Discussion Topic |
|
This thread has been locked |
looks easy from here
climber
Ben Lomond, CA
|
|
|
Topic Author's Original Post - Dec 1, 2014 - 12:55pm PT
|
EDIT: REPORT IS DONE. THANKS FOR THE HELP, EVERYONE
Full disclosure: I’m posting this topic for a research paper for an anthropology class. I’ve seen these sorts of threads generally go down in flames, but I’m hoping the fact that this isn’t my first post here, and that I’ve been (I like to think) productive member here will engender me at least a modicum of goodwill. Post #2 is a survey and I will be grateful for anyone who’s willing to share their answers, and post #3 is (are?) my answers and some thoughts, because I don’t ask anyone to share anything I am unwilling to share. Here's a link to an offsite version of the survey:
That being said, I do honestly find this an interesting question, and would love to hear any discussion about it, regardless of completion of the survey.
So, do rock climbers think that rock climbing is an “extreme sport”?
|
|
looks easy from here
climber
Ben Lomond, CA
|
|
|
Topic Author's Reply - Dec 1, 2014 - 12:55pm PT
|
1. How old are you? Are you male or female? How long have you been rock climbing?
2. What percentage of your time climbing do you spend participating in the following types of climbing:
-top-roping
-free climbing, sport
-free climbing, trad
-aid climbing
-free soloing
3. What type of climbing that you participate in do you enjoy most?
4. Which of these factors to you enjoy most about climbing: physical challenge, mental challenge (e.g. problem solving), psychological challenge (e.g. overcoming fear), excitement, internal reflection.
5. Which of the factors listed above do you experience most while climbing?
6. Who do you most enjoy climbing with: solo, with just a partner, in a group/social setting?
7. Do you most enjoy climbing below, at, or above your physical limit?
8. What is your approach to the potential risk inherent in rock climbing: to mitigate it, accept it, or embrace it?
9. What is the longest fall you’ve taken while climbing?
10. Have you ever been injured while climbing? How severely? How many times?
11. Do you think rock climbing an extreme sport, in general, and the way you most do it?
12. What are some activities that are extreme sports in your opinion?
|
|
looks easy from here
climber
Ben Lomond, CA
|
|
|
Topic Author's Reply - Dec 1, 2014 - 12:55pm PT
|
1. How long have you been rock climbing?
33 year old male, climbing for 3 years.
2. What percentage of your time climbing do you spend participating in the following types of climbing:
-top-roping 35%
-free climbing, sport 40%
-free climbing, trad 25%
-aid climbing 0%
-free soloing 0%
3. What type of climbing that you participate in do you enjoy most?
trad
4. Which of these factors to you enjoy most about climbing: physical challenge, mental challenge (e.g. problem solving), psychological challenge (e.g. overcoming fear), excitement, internal reflection.
Internal reflection
5. Which of the factors listed above do you experience most while climbing?
Psychological challenge
6. Who do you most enjoy climbing with: solo, with just a partner, in a group/social setting?
partner.
7. Do you most enjoy climbing below, at, or above your physical limit?
Below.
8. What is your approach to the potential risk inherent in rock climbing: to mitigate it, accept it, or embrace it?
Mitigate it.
9. What is the longest fall you’ve taken while climbing?
10'
10. Have you ever been injured while climbing? How severely? How many times?
No.
11. Do you think rock climbing an extreme sport, in general, and the way you most do it?
No, and no.
12. What are some activities that are extreme sports in your opinion?
Free soloing, BASE jumping, big wave surfing, Class V kayaking, deep free diving.
I’ve been rock climbing for about three years and when I tell someone who is not a rock climber that it is something I do the two most common reactions are “Isn’t that dangerous?” and “Aren’t you scared” to which my answers are “Not the way I do it” and “Sometimes, which is why I do it in a way that isn’t dangerous.” The public perception of rock climbing is of it as an extreme, high-risk activity but anecdotally my experiences suggest otherwise. I go to great care to mitigate potential risks inherent in rock climbing. As my experience level has grown I do things that appear riskier to people who don’t climb, but because of my knowledge and skill I know that I am not in any more danger than when I was taking fewer apparent risks, but was less skilled and knowledgeable. This is a pattern that I have observed in many other rock climbers that I know.
|
|
looks easy from here
climber
Ben Lomond, CA
|
|
|
Topic Author's Reply - Dec 1, 2014 - 01:16pm PT
|
Copy. I'll find someplace to host it. My interwebs kept crashing with surveymonkey, but I'll find an alternative.
My accounts open for pm's, too, for anyone who doesn't want to share publicly before I'm able to put together an offsite survey.
|
|
apogee
climber
Technically expert, safe belayer, can lead if easy
|
|
Yep, what DMT said.
|
|
Ksolem
Trad climber
Monrovia, California
|
|
I don't generally see cragging as an extreme sport. There have been a few exceptions along the way, but they were not in the original plan. I always approach climbing like it's a job. My profession. Even though it's not.
