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Climbing gets PC

Mistergribble

12-Aug-2020
4:54:23 PM

Oh no, the politically correct police have finally caught up with Nowra!!
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-08-12/push-for-sexist-racist-homophobic-rock-climbing-routes-renamed/12546620

dalai

12-Aug-2020
9:29:55 PM

Was a huge discussion in the Melbourne rockclimbing FB page a while back.

Looks like those wanting name changes weren't happy with the progress and thought bringing to National media attention would be a good idea...

harold

13-Aug-2020
7:28:18 AM

Another great self own for the climbing community.

That's why you shouldn't put these things on the internet anymore.

Congratulations, this is just the beginning.

PS And I don't even like the names... they're pretty juvenile. Pretty impressive how quickly we went from very strongly defending some pretty disgusting names to bringing in the speech Gestapo.

gfdonc

13-Aug-2020
7:32:08 AM

There was also an article in this month's Argus.
I agree, the route names at Nowra are offensive. I understand the FA's are being asked to consider alternatives. I hope they do.
The problem will be, where do you stop? There was recently a push on thecrag to have "We Don't Like Slopes" at Bundaleer renamed.
I always liked the obvious reference to climbing but thought perhaps the name was pushing the limits of PC. Turns out the original reference is a line in a Dave Warner song, which was criticising conservative and 'traditional' Aussie racist views. (Disclaimer: I don't know the song personally). The debate was subsequently shut down by thecrag management.
I was considering printing my 'Central Grampians' Guide in Hong Kong, but sourced local printers at a penalty of higher cost. Turns out the guide would not have made it past the HK censors, with route names such as "U Pong", "Hung Low", "Hu Flung Dung", "China Crisis" and "Cultural Revolution". To say nothing of the crag named "Taiwan".
Sensitivity is one thing; censorship another. One man's meat is another man's poison.

ajfclark

13-Aug-2020
9:01:36 AM

On 13-Aug-2020 gfdonc wrote:
>Turns out the original reference is a line in a Dave Warner song, which was criticising conservative and 'traditional' Aussie racist views.

Lyrics: http://davewarner.com.au/convict-streak/

Song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OluvqcBOG8g

Dr Nick

13-Aug-2020
4:47:05 PM

On 13-Aug-2020 gfdonc wrote:
>There was also an article in this month's Argus.
>I agree, the route names at Nowra are offensive. I understand the FA's
>are being asked to consider alternatives. I hope they do.

Already done & I believe changed on theCrag. There will be some leftovers, and goalposts will move as acceptable standards move, but I think the basic goal of remedying the worst names at Nowra is achieved.

It's worth thinking about this nationally, and it's going to be tricky if the routes are old enough that the FA has died, but I think most people recognise that what was considered "edgy and amusing" in the 70s, 80s and 90s really is basically just offensive. There will always be borderline cases, but if there's a reasonable number of people asking for a change I think most people will be amenable.

A related thing I saw today - the "mute" grab in skateboarding is being renamed because rather than a bunch of kids knowing it as "the move that quiet guy invented" a few well known "elder statesmen" actually spoke to that bloke and found he didn't speak much because he was deaf, so have decided to change the name to the "Weddle grab".

maxdacat

14-Aug-2020
12:30:18 PM

I did notice this:

"Metal climbing spikes and hooks can be seen on the face of this rock in the Grampians.(Supplied; Parks Victoria)"

Honestly how hard is it to get an article proofed by a climber!

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