What in climbing are you a snob about?

Dalton Robertsonwrote:

Man im too lazy to strip extra gear off, prusic, atc, anchor sling, extra locker never come off my harness

I’m a snob about people who are too lazy to remove things off their harness.

:) And people who boulder while wearing a harness, bc it is too much effort to take the harness off. 

M Awrote:

It's worse in every way. You can't move your bag mid climb, it hangs lower, it's connected by one point so it spins easier. And if you use cordalette as a belt you can use it to bail.

A better question is why do you keep running out of draws? 

I've been leading routes since the 90s?

Climbing snobs.

Effort and self limiting thinking.  If you want to climb hard, you have absolutely no right to complain about not improving, or not sending if you aren't trying hard.  The two most common examples of this:  

1. People looking at a move, or getting into the position before a hard move and then saying "I can't do it"... you can.  All you're doing is self limiting and defeating yourself before you even start.  If you tell yourself you can't... you can't.  If you tell yourself you can, you can or at least you'll give it all you've got.  If you leave all the cards on the table and still can't send, at least you tried and you should be proud of yourself for giving it 100%.  No shame in failure if you give it your all.
2. People "trying" a move with a bent arm, limp wrist, and no tension.  If you aren't going to commit to the move, don't even bother trying it.  Admittedly, I'm guilty of this from time to time but, it is important to force yourself to actually commit if you want to send.  Otherwise, you're just wasting your time.  If you have to convince yourself that you're trying hard... you aren't really trying hard.

I cannot tell you how many people could easily be capable of climbing a grade or two harder if they just actually tried.  It isn't training, it isn't that you're weak, it isn't finger strength, it isn't core, it isn't that you're not good enough at climbing, it isn't the conditions, it isn't the fact that the span is too big, or the move is too hard.... it is effort probably 9 times out of 10.  Grip it and rip it.  Most of the time, the only difference between someone who climbs V4-6 or 5.11-5.12 and someone who climbs V8+ or 5.13+ is effort.

Also, if climbing hard or trying hard or reaching your limit isn't your thing, there's nothing wrong with that.  Everyone wants something different about climbing.  Some want the adventure, some want to socialize, some just want to be out in nature, some just want to gym climb and hang out.  If you're having fun and enjoying climbing, that's all that matters.  Don't interpret this post as "everyone has to try hard", I'm only talking about people who want to climb hard/improve.

People climbing outside with gym tags on their harness. 

Crusher 5.12 bros getting professionally photographed in the wind as they hangdog their route with a giant neon green tag flapping around their harness.

you cared enough to shave your chest and rip that shirt off, maybe its the belay tag holding you down. 

James Mwrote:

People climbing outside with gym tags on their harness. 

Crusher 5.12 bros getting professionally photographed in the wind as they hangdog their route with a giant neon green tag flapping around their harness.

you cared enough to shave your chest and rip that shirt off, maybe its the belay tag holding you down. 

This isn't being a snob. 1% of climbers like this behavior. 

Big Redwrote:

People who treat the outdoors like their personal gym/backyard hangout. Hammocks, music, big group TR bangs, shouting, dogs, coolers, etc. Each of those things can be ok but throw em all together with some teen/20-something college kids at Rumney and I will ridicule to no end.

This is also not being a snob. 95% of climbers agree.

bryanswrote:

My chalk bag is on a carabiner and twice I've used it to clip an anchor when I was out of draws.  Beat that. And why chalk bag connection anyway, of all the the things to snob on? 

Wait, so what happens to the chalk bag after you use the biner that was securing it to your harness? 