Use a private survey form for anything else.
|
|
skcreidc
Social climber
SD, CA
|
|
This is not railing at the OP, btw. I have never have liked the term "extreme" in this usage. When they first started calling some surfing extreme, my response was WTF?? Makes it sound like it's all crazy people doing this stuff. No doubt there are some, but lets just ignore the fact that these people have trained diligently for this activity (unless they are idiots). We still appreciate those who can go out and hunt down a mammoth and come back alive. This is modern day mammoth hunting; we are hard wired for this stuff.
edit, and the survey monkey or private survey is the way to go.
|
|
Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
|
|
I'd say yer time would be better spent on a paper about rock clamberers
and their self-perception as iconoclasts.
|
|
looks easy from here
climber
Ben Lomond, CA
|
|
|
Topic Author's Reply - Dec 1, 2014 - 01:47pm PT
|
I have never have liked the term "extreme" in this usage I don't think rock-climbing is extreme but if the person doing it makes certain choices - being a dumb n00b, onsight free solo above your normal leading comfort zone , caving without a headlamp..............where does dumb stop and extreme begin ?
These echo my opinions. It was my teacher (who's not a rock climber) repeatedly referring to rock climbing as an "extreme sport" that got my wheels turning about comparing an insiders perspective with an outsiders perspective.
And offering a constructive opinion, oppositional or no, is never annoying (at least in this context).
|
|
looks easy from here
climber
Ben Lomond, CA
|
|
|
Topic Author's Reply - Dec 1, 2014 - 02:02pm PT
|
The most challenging and most enjoyment questions? The answers felt too limiting. There was one question I could not answer at all.
The survey's for an 8 page intro to anthro paper, so I'm just looking for information that can be fairly easily dissected, hence the specifically narrow options on some of the very complex concepts.
I believe that the insider/outsider division of views on "extreme" is something that could be deeply studied, and if I were doing a masters thesis on the topic I would certainly be hassling everyone here a lot more doing pre-research for my research, so be thankful that this is just a brief snapshot of the topic. :p
And thanks to you and everyone who's taking their time to help me with my homework. :D
|
|
Ksolem
Trad climber
Monrovia, California
|
|
An extreme sport (or game?)
Russian Roulette
|
|
looks easy from here
climber
Ben Lomond, CA
|
|
|
Topic Author's Reply - Dec 1, 2014 - 02:35pm PT
|
Writing papers before the internet? You didn't actually have to talk to real people, did you? *shudder*
Fwiw, I am going to be printing copies of my survey out and harassing people face-to-face as well, so I'm not just relying on the lazy way out.
|
|
JEleazarian
Trad climber
Fresno CA
|
|
I took your survey, which I found interesting, but difficult because of the lack of definitions. What constitutes "extreme?" What is a "sport?"
I forgot about bullfighting and motor racing, as just two examples. I think a lot depends on the level of difficulty and the margin of safety.
Still, I rather enjoyed the thought experiment (although it was sobering to realize that I do aid climbing perhaps ten percent of the time, but I actually enjoy it quite a bit).
Best of luck!
John
|
|
labrat
Trad climber
Auburn, CA
|
|
Done with survey. The type of rock climbing I do is not extreme.
|
|
Lorenzo
Trad climber
Oregon
|
|
Dec 1, 2014 - 02:21pm PT
I wrote a college paper in the early 80s about extreme sports :)
I quoted an article from Outside Magazine circa 1980-ish about Sylvan Saudan, one of the early commercial faces on 'Extreme skiing." The French coined the term extreme skiing (ypically from 45 to 60+ degrees slopes) in the 70s.
They were selling magazines, ski equipment and lifestyle ;)
So we owe our rad lifestyles to cheese eating wine swilling cigarette choking effeminate frenchmen with big sunglasses and pine boards for skis.
Viva la France! And off with their heads!!!!111111
DMT
Was that you?
Years ago we were taking an off day at Glacier point. ( Flakey Foont, I think) and some guy came by with a survey.
Best question:
"How has climbing affected your career choices?"
My partner:
" easy. I don't have a career."
|
|
Bill Mc Kirgan
Trad climber
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
|
|
I took the survey because you did a great job explaining what this is about in your OP. I hope you get some good data to mull over, and think about what's next.
If you are at a college or university I suggest you look to see if they provide you with web survey tools like REDCap or Qualtrics.
|
|
Roger Breedlove
climber
Cleveland Heights, Ohio
|
|
I responded as if it were 1980.
Kevin, did you complete the survey? You are a rare climber with your long career.
|
|
bergbryce
climber
East Bay, CA
|
|
its only extreme for the belayer on the days after I eat cabbage.
|
|
Roger Breedlove
climber
Cleveland Heights, Ohio
|
|
I had a short career a long time ago. You have had a long career. Extreme sport did not exist when we climbed together. So, did the sports change or tbe marketing terminology? Can you imagine an op-ed in the NYTimes by a free-soloist whose granola bar sponsor was dropped? Granola bars were homemade.
|
|
|
SuperTopo on the Web
|
Let us know!