RRC Archives

Also- if any of you actually knew the Mayor a little better too, then you would see the humor this guy has himself. The way I see it is the Mayor has an amazing effect on many climbers. Spencer was not the only person to of ever filmed him- the old man told me he has had many many people come by and take pictures of him, film him, and even make a website on him.
If he didn't want anything to do with this film- he wouldn't, period. The Mayor has a great since of humor- we all got a good laugh out of Spencors video; not as making fun of the Mayor but to enjoy him for who he was.
But Paul had the best point with the example of the picture. Think what you want- but why would Spencer, a climber himself, deliberalty try to make the Mayor look like a fool?

weber wrote:Regardless of Spencer's intent, everyone will view this video differently.

Artsay said maybe this is a matter of perspective and what Rick said above is true, as a compliment to what Paul said.

My opinion though, in concern with how this may make people look at the folks of the Red, if anyone bases their opinion of an ENTIRE community on the representation of 2 individuals in 1 climbing video then they are jumping to false conclusions.

Also, if anyone based their ENTIRE opinion of a person on what they said in a climbing video then that is sad too. How many people might we not be friends with if we based our entire opinion of them on what they said on this board?

meetVA wrote:How many people might we not be friends with if we based our entire opinion of them on what they said on this board?

Then I wouldn't be marrying J-Rock! Just kidding hon, you know I love ya!

In my opinion. I don't know Spenser same as I would guess most climbers viewing it in the future. So saying "If you knew Spenser" is not relevant. I also don't know the Mayor, never talked to him or anything. Would his family approve? Don't know that either. All I can look at is the big picture it portrays of climbing at the Red.....oh sorry I mean the "Gorge" (wouldn't want to be "gay" ). It contains a lot of raw opinions, just depends on where you draw the line.

I guess it would have been nice to see some of the other local folks which I have had some really nice chats with over the years to give it a little balance. Last year I went to the Gathering and got a chance to talk with quite a few local folks. One gentleman in particular lied about his age to get into the navy during WW2, caught some shrapnel during his time fighting. And one of the band members showed me a cigarette trick (still can't figure out how he did it). But I suppose those folks would be boring to most climbers and not all that great of a laugh. I did like all the climbing video!

meetVA wrote:
My opinion though, in concern with how this may make people look at the folks of the Red, if anyone bases their opinion of an ENTIRE community on the representation of 2 individuals in 1 climbing video then they are jumping to false conclusions.

There is nothing you can do to keep people from drawing their own conclusions. Your unspoken implication towards a "fair and balanced" presentation is not something you'd normally want to limit an artistic endeavor to.

ZSpider

squeezindlemmon wrote:

meetVA wrote:How many people might we not be friends with if we based our entire opinion of them on what they said on this board?

Then I wouldn't be marrying J-Rock! Just kidding hon, you know I love ya!

Hey J-Rock, a little woodrat told me that you better respond nicely, to this post if you want that hardware. How many days left in you pact?

Rizzo

Yasmeen wrote:Spencer's intent was not to stomp on anyone, and it would be a shame if the elements of the video he meant to set it apart and give you a feel for the Red (as more than just a climbing area-- as a home and place of business for some) ended up getting it black-listed.

Blacklisted, hell. Threads like this should double sales.

Controversy is the spice. Pissing people off is a primary function of art.

ZSpider

kneebar wrote:So saying "If you knew Spenser" is not relevant.

true enough and i agree, but the people to whom those lines are directed are those who are making personal attacks on spencer, calling him a "22 year old punk" and that's his dedication to the mayor in the video is "ingenuine at best, and at worst a conscious emotional manipulation to capitalize on the tragic death of Tucker." so you're right, in viewing the movie it's not relevant but when they attack him personally and claim to know who he is, what he's about, or what his intentions were, then it is relevant.

Zspider wrote:Pissing people off is a primary function of art.

are you trying to call yourself a work of art?

kneebar wrote:...I guess it would have been nice to see some of the other local folks which I have had some really nice chats with over the years to give it a little balance. Last year I went to the Gathering and got a chance to talk with quite a few local folks. One gentleman in particular lied about his age to get into the navy during WW2, caught some shrapnel during his time fighting. And one of the band members showed me a cigarette trick (still can't figure out how he did it). But I suppose those folks would be boring to most climbers and not all that great of a laugh...

After we decided to invite our Muir neighbors to the Gathering Trail Day food-and-music party at the end of the day, I admit that I was a bit apprehensive about how these two entirely different "cultures" would mix. We were all pleasantly surprised to see how well it went. There were a lot of questions and storytelling going back and forth. Yummy ham and chicken was barbequed by Bob Sparks, a local logger who once owned Muir. A local bluegrass and mountain folk group provided the music. And Kim Graham, principal of the Rogers School, opened the doors to their gym and cafeteria, and refused payment of any kind.

The highlight of the evening was when JJ danced with a respected local mountain lady, Marie Duff. It was a perfect blend of JJ's "Grateful Dead" style of free dancing and Marie's Appalacian clogging. It is a shame Spencer didn't have the opportunity to capture this scene. It could have rendered this current thread moot and shed a very positive light on the climbers and locals and how well they can intermix and share a mutual respect for each other.

We hope to repeat this event again in the Fall, right Squeeze? Y'all come and you'll meet some really fine folks from these parts.

Rick

(PS, Yeah, I've also seen Glen's cigarette trick... about four times now, right in front of my nose, and I still can't figure it out.)