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survival
Big Wall climber
A Token of My Extreme
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Apr 10, 2009 - 02:03am PT
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Wow, you hardly ever see pretty sneezes like that.
Usually they're all gross and scarey!
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aguacaliente
climber
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Apr 10, 2009 - 03:45am PT
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I mostly just lurk here and am not much of a climber, more a hiker. But I do like reading the trip reports and seeing the pictures and also the stories and old photos folks have from back in the day.
For somebody like survival who is considering leaving because good topics slip off the front page, I may not be responding to your posts (because I have not much to say other than "Wow") but know that I'm reading them, and I'm sure many others are. Also, even if a story slips off the front page, it still comes up in a search or google. I have learned a lot by searching up old threads.
An online community is what people do with it. It is not hard to recognize and ignore the OT threads. On the other hand, if the good content leaves, the community will wither.
Just in the past few days, Donini, for example, has started some discussions that take my breath away. People will be able to search and read those years from now as long as CMac keeps the site up. No one will ever be interested in reading through all of an old politics flamewar or clash-of-egos thread, and so in the long run they die even if they take up space on the front page now.
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Fletcher
Trad climber
the end of the world as we know it, & I feel fine.
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Apr 10, 2009 - 04:43am PT
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The forum is what it is and what you want to make of it.
There are plenty of great threads out there. The simple structure of the interface does make it such that good stuff gets bumped below the last thirty threads. And I like the clean simplicity of the forum UI for the most part.
But I must have twenty to thirty threads in separate browser windows or tabs that I have had around for months waiting to be read. Quality, engaging climbing stuff for the most part.
I find I am just cutting back on the current stuff to clear out my backlog of "goodies."
The quality is there. Sometimes you gotta hike a bit to get to the fun routes. Not everything good can be belayed off of the bumper of your car.
Slight drift: How many modern cars can you actually use the bumper to belay from anymore? :-)
Eric
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neebee
Social climber
calif/texas
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Apr 10, 2009 - 09:27am PT
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hey there all... say, i have found that one keeps swimming upstream, as a good trout ought...
well, you have some really wonderful gems here... (i know, folks like me, can clutter front page at times, but try not to, too often)...
but if the high-quality treasure-posters stop, why in a sense, some GREAT history will stop...
i have learned quality stuff here, that i would never have seen the likes of anywhere....
and other posters have shared from their heart, on wonderful trips, even if small trips, some may be...
now, i know, in all type gatherings, etc, there is a time when the talk goes down hill--yet, if one takes a sit and waits, the tide will change, and new power can come in with waves of freshness....
sure hope that you stick around, survival, and also...
russ, and werner, and all you all that were here when i first came... crimpergrrl and some many more, too much to name, you all have a special and wonderful talent and art...
check in on occasions, and...
through another log on the fire... :)
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survival
Big Wall climber
A Token of My Extreme
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Apr 10, 2009 - 09:44am PT
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I certainly appreciate some of what I'm seeing here.
fletcher says: " The quality is there. Sometimes you gotta hike a bit to get to the fun routes. Not everything good can be belayed off of the bumper of your car."
I love that.
Welcome lurker Aguacaliente! Those are some nice thoughts.
Sometimes no comment except "nice", or, "I was wondering about that" is needed, but the bump helps the quality threads stick around a little longer. I'm not talking about my stuff, I'm talking about any climbing related, good story, historical, or photo driven trip report threads.
In the cooker at this very moment is Dave trying to get going in Baffin Island and Pasang starting out on Everest. You're right, Donini's stuff, Warbler's stuff, Deuce's stuff, Russ's Hueco TR, Tarbuster's TR's. Their shizz is far superior to my own.
Right on Ed, well said, just like a "smart" guy should put it.
And thanks to you too neebee, the coolest non-climber chick around!
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Crimpergirl
Sport climber
Boulder, Colorado!
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Apr 10, 2009 - 09:49am PT
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Many (most?) of my posts are similar to: "nice TR" "cool photos" "thanks for sharing."
I don't do this because I feel the need to be heard. Instead, these posts are prompted by a conversation I had with Elcappics in the valley a couple of years ago.
I stopped by to say hi and to tell him how much I LOVED his threads. I mean, I looked forward to it every single day. He said thanks but that he thought he was going to stop since no one ever said anything. He put a lot of work into them, and they disappeared almost immediately. He thought no one cared.
I then realized that it's important to just say thanks. It let him know they were looked at and appreciated. And it bumped the thread so others would know it was around.
