Most Ridiculous Bullshit You Have Ever Heard?

Even though suing outdoor landowners for climbing-related injuries is pretty much unheard of in the USA, the state of Hawaii effectively banned roped climbing at nearly all of Hawaii's crags after a single climber was injured. The state's claim was the party "could" sue (of course she never did). Anyway, the fine for climbing in any of the areas is $5,000 for the first offense, and a criminal record. For reference, a first-time DUI offender in Hawaii for a commercial truck driver is a MAXIMUM fine of $1,000, and no criminal record. So rock climbing is five times more illegal in Hawaii than driving a semi-truck while drunk off your ass.

That got me to thinking, what is the absolute most ridiculous bullshit you have ever heard related to climbing access/ gym issues/ FA conflicts/ ethics, ect?

20 kN wrote:Even though suing outdoor landowners for climbing-related injuries is pretty much unheard of in the USA, the state of Hawaii effectively banned roped climbing at nearly all of Hawaii's crags after a single climber was injured. The state's claim was the party "could" sue (of course she never did). Anyway, the fine for climbing in any of the areas is $5,000 for the first offense, and a criminal record. For reference, a first-time DUI offender in Hawaii for a commercial truck driver is a MAXIMUM fine of $1,000, and no criminal record. So rock climbing is five times more illegal in Hawaii than driving a semi-truck while drunk off your ass.

This

Wonder how the state justifies the North Shore surfers.

It sounds like Hawaiian climbers and the Access fund have a job to do. They need to get organised and start contacting legislators, maybe networking with other user groups who have clout, like surfers. That is what people do in other states.

20 kN wrote:Even though suing outdoor landowners for climbing-related injuries is pretty much unheard of in the USA, the state of Hawaii effectively banned roped climbing at nearly all of Hawaii's crags after a single climber was injured. The state's claim was the party "could" sue (of course she never did). Anyway, the fine for climbing in any of the areas is $5,000 for the first offense, and a criminal record. For reference, a first-time DUI offender in Hawaii for a commercial truck driver is a MAXIMUM fine of $1,000, and no criminal record. So rock climbing is five times more illegal in Hawaii than driving a semi-truck while drunk off your ass. That got me to thinking, what is the absolute most ridiculous bullshit you have ever heard related to climbing access/ gym issues/ FA conflicts/ ethics, ect?

Pretty much the cognitive dissonance you display with all your pro-statist posts, then complaining about the State when it employs the unfettered power people like you seek to enhance.

Sit starts are pretty much the most ridiculous thing in climbing.

Superclimber wrote:Sit starts are pretty much the most ridiculous thing in climbing.

+1 ...and while wearing a beanie and sitting on a mattress.

It's not necessarily the potential for injured climber's suit, you can't sue the govt.

It's the responder cost & resources logistics that will charge across agencies. If there isn't something in place that will use no-charge response and also be effective with maintaining public safety, then access will be restricted.

So you have to model what is being done in water/surf rescue. If that can't be done, you won't get access.

I once heard this story about a guy who sued a large fast food chain for burning himself with hot coffee. Now that is some bullshit!

I had a guy at the climbing gym tell me I couldn't use my BD harness... "DIDN'T YOU SEE CLIFFHANGER!".

20 kN wrote:the state of Hawaii effectively banned roped climbing

Solo!

No rope, no fine.

The most ridiculous thing I've ever heard?

Someone using the word "pro-statist" on a climbing forum.

Eliot Augusto wrote:I once heard this story about a guy who sued a large fast food chain for burning himself with hot coffee. Now that is some bullshit!

It was a lady.
Hawaii is weird anyway: they don't pay nothing, can't touch turtles, can't collect lava rocks, locals are super unfriendly unless you are a high spending tourist. I'm not surprised they passed that law.

Eliot Augusto wrote:I once heard this story about a guy who sued a large fast food chain for burning himself with hot coffee. Now that is some bullshit!

It's a little more complicated than that: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liebe…

Eliot Augusto wrote:I once heard this story about a guy who sued a large fast food chain for burning himself with hot coffee. Now that is some bullshit!

It was a 79 year old lady, not a guy. She needed skin grafts and 2 years of medical treatments after receiving thrid degree burns to 6% of her body. The crux of the lawsuit was that McDonald's coffee was significantly hotter than any other sold by similar chains, and that level of damage would not have occurred in another fast food restaurant. McDonald's lowered the temperature at which their coffee is served to meet industry norms after the lawsuit.

But yeah, we all get that it sounds silly.

Who told you to use the balm!? I didn't tell you to use the balm!

Alicia Sokolowski wrote: But yeah, we all get that it sounds silly.

I was unaware of that incident, I was 6 when it happened. There was some jackass a few years ago in CO that tried to sue for coffee that was too hot. His case was dismissed before it made it to court. So yeah, it does sound silly.

20 kN ....... except for things coming out of the current government in Washington DC.

Yes- it is the most ridiculous bs ever!

I will need to let the Hawaii Dept of Tourism know that I just canceled my "Hawaii Climbing Vacation"

I feel for you, your trapped on an island.

This.

mountainproject.com/v/maide…

Alicia Sokolowski wrote: It was a 79 year old lady, not a guy. She needed skin grafts and 2 years of medical treatments after receiving thrid degree burns to 6% of her body. The crux of the lawsuit was that McDonald's coffee was significantly hotter than any other sold by similar chains, and that level of damage would not have occurred in another fast food restaurant. McDonald's lowered the temperature at which their coffee is served to meet industry norms after the lawsuit. But yeah, we all get that it sounds silly.

Yea it does sound strange, but If you see the photographs of her burns it becomes very clear that she was seriously injured, and probably deserved compensation. I could provide direct links, but they are both NSFW and may disturb people.