What to call someone who only follows? Passenger princess?

We’ve all heard of a passenger princess. They can drive but never do. What do you call a climbing partner who can lead but avoids it all costs and just follows and cleans? Alliteration is key

You made this same post in December. Mental illness?

https://www.mountainproject.com/forum/topic/125507676/youve-heard-of-passenger-princess-but-what-do-you-call

Some people are happy to have a climbing partner

Some people don't like leading. No need to make fun of them. 

Alyse A wrote:

We’ve all heard of a passenger princess. They can drive but never do. What do you call a climbing partner who can lead but avoids it all costs and just follows and cleans? Alliteration is key

What's wrong with you, Alyse? Why are you posting this again?

Do you seek attention?

I call them my climbing partners.  Or "friend," or "wife," or "guardian of my life while I'm leading."  Sorry, I can't seem to add alliteration.

Belay Butler

Belay b*tch 

All in good fun. ppl on here are surprisingly sensitive about this. 

Or, just do it all yourself and rope solo? 

I'm generally pretty happy to have someone to climb with.  Happier yet, if they can say the same at the end of the day.

If you’re a lead hog, you call it a great partnership ;). So, in that case and in the cause of alliteration: perfect partner.

I would bet that most belay slaves who only follow lack the critical skills needed should their leader get hurt, and a self rescue becomes necessary. What happens when the person used to following has to take charge? I suppose that sort of climbing belationship is okay for one pitch sport, but for multi-pitch, especially trad, I have always sought out partners who can get in the driver's seat if they have to.

Sparkle Pony

My wife can drive but prefers not to

Should I rip on her

Alliteration?  Klean King. Following fellow. 

Kristian Solem wrote:

I would bet that most belay slaves who only follow lack the critical skills needed should their leader get hurt, and a self rescue becomes necessary. What happens when the person used to following has to take charge? I suppose that sort of climbing belationship is okay for one pitch sport, but for multi-pitch, especially trad, I have always sought out partners who can get in the driver's seat if they have to.

Good points. I generally have sought partners who lead as well. Leading a whole multipitch can be fun, but it’s really fun to have the team win. Or to get bailed out on the rugged pitch, if need be.

I suppose the OP’s qualifiers for the alliterative pejorative is that it is such a person, i.e., somebody who can lead but chooses not to. A pinioned pigeon?

Slagging people aside, there are sometimes other reasons people don’t lead. One of the earlier partners I had for gear climbs partnered up with me because she’d been the professional follower. Her boyfriend generally got her on stuff she wouldn’t feel comfortable leading. Voila! A punter (me) who leads a couple grades lower, and we were swapping leads.

Kristian Solem wrote:

I would bet that most belay slaves who only follow lack the critical skills needed should their leader get hurt, and a self rescue becomes necessary. What happens when the person used to following has to take charge? I suppose that sort of climbing belationship is okay for one pitch sport, but for multi-pitch, especially trad, I have always sought out partners who can get in the driver's seat if they have to.

Have you considered the situation where certain belaytionships just involve different things? Sometimes, you’re out climbing with someone a little less fit who isn’t comfortable with leading something harder than 5.8, especially if it’s a bit spicy. Sometimes, you’re out climbing with your buddy who consistently climbs harder than 5.12 and you just don’t feel like dogging an entire route and let them take the lead and enjoy themselves.

My point is, don’t equate climbing level with someone’s knowledge. I’d take some old local who has climbed hundreds of 5.8’s over 20 years over some 16 year old who leads 5.13 any day. 

Alliterative asshole?

Judgmental jackass?

Just the first couple that come to mind…

Locker wrote:

"What to call someone who only follows?"

I know it is a novel idea, but

I generally call my partners by their given name.

 

Weird. I always make an alliterative asshole assessment. Also, I have no friends.

Pig with a pulse, pulsating pig!

Passenger Princess is new to me…the bros and I in high school (30yrs ago) certainly noted who was driving, paying for gas and taking their shift driving home from the bar and harassed anyone who didn’t.  If passenger princess was in the lexicon we certainly have used along with many un-PC terms.  Scrub was our term.

Will Morrison wrote:

You made this same post in December. Mental illness?

https://www.mountainproject.com/forum/topic/125507676/youve-heard-of-passenger-princess-but-what-do-you-call

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