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The Eyrie, Mt Boyce retrobolted! Badly... 9-Jan-2017 At 3:47:21 PM Wendy

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On 9/01/2017 rodw wrote:
>On 9/01/2017 Wendy wrote:
>>. I don't think climbers in general are silent
>>subalterns.
>
>Maybe not but I do think majority dont use this forum and others to express
>an opinion...I thought Voodoo's comment wasn't about perceive silent majority
>being pro for the bolting just pointing out Chockstone is not really a
>representative view of the wider whole.
>
>I know a sh&te ton of climbers and in my estimates less than 10% of them
>bother with this online banter..and certainly wouldn't assume expressed
>thoughts on here are the same they may have, or even have any thoughts
>on the matter at all.
>
>A vocal minority can easily sway an argument (look at US elections for
>an example) if the whole community does not get a "vote" and push a certain
>agenda while the silent majority either don't engage in said discussion
>either through apathy or simply being unaware of the issue at all which
>is probably the later.
>
>Actions will be performed by a small engaged majority in a sport like
>ours..which for the most seems to work fine...just like to advise caution
>in assuming this is what the community wants as a whole and claiming Chockstone
>is a true indicator for all thoughts regarding climbing just because a
>small bunch of peeps shout the loudest is a bit naive and simplistic IMHO.
>

Of course Chockstone isn't necessarily a true indicator of all thoughts - but I do think it is a well known public forum for these sort of issues and the easiest way of accessing a reasonable number of people. I can't think of any other method that will access a larger proportion of the climbing community in a quick time frame for minimal labour and resources. Feel free to tell us some. It also benefits from word of mouth where discussion here is spread around non-users who are then able to join in. I suspect there is a little bit of derision for internet forums as geeky and not as a legitimate location for debate. Some people's behaviour on them also discourages their acceptance as platforms for serious debate. However, all options are going to have limitations - club newsletter, gym or crag noticeboards are very population, time and location specific. And the don't care or have better things to do are hardly convincing arguments for consulting those people. Are we going to make them care or prioritise clarify issues of debate? Probably not.