Mountain Project Logo

Sad representation of Boulder climbers

Phil Lauffen · · Innsbruck, AT · Joined Jun 2008 · Points: 3,098
Brendan Blanchard wrote: Disregarding all sarcasm or tongue in cheek mindset on her part, it's like an American going to Africa, and going "What the hell?! Where is the vending machine in this village?!"
lol
Step hen · · Fort Collins, CO · Joined Jul 2010 · Points: 90

I believe the Colorado Daily and the Camera are owned by the same company: MediaNews Group, which also owns the Denver Post and a couple other Colorado papers.

I can understand the good majority of posts disagreeing with the article itself and arguments made on the various points by the author and I think it's an interesting discussion, but the personal attacks are just lame and uncalled for.

Scott O · · Anchorage · Joined Mar 2010 · Points: 70
CoffeeClimber wrote:The best part about Boulder is that if I'm low on cash, I can borrow money from practically anyone. Especially the first week of every month because most of them just got their trust fund check.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bpBP9dALcWw
Eli Helmuth · · Ciales, PR · Joined Aug 2001 · Points: 3,441

it seems like everyone's hyper critical responses to this tongue and cheek article, in which the author pokes fun at her expectations based on life in Boulder, is truly 'sad'. If you've read Jenn's stuff in the past, you'd know that this is part of her style.

On a side note- mentioned to the desk guy at The Foundry the other day that all the wankers in the states wouldn't be able to handle their lack of heating (inside was about 45F- bring a down jacket), no lead ropes to use (bring your own), no auto belayers, no hot showers, and routes that are updated every 3-6 months would lead to lots of whining...but you can buy fish and chips made fresh inside the gym along with lots of other fried goodies, so not all suffering- haha!

slim · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Dec 2004 · Points: 1,103

if you haven't read her articles on a regular basis, you might not catch the sarcasm/self deprecation, etc. i've met her and she is a nice normal person with a dry/witty sense of humor. i kind of enjoy how she chronicles the life of the average boulder climber who trains 8 days a week and realizes that sending 5.12 gets you into the 50th percentile.

Ben Walburn · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jul 2007 · Points: 680

Forgive me if this was already posted as a response but...

Has anyone called the Gym to apologize on behalf the Boulder climbing community???
....the real climbers!

I posted a reply on the D.C. thread wondering how this article ever made it past the editor to publication as well as the apology question, They did not approve it, go figure.

Scott McMahon · · Boulder, CO · Joined Feb 2006 · Points: 1,425
il cop wrote:Don't flame me........ Still wondering why you'd climb in a gym if you live in Boulder..... really?
Cuz the gym is a block from my house. I can get home from work, climb for an hour and then go back home and start studying. Or I can go after school at 7 pm.

Convenience my man...convenience.
Jason Maurer · · Colorado · Joined Jun 2009 · Points: 790

Ok. Alot of you guys out there seem to be in agreement that this particular article maybe goes too far... Others, maybe some who actually know Jen, say it's her style and personality coming out in her writing and she is just poking fun at herself..I've read other articles of jens and I usually struggle to get through them due to the fact that they are so ego driven and consceded...cool I guess, if that defines your climbing personality..it's one thing to write about yourself and be self deprecating and snobby, but when you decide to write about belittleing other climbers or gyms that don't meet your elite standards , that where I think it went too far...It just makes us all look bad..

If this article was printed in the Onion it would have been taken for what it really is but it wasn't .. It was printed on a college paper in climbing town USA...let's try and show some pride for where us climbers come from and that we all love this silly sport equally!

