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PurePower
Jul 15, 2013, 5:34 AM
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To you, what defines a climber?
If someone only climbs indoors, are they a climber?
or is someone only a climber to you if they climb primarily outside?
I'm curious on what people have to say about this.
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notapplicable
Jul 15, 2013, 10:34 AM
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PurePower wrote: To you, what defines a climber? If someone only climbs indoors, are they a climber? or is someone only a climber to you if they climb primarily outside? I'm curious on what people have to say about this.
If you're wondering whether or not you are a real climber, my advice is to ask yourself that question again in a decade.
Or better yet. Forget about it entirely and go climb some rocks. What ever you can find will do. Indoor or out.
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DemolitionRed
Jul 15, 2013, 11:17 AM
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knowing it is completely possible to walk uphill both ways!
Someone who climbs indoors still needs to overcome fear and do what needs to be done. Yes, they are still a climber.
I learnt to climb outdoors and only recently have I used climbing gyms. I find climbing gyms to be very different but no less challenging when it comes to a complex route.
If someone tells you that you are not a real climber because you don't climb real rock, just walk away from them because they are honestly not worth your time.
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lena_chita
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Jul 15, 2013, 12:59 PM
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You are a climber if you self-define as a climber. That's about it.
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dr_feelgood
Jul 16, 2013, 7:12 PM
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There is a vast difference between a person who climbs and a climber.
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potreroed
Jul 16, 2013, 7:40 PM
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dr_feelgood wrote: There is a vast difference between a person who climbs and a climber.
I think I know what you're getting at but perhaps you would care to enlighten us further?
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lena_chita
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Jul 16, 2013, 8:42 PM
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dr_feelgood wrote: There is a vast difference between a person who climbs and a climber.
That's where self-identification comes in.
If you ever find yourself saying, while explaining something to someone, "I am a rock climber", then you are.
If you say, as way of explanation, "I do rock climbing sometimes", then you aren't.
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jomagam
Jul 16, 2013, 11:49 PM
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lena_chita wrote: dr_feelgood wrote: There is a vast difference between a person who climbs and a climber. That's where self-identification comes in. If you ever find yourself saying, while explaining something to someone, "I am a rock climber", then you are. If you say, as way of explanation, "I do rock climbing sometimes", then you aren't.
So are you a climber or do you climb sometimes ? Where do *you* draw the line between the two ?
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DemolitionRed
Jul 17, 2013, 8:31 AM
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dr_feelgood wrote: There is a vast difference between a person who climbs and a climber.
Pedantics, pedantics!
Are you saying a person who climbs isn't a climber? or are you saying that a climber isn't a person who climbs?
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rocknice2
Jul 17, 2013, 11:45 AM
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lena_chita wrote: dr_feelgood wrote: There is a vast difference between a person who climbs and a climber. That's where self-identification comes in. If you ever find yourself saying, while explaining something to someone, "I am a rock climber", then you are. If you say, as way of explanation, "I do rock climbing sometimes", then you aren't.
jomagam wrote: So are you a climber or do you climb sometimes ? Where do *you* draw the line between the two ?
DemolitionRed wrote: Pedantics, pedantics! Are you saying a person who climbs isn't a climber? or are you saying that a climber isn't a person who climbs?
That's 2 who have gone rock climbing and 2 who are rock climbers.
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granite_grrl
Jul 17, 2013, 12:12 PM
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lena_chita wrote: dr_feelgood wrote: There is a vast difference between a person who climbs and a climber. That's where self-identification comes in. If you ever find yourself saying, while explaining something to someone, "I am a rock climber", then you are. If you say, as way of explanation, "I do rock climbing sometimes", then you aren't.
I do rock climbing sometimes. It's pretty fun. I recomend it to anyone on this forum.
