Dow Williams wrote:mp is much more climbing (read actual climbing) related...climbing photos, route of the day, latest news and climbing articles from the rags, etc....SP is more of a hiking/photog site with a few of us climbers littering up the place from time to time....both have good beta, but MP has more climbing contributers regarding actual routes, no question, helps if you want to read summit logs to check out conditions of the route, etc....but several of us here provide a better print ready beta (first account) format for the same routes....both are good visits if you are taking on a technical route with a bit of adventure to it....

MichaelJ wrote:This site should actually probably call itself Slog Post. Nice pictures, though.

MichaelJ wrote:Better climbers tend to hang out on MP, which is why it's easier for anyone with more time than skill to rack up points on SP, which is fine if that's what you're into but some may find the self-congratulatory beta sprayers a bit tiresome (sorry, your parents didn't love you). There are, of course, some good individual contributions from people who aren't always calling attention to how supposedly good their contributions are. Also, MP really does a more comprehensive job on most places from the Valley to Patagonia. This site should actually probably call itself Slog Post. Nice pictures, though.

SpiderSavage wrote:SummitPost: Mountains (as in Summits)
MountainProject: Rocks (as in vertical surfaces)
SuperTopo: People (I've never understood why the best climbers hang that forum.)

SummitPost is by far the prettiest and most well organized (with room for improvement). Far better than a climbing magazine. The high quality collaborative content is superb. All the big gear companies need to wake up and start advertising here.

Dingus Milktoast wrote:

SpiderSavage wrote:SummitPost: Mountains (as in Summits)
MountainProject: Rocks (as in vertical surfaces)
SuperTopo: People (I've never understood why the best climbers hang that forum.)

SummitPost is by far the prettiest and most well organized (with room for improvement). Far better than a climbing magazine. The high quality collaborative content is superb. All the big gear companies need to wake up and start advertising here.

There are three things I think that make that climbing site unique (not a singularity mind you but a unique recipe)

Bear in mind that has nothing to do with this site - direct correlation is impossible. But I think there are 3 elements there that served to create the flavor:

1. Very light hand in moderation, but when the hammer falls there is ZERO warning and ZERO explanation. There is no appeal process, all rulings are final. Whack-A-Mole was basically invented there.

2. One forum, so all are in the mosh pit together. Can't hide the crap under the covers our out back behind the septic tank. This serves to bring attention of all users to each other.

3. There is no real purpose to the forum. Its just a bullshit bulletin board, so whatever purpose has arisen from it has been at the whim and discretion of the users.

Now what has come out of it all are some of the best historical climbing threads in American history (of climbing). I shit you knott. The site, so far as I know, is without parallel in this regard. A lot of it was endangered of being pissed away but eh owner finally wised up and provided a means to host and save these gems.

But you have to mine the site to find them.

to start, you could search a couple of user names

jello
longago
rgold
largo
Peter Haan


those will get you going. There are dozens of stellar contributors.

The Taco is unique, as is SP. Each has its own flavor.

What is not tolerated at the Taco is heavy duty personal attacks, though the site has its shatre of light hearted trolling. Serious trolls last about 5 days there on average before disappearing into the night.

WHACK!

Cheers
DMT