Reese Stanleywrote:

Effort and self limiting thinking.  If you want to climb hard, you have absolutely no right to complain about not improving, or not sending if you aren't trying hard.  The two most common examples of this:  

1. People looking at a move, or getting into the position before a hard move and then saying "I can't do it"... you can.  All you're doing is self limiting and defeating yourself before you even start.  If you tell yourself you can't... you can't.  If you tell yourself you can, you can or at least you'll give it all you've got.  If you leave all the cards on the table and still can't send, at least you tried and you should be proud of yourself for giving it 100%.  No shame in failure if you give it your all.
2. People "trying" a move with a bent arm, limp wrist, and no tension.  If you aren't going to commit to the move, don't even bother trying it.  Admittedly, I'm guilty of this from time to time but, it is important to force yourself to actually commit if you want to send.  Otherwise, you're just wasting your time.  If you have to convince yourself that you're trying hard... you aren't really trying hard.

I cannot tell you how many people could easily be capable of climbing a grade or two harder if they just actually tried.  It isn't training, it isn't that you're weak, it isn't finger strength, it isn't core, it isn't that you're not good enough at climbing, it isn't the conditions, it isn't the fact that the span is too big, or the move is too hard.... it is effort probably 9 times out of 10.  Grip it and rip it.  Most of the time, the only difference between someone who climbs V4-6 or 5.11-5.12 and someone who climbs V8+ or 5.13+ is effort.

Also, if climbing hard or trying hard or reaching your limit isn't your thing, there's nothing wrong with that.  Everyone wants something different about climbing.  Some want the adventure, some want to socialize, some just want to be out in nature, some just want to gym climb and hang out.  If you're having fun and enjoying climbing, that's all that matters.  Don't interpret this post as "everyone has to try hard", I'm only talking about people who want to climb hard/improve.

Thanks for letting us 5.10 and below climbers off the hook.

Isaac Graywrote:

Wait, so what happens to the chalk bag after you use the biner that was securing it to your harness? 

It's clipped to the anchor and continues to keep my beer cold.

Nathan Doylewrote:

Thanks for letting us 5.10 and below climbers off the hook.

Who said you were off the hook?  Trying hard has nothing to do with grades.

bryanswrote:

I've been leading routes since the 90s?

At what grade?  Take a look at people that climb hard and see how many have chalk bags swinging around on a biner.

I am a snob about dumb 3 bolt climbs that should never exist.  As a developer are you really contributing something to the greater good?  Or are you feeding your ego?

Eric Dwrote:

At what grade?  Take a look at people that climb hard and see how many have chalk bags swinging around on a biner.

I am a snob about dumb 3 bolt climbs that should never exist.  As a developer are you really contributing something to the greater good?  Or are you feeding your ego?

The ego induced flame war is about to begin!!! The same could be for developers that think developing something guarded by 2 hour approach and hour long car drive is worth it because it is so aesthetic/classic. There is no harm in bolting either 99% of the time, so why do you care?

For two reasons:

1. Because we should be consciences of the amount of holes we drill and steel we put in rock.  I am not anti-bolting, but do believe that we should be careful of our impact.

2. Because it impacts access.  The more bolts we sink the more attention we bring to to ourselves.  J-Tree is probably a good example of this.

I am a spelling snob. And this is not related to climbing, so I'm also a off-topic rebel.

Edit: Ha, Will! Good one...and true.

FrankPSwrote:

I am a spelling snob. And this is not related to climbing, so I'm also a off-topic rebel.

… an* off-topic rebel. 

Mismatched racks. My brain can't handle Alien, Metolius, C3 colors.

Notched carabiners on anything but the rope side of a quickdraw.

Pants over harness. 

bryans wrote:

People wearing their helmets on a flat approach hike that isn't under a crag. Do you also walk around holding toilet paper when you're not on the toilet, just to be ready?

I mean pretty much any approach I do have toilet paper, a poop shovel, or a blue bag in my pack. kind of a funny question in context.  

Ally Lwrote:

I express this by rubbing my hands in piles of free ground chalk that I find when I boulder.

You sure that was chalk?  

Kenneth Campbell wrote:

Jesus Christ. You guys take all the fun out of everything. 

Yup. I'm a snob about having fun, and finding fun partners. All I ask is that people stay safe and leave no trace.

...But those gates out racking people are insane.