Why do you climb?

I am sure at at one point or another you have asked yourself why you climb. Most non-climbers probably tell you it is because you are crazy, have a death wish, or are a thrill-seeker.

I am also interested in the answer but do not find the non-climbers opinions satisfactory. After talking to climbers, watching documentaries and interviews, reading forum posts, books and articles, I came up with a list of reasons climbers give or allude to. I am not sure how widely these apply, so I put them into a 10 item survey in hopes of getting some answers from people on this forum. Please take the survey and I will post the summary here. Here is the link:

surveymonkey.com/r/YS7CT3M

If you do take the survey, please reply here to keep this post at the top

Thanks!

If anyone is interested in a full meditation on the subject, with some fun narratives and history thrown in, take a look at the book "Why We Climb" by John Burgman, foreword by Arno Ilgner. More information at grounduppublishing.com.

Done! Are you involved with a formal research project or is this primarily a personal venture?

You may want to consider rethinking the wording in your survey - something might be true but it doesn't mean that it answers the question of "why we climb". For example, your first item: "Climbing gives me a sense of control in my life". What if that is true, but it is not one of the reasons I climb - do I answer true or false?
(also you forgot to add the "N/A" option)

I agree with Em Coss. The survey felt a bit too black and white, but I like the idea overall.

I second Em's comment. I was expecting something more along the lines of ordering common reasons for climbing from 1-10 based on importance

I climb for the rad Facebook profile pics.

Done.
I have to agree with Em. I would consider rewording this survey. Why are all you question so negative? This survey seem real biased.Is there a reason you didn't include statements like: 'Climbing makes me happy.' or 'I enjoy the aesthetic nature of the movement on rock.'?

Edit to add: Are you intentionally trying to capture negative personality traits in this survey?

After reading the survey, I'm so ashamed of climbing all these years. I had no idea I was using it to make up for the horrible conditions and insecurities of my life. When I got to the end, I was thinking the last question might be one to consider.

matt c. wrote:Done. Why are all you question so negative? This survey seem real biased.

Seriously, the survey should be called something like "reasons why clinically depressed people might want to climb." For those of us who aren't depressed, the survey doesn't really capture any of the reasons why we climb.

To get high

Yes that is it . . . TO GET HIGH!, thnx R M

Do not fill out any surveys.

They can and eventually will be used against climbers.

Used to deny health insurance coverage or in custody cases .
I am certainly paranoid, but what other point could there be?

To the person who posted this ?
Answer up - why are you taking such a negative stance?

What is our point?. . . What is Your Point!?

If you do not know why you climb, and from your stance that is the case;
why should anybody tell you more than the one universally approved answer:

Because it is there.

Do not fill out random surveys that have no clear point.

Michael Schneider wrote: Do not fill out random surveys that have no clear point.

Actually, it seems that survey is trying to make the point that people use climbing to self-treat symptoms of their personality and psychological disorders.

I also agree that that was a very dark and biased survey for people with some serious issues.
I think I only said yes to one that asked about it making life more exciting, but even that was worded in a dark way about making life worth living.

Should have had questions pointing towards people who like being out door and enjoying nature and using it as a form of exercise that is more fun than the gym.

Maybe the problem here is that you're so investing in the reasons why. Maybe climbing just is. Maybe we do it for the ladies. Maybe we do it for the glory or the thrill.

Or maybe we just do, and human doing over human being is enough.

Let. This. Go. Man...

Please tell us Normajean why you climb....?

frank minunni wrote:After reading the survey, I'm so ashamed of climbing all these years. I had no idea I was using it to make up for the horrible conditions and insecurities of my life. When I got to the end, I was thinking the last question might be one to consider.

and you thought you went climbing to met chics ?

Complete BS IMO

matt c. wrote: Actually, it seems that survey is trying to make the point that people use climbing to self-treat symptoms of their personality and psychological disorders.

Gotta love Psych people....always telling other people what the "problems " are

john strand wrote: and you thought you went climbing to met chics ? Complete BS IMO

I'm almost ashamed to admit that I did meet chicks along the way, but based on the questionnaire, it was only to cover up the fact that I'm gay...Who knew? Now what do I do?

frank minunni wrote: I'm almost ashamed to admit that I did meet chicks along the way, but based on the questionnaire, it was only to cover up the fact that I'm gay...Who knew? Now what do I do?

You could start dating guys. Now you can use the male/female ratio in climbing to your favor!

Is that you Trollanor?

"After talking to climbers, watching documentaries and interviews, reading forum posts, books and articles"

Sounds like your sample was a little, uh, nonrepresentative?