What have you given up for climbing?

Post general questions and discuss issues related to climbing.
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Sierra Ledge Rat

 
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Re: What have you given up for climbing?

by Sierra Ledge Rat » Fri Dec 03, 2010 3:33 am

The Chief wrote:And for you folks that didn't get my post... I haven't given up shit for climbing as it has been a priority in my life for a long ass time. Over 42 years to be exact.


Well said.

Climbing was my #1 priority for many, many years. I gave up...

Jobs. I lost track of how many jobs I quit in order to go climbing.

Money. No work, no money. Dumpster morsels don't taste all that bad after a while....

Meaningful relationships (I had plenty of meaningless relationships in the back of my Volkswagen in the Curry parking lot...)

Education. Could've gotten better than a 2.5 GPA were it not for climbing.

Family. Christmas is for climbing, not for family gatherings!

My body. It's ruined. Joints pop out of place. My knees, my knees... If I had known that I was going to live this long, I wouldn't have taken all those risks and had all those accidents.

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Princess Buttercup

 
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Re: What have you given up for climbing?

by Princess Buttercup » Fri Dec 03, 2010 3:07 pm

Annnnnndddd... yet another initially thought-provoking thread devolves into a Darija and Pete Whinefest. We should make flyers. :roll: Entertaining for a few posts here and there to watch everyone get suckered in, but then I tear myself away so I can actually pack for another weekend adventure...

So what did I give up?

Living in a big city.
Really nasty air quality.
Traffic.
Mall shopping.
The thrill of hearing choppers over my head at 0200.
Working for 8 hours between the same four walls.
Paddling with my crew at Marina Outrigger.
Any significant amount of savings as I collected gear for whatever adventure would await me on a daily basis, year-round.
This year: time with my family as I trained. (Can't wait to see everyone at Christmas!)

What did I gain?

My own happiness.
Confidence in my abilities, and in who I am as a person.
Contact with incredible teachers (utmost thanks!).
The strongest bonds of friendship, which turns into family.
The development of (hopefully!) a lifelong passion that drives me daily.

Every morning, I look west when I drive out, and say hello to my "boys" (Tom, Basin, Humphreys, Locke, Emerson), and smile.

See ya'll in the heights.

-L 8)
Last edited by Princess Buttercup on Fri Dec 03, 2010 3:48 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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Re: What have you given up for climbing?

by MoapaPk » Fri Dec 03, 2010 4:14 pm

Well, back to the main question. I'll define "climbing" as getting to the top of a mountain, maybe with light use of ice axe and crampons, and some mild class 5.

I didn't give up anything for that; rather climbing gave me back some dignity.

I always did some "climbing," but for about 25 years, job and grad school took the vast amount of my extra time. I stayed in good shape with about 30 minutes exercise/day tops, but that was my limit for spare time.

Then in 2002, I had a freak stroke, due to a congenital heart defect. The doctors didn't hold out much hope for my survival, since the brain stem was damaged, along with a fair portion of the right cerebellum-- the portion that affects procedural memory (like learning to tie new knots), balance, and fine motions such as are used in writing and speaking. This was tough, as a lot of my job involved interactions with people; sort of high-level tutoring, using a blackboard and a computer screen. I felt like an idiot most of the time; I was always getting treated as mentally disabled by store clerks. I wrote my signature agonizingly slowly, and once had an impatient man in a wheelchair (behind me in the checkout line) shout angrily, "can't you see I'm handicapped!?" Think about writing your name, if you can't control motion in your dominant hand to within 3 mm.

But in the outdoors, I felt human again. There was hardly any need to use such fine motions; I learned to balance from intellectual cues (that's a vertical cliff, that's the horizontal horizon). You really don't have to aim for a handhold with all the much precision; and your non-dominant side can do much of the work.

So I didn't give up anything; climbing gave me back my life.

1000Pks wrote:btw, this is apparently classed as an adult site. Yes, SP is porn. You will not bring it up on some computers with parental control software activated.


Except we don't have video chat.