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ChalkIsCheap
Jul 17, 2013, 3:03 PM
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jomagam wrote: lena_chita wrote: dr_feelgood wrote: There is a vast difference between a person who climbs and a climber. That's where self-identification comes in. If you ever find yourself saying, while explaining something to someone, "I am a rock climber", then you are. If you say, as way of explanation, "I do rock climbing sometimes", then you aren't. So are you a climber or do you climb sometimes ? Where do *you* draw the line between the two ?
I am however a rock climber. I own equipment for all activities and participate in them all but it is the passion and drive for climbing new routes, learning new skills and buying more shiney gear that makes me a rock climber. They can call them selves what they want but I don't consider a person who top ropes twice a year a climber...
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ncrockclimber
Jul 17, 2013, 3:15 PM
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Until you are lead certified at your gym and have spent over $400 on gear at REI, you are not a climber.
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lena_chita
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Jul 17, 2013, 3:54 PM
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jomagam wrote: lena_chita wrote: dr_feelgood wrote: There is a vast difference between a person who climbs and a climber. That's where self-identification comes in. If you ever find yourself saying, while explaining something to someone, "I am a rock climber", then you are. If you say, as way of explanation, "I do rock climbing sometimes", then you aren't. So are you a climber or do you climb sometimes ? Where do *you* draw the line between the two ?
I am a climber. And i already said where my line is. I think that you are a climber if you feel that you are a climber.
I think this "feeling" comes if you are thinking about climbing when you aren't climbing, if you go over the moves of your latest project in your head as you are falling asleep, if you go climbing every chance you've got, if you plan your vacations around climbing, if you want climbing-related gear for birthday presents, etc. etc. I consider owning climbing gear and being able to climb without someone else getting the rope up for you to be essential parts of being a climber, too.
But why do you care where *I* draw the line? It is my line, it is not anyone else's line.
The point i am trying to make is that I do not need anyone to tell me whether I am a climber, or not. In fact, you can tell me point-blank that i am NOT a climber, according to your definition, and I will shrug and say 'whatever', and go on climbing. I don't spend time wondering if I am a climber, or not. I just am.
And i would never presume to tell someone that they are NOT climbers, just because all they know is toproping, for example. Even though for me personally, the feeling of "I am a climber" didn't come until I was climbing for several years and competent at leading.
Before I became a climber, I went climbing. And I enjoyed it, the very first time I went climbing. But i was fully dependent on the person who was taking me climbing. He provided the gear. He set up topropes. We went where he thought would be good to go. It was all good. but i wasn't a climber then.
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ChalkIsCheap
Jul 17, 2013, 4:47 PM
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bearbreeder wrote: PurePower wrote: To you, what defines a climber? . how much "expert" advice they give on RC ... 
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dagibbs
Jul 17, 2013, 7:37 PM
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ChalkIsCheap wrote: bearbreeder wrote: PurePower wrote: To you, what defines a climber? . how much "expert" advice they give on RC ... How many Mike Barter climbing video's you have seen...
How many times they've read _Mountaineering The Freedom of the Hills_.
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bearbreeder
Jul 17, 2013, 8:29 PM
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dagibbs wrote: ChalkIsCheap wrote: bearbreeder wrote: PurePower wrote: To you, what defines a climber? . how much "expert" advice they give on RC ... How many Mike Barter climbing video's you have seen... How many times they've read _Mountaineering The Freedom of the Hills_.
how many times youve told gumbies they are GONNA DIE !!!
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jomagam
Jul 17, 2013, 10:55 PM
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lena_chita wrote: But why do you care where *I* draw the line? It is my line, it is not anyone else's line.
I was curious what your Platonic idea of a climber is. Other than the circular definition :)
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ChalkIsCheap
Jul 18, 2013, 4:27 PM
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bearbreeder wrote: dagibbs wrote: ChalkIsCheap wrote: bearbreeder wrote: PurePower wrote: To you, what defines a climber? . how much "expert" advice they give on RC ... How many Mike Barter climbing video's you have seen... How many times they've read _Mountaineering The Freedom of the Hills_. how many times youve told gumbies they are GONNA DIE !!!
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