Space Force Commander · · Unknown Hometown · Joined May 2008 · Points: 0

I wrote this to the editor of the Daily Camera:

Dear Editor,
Jenn Fields has attempted to provide a voice for the "outdoorsy" culture of Boulder. In my view, her use of the made-up adjective "outdoorsy" speaks volumes to her lack of awareness of many things found outside. She speaks boastfully about her skiing, biking and climbing standards and abilities. She weakly tries to be self effacing. Instead, her voice is pathetic and vain. We all have much in common with this tendency, however, she gets paid to display this foible. If she truly loved climbing her words would not make climbers out to be insulting jerks. It is often times humorous to point out how petty climbers can be, however, in the end she is callous and insufferable. Climbing is supposed to be fun, not a contest between climbers, gyms, belay devices or cities. Her self described "snobbery" is not even honest. She claims that lead climbing with a rope is her preference, but instead opts for the bouldering wall, "even though I had three belay devices in my bag and a rope". This is the epitome of the over inflated self image all of us have who own more gear than we know how to use. You can't be a snob if you are at the same station as everyone else. Fields wants so bad to be an "outlaw". Please. Her highfalutin standard is to use a Grigri indoors. In reality, nothing is more safely and securely within the rules. If I ran into her at the bar and listened to her speak the way she writes I would probably dismiss what I heard as bar talk, however, she writes for an editor and has time to reconsider what has been said. She assists us in our fateful journey toward becoming a parody of our own identity. Maybe we have already arrived.

Sincerely,

Aaron

The editor wrote back:

Aaron: I really want to run this. I do. Can you re-write it in a way that isn't so snide and insulting? It's really against our policy to turn our letters page into full-scale attacks on individuals. That goes for attacks on other letter writers, guest columnists, people in the news, and our own columnists.

Here is a link to a letters column that includes several entries with criticism about columnists, this editorial writer, and a fellow letter writer. All rise above the bar of fair, but not snide, critique.

dailycamera.com/ci_13096843

I tried to edit it to make it conform with our policies on civil discourse, but am at a loss. If you take a step back, and re-cast it in a more thoughtful way, I will be able to run it ASAP.

Best,
Erika

--
Erika Stutzman
Editorial Page Editor
The Camera

So, I rewrote it trying to be more civilized. I'm really trying to participate in the print dialog of our fair city.

Dear Erika,
Thank you for your reply. Below is another attempt at my letter that is hopefully more acceptable. I understand your request for civility and in fact that is what I would like to hear from Jesse Fields.

Here is a new version of the letter:

Dear Editor,
Jenn Fields has attempted to provide a voice for the "outdoorsy" culture of Boulder. In my view, her use of the made-up adjective "outdoorsy" speaks volumes. She is attempting a form of justified snobbery on the subject of indoor climbing. Not only is this not an outdoor activity but snobbery is always indecent and never justified. Fields claims to be passionate about climbing and her love for this climbing community. If this is true it makes no sense for her to represent us poorly when climbing in other cities. It is often times humorous to point out how petty climbers can be and to some extent her story is funny, however, in the end her reaction to a gym that has silly rules that she is too much of an outlaw to follow is a bit ridiculous. Climbing is supposed to be fun, not a contest between climbers, gyms, belay devices or cities. She claims that lead climbing with a rope is her preference, but instead opts for the bouldering wall, "even though I had three belay devices in my bag and a rope". This is the epitome of an over inflated self image and leads to her misanthropic reaction to the climbing scene in St. Louis. Fields wants so bad to be an "outlaw". Her highfalutin standard is to use a Grigri indoors. In reality, nothing is more safely and securely within the rules. She can't be a snob if she is at the same station as everyone else. When this kind of behavior prevails we will be well on our way toward becoming a parody of our own identity. Maybe we have already arrived.

I took out what I considered to be the personal attacks and the most insulting remarks. I was dissatisfied with her behavior and the sentiments she expressed and I want my letter to reflect this. Edit as you need to.

Coppolo · · Denver, CO · Joined Jun 2010 · Points: 10

Bravo

Eric Krantz · · Black Hills · Joined Feb 2004 · Points: 420
aafmiller wrote: ...If she truly loved climbing her words would not make climbers out to be insulting jerks. ...
But climbers ARE insulting jerks. Don't you read MP??
Mattq331 · · Boulder, CO · Joined Jul 2006 · Points: 15

Irony.