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Bob Sihler
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Re: What have you given up for climbing?

by Bob Sihler » Fri Dec 03, 2010 9:32 pm

Pages 5-11 of this thread have a new home in Off-Route. I apologize to the few who actually made on-topic posts in those pages.
"Alcohol is like love. The first kiss is magic, the second is intimate, the third is routine. After that you take the girl's clothes off."

--Terry Lennox, The Long Goodbye (Raymond Chandler)

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MarkDidier

 
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Re: What have you given up for climbing?

by MarkDidier » Fri Dec 03, 2010 10:10 pm

When I first came across this thread my initial thought was that the majority of people would probably be asking the question - How many adventures have I given up for family/career, etc.? Several people in this thread have already alluded to this. I would say mvs' perspective is from "the road less travelled" and I would gather is a much more difficult route than the traditional route of family/career. Like many I chose the latter, not the former, (primarily due to family) and I am content with that.

Eventually it does come down to being content with your choices, because typically some sacrifices have to be made. Yes, we would all like to have our cake and eat it too...it just usually doesn't work out that way for most people.

So since I choose to not be in the mountains each weekend, I get my mountain fix vicariously through the adventures/submittals of other SP members. Keep em' coming.

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Re: What have you given up for climbing?

by mvs » Sat Dec 04, 2010 12:19 pm

Joe White wrote:
mvs wrote:
A lot of us here have built our lives around the dream of climbing.



First, thanks for your post...it's very much appreciated! Second, not sure if you intentionally phrased this line "built our lives around the dream of climbing" as opposed to the alternative "built our lives on the dream of climbing"....but to me, the former seems preferable to the latter. There's a difference, right?


Definitely a difference! The former phrasing admits that there are many good things in life, and unless you have very special circumstances, it's more likely that climbing occupies a room in your house rather than that it be the house. We could also lose climbing at any time. Remembering that might allow us to be thankful for it but enjoy the rest of life as well. Thanks for the comment!

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Guyzo

 
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Re: What have you given up for climbing?

by Guyzo » Sat Dec 04, 2010 5:10 pm

Bob Shiller.... Respectfully, I don't really like the moves you make as a moderator, at all, no way at all. I mean who do you think you are? Threads have a way of growing in there own organic way, and you sir, by moving stuff, deleting stuff, modifying stuff is just plain WRONG.

I bet you move or delete this too.

:cry: :cry: :cry:

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Re: What have you given up for climbing?

by mvs » Sat Dec 04, 2010 10:35 pm

Guyzo I appreciate that Bob kept serious conversation in the thread in the main forum. I accept some blame that he had to do some work here because I opened this thread with 1) a philosophical topic that has borne fruit, and 2) some pretty angry comments about forum activities. I ended up adding fuel to a fire that didn't need it, and undermining the serious topic I wanted to talk about in the first place. Eventually recognizing my error, I assumed the whole thread would be chucked into Off-Route. Bob did me a favor and I have to say thanks for his editing service. I think the fork did allow the thread to keep growing in a positive way.

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Guyzo

 
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Re: What have you given up for climbing?

by Guyzo » Sun Dec 05, 2010 2:04 am

mvs.... I wish to thank you for putting up a choice topic.

We, as SP members, should not have our writings censored, in anyway. IMHO

The dude is just way off base.

You should feel like you are part of the "tribe" "community" whatever you want to call it.

If some people wish to show how shallow, ignorant, misinformed, racist and or stupid they really are through their posts I say let it happen.

We are all Grown ups, and having some "Big Brother" type lord over us and our writings is not necessary.

One of the main attractions of SP - to me- is the wide openness it has historically had, especially when you compare it to some of the heavily moderated sites.

Once a site gets moderated it looses its true identity and becomes an agenda driven, one dimensional place, much like political sites.

I really don't wish to loose what little freedom we do have.

GK

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Re: What have you given up for climbing?

by The Chief » Sun Dec 05, 2010 2:12 am

What "freedom" Guy?

Show me in the written SP rules where it states "Freedom" shall reign, so type and post away.... please show/ref me this "Freedom" you speak of.

Thanks.

PS: According to THIS, the word was given differently, a longass time ago. Maybe some should read the "RULES" before they join then post...

4. Editorial Control
SP staff maintains the right to perform edits on your submitted Content for the purpose of correcting factual errors, removing copyright violations, and changing or deleting any Content that is otherwise in violation of SP policies.

