MP Forums - Most respected contributors?

Just wondering what other folks think... but when I see a reply to a post by someone like, say, RGold, Mark Hudon, John Gill, Jim Titt, Bill Lawry, Lena chita, et al, I tend to pay attention and consider their perspective carefully. How about you? Who are the folks on MP who tend to contribute the most wisdom to our tribe's knowledge base?

You hit my list but I'll add Ward Smith, Gunkiemike and Al Rubin to the list

Specifically for the Wasatch range, whenever James Garrett comments, I get hyped. Man has put up so many routes and has such a prolific amount of knowledge on Utah climbing it’s insane

A respected contributor friend of mine ,withdrew from posting  online because he does not need the "hatred and bullshit" .

I'd add Derek DeBruin to the list for sure. Definitely love his analytical and researched based approach to farthing the knowledge of North American climbing. 

Mikey Schaefer

I disagreed with a point Hudon made once and while I was typing thought "Who that hell am I to challenge this legend?" I love his posts and trip reports, nothing but respect for the guy. 

I'm a nobody but it is part of the fun of this sport that the pro's and legends are still just regular people for the most part, and are usually very approachable and happy to chat a bit. 

Id love to see a breakdown of that list from the OP! If this is that game where you pick out the item that doesn't fit the rest, then I get it!

Thanks for the inputs! Yeah, too bad we have to lose wonderful people from the site due to the trolling and backbiting. I just don't have time or energy for that stuff and I've noticed that, for the most part, the folks mentioned above don't engage with it either... or they have a more neutral way of stating/explaining themselves that tends to stay clear of the trolling game.

 Are Gaines, Luebben, and Long on here, too? It seems I have seen some posts from them maybe???

Yeah, James, I have find myself initially disagreeing with one of these "legends" now and then... but because of their experience, I always have kept an open mind with what they have to say and they have definitely influenced what I do. [E.g., Now I'm a proud and unashamed owner of a Petzl Connect Adjust! ; )     ]

Daniel Joderwrote:

Thanks for the inputs! Yeah, too bad we have to lose wonderful people from the site due to the trolling and backbiting. I just don't have time or energy for that stuff and I've noticed that, for the most part, the folks mentioned above don't engage with it either... or they have a more neutral way of stating/explaining themselves that tends to stay clear of the trolling game.

 Are Gaines, Luebben, and Long on here, too? It seems I have seen some posts from them maybe???

Yeah, James, I have find myself initially disagreeing with one of these "legends" now and then... but because of their experience, I always have kept an open mind with what they have to say and they have definitely influenced what I do. [E.g., Now I'm a proud and unashamed owner of a Petzl Connect Adjust! ; )     ]

Luebben was killed in a climbing accident a while ago but john long and bob gaines both post here periodically. 

I enjoy tradi and the puppy luvr. Although I only agree with 1/3-1/2 of what they say I love playing devils advocate in debates and they do bring some interesting, controversial topics to the table. Ron O’s and Kevin Deweese comments have been very helpful too 

Zach, if you were going for a "Bizarro World" most respected list, well played, sir!

Mike Graingerwrote:

Zach, if you were going for a "Bizarro World" most respected list, well played, sir!

Maybe I was hehe 

Please don’t feed the Tradiban. 

There's a difference between enjoy and respect, and some are both. 

I especially appreciate people who choose to show up on here, even if most of us have nothing to offer them, except our noobery or wonkiness. Mikey, Hudon, others, are on that list. 

There are people I still miss, gone for years now.

That list includes bearbreeder, for the VAST volumes of information he and rgold and Jim Titt would throw at each other. It's not been the same since.

And?

Don't forget those who are gone entirely now. John Strand and Brad G, for myself. 

Best, H.

I love these lists because they tell us what advice I should take without question.

For example, rgold tells us that all beginners should get a PAS. That settles the debate! Jim Titt taught us that partner checks are a waste of time, and Mark Hudon encourages top roping through the chains.

Unfortunately the community doesn't respect these thought leaders as much as we should, and there are climbers that still question their infallible wisdom.

Daniel Joderwrote:

Just wondering what other folks think... but when I see a reply to a post by someone like, say, RGold, Mark Hudon, John Gill, Jim Titt, Bill Lawry, Lena chita, et al, I tend to pay attention and consider their perspective carefully. How about you? Who are the folks on MP who tend to contribute the most wisdom to our tribe's knowledge base?

I like all of these posters, especially et al. 

Her posts are the best!

People need to focus far less on who says what and focus on what is actually being stated. This is with everything in life. You should find collaborating evidence to support what ever is being advocated. 

Maybe give Mark .05 points of credibility and give me .005. But if you get 1000 people that you give each .005 credibility, that is far better than solely relying on the evidence of one person.  

To the point about Tradiban being a devils advocate, I think this is a mischaracterization. Tradiban is the devil to the average MP user. 

Jeremy Baumanwrote:

I'd add Derek DeBruin to the list for sure. Definitely love his analytical and researched based approach to farthing the knowledge of North American climbing. 

Seconded on Derek DeBruin. And if you're not following his Instagram, he has some of the best "serial" posts on the 'gram. Well worth a follow! Always stoked to catch the next installment of his stories whenever I open up the app each morning. 

Benton Hodgeswrote:

Seconded on Derek DeBruin. And if you're not following his Instagram, he has some of the best "serial" posts on the 'gram. Well worth a follow! Always stoked to catch the next installment of his stories whenever I open up the app each morning. 

Second this second! I've got a huge backlog to look forward too! Good writing!

H.