Alex Honnold's next summit: the rest of his life • Hacker News Board

Re: Alex Honnold's next summit: the rest of his life

#61

Post by chroma » Fri, Sep 13, 2019, 3:59 PM UTC

reascenda wrote: post #18

navigatesol wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I came away sympathetic — recognizing a kindred spirit who’s capable of a lot, but had a hard time fitting in with the world If there's one thing I've learned about HackerNews, it's that everyone here is an exceptional but misunderstood genius. > while everyone else just saw a very impressive asshole. I don't know a single person who came away from this film with the impression that Alex Honnold is an asshole. Seem…

I thought he was an asshole. Quite apart from how he came across in the film exposing yourself to utterly needless danger is a very bad way to treat people who love you.

The only person in the movie who met Honnold before he started free soloing was his mother, and she seems fine with him doing it. Everyone else knew what they were signing up for. If anything, they're the selfish ones because they want him to stop doing what he loves.

Re: Alex Honnold's next summit: the rest of his life

#62

Post by smt88 » Fri, Sep 13, 2019, 4:00 PM UTC

mnm1 wrote: post #42

gameswithgo wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've been fascinated for a long time by how people get angry at others for taking risks. Ride my mountain bike slowly on a side walk without a helmet? It invokes ANGER in others. Why? Is it an evolutionary trait built into pack animals perhaps? That would make sense. But still, leave me alone! =) Also, yes internet I understand that falling from a mountain bike at a slow speed can impact your head just as hard as fal…

Riding your bike that way in Amsterdam (or really any place in Europe and I imagine most of the rest of the world) wouldn't turn one head, let alone invoke anger. That's definitely an American thing. I guess some people get off on the righteousness and they attempt to control other people in the most minuscule of ways. I think this is because they have little freedom and control over their own lives and feel helpless…

American culture is more individualistic than most Western European countries, not less. There is no connection between puritanism and frustration at people not wearing a helmet.

In fact, my bike-loving, safety-loving friends never say they're angry at someone riding without a helmet. Usually someone just calls them an idiot.

But as others have said, in any country with a social safety net, someone's injury/death ends up taking resources away from others (hospital bills, loss of productivity, loss of repaying the cost of your childhood, not taking care of parents or kids, etc.)

There's nothing bizarre about seeing someone who abuses their safety net as selfish or irresponsible.

Re: Alex Honnold's next summit: the rest of his life

#63

Post by joelrunyon » Fri, Sep 13, 2019, 7:05 PM UTC

cletus wrote: post #40

I can't remember how or exactly when I came across Alex but it was several years ago. On the one hand I find parts of him highly relatable (eg "learning his lines" and his aversion to asking others to climb with him) and others not (eg I have zero inclination to climb anything). I certainly respect how much work and preparation he puts into his climbs. The question is: how is he different to the Everest glory hounds…

> they'll tell you they can probably get anyone to the top.

You answered your own question.

Alex is not "anyone."

Re: Alex Honnold's next summit: the rest of his life

#64

Post by Fezzik » Fri, Sep 13, 2019, 11:01 PM UTC

joelbluminator wrote: post #45

cletus wrote: post #40

I can't remember how or exactly when I came across Alex but it was several years ago. On the one hand I find parts of him highly relatable (eg "learning his lines" and his aversion to asking others to climb with him) and others not (eg I have zero inclination to climb anything). I certainly respect how much work and preparation he puts into his climbs. The question is: how is he different to the Everest glory hounds…

He's different than them in that he's the best in the world in what he does, and also he doesn't put anyone else in danger (Everest climbers put the Sherpas who work for them in danger. They also provide them a great living). But in essence both Honnold and said climbers are just living their dreams; for some it's climbing El Capitan solo and for others it's climbing Everest with 20 Sherpas that help you get there. T…

He is using his platform and wealth, that he has from climbing rocks, to better the world though: https://www.snewsnet.com/people/alex-honnold-on-public-lands.... I can’t really think of a better example of a contemporary person who has lived simply, achieved success at a very young age, and immediately jumped in to an advocacy role.

And I think his media presence is drastically different from Everest peak baggers: the media comes to Alex because he is a 1 in 7 billion human being, he does not approach the media in an attempt to brag about an accomplishment. Can you point to anything that indicates he does what he does for “fame from other”? In the dozens of hours of interviews I have watched he never once presents himself this way...

Re: Alex Honnold's next summit: the rest of his life

#65

Post by markandrewj » Sat, Sep 14, 2019, 7:29 AM UTC

cletus wrote: post #40

I can't remember how or exactly when I came across Alex but it was several years ago. On the one hand I find parts of him highly relatable (eg "learning his lines" and his aversion to asking others to climb with him) and others not (eg I have zero inclination to climb anything). I certainly respect how much work and preparation he puts into his climbs. The question is: how is he different to the Everest glory hounds…

Climbers are passionate about what they do, it is a culture and lifestyle. I think something that has made Alex different has been his ability to connect with people that would not normally take an interest in climbing. I have been hearing his name quite a bit this year. I bumped into a group doing Alex Honnold impressions while hiking this year, it me laugh harder then it probably should have.