So, please, add the "wow" or whatever. It does a world of good imo.
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GOclimb
Trad climber
Boston, MA
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Apr 10, 2009 - 10:31am PT
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Crimpergirl wrote: So, please, add the "wow" or whatever. It does a world of good imo.
I try to do this, too.
Sewellymon wrote:
Wow! Thanks for sharing!
Seriously, though. I'm sorry if Crowley had his feelings hurt. But I mean honestly, I'd rather lose 100 Crowleys (people who are mostly here to stir up the muck), or 100 random nobodies like myself, than one single Ed H or his ilk. People like Ed are the backbone of this site.
Chiloe used to post a lot on rc.com. He left a huge hole when he stopped going. A lot of quality people stopped posting there. When a site gets above a certain signal to noise ratio, it simply loses its soul.
I do wish that all the folks who like to banter here would keep that in mind. I'm not in favor of anything more draconian than people just keeping their own actions in mind, and minimizing the amount of non climbing-related "content" they put out. Or, at least, to try to balance it with real content.
I know that whenever I get caught up in some nonsense thread about religion or whatever, I always try to make up for it by publishing some photos (I put a lot of work into them) or a trip report. Being just a weekend warrior of no great skill, I don't have amazing stories to tell, but I do what I can.
GO
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Gary
climber
Desolation Basin, Calif.
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Apr 10, 2009 - 10:34am PT
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Crimper, Ed, nice posts by both of you.
Unfortunately, web forums don't have kill files. Remember kill files and that wonderful *PLONK* sound?
There's lots of good stuff here, classic stuff like DonC's great Big Rock thread, for instance.
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Crimpergirl
Sport climber
Boulder, Colorado!
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Apr 10, 2009 - 10:52am PT
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GoClimb - that's funny! And though I'm not into that sort of thing, her breasts definitely deserve a big WOW! :)
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Dick_Lugar
Trad climber
Indiana (the other Mideast)
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Apr 10, 2009 - 11:06am PT
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I'll second that "Wow" Crimpie...and they look "natural" too, so natural, that they're almost unrecognizeable...ok, maybe that's a "STRETCH"...LOL!
Who is that anyways? Sorta recognize her...but can't place the name?
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survival
Big Wall climber
A Token of My Extreme
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Apr 10, 2009 - 11:10am PT
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Thread drift toward a beautiful chest...I love it.
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Doug Robinson
Trad climber
Santa Cruz
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Apr 10, 2009 - 11:55am PT
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So, Wow.
Another thread that I had passed over repeatedly just from the title, finally looked, read it all, got touched deeper than I thought by real insight and engagement.
This place is better than the sidewalk, where half a glance shows eyes so dull I wouldn't risk a "Hi." Even lightly bantering with you guys I usually get tickled by some pretty clever stuff.
Yeah it's addictive, and yesterday when our communications were all down here cuz someone put a knife to the FiberOptic cable I actually got more writing done, the kind I do for a living. But climbing is addictive too, and so is the legacy of climbing and this is one of the best places I've ever found for that part. Looking back on my time here, it's worth it both coming and going to elucidate some of what has gone before and made us and our art what it is.
And the Current Events debates, battling toward our collective future -- I like those in a bit more guarded way because they are messier with so much yelling. But enough to stick around and it was worth it to me just one year ago to pour time and energy into the GU thread. There were times when either Coz or I could easily have stalked off with smoke pouring out our ears -- or done worse. But I heard just enough listening to keep at it. And now a year later on the "Tell us a Story" thread we got treated to the inner journey up Southern Belle I had begun to despair of ever hearing. And the understanding between us rose to a -- dare I say? -- spiritual level. Cool.
I'm sticking around, and my Ignore button works fine too, thanks.
Interesting the bygone folks who got brought up. Jody right away. He emails once in awhile, invited me to the Pinnacles shindig. Can't seem to get over my aversion, to the so-called stone there, though I love to hike once in awhile. Back on Jody, Mighty Hiker got off one of the best Taco lines ever, so subtle, about his photos: "They looked like they were...intelligently designed."
And I too have a soft spot for t*r. Who doesn't? She's got such an ear for current vernacular. A young German girl visiting here and one of the first local phrases I taught her was "stunna shades." And I'm still chuckling weeks later over
"Face like LA and a booty like Oakland."
Cheers, All
DR
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Ghost
climber
A long way from where I started
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Apr 10, 2009 - 11:56am PT
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Being just a weekend warrior of no great skill, I don't have amazing stories to tell, but I do what I can.
