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Climbing as a metaphor for… society?

Jim Titt · · Germany · Joined Nov 2009 · Points: 490

Good to see my thoughts at 7 in the morning weren´t so far off the mark.
Mused over the theme while welding all day (a job which allows considerable scope for thought since it´s boring)and reflected on my dreams of a life of climbing when I was early twenties and how I ended up as a "true" dirtbag at the age of 40. Dirtbagging is all relative, I like many others sold my house, cashed in my pension plan and sailed off to a life of freedom on the oceans of this world. Working here and there, doing nothing much and so on.
Nowadays I run a business, have a young family and know that the biggest adventure and commitment is not to be found on the rock but in the home.

doligo · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Sep 2008 · Points: 264
vincent L. wrote:What was George Lowe's career?
I think it's top secret, but he's got a Ph.D. in physics, has worked as an engineer and is a pilot. Works or worked for the US Govt?
BGBingham · · Unknown Hometown · Joined May 2007 · Points: 60
Jim Titt wrote: Nowadays I run a business, have a young family and know that the biggest adventure and commitment is not to be found on the rock but in the home.
Life can be quite long and varied. How can one speak about how another should prioritize their life?

Personally, I'd edit your entry to say: Nowadays I run a business, have a young family and know that my biggest adventure and commitment is not to be found on the rock but in the home.

Which is quite wonderful for your family, BTW.
Jim Titt · · Germany · Joined Nov 2009 · Points: 490
BGBingham wrote: Life can be quite long and varied. How can one speak about how another should prioritize their life? Personally, I'd edit your entry to say: Nowadays I run a business, have a young family and know that my biggest adventure and commitment is not to be found on the rock but in the home. Which is quite wonderful for your family, BTW.
Fair enough, it´s possible my home life is more challenging than my climbing!
William Sonoma · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Dec 2012 · Points: 3,550

Vincent L wrote: I think it would be interesting to interview climbers on the opposite end of the spectrum as dirtbaggers. Interview moms or dads that hold down full time jobs and raise kids , pay mortgages and taxes .

+1 as well as your original idea. Id be interested in both and anything inbetween.

the daily (mental/internal) capacity one must have to "dirt bag" is far different then if you add responsibilities + continue the climbing.

anyone can be a dirt bag, not everyone has the capacity to handle daily responsibility. i have respect for those who can handle 3-5 days of climbing per week + significant other + kids + 40hrs a week + house chores, etc. especially those that dont take their stress/unhappiness out on others (kids, sig other, etc)

for the record: earlier this year at the gunks, while at the MUA a group of "dirt bags" shared the camp area with us. these self described dirt bags were graduate students (from a nice NE school in RI or MA) on break, wearing the NICEST name brand clothes available AND they drove a luxury (new) vehicle. 100% no exaggeration.

they were self described "dirt bags"...thats why we need to find our own definitions and be comfortable with ourselves. they were not "dirt bags" by my definition. to each his own.

Matt N · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Oct 2010 · Points: 415

"Climbing as a metaphor for… society?"

MUCH better topic:

"Internet forums as a metaphor for… society?"

Altered Ego · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jul 2008 · Points: 0

Hallie,

The need to identify and connect with others is a human need. We are social beings that require physical and emotional connection with other humans to maintain good health. This is ingrained in our dna. There is a reason isolation is used as a torture technique.

There is more at work though. The mind creates an identity for the human that it resides in. The identity starts with a name and builds off of life experiences to create a story of the individual. This story serves to reinforce the minds belief that it is a seperate entity from the rest of the world. The mind will seek to reinforce this story and sometimes add to or change it through a variety of techniques.

Rock climbing can tell us a lot about the human condition but apparently not what you think it can.

Climbing is a human instinct likely leftover from or physical evolution. Children climb things instinctively. They also dance instinctively when they hear music. This instinct is socialized out of us as we go through life.

William Sonoma · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Dec 2012 · Points: 3,550

White Privilege wrote: Climbing is a human instinct likely leftover from or physical evolution. Children climb things instinctively. They also dance instinctively when they hear music. This instinct is socialized out of us as we go through life.

well put my friend.

sadly we lose our innocence (byproduct of the ego/mind as it builds its "crust" throughout time)...luckily you can find your child like (not childish, child like, theres a difference) innocence again. sadly 98% (total bullshit statistic) of adult humans do not find innnocence again and they experience life through their mind/ego instead.

Matt N · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Oct 2010 · Points: 415

Is twerking instinctive?

Taylor J · · Taos NM · Joined Nov 2010 · Points: 390
vincent L. wrote:Hallie , It's not important , or noble , to be a dirtbag IMO . It's a selfish pursuit , and I'm always leary of people who romaticize that lifestyle as something to aspire to .
Its certainly not "noble" but why would you be leary of someone who chooses to live that kind of lifestyle. Just curious....
Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

General Climbing
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