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Cussing at the crag

Jon Zucco · · Denver, CO · Joined Aug 2008 · Points: 245
Mark E Dixon wrote: Let me get this straight-you are voluntarily involving your kids in a subculture where substance abuse is rampant, avoidance of productive work is glorified and a genuine risk of injury or death exists, but throw a little cursing in, and that's a deal breaker?
fuckin' a
Nick Turtura · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Feb 2015 · Points: 25

These forums are great! Talk about a train wreck.

Do people even read the OP or are they so excited to claim constitutional infringements that they just need to sign up and type. Free world brah. Yep it is. You can cuss all you want. Ultimately I have no control over what you say, nor am I offended and am worried about my kids well being. Nor, am I going to call upon the powers of heaven to send lightning bolts at you. Chill out, I didn't just bolt your favorite "proj." I simply pointed out an unusual occurrence at the local crag that seems to be happening there more than other places.

My 10 year old, whom is climbing in the 10s and is a very quiet and good natured kid who when he hears some DB running his mouth off just looks at me and smiles. The same with my two 8 year old daughters. Ironic that we assume every kid is a brat that runs around and bugs every "real" climber, when the whole opposing argument is that you can do whatever you want, cause this is 'merica!

And the bars and casinos argument, wow, just wow. To be honest, if an 8 year old girl came into a bar, I probably would watch my mouth a bit, regardless of bad parenting.

I just thought I'd see if anybody else was running into this situation as well. Oh and by the way, to the crag rat at the rock with a sailors mouth. Sorry I took a dump in your chalk bag the other day, I mean it's a free country and all, if you don't like keep your chalk bag away from me.

Jacob Smith · · Seattle, WA · Joined Aug 2013 · Points: 230

A couple things.
1. If your idea of personal freedom is being able to drop an f-bomb every other word without people looking askance, you've got to be the most myopic person I've ever met. The freedom we have as climbers is not going to be threatened by voluntarily limiting our language around impressionable children.
2. When a parent brings their kids to the crag other climbers are unlikely to offer them beer and pot, plus plenty of climbers live fulfilling, productive lives, so the whole "what kind of subculture are you getting your kids into" argument doesn't really work.

caesar.salad · · earth · Joined Dec 2012 · Points: 75

Just be considerate in all things and expect the result to be somewhere between what you want and what others want.

Steven Groetken · · Durango, CO · Joined Sep 2012 · Points: 390
Jake Jones wrote: With 5 billion motherfuckers on this pissant rock and people taking the goddamned skin boat to tuna town like fucking hotcakes, consideration of one another is a must. Don't be a shitbag around the kids. Watch your mouths.
More like 7 billion +/- 100 million or so. Pool's already full folks, so as stated before, spay and neuter those lil' fuck trophies.
Mark E Dixon · · Possunt, nec posse videntur · Joined Nov 2007 · Points: 974
Nick Turtura wrote:Oh and by the way, to the crag rat at the rock with a sailors mouth. Sorry I took a dump in your chalk bag the other day, I mean it's a free country and all, if you don't like keep your chalk bag away from me.
Maybe I'm old fashioned, but threatening to sabotage the climbing gear of an active serviceman doesn't seem to me like a great example to set for kids.
Jonas Salk · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Apr 2008 · Points: 10
Sean Brady · · Boulder, Colorado · Joined Aug 2012 · Points: 125

So, I have a thought on this. I used to a be a screaming cusser. I mean, freak out yelling f-bombs when I was getting my ass kicked. I've since stopped, and try not to cuss at all, much less yell anything but the usual grunting, etc. I even try to keep that to a minimum.

I feel that it not only degrades the experience of the people around you, but it also degrades YOUR experience and helps reinforce any self doubt that may be present in your mind. How are you supposed to visualize sending when you are clearly stuck on the failure?

Either way I think it's something that we should try to keep to a minimum, for all our sakes.

Tim Stich · · Colorado Springs, Colorado · Joined Jan 2001 · Points: 1,520

Too much cussing is the hallmark of the redneck peckerwood. You want to be like that? You go back to your doublewide now and think about it.

Guy Keesee · · Moorpark, CA · Joined Mar 2008 · Points: 349

Locker.... Nice Bait, I bet it works very well on a slow day like today.

Stich: for the win...

Locker · · Yucca Valley, CA · Joined Oct 2002 · Points: 2,349

Leave the dogs and kids at home with the babysitter where they BELONG, then take Franks advice and...

...

