what makes a gumby

Post by **anticlmber** » Wed May 28, 2008 10:56 am

no green skin and a square head don't count, for much. all this talk of gumby makes me wonder what folks use to suggest gumby???
if it's not knowing EVERYTHING about climbing then aren't we all gumbys?? is it years/grades/who you know/vaginal crease size; what?

i have seen climbers of fifteen years do plenty of gumby shit. no brake hands, not opposing draws for TRing, allowing an inexperienced person to belay you (being a guide ranks you in there), throwing garbage/ciggie butts, disrespect for land owners, and all sorts of shit.

remember that we all started at the bottom and only by hard-knocks and the gentle/harsh support of others did we grow into the "GODS" that we think we are. so before you think you are exempt remember the #1 way most climbers die is by rapping off the ends of their ropes. total fucking gumby, especially for all the shit talking about "sport rappers" (not the odub kind) so what makes a gumby, bitches.

and how many of you are willing to step up and actually SAY something in a helping manner rather than just snicker and walk away??

Post by **krampus** » Wed May 28, 2008 11:06 am

I would say the grade you climb but there a lot of gym rats out there. Years of experience I think is the big one. Everyone does stupit shit sometimes but its the sheer volume of completely inexperience fuckholes at the cliffs now-a-days that gets on my nerves. Completely selfish I know, but where the hell am I supposed to bring my non-climbing friends when they come to visit, and who is supposed to catch me?

I say loosen a few bolts on the easy climbs and after a season or two all the gumbies will be afraid to climb

Post by **bcombs** » Wed May 28, 2008 11:07 am

A gumby is a person who clearly doesn't know what they are doing and refuses to take direction from those around them. They quickly respond with "I know" and "I was just trying something different" to make it look like they know what they are doing. I did the same thing I'm sure.

Also when given beta, "I already tried that" when they clearly havent or "I don't think that will work". In the end though we are all gumbies that are on different stages in the path to sharmadom. (Or whoever your favorite is)

Post by **Crankmas** » Wed May 28, 2008 11:43 am

My name is Crank and I'm a gumby, I know because my weiner is green... the only reason I climb is to be near Katie and yes my cheesy photo of Dave Graham is my screen saver thanks to my sweet wife.

Post by **pigsteak** » Wed May 28, 2008 12:33 pm

thinking an ATC is as safe as a Gri Gri...

thinking your new girlfriend wants your blow by blow beta for some "awesome" 5.9 PLUS sport line you sent......

not owning a rope bag, and carrying your rope in an army duffle or in a plastic tarp.....

Post by **gus** » Wed May 28, 2008 12:35 pm

Finally a legitimate forum topic. I am a â€œgumbyâ€

Post by **wagnerje05** » Wed May 28, 2008 12:37 pm

I'm a gumby and i could care less.

Post by **DriskellHR** » Wed May 28, 2008 1:33 pm

Gus, thats awsome!

Post by **rhunt** » Wed May 28, 2008 2:06 pm

you know you're a gumby when:

~you wear socks with your climbing shoes
~you never take your shoes off the entire day at the cliff
~you just saw and learned to stick clip last weekend
~you wear shorts over long pants
~you have your "belay card" attached to your harness
~you clip your calk bag to your harness
~you wear a helmet sport climbing
~you mostly sport climb and don't know how to use a gri gri
~you bring your crash pad to the cliff
~you rap more often than lower off sport climbs
~you make cleaning the draws off a overhanging climb look harder than climbing.

I am sure there are more, feel free to add to the list.

Post by **quiet please** » Wed May 28, 2008 2:10 pm

~ you wear your harness on the approach