RockClimberGirl.com - Latest Comments in Us and Them: Living Life Unconventionally

Re: Us and Them: Living Life Unconventionally

Darren — Fri, 01 May 2009 10:50:46 -0000

"Not to be a dick..."

Oops. Too late.

"...you seem like..."

You're obviously uninformed (and spectacularly unenlightened). If you're going to be critical, put your name on things, dude. Go back to sleep.

Re: Us and Them: Living Life Unconventionally

Sara Lingafelter — Fri, 01 May 2009 04:18:11 -0000

Huh. Not the first time I've been called a "bitch," though "elitist bitch" may be a new one. Doesn't happen often... I try to be pretty nice to people, and they're usually pretty nice back.

To your point, though, nope. I actually enjoy my time outside purely for the true joy climbing gives me. I just also like to write, and my climbing life is one of the things I like to write about. I learn stuff, and I meet some really great people by opening myself up like this. It's your prerogative to read, or not to, and to be nice, or not to.

Thanks for your concern, and for taking the time to comment, anonymously.

Re: Us and Them: Living Life Unconventionally

i like the woods — Fri, 01 May 2009 03:42:58 -0000

Not to be a dick, (I love to climb and get... ***dirty*** too) but you seem like an elitist bitch who spends more time at the computer analyzing what you just climbed or hiked than actually enjoying it for the true joy climbing gives you.

Re: Us and Them: Living Life Unconventionally

NoPoGirl — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 16:32:18 -0000

This is a nice post. I am the mom of an 8-month-old who has a husband and a full-time job. I skied 30+ days this year, have been climbing 4 weekends thus far this spring and am an avid bike racer and triathlete. When I get to work on Monday, my co-workers don't even ask about my weekend any more. You think you might be alone as a climber in the "real world"? Try being a climbing, telemark skiing, bike racing mom. I have yet to meet any moms who are as active as me. This doesn't mean I don't look- I look EVERYWHERE. Luckily, my husband and I are climbing, skiing and cycling partners, so we're pretty understanding of each other.

So...I have a mortgage, a job, a car payment, insurance, a 401K, a BABY and I still consider myself a dirt-bag. Some dreams never die. ;)

Re: Us and Them: Living Life Unconventionally

Sara Lingafelter — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 00:50:10 -0000

Your first line could be the subhead for my blog, but I wouldn't want
to use someone else's words without attribution, anonymous commenter.

Thanks for the reading list tips, and for your comment.

Re: Us and Them: Living Life Unconventionally

happily happy — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 13:41:07 -0000

Some of the most self-indulgent climber-prose dreck that I have ever had the misfortune of coming across.

Climbing rocks doesn't make you interesting, or competent, or virtuous. Many of the least happy people I've ever met have justified their existence via lists such as the above.

Read Mark Jenkins, read Mark Twight, read Greg Mortensen, read the writing of many excessive personalities and extraordinary athletes - most of them come to the same conclusion.

Re: Us and Them: Living Life Unconventionally

bryan — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 07:25:31 -0000

You Fu!King Rock!!! This post made my month and the jury is still out... sad, i know. I love the outdoors and am trying to come up with a plan to live permanently out of the office. The movie Office Space is me to a T. I hate that about myself but Im making my exit from all the posers that think they have the 'good life'. Way to go!

Re: Us and Them: Living Life Unconventionally

Melissa — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 11:44:55 -0000

Love it. I am a long distance hiker, not as much a climber, but I have definitely have felt awkward coming back into "society" on several occasions. Someone even tried to offer me $20 after giving me a hitch into town. If they knew my pack and all its contents were worth more than their car, they might have driven right by me.

I have another one from hiking:

Stinky;
Them: Us. Body odor, unclean hair, sunblock, dirt.

Us: Them. Perfume & soap.

Re: Us and Them: Living Life Unconventionally

patrick nobles — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 01:39:54 -0000

very nice work. I lived out of my car for 10 months in 2008, loving every minute of it...(well, there are a few minutes i tend to block out) . Your blog entry was very well put, thanks for the entertainment, keep it up.