Jburton · · Ogden · Joined Jan 2014 · Points: 0

On some routes my best placed piece is a well timed F-bomb.

virginiaboy Link · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Mar 2012 · Points: 0
Tim Lutz wrote:So now we need to curb our langauge at the crags because the soccer parents dont like it?! Wow. Mother fucking wow.
Dogs and children belong on leashes at the crag. Seriously your kids are not cute and get that thing away from my fucking pack.
BirminghamBen · · Birmingham, AL · Joined Jan 2007 · Points: 1,620
Stich wrote:Too much cussing is the hallmark of the redneck peckerwood. You want to be like that? You go back to your doublewide now and think about it.
This is true.
Sadly, I am a perpetrator.
josh holmes · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Sep 2008 · Points: 215
Sarcasm Below

Move to Provo, UT, home of the Latter Day Saints' private university.
Climb at the gym by the dollar theater in the winter and Rock Canyon/AF in the off season.
If any one so much as thinks a curse word inside the holy bubble that protects Utah Valley, the very ground opens up, masticating the offense from the sight of the righteous.

Sarcasm Above

Seriously, though…I'm a Dad, too. I find that people swear or otherwise behave in a way that is inappropriate for children all the time, not just at the crags. Use good judgement at all times with your children. Most importantly, I feel it is the parents responsibility to educate their child so that they don't grow up to be a foul mouthed crag sprayer or something worse…like a hold enhancer/chipper.

There are plenty of climbers/people that do not want to have children around them and see them as a negative. When taking the kiddos, we always look for either another family or an area/crag that is empty. We introduce ourselves to any one else at the crag and just try to be genuine, friendly and respectful. i.e. if we showed up at the only crag available and there was already a large group and the children were fussy…we would just change plans for the day.

Being a parent that climbs, one must remember that they are a parent first, climber second.
M Mobley · · Bar Harbor, ME · Joined Mar 2006 · Points: 911
josh holmes wrote: Being a parent that climbs, one must remember that they are a parent first, climber second.
lol, I had to get lowered halfway up a route yesterday to go spot my 4 year old on her 5.4 solo up the side of the cliff. We both sent our projects yesterday.
josh holmes · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Sep 2008 · Points: 215
T Roper wrote: lol, I had to get lowered halfway up a route yesterday to go spot my 4 year old on her 5.4 solo up the side of the cliff. We both sent our projects yesterday.
Awesome!!
Jaime M · · Chattanooga, TN · Joined Jan 2013 · Points: 85
josh holmes wrote:Use good judgement at all times with your children. Most importantly, I feel it is the parents responsibility to educate their child so that they don't grow up to be a foul mouthed crag sprayer or something worse…like a hold enhancer/chipper.
I think this is an important point. This is a parenting issue, not a climbing issue. Kids are going to hear things parents don't want them to hear. I was raised in a religious bubble in the conservative south--went to private christian schools and everything--and I heard a lot worse at school by the time I was 10 than what I hear at the crag.

You can't police everybody--every other parent who lets their kids curse, every overworked teacher that can't monitor every playground spat, every passing skateboarder as you walk your kids through the park, or, yes, every climber who lets one fly at the crux. I guess you could try, but it wouldn't be a very pleasant experience.

You CAN teach your kids that what they are hearing is inappropriate, that it's mean, that they should not repeat what they hear. I mean, really, it feeds into a larger approach to parenting. It's abstinence vs. sex ed. You can either try to protect your kids from the world (you will fail), or how to be smart, courteous members the world.
Nick Stayner · · Wymont Kingdom · Joined Mar 2006 · Points: 2,315
Sean Brady wrote:So, I have a thought on this. I used to a be a screaming cusser. I mean, freak out yelling f-bombs when I was getting my ass kicked. I've since stopped, and try not to cuss at all, much less yell anything but the usual grunting, etc. I even try to keep that to a minimum. I feel that it not only degrades the experience of the people around you, but it also degrades YOUR experience and helps reinforce any self doubt that may be present in your mind. How are you supposed to visualize sending when you are clearly stuck on the failure? Either way I think it's something that we should try to keep to a minimum, for all our sakes.
^One of the best responses on this thread.

I used to be that guy too... I'm sure longtime partners will recall. I'm not sure why people are focusing so much on how it affects kids. I think the more important concern (disclaimer: not a parent) is to keep in mind the touchy access issues that exist in many areas. Here in Wyomont, we're lucky enough to have a plethora of crags in the middle of nowhere, but i'm sure there are plenty of spots in which land management is actively looking for ways and reasons to build a case against climbers. Don't give them an easy one.
Nick Turtura · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Feb 2015 · Points: 25

Thank you all for the logical responses.

I agree whole heartedly that parents have the obligation to teach their kids the difference between ethical and non ethical behavior. That includes being a disruptive influence at the crag. My kids grew up playing with old quickdraws as toys so I could never buy into the philosophy of isolating them from other climbers. They will climb, and they will be around other climbers, and they will be respectful (at least on my watch.)

I guess my only real distinction would be that there is a difference between the use of well placed colorful language and distasteful spewing and foul ranting. I really didn't even need to bring my kids into it, I don't particularly like it myself.

BTW if my kids ever walk under your rope, please feel free to cuss the little buggers out.

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

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