Lost, but not forgotten.

Patrick Vernon · · Grand Junction, CO · Joined Jan 2001 · Points: 965

"Irony.

Lost, but not forgotten."

What do you mean? How can you loose something that is intangible? You're not making any sense. Boulder snob.

-Patrick

Tim Hudgel · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jan 2009 · Points: 150

Keep it up and Ericka might just give Jenn the BOOT!
Sure, everyone’s reached their level of tolerance with her (and the other guy’s) column, but reading anything about climbing would be better than learning about Yoga from someone like this.

Holy Man Shoe
Something to think about.......

Eli Helmuth · · Ciales, PR · Joined Aug 2001 · Points: 3,441

How about instead of being so "proud" of where we live and trying our best to exclude or condemn those who aren't the same (trust fund or not), we try a bit of humility, empathy, and compassion instead.

If you don't like Jenn's sense of humour, that's your opinion- I think she's way more light-hearted than any of you uptight and judgmental punters. (Yeah I know, walk the talk).

And if she pokes fun at a bit of the Boulder attitude (woops, hit a sensitive nerve on that one), it's obviously helped spur a discussion and awareness that although somewhat cliche, is not too far from the truth.

Give it up and go climbing...you might feel better.

Phil Lauffen · · Innsbruck, AT · Joined Jun 2008 · Points: 3,098
Eli Helmuth wrote:How about instead of being so "proud" of where we live and trying our best to exclude or condemn those who aren't the same (trust fund or not), we try a bit of humility, empathy, and compassion instead. If you don't like Jenn's sense of humour, that's your opinion- I think she's way more light-hearted than any of you uptight and judgmental punters. (Yeah I know, walk the talk). And if she pokes fun at a bit of the Boulder attitude (woops, hit a sensitive nerve on that one), it's obviously helped spur a discussion and awareness that although somewhat cliche, is not too far from the truth. Give it up and go climbing...you might feel better.
+1

But she was MEAN! My fragile boulderite ego can't handle it.
Crag Dweller · · New York, NY · Joined Jul 2006 · Points: 125

The story is a poor piece of literature written by someone who comes across as having the maturity of a 5-year old.

Having to take a belay test with an ATC, Having to 'rent' a lead rope, Having to drop from a boulder problem rather than top out...

Are these things really worth complaining about?

BFD...shut up and enjoy the fact that you're able to climb while home for the holidays.

Cor · · Sandbagging since 1989 · Joined Mar 2006 · Points: 1,445

it is all pretty funny...
i get as much entertainment from the fourm,
as i do from the newspaper article.

read some of her previous writing, it is
always humor mixed with real life!

with all this love, she should test run all
her articles on mp.com before paper printing!

Ian · · Boulder, CO · Joined Feb 2006 · Points: 15

I really don't know what the big deal is. She's just making fun of the Boulder snobbery, using herself as an example, in a self-deprecating way. At least she's honest about it, unlike some people who preach and live by a different set of rules. Yes, there's a image problem with entitlement/snobbery in the climbing/cycling/skiing/snowboarding/... communities in Boulder and she's presenting herself as a poster-child of it. Maybe by using herself as a bad example, she is effectively changing the attitude of the community instead of preaching what not to do. For example, how often is Guideline #1 followed?

Joe Huggins · · Grand Junction · Joined Oct 2001 · Points: 105
CoffeeClimber wrote: The next thing I love about Boulder kids: They all get sooo pissed off when you talk about their trust funds. It's either they are pissed because they don't have one or embarrassed because they do.
Wow-stupid and yet insulting. Step away from the coffee for a while DN...
Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

General Climbing
Post a Reply to "Sad representation of Boulder climbers"

Log In to Reply

Join the Community

Create your FREE account today!
Already have an account? Login to close this notice.

Get Started.