Re: Us and Them: Living Life Unconventionally

ripsawridge — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 10:47:43 -0000

Loved it. Just want to say, keep posting the stuff that gets reactions (including negative). Personally I thought it was funny. People are so serious! Like the comment about some of THEM having to work to support US. Jeesh. My sympathies...keep up the funny stuff!

Re: Us and Them: Living Life Unconventionally

Sara Lingafelter — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 20:26:45 -0000

good eye! That's a shot from the top of Diedre, which I think is near Banana Peel? I don't have a Squamish guide, but that's my recollection.

Glad you liked the post, and thanks for the comment!

Re: Us and Them: Living Life Unconventionally

V_0 — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 20:16:44 -0000

Great post! My favourite quote is: "People who negative scan need to find a hobby." I hope you don't mind if I use it.
By the way, is that a shot (#6) from the Apron on the Chief? Looks like somewhere on Banana Peel.
Climber Girl, don't let the offended folk keep you from posting more of your fine humour.

Re: Us and Them: Living Life Unconventionally

dave — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 18:51:33 -0000

heh, fun stuff. I've more or less given up discussing climbing with people who don't climb. They just don't get it, which is ok. You mention climbing at a party or to a relative and you get something like 'oh climbing? My neice did that at the gym for her birthday 3 years ago and loved it!'

Re: Us and Them: Living Life Unconventionally

Sara Lingafelter — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 13:21:30 -0000

I think we're all a bit thus or uhem... ;)

Re: Us and Them: Living Life Unconventionally

Sara Lingafelter — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 13:19:47 -0000

Karen - welcome to the world of rock climbing, and I hope you'll keep reading. About twice a year, I post something that some people like, some people strongly dislike, which I think is funny. This is an example of one of those posts... so please stick around and hopefully I can make it up to you in time.

I don't believe (and I don't believe that I labeled) folks who live a more conventional life as "shallow, consumeristic, and materialistic." If the post is read that way, it's only as a caricature (this post is meant to be funny -- I've been criticized before for being utterly unfunny, so if I've not succeeded at being funny, again... my bad).

Everyone was a newbie at some point. I've been "in it" for four years, and I still consider myself a beginner. I'm known as the "welcoming committee" in my local gym, where I try to welcome new climbers and encourage them in their learning process. I also work, actively, to create interest in climbing and to promote climbing as the wonderful activity it is.

As much as all of that, though, I also would like the room to express my viewpoint from time to time. I'm starting to get a bit ... can't think of the word ... so will have to go with a descriptive phrase ... I'm starting to feel a bit like a puppy that gets smacked with a newspaper ... whenever I post something other than a gear review or trip report ... something about "my climbing life" I just brace myself for the criticism of my elitism, the generalizations I make, the stereotypes I fit (or don't fit).

I wouldn't wish my "dedication" on anyone. I say, over and over, that I envy people who can be recreational rock climbers, and maintain a "normal" life. It is my mission to welcome others into the climbing community at a very personal level (one to one) as well as through this blog. But... the tradeoff for that is that once in awhile, I'm going to write something, from my frame of reference, that I think is funny, and that I think might resonate with you folks who read this.

As much as a post like this may not resonate with newer climbers, or folks who live their climbing life differently than some of my friends and I... my training tips and how-to's don't resonate with more experienced climbers. Hopefully there's something here for everybody, and please just forgive me an occasional post you don't like, and keep reading. In return, I'll appreciate the differing viewpoints here, and will try not to censor myself too much in response to the criticism I do get. 'cause that's when it stops being fun, for all of us!

Re: Us and Them: Living Life Unconventionally

Karen — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 12:51:56 -0000

I am a girl who is fairly new to rock climbing, so I approached your blog with interest. However, I take offense to your sweeping generalizations. You claim to seek balance but by positioning yourself as “us” against “them,” you only create division. I applaud you for living unconventionally, but by labeling everyone who does not live the life you do as shallow, consumeristic, and materialistic, you only make it harder for others to understand your own choices. I climb primarily indoors as I am building strength and learning how to properly and safely use gear, but just because I don’t make a habit of sleeping in the rain doesn’t mean I use my car just for driving to work and the mall. There are many ways to live outside perceived societal norms, and we all have things to learn from people who are different than we are. It frustrates me when I encounter an attitude of elitism within the climbing community. Wasn’t everyone a newbie at some point? Wouldn’t the act of welcoming others into the climbing community only strengthen the efforts of all of us who are interested in conserving our wilderness and our climbing areas? Wouldn’t we be better served by sharing the merits of our lifestyle choices rather than deriding anyone who isn’t like us?

