RRC Archives

Posted: **Wed Aug 23, 2006 5:24 pm**

So after this last issue of Climbing came in the mail I was as thoroughly disgusted by the Letters section as ever and wrote them a letter about it. I also forwarded the same letter to the biggest advertisers. Here is the letter:

Climbing

0326 Highway 133, Suite 190

Carbondale CO 81623-2510

Dear Climbing,

You really need to re-think your style in the letters section. It is the
first thing to read in your magazine and sets the tone for the reader. When
you publicly answer a criticism with snotty, sarcastic attitude you are not
speaking only to the person that wrote the letter. Your attitude is
directed at everyone that reads the reply. Personally, I'd punch you in the
mouth if you talked to me in person the way you reply to your readers. I
have this sneaking suspicion that you are the kind of person (people?) that
would enjoy pissing someone off this much. This type of snarky, juvenile
belligerence may seem fine when you are posting on a web forum but this is
print. It stays around. Could you please try to write like you actually
think about it? What you write in Climbing reflects on everyone that
climbs, believe it or not. Save the attitude for editorials (which reflect
on the writer) or your website (which seems to be full of nothing but
attitude) but in the letters section either print criticism without comment
or keep the comments civil. Take a clue from. well, the entire history of
monthly publications and address your correspondents with respect and
dignity, especially if you disagree with them. You come off like the kind
of spoiled little shits that can make climber hang-outs and crowded crags
unbearable. Or, more like it, you come off like the spoiled jocks that
could mouth off to the teacher because their daddy gave a small fortune to
the boosters: utterly tacky and devoid of class.

The quality of Climbing has plummeted in the last few issues. What are you
offering that makes your rag worth reading? Your photo spreads mimic the
ads (unforgivable), your product reviews offer little criticism or, in the
case of your shoe issue, offer no criticism or even comparative ratings, and
the written articles have dwindled to almost nothing. You have a lot of
trouble separating your content from the ads. The photography issue was
disgraceful in this aspect. Ads were faced by content and the border
matched across the pages. This should be a crime. Why don't you just
switch to all ads, all the time? The content would probably be improved as
a result. For instance, the letters section would be edited by a
professional. You seem to be modeling your magazine after fashion magazines
visually and flaming web bulletin boards for content. Doesn't that strike
you as pathetic?

It's sad to see a venerable magazine get taken over by rank amateurs with
neither taste nor class. It's a shame people like you are climbers and even
a greater shame that you, by virtue of your magazine, represent the rest of
us.

My subscription to Climbing was a gift. I will not renew unless the
attitude improves. A year ago it would not have entered my mind that I
would not care if I stopped reading your magazine.

Sincerely,

Alan Evil

c.c.: Primedia, The North Face, Patagonia, Pentax, Nissan, Millet,
Cloudveil, Misty Mountain, Omega Pacific, Sterling Rope, Petzyl, Blurr,
Access Fund, Black Diamond, Prana, Mad Rock, Blue Water Ropes, New England
Ropes, Honda, Gore-Tex.

And here is the first reply I've received. Sadly it is not from Climbing but is from Omega Pacific:

Hi, Alan ...

I appreciate you letting us know how you feel about Climbing Magazine's
letters section. As advertisers in that publication, it's good to be in
touch with readers' views and opinions. Thank you.

To be honest with you, for the past few weeks, I've been discussing the very
same issues with Climbing's editorial staff both on the phone and in person
at the OR Trade Show last week. I found them to be very receptive and
interested in improving their magazine. I hope you will find them to be the
same.

Please, keep the comments coming ... I'm always interested to know what you
think.

Regards,

--ML

___________________
Michael Lane
Sales & Marketing Director
Omega Pacific
11427 West 21st Avenue
Airway Heights, Washington 99001
USA

800-360-3990 toll-free
509-456-0194 fax
509-456-0170 international

michaellane@omegapac.com
www.omegapac.com

Obviously I am not alone in feeling the magazine has gone to hell in a handbasket.

Posted: **Wed Aug 23, 2006 6:54 pm**

Way to go Alan...I am really glad you did that. Let us know who else responds. I felt the same way when I read thru my copy. When I gave it to Joe, I told him not to bother opening it but to keep it in the bathroom as usual, so he'd have something to wipe his ass with. It's a real bummer...but I think things may change soon with the publication. I haven't heard one positive thing about any of the changes they have made lately, so I think either their subscriptions will drop and they will have to change or pressure from their advertisers will make them change as well....the spoiled children will not be able to continue their little tantrum or whatever it is. Climbing used to be my favorite, and Urban Climber my least, it's been totally switched now. I've had interaction with both editors and that had a lot to do with it too.

Posted: **Thu Aug 24, 2006 1:24 pm**

I used to love reading the letters section of Car and Driver. Most letters did not have a response, but when they did, it was hilarious. Not always snide, and never long but always witty. I've seen many other magazines try to copy this style and I don't know if they were the first, but they were the best.

Posted: **Thu Aug 24, 2006 1:33 pm**

I think Rock and Ice is sweet. Alpinist is beautiful as well. And always have to support UC. um climbing, glad to hear they rehired thier previous editor but I think they need to reprove themselves to the climbing world.

Posted: **Thu Aug 24, 2006 2:33 pm**

I don't get it.

I didn't see the 'snotty, sarcastic' tone in the responses of the letters section; and I found it no more offensive than any other rag out there. If you don't like the station, just change the channel. There are plenty of alternatives.

And why is 'snarky, juvenile belligerence' ok on the web?

As soon as I came across your first @#$%, you lost all credibility from my standpoint and are no different than those you accuse.

People in glass houses...

Posted: **Thu Aug 24, 2006 2:38 pm**

Wow, all that time wasted on a letter to Climbing.

Why bother? Just don't buy it if you don't like it....

Posted: **Thu Aug 24, 2006 4:02 pm**

alan evil wrote:Could you please try to write like you actually
think about it?

could you apply this retroactively to all of your posts?

Posted: **Thu Aug 24, 2006 6:01 pm**

this forum needs a batch delete for requests like that.

Posted: **Thu Aug 24, 2006 9:07 pm**

Whatever, I think Alan was right to voice his opinion to the magazine...I think mags laugh it off and treat critics as a joke because, well they have been attacked...but sounds to me like they have gotten A LOT of these letters lately. THere will always be people who don't like something about a publication, but it seems to be pretty widespread with Climbing lately. Why not be proactive about it...write a letter, I think writing to the advertisers was a really smart thing to do. It's not just complaining to the magazine, it's showing the magazine that if they don't shape up, it could hurt them where it counts the most....in their wallets. They make more money from the advertisers than they do from the subscriptions anyway. Losing a few subscriptions won't hurt them, but losing a few advertisers will.

Posted: **Fri Aug 25, 2006 1:06 pm**

In hindsight...I think he's just trying to win a free pair of shoes from the Angry Letter category.