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What Nobody is Saying About the Dawn Wall

Hank Caylor · · Livin' in the Junk! · Joined Dec 2003 · Points: 643
smh

The second I clicked on the link and saw that it was just another blogging nutsack, I just had to read the comments to see why it went 3 pages. All I was hoping for was someone to call out said nutsack for starting a thread about his own blog, y'all did. Thank you for that MP..
Christian RodaoBack · · Tucson, AZ · Joined Jul 2005 · Points: 1,486

The correct form of damage control for a situation like this, where someone is caught out being dishonest, is to apologize (well, usually along w some kind of excuse to make the dishonesty seem less serious, to be a little more realistic).

Trying to deny it ever happened just insults people's intelligence and digs you deeper.

Chris Kalman · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Mar 2011 · Points: 651

Boissal and Mojo Monkey - perhaps I am not as familiar with MP forum etiquette as you guys are. I didn't realize that it would somehow lead to more clicks if I did not own up to writing the article myself, nor did I realize that that was a disingenuous move. You'll also note that my profile is just my name, instead of a moniker. On my site it's pretty darn clear who does all the writing, so I just assumed people would connect the dots.

That said, I shared it on FB, MP, and other sites in the first place, as you mentioned, to get more people to read it. I do that every time I write something for that site, and I always feel a little bit weird about it, when I do. I agree, there is something distasteful about publicizing your own work. But the truth is, I started that site, and started writing for it, in hopes to share my work, and the work of others, who often write about things that the climbing media at large deems unpublishable. So if my goal is to share it, I don't know any better way to do so.

I don't think there's anything so terrible about sharing your work the way I do, otherwise I wouldn't. Certainly, I wouldn't continue to share it anywhere that it wasn't wanted. And if I didn't feel like participating in mountainproject, I wouldn't continue to participate. Of course, there are some things I feel like participating in more than others, and there are some times when it is easier to make a link and say 'discuss' than to copy paste and reformat.

It wouldn't make much sense for me, if my goal was to acquire readers, to write an article that would ultimately lead to the defamation of my site, and my name. Hence, you might go ahead and give me the benefit of the doubt when I say that to the best of my abilities, in all the posts I've put on mountainproject, I've tried to follow what I see right now at the top of the text box:
Guideline #1: Bold TextItalic Text don't be a jerkBold TextItalic Text

I'll go ahead and give you guys the same benefit of the doubt, and I'll leave it at that.

Trad Princess · · Not That Into Climbing · Joined Jan 2012 · Points: 1,175

Look, Chris - if you want your blog to be famous, you need to do it the old fashion way...

have it make a sex tape with Ray J and accidentally release it.

You're welcome.

Brian E · · Western North Carolina · Joined Mar 2005 · Points: 348

They made national news. Let the whining begin (actually continue).

npr.org/2015/01/06/37535730…

Craig Childre · · Lubbock, TX · Joined Aug 2006 · Points: 4,860

Not going to finish it. Seems fairly short sighted.

Tommy and Kevin are pros. They get paid to do things like this, and if they shunned the cameras and the attention. I believe sponsors would be less than pleased.

We can dream of the days back when everyone climbed for personal accomplishment. A time and place that will never be again. Like the golden years at Hueco. I like the guys getting paid instead of having to all out dirt bag it. Today is what it is, deal with it.

Cheering for Tommy and Kevin! Crush it boys!

bobbin · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Nov 2009 · Points: 0

I find it difficult to get outraged about them profiting from the media circus, given these guys are professional climbers, meaning they make less money than the average desk jockey commenting on it on the internet.

Marc801 C · · Sandy, Utah · Joined Feb 2014 · Points: 65
Chris Kalman wrote:Boissal and Mojo Monkey - perhaps I am not as familiar with MP forum etiquette as you guys are. I didn't realize that it would somehow lead to more clicks if I did not own up to writing the article myself, nor did I realize that that was a disingenuous move. You'll also note that my profile is just my name, instead of a moniker. On my site it's pretty darn clear who does all the writing, so I just assumed people would connect the dots. That said, I shared it on FB, MP, and other sites in the first place, as you mentioned, to get more people to read it. I do that every time I write something for that site, and I always feel a little bit weird about it, when I do. I agree, there is something distasteful about publicizing your own work.
You can't possibly be that dense. The entire problem and why you are getting shit revolves around you calling it "an interesting article" without once stating that you are the author until you were called out on it. And relying on people to "connect the dots" is just BS - you know damned well that posting the link would drive people to your blog.