The SP website consists of "objects" (eg Mountains, Albums, Articles, Lists) contributed by members. Each "object" in SP has at least one "maintainer" - a person authorized to make edits to the object. You become the initial maintainer of objects you contribute. As maintainer, you are expected to ensure that the information provided for your object is useful, complete, accurate, and up-to-date.

You acknowledge that objects you contribute may be deleted or transferred to another maintainer in accordance with SP policies. You agree that in the event of a transfer, the new maintainer may modify material which you have contributed.

When you make contributions to an existing object, you are authorizing that object's maintainer (and future maintainers) to incorporate, modify, or reject your contribution as he or she sees fit.

You retain your copyright in your contributions, subject only to the editorial controls described here.






I learned the hard way that there aint no stinking "Freedom" here and if you do not follow the guidelines, the "Elves" will do as they feel is best for the site. It's their job to do so. And I respect them all for standing firm and doing their best to be consistent in their actions across the board in this regard.

I say either respect that/them in general, or eject yur ass outta here for not wanting to adapt nor willing to conform to the posted rules.
Last edited by The Chief on Sun Dec 05, 2010 2:25 am, edited 1 time in total.

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Guyzo

 
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Re: What have you given up for climbing?

by Guyzo » Sun Dec 05, 2010 2:24 am

Rick.... wow, I interpret the rules, you just referenced, very differently.

SP, way back was very free and a lot more fun.

Now not much.

I feel that the Moderators are wrecking this site.

Heck can't I have my own opinion on the subject.

GK

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The Chief

 
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Re: What have you given up for climbing?

by The Chief » Sun Dec 05, 2010 2:30 am

C'mon Guy... get real.

"SP Policies" is what we in the Navy called the "Catch All" Article. In other words, it is up to the discretion of the Elves/Moderators to utilize it in order to maintain a level base of control on SP, IMO.

As I see it, this Thread aint no opinion. Rather, appears to be an insistence of action on your part.

I was banned over a dozen times for thinking that I was free to do as I wished.

I not once called for the dismissal of any Moderator after any of my banning's, regardless of their premise to do so.


I learned different the hard way and now do my best to follow the regs/rules.

AJ gave me some great personal general and very sound posting advise earlier this year before he departed, "If you feel that your post may be questionable/offensive, send it to the Elves first for evaluation prior to posting. It may save you some future grief."(Paraphrased)

I have done my best to follow this very sensible and good advise since then. It has indeed kept me out of trouble.

Does this mean I have caved in? Not one bit. It means that I learned to follow the rules that are posted and that I agreed to follow as my personal responsibility to do so, when I joined.

Just cuz I got a Ferrari, don't give me the right to go 175 in a 65 zone and get away with it.

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Guyzo

 
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Re: What have you given up for climbing?

by Guyzo » Sun Dec 05, 2010 3:55 am

Rick.... I am always real no fake stuff, I call things as I see them. If I am wrong I will admit it. This is how I live.

AJs advise is right on. I sometimes walk away from the computer and do something for a while, then I come back and re read what I wrote before pressing the "forget it" button. I think the Mods could at least do the same.

Maybe they could think a little bit before editing/moving stuff.

And to you, Rick I will say this, at one time you put up some of the most tasteless, hate filled stuff I have ever read. Some of the stuff you said to others made me sick and not proud to call myself a climber. But through it all, I knew that was not you- at all, just some internet persona you developed that always had something to say.

Peace and love to all.

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Joe White

 
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Re: What have you given up for climbing?

by Joe White » Sun Dec 05, 2010 4:47 am

mattski wrote:
Re: What have you given up for climbing?



social life/money/mental stability


this seems sad matt....are you content with this?

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The Chief

 
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Re: What have you given up for climbing?

by The Chief » Sun Dec 05, 2010 4:52 am

Guy, aren't you just full of good tidings and judgement tonight.

My dearest apologies for making you sick and not fulfilling your expectations of how a climber should behave. Guess I just aint a "real climber".

Seems I have read this somewhere else on this site in the past.... unfkingbelievble.

Done.

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