impression of arrogance when really I'm just happy in my own thoughts and preferring fewer words.
You seem to have a good thing there with Greg; he can talk to the passersby while you climb! (As long as he's paying attention while belaying, of course.) You guys have been adding some really nice trip reports with some fantastic pictures, too. I've never done any real ice climbing, but you two make it look pretty awesome.
Kane - Mar 3, 2008 8:56 pm - Voted 10/10
BobI'll keep it short and sweet.
Cash it in, you're there. You're a huge part of SP and everyone knows it. Create a custom object yearly page and build that sucker however YOU want, no "getting there" no "red tape" no "Mountain conditions" no "Camping."
Just add what seems right for YOU and your readers. I will say, that it's important to have an existing thread somewhere to bring attention to what you do. Many of us like reading and seeing what you do but we need to be called to when YOUR page is updated with something new. I use the Colorado "What's New" thread, it works great.
BTW, my "2007" page has almost 5,000 hits and 55 votes. This system works.
Kane