Re: Us and Them: Living Life Unconventionally

Samson — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 00:30:19 -0000

Sweet! Love the post. And I realize I'm a hybrid. Does that make me a "Thus"? Or maybe an "Uhem"? Something like that.

Re: Us and Them: Living Life Unconventionally

Jenn Fields — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 21:12:28 -0000

While home for Christmas, my in-laws congratulated us on our nontraditional lifestyle. The think it's quite brave that neither of us works for the man, brave that we haven't taken secure jobs, which allows us to travel and climb.

I countered: I don't think it's brave. Working a corporate gig isn't safe anymore--they're cutting benefits everywhere, and look at the layoffs! It's an illusion of safety, just as much as our unconventional lives carry the illusion of unsafe planning by the seats of our pants. Working for yourself is the safest way to make sure you work and have the life you want--and that is what is truly unconventional about your life, Sara!

Re: Us and Them: Living Life Unconventionally

alpinerack — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 20:52:44 -0000

I love this post Sara! I am still laughing! This reminds me of a quote that I have lived by my whole life and I think sums this article up pretty well.
"My vacation is your worst nightmare"
Not sure who said it or where I heard it but it has always stuck with me.
What would you choose? A 110 degree beach or a ice choked couloir spitting spin drift down your coat?

Re: Us and Them: Living Life Unconventionally

Ian — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 20:13:06 -0000

Thats great!

Re: Us and Them: Living Life Unconventionally

nanske — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 13:18:33 -0000

I think you're quite right about meeting and working things out with the people we're supposed to meet and work things out with. Keep that thought going and you'll be happy either way, I think.

<cosmo off=""> and now for a light meal and packing stuff for climbing training tonight.

Re: Us and Them: Living Life Unconventionally

SteveontheRocks — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 12:49:51 -0000

Why do so many people need to create the strawmen THEM to make themselves (US) feel better. Sorry. I like you're blog, but this divisive, overly simplistic stuff is silly. Live your life and worry not about THEM. Besides, do you realize how many people I (and you, I'm sure) run into in the great outdoors who are also THEM when it comes to making a living. And do realize how many are only able to live the US lifestyle because some THEM (mom and dad, etc.) are subsidising them? People aren't as easy to pigeon hole as this post pretends.

Re: Us and Them: Living Life Unconventionally

amyc — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 12:45:18 -0000

fun post, sara.

i am a 'them' that has been slowly and steadily morphing into an 'us' over the past 8 years (hadn't run a mile in my life prior to 2000 and now training for a 50M; couldn't make it a mile up a hiking trail and now run up them; thought climbing was an absolutely crazy sport [just couldn't understand it] and now i'm totally hooked).

i appreciate the differences in human nature (am really fascinated by it) and am excited for an extended climbing trip later this year to explore outside my current bubble (there are more of 'us' than 'them' where i live) and solidify my own strength as more 'us' than 'them' while experiencing the confusion, disapproval and non-understanding comments and judgements of 'them.'

i think we all experience different aspects of 'us' and 'them' in all we do if we are independent and strong-of-character at all. i am happy and so much more comfortable with myself as an 'us.' :)

Re: Us and Them: Living Life Unconventionally

WasatchGirl — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 12:35:36 -0000

Yeah, I always note that I have a climbing / travel blog and then a venture capital blog. However, the VC blog has been dormant since I started on my road trip. =)

Re: Us and Them: Living Life Unconventionally

WasatchGirl — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 12:34:53 -0000

This is hilarious! I am reading this post after...
- noticing I was the only climber in Horseshoe Canyon Ranch last night
- waking up in the backseat of my Honda Civic, my "bed" for the past 6 months
- realizing I am on at least day 5 of not washing the hair, and a couple days of not combing it
- definitely still wearing the clothes I have worn for the past 3+ days
- and currently waiting for the snow to melt so I can go climb. =)
- after climbing, I will then make the 16 hour trek to Hueco Tanks.

Yay... I am one of "us"!