If you had just simply said "I have a differing view and wrote an article about it on my blog ", it wouldn't have come off like the click bait that it is. And this has nothing to do with some sort of unique MP etiquette. In the news world it's called journalistic integrity.
Colin OBrien · · Maine · Joined Jun 2012 · Points: 155

Chris,

I saw your post on the comments on one of the articles on climbing.com and thought it was gauche there, and laughed out loud when I saw the way you posted it here. While the content smacks of "back in my day" mountaineering writing, the real issue is with the dissemination.

Take ownership, be open, and don't bring the "aw-shucks" attitude. I don't know if you get ad revenue or just get your jollies by seeing blog numbers blow up (both of which are fine), but pretending that you are doing anything more than shilling your blog is just annoying. And maybe it's no deeper than that, but god, it's annoying. Calling your own writing "interesting" without identifying it as yours is about as humble as a mirror jerk-off sesh.

Anyway, let's hope we all develop more of a spine in the new year. I know I could use one to start leading ice this season...

Jon Frisby · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Feb 2013 · Points: 270

Nevermind. Colin makes my point way more articulately

Derek Jf · · Northeast · Joined Feb 2012 · Points: 335
Colin O'Brien wrote:Chris, Calling your own writing "interesting" without identifying it as yours is about as humble as a mirror jerk-off sesh.
THIS is internet gold. well played.

Edit: solid timing andy- I see we read this and were appreciating the same line in the moment. the universe has gone full loop and colin you are hilarious
Andy Novak · · Bailey, CO · Joined Aug 2007 · Points: 370
Colin O'Brien wrote:Calling your own writing "interesting" without identifying it as yours is about as humble as a mirror jerk-off sesh.
Now THAT is interesting writing. Well said and bravo, sir.
Sam Keller · · Mallorca, ES · Joined Jun 2013 · Points: 30

I agree w much of what you say about climbers spending too much time watching elites climbing and too little time climbing.

What I love about this push is all the work that has gone into getting to here. All the nights up alone on the wall w no one watching trying again and again and again for 5 years. That is true grit. I admire it, and it makes me want to try my project over and over till I get it redpointed.

Delete This · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Aug 2013 · Points: 110

Well since this thread has become a blog promotion... why not check out my buddy's site that actually has some relevant, educating topics and funny stories!!
www.Wild-Paths.com

Trad Princess · · Not That Into Climbing · Joined Jan 2012 · Points: 1,175

Yeah Blog promotion!

Here's one from 5 years ago when I lived in Mexico!!!

I'm important! Read my words maggots!11!!!

rging · · Salt Lake City, Ut · Joined Jul 2011 · Points: 210
Adam Burch wrote:I think I'm going to start a thread called "It's amazing rock climbers ever get laid" Just make a big list of links to threads like these.
Call it " I really love climbing but man do I hate climbers"
Trad Princess · · Not That Into Climbing · Joined Jan 2012 · Points: 1,175
rging wrote: Call it " I really love climbing but man do I hate climbers"
Haha, well played.
M Mobley · · Bar Harbor, ME · Joined Mar 2006 · Points: 911
Adam Burch wrote:Yeah Blog promotion! Here's one from 5 years ago when I lived in Mexico!!! I'm important! Read my words maggots!11!!!
WAY TLDR
Trad Princess · · Not That Into Climbing · Joined Jan 2012 · Points: 1,175
Miike wrote: WAY TLDR
#MYWORDSIMPORTANTBOWBEFORETHEM
Chris D · · the couch · Joined Apr 2009 · Points: 2,230

I was just searching for that op-ed on the NY Times (after reading this article on the National Geographic website) while listening to Morning Edition on NPR. Before I could find the op-ed, Scott Simon (the NPR anchor) started talking about how the Dawn Wall attempt was stalled. I turned it up and realized that he was interviewing someone from Outside Magazine about it.

Made me wonder what the coverage of Warren Harding's FA of El Cap was like BITD.

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

General Climbing
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