Not being an internationally known badass climber does not mean your posts aren't worthwhile. One of the great benefits of many of the TRs here is that they show us places we would otherwise not get a look at. The fact that you (or me, or anybody) are on an easy climb doesn't mean the rest of us can't look at the picture and go "Wow! I gotta get to that place!"
There are a lot of reasons for coming to Supertopo, and hearing the famous old guys yarn about what it was like bitd is only one of them.
I guess the one thing I don't understand is why some folks seem to come here for the sole purpose of yelling at each other about politics and religion. If they were participating regularly in the climbing threads and only ocasionally went out of control about Jews or Republicans or Musliims or Liberals or whatever, then maybe they'd be easier to take, but when the shouting matches are their only contribution, we'd be better off without them.
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matisse
climber
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Apr 10, 2009 - 12:19pm PT
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when the shouting matches are their only contribution, we'd be better off without them.
exactly my thought. which is why I don't think neebee need question her presence here all all.
Me, I'm a big baby. I don't like being flamed and I get all pouty when someone calls me mean things over a trip report. That, plus the political garbage, plus my job getting insane again meant that I decided that I wasn't going to be that active here.
A turd button where you could downward bump crap off the front page would be helpful.
or the kill file. I miss usenet, but I haven't gone back to rec.climbing since MH2 and pip came over here.
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Studly
Trad climber
WA
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Apr 10, 2009 - 12:28pm PT
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I think that the solution to getting rid of the totally off topic malicious BS, is to just not post to those, and just focus on the climbing stuff. Thats my new peaceful mantra as far as I know. ommmmmmm
but it someone flames me, I am still going to kick their ass and shove a 3" cam sideways up.....sorry, sorry I get so carried away. ommmmmmmmm
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survival
Big Wall climber
A Token of My Extreme
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Apr 10, 2009 - 12:36pm PT
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Great posts you guys.
It makes me want to gasp**
Post a climbing picture!!!
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Ghost
climber
A long way from where I started
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Apr 10, 2009 - 12:47pm PT
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Since Matisse is now checking this thread, I'll post a pic too:
Remember this guy Sue?
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matisse
climber
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Apr 10, 2009 - 01:09pm PT
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I think the hair color is probably a dead giveaway, but he was a shorthair when I was knew him. J.W. I suspect.
I met him when I went to buy a hot pink Millet pack at MEC . I already had a red one but the pink one was so much cooler I sucked someone into buying my old one and bought the pink one 100% for its color.
Man that pack was brutally uncomfortable. I was glad that I finally beat it to death cragging in Josh about 15 years later.
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Karl Baba
Trad climber
Yosemite, Ca
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Apr 10, 2009 - 01:26pm PT
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Ed wrote
"This year, as was observed by both Peter H. and DR, I've been beset with many of the signs and symptoms of old age. Please listen carefully all you young people out there: getting old does change your body, you cannot continue to rely on the regenerative properties of youth once youth escapes you. That means a much more deliberate attention to keeping a total fitness level, not just a climbing fitness level. So I haven't been climbing nearly as much as I'd like, and consequently, I haven't been posting about climbing I haven't been do"
Dude, to satisfy your taste for obscure adventure without killing your meat suit, Less OW, more Slab. More dancing, less wrassling, (don't listen to Russ, he made a deal with satan or his authorized representative)
Plenty of short approach calf-stretching adventures for old guys remain!
Peace
Karl
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GOclimb
Trad climber
Boston, MA
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Apr 10, 2009 - 02:23pm PT
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Ghost wrote: Not being an internationally known badass climber does not mean your posts aren't worthwhile. One of the great benefits of many of the TRs here is that they show us places we would otherwise not get a look at. The fact that you (or me, or anybody) are on an easy climb doesn't mean the rest of us can't look at the picture and go "Wow! I gotta get to that place!"
Thanks, I appreciate that, and I agree!
Philo: Your argument is basically that it's CMac's fault for not structuring the forum in the best possible way. That doesn't fly with me. All of us are responsible for the content here every day. Blaming someone else, especially the guy who pays the bills to keep the site running is totally bogus. For now, the site is the way it is, and many good people with good content are fed up about the worthwhile content being driven off by political etc threads. So, you (me, all of us) have a choice. Ignore their concerns and keep at it, or listen to them and minimize the off-topic stuff.
With that said, I'm done on this thread for now. Next thing I post will be climbing related.
GO
PS - I have no problem emailing someone when I want to reply to them, but don't think everyone needs to hear it.
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