Re: Alex Honnold's next summit: the rest of his life

#66

Post by mnm1 » Sat, Sep 14, 2019, 9:44 AM UTC

smt88 wrote: post #62

mnm1 wrote: post #42

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Riding your bike that way in Amsterdam (or really any place in Europe and I imagine most of the rest of the world) wouldn't turn one head, let alone invoke anger. That's definitely an American thing. I guess some people get off on the righteousness and they attempt to control other people in the most minuscule of ways. I think this is because they have little freedom and control over their own lives and feel helpless…

American culture is more individualistic than most Western European countries, not less. There is no connection between puritanism and frustration at people not wearing a helmet. In fact, my bike-loving, safety-loving friends never say they're angry at someone riding without a helmet. Usually someone just calls them an idiot. But as others have said, in any country with a social safety net, someone's injury/death end…

I think you missed my point which is that riding without a helmet is not dangerous. Americans think it's dangerous because of the way the culture treats everyone as if they are children who need a nanny because they don't know any better. If indeed it was true that "There's nothing bizarre about seeing someone who abuses their safety net as selfish or irresponsible," then why don't people in Amsterdam and Europe in general have this reaction? They actually have a safety net unlike America.

Re: Alex Honnold's next summit: the rest of his life

#67

Post by smt88 » Sat, Sep 14, 2019, 11:03 AM UTC

mnm1 wrote: post #66

smt88 wrote: post #62

Earlier quoted context omitted.

American culture is more individualistic than most Western European countries, not less. There is no connection between puritanism and frustration at people not wearing a helmet. In fact, my bike-loving, safety-loving friends never say they're angry at someone riding without a helmet. Usually someone just calls them an idiot. But as others have said, in any country with a social safety net, someone's injury/death end…

I think you missed my point which is that riding without a helmet is not dangerous. Americans think it's dangerous because of the way the culture treats everyone as if they are children who need a nanny because they don't know any better. If indeed it was true that "There's nothing bizarre about seeing someone who abuses their safety net as selfish or irresponsible," then why don't people in Amsterdam and Europe in g…

Your point was buried in the other misinformation in your post, but it's also wrong.

First of all, helmets dramatically reduce risk of injury[1]. Why do American football players wear them if they aren't protective?

Second, much of the bike riding done in the US is on roads shared with cars, and most of our accidents involve cars. We likely have more accidents per mile here than any place with dedicated bike infrastructure.

1. https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2016/sep/22/bicycle...

Re: Alex Honnold's next summit: the rest of his life

#68

Post by benrbray » Sat, Sep 14, 2019, 7:03 PM UTC

cauthon wrote: post #52

gameswithgo wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've been fascinated for a long time by how people get angry at others for taking risks. Ride my mountain bike slowly on a side walk without a helmet? It invokes ANGER in others. Why? Is it an evolutionary trait built into pack animals perhaps? That would make sense. But still, leave me alone! =) Also, yes internet I understand that falling from a mountain bike at a slow speed can impact your head just as hard as fal…

> Ride my mountain bike slowly on a side walk without a helmet? It invokes ANGER in others. Why? People aren’t angry at you for riding without a helmet, they’re angry at you for riding on the sidewalk

Until my city installs a sufficient number of separated bike lanes, I'll continue to ride on the sidewalk rather than risk my life in traffic, even if it hurts your feelings.

Re: Alex Honnold's next summit: the rest of his life

#69

Post by mnm1 » Sat, Sep 14, 2019, 8:26 PM UTC

smt88 wrote: post #67

mnm1 wrote: post #66

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think you missed my point which is that riding without a helmet is not dangerous. Americans think it's dangerous because of the way the culture treats everyone as if they are children who need a nanny because they don't know any better. If indeed it was true that "There's nothing bizarre about seeing someone who abuses their safety net as selfish or irresponsible," then why don't people in Amsterdam and Europe in g…

Your point was buried in the other misinformation in your post, but it's also wrong. First of all, helmets dramatically reduce risk of injury[1]. Why do American football players wear them if they aren't protective? Second, much of the bike riding done in the US is on roads shared with cars, and most of our accidents involve cars. We likely have more accidents per mile here than any place with dedicated bike infrastr…

Just because you don't agree with my analysis of our culture doesn't mean it's misinformation. Helmets reducing the risk of head and face injuries doesn't mean that biking without a helmet is inherently dangerous. Nor does it mean we should force people to wear them because we insist on treating adults as children in America. American football is completely irrelevant to the discussion.

Re: Alex Honnold's next summit: the rest of his life

#70

Post by joelbluminator » Mon, Sep 16, 2019, 11:08 AM UTC

Fezzik wrote: post #64

joelbluminator wrote: post #45

Earlier quoted context omitted.

He's different than them in that he's the best in the world in what he does, and also he doesn't put anyone else in danger (Everest climbers put the Sherpas who work for them in danger. They also provide them a great living). But in essence both Honnold and said climbers are just living their dreams; for some it's climbing El Capitan solo and for others it's climbing Everest with 20 Sherpas that help you get there. T…

He is using his platform and wealth, that he has from climbing rocks, to better the world though: https://www.snewsnet.com/people/alex-honnold-on-public-lands... . I can’t really think of a better example of a contemporary person who has lived simply, achieved success at a very young age, and immediately jumped in to an advocacy role. And I think his media presence is drastically different from Everest peak baggers:…

Well his making movies about his climbs, so obviously fame is one of his motivations. The fact that he uses his money for a better world is very good but I'm sure many everest climbers are also doctors, philanthropists etc.