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dumb things non climbers have said

Original Post
Joel Alcantara · · Gilman (45 min NE of EC) · Joined May 2014 · Points: 0

Anything you've heard that made your mind lock up

Here are the two ive heard

So do the shoes have spikes
They must nail the rope to the rock

Tony Monbetsu · · Minneapolis, MN · Joined Jan 2014 · Points: 616

Not a specific thing, but I found out a while ago that when I told my coworkers I was going rock climbing or had been rock climbing, they thought I was free-soloing all the time- not realizing there was an alternative, I guess.

FrankPS · · Atascadero, CA · Joined Nov 2009 · Points: 276

This thread will end up being similar as this previous one (even though one is supposed to be climbers and one non-climbers), Maybe there will be some new material.

mountainproject.com/v/dumb-…

Edit:

Joel Alcantara wrote: So do the shoes have spikes
My shoes do have spikes when I am on ice.
Joel Alcantara · · Gilman (45 min NE of EC) · Joined May 2014 · Points: 0

No really, and damn I didnt see that one

Kevin DeWeese · · @failfalling - Oakland, Ca · Joined Jan 2007 · Points: 981

Do you mean "dumb" or "uninformed"?

Everything I've ever heard from a non-climber that was weird was simply due to ignorance which you'd have to be a douche to consider dumb.

Joel Alcantara · · Gilman (45 min NE of EC) · Joined May 2014 · Points: 0

Yes, uninformed would be a much better word

flynn · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Feb 2002 · Points: 25

Oh, look, he's pulling the man up now.

Girls climb!? Without guys??

How do you go to the bathroom up there?

Do you guys use those grappling hooks?

You must have a death wish.

There's an easier way around the back.

What's that thing hanging on your harness? Do you use it to spread peanut butter?

As mentioned, not nearly so often dumb as just completely uninformed. Have a little mercy. A little.

Em Cos · · Boulder, CO · Joined Apr 2010 · Points: 5

Are there any climbers who haven't used their nut tool to spread peanut butter?

Paula Cooper · · Denver, CO · Joined Jul 2013 · Points: 20

When explaining to hikers what the crash pads we were carrying are for...

"What if you don't land on your back when you fall?"

Jonathan Cunha · · Bolinas, CA · Joined May 2014 · Points: 62

Do they turn the waterfalls off at night?

Travis Kaney · · Green Bay, WI · Joined Oct 2010 · Points: 420

By the 6th or 7th time being asked on a busy day out bouldering "What are those big mats for?" I usually start responding with "These? They are mattresses for making love in the forest."

Austin Lynch · · Madison, WI · Joined May 2013 · Points: 170

You get a lot of stuff with crash pads. I once passed a father who said confidently to his son: "See that? That's called a duluth pack. They're very very heavy. He's very strong if he's hiking that fast with that on."

The guy gave me a knowing smile and nod as I passed. Of course, I nodded back. After all, I am very strong.

Tronald Dump · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jul 2013 · Points: 10

Do you free climb things?

wa5.10 · · Unknown Hometown · Joined May 2014 · Points: 10

"Is the rope already up there?"

"You need a lot of upper body strength to climb? Your doing pull ups while your feet are dangling in the air 65 feet up? Wow idk if I could do it!"

My favorite, from my father when he saw me climb.

"I thought you were scared of heights!? Doesn't your butt pucker up there?"

amarius · · Nowhere, OK · Joined Feb 2012 · Points: 20

Even though rocklimbinglife is equivalent to trolling in the eyes of some, the entry How To Tell Your Mom You Rock Climb appears to be quite pertinent to this thread

Short Beta · · Troy, MI · Joined Feb 2014 · Points: 45

My favorites...

"Do you use grappling hooks?"
"As you go up do you take a hammer and smash holes into the rock to grab?"
"Is there tape on the rocks?"
"Do they nail plastic holds into the rock wall?"
"Are climbing shoes the same thing as Crocs? They look just like them"
"Do you wear a football helmet when you climb?"

I get the "Are you free soloing" a lot like sure yeah I just wear all all this heavy equipment as a fashion statement.

Most are not dumb just uninformed but the Crocs and football helmet guy was legitimately an idiot.

Derek Jf · · Northeast · Joined Feb 2012 · Points: 335
Matt Michael · · Oceanside, CA · Joined Aug 2012 · Points: 20

I swear to God that a lady asked me if I had been doing "much flying" in reference to the crashpad on my back. I gave her a confused look and assumed she meant flying off of crux moves to the ground. She proceeded to ask "that's a hang glider, right?"
I was unintentionally rude with my laughing response but couldn't believe that someone actually asked me that question.
That's got to be the most ridiculous thing I've personally heard.

Bob M · · Alpharetta, GA · Joined Oct 2009 · Points: 50

I love that video!

Austin Lynch · · Madison, WI · Joined May 2013 · Points: 170
Dylan B. wrote: That's actually a pretty reasonable guess. Duluth Packs are actually big, heavy backpacks used for portaging gear on canoe trips. They're pretty square. If you don't look closely, I can see how that'd be an easy mistake to make.
I'm familiar with Duluth packs, and I totally agree with you. It was more the confidence with which he stated it and the obvious signs he was missing (my walking at an unencumbered pace in sandals, for example) that struck me as particularly funny. And of course the nod of solidarity.
brian burke · · mammoth lakes, ca · Joined Nov 2013 · Points: 165

the 'climbing half dome' with reference to the cables route comes up so often....

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

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