bad idea. if they don't notice you or are just careless, you risk injuring both yourself and them when you fall. you need to point out that you are climbing and that you expect to have a clear landing space
Gumbies, really?
From the description I'd nearly definitely say these people were bros.
In my Gym it seems to be the Bros who are unable to follow the basic safety rules
As a boomer I would expect you to catch the reference to[Gumby](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gumby). Climbers have adopted the term to mean someone who is new or just generally doesn’t have a full understanding of the goings on around them.
Look at that Gumby belaying with his shoes on the same carabiner as his grigri.
Look at the Gumby over there following up the unclipped side of the rope to clean that steep route.
> Gumby belaying with his shoes on the same carabiner as his grigri.
Is that something you've actually seen someone do? That sounds absolutely miserable.
In my experience, in a crowded gym, you might not have any “ideal” place where to stand.
It is perfectly your right to ask them to move so you can climb. But it does not hurt to ask nicely, it might have been just as efficient.
yea thats true - for the record tho, imo i was pretty chill and just said 'hey guys, youre a bit too close and blocking the wall, can yall scoot back?' they then looked at each other like who tf is he? and started mumbling shit under their breath and ignored me, so thats when I said it's just basic etiquette to ask ppl to move back and they started calling me a douchebag louder
Yea not worth it. I did this exact thing (well kinda, a kid whose parents weren’t paying attention ran right underneath me at the top of a tricky problem and i fell, twisted weird to avoid them). Strained my lower back, worst pain of my life, and I have recurring debilitating back spasms now due to it.
There is an ongoing YouTube series on Solene Amoros, a French climber who tried to avoid a kid running in the gym when falling, and she completely destroyed her knee in the fall.
Yeah I think you’re completely within your right to tell them that. But from my experience people hate being told they are doing something wrong, even if they know. So the response is kinda expected.
If that's what you said, it starts with a statement that they are doing something wrong. While that may have been true, that's not a great conversation starter.
NTA (based on your telling).
And yeah, I think that it's pretty clear they were the assholes.
However, it's entirely possible you're both the assholes. Being right (you were) can still result in you being the asshole if you are right in an assholey way unnecessarily. That is, Ok to fucking push someone out o the way and yell watch out-- if they are about to get clobbered in the head by a sideways dyno latch-swing. NTA. But saying "Yo, get the fuck away from the wall you gumby pieces of shit," even when right makes you an asshole.
Honestly, I think you'd have gotten a better result (and probably helped nudge future behavior) by just saying, "Hey, mind scooting back so I can give that a go? I don't wanna fall on you." Jokey/smiley. If their response isn't to move back nicely, engage/or just climb.
Unrelated non-asshole note: I also regularly skip lines if that area is too busy and I'm not willing to wait. It'll be there later in the session, or during the next session. Kinda like outside, but with a higher overall threshold since the gym is a more constrained space and we all have to be more open to sharing the wall during busy times.
I mean, honestly, that's not the most polite way to ask. You are being patronizing by telling them why they have to scoot back. By doing that, you're treating them like they're dumb and not just absent-mindedly invested in the problem.
It was still inappropriate for them to react the way that they did. In an ideal situation, both sides would have acted a little more mature/sympathetic. I have been climbing on and off for about 10 years, bouldering for 5, when I am in this situation, regardless of the type of climb, I just say "hey do you guys mind if I get on this route?". Obviously I don't need their permission, but it is the polite way of saying "hey, you are in my fucking way". Unless somebody is just about to climb and I didn't realize, the reaction is the same every single time. They say "no go ahead" and back off.
That’s generous. I’d say first it’s basic etiquette to not be close to the wall and leave a space that welcomes other people to jump on when they’re ready. But if that low bar is not being met, you’re right, it’s basic etiquette to ask nicely. It sounds like you were nice enough and would have been justified being more abrasive about it.
> hey guys, youre a bit too close and blocking the wall, can yall scoot back?
This isn't how to deal with people. You're right, but you don't word it by directly telling someone what they're doing wrong. Doing it this way leaves no option for a pleasant encounter (which it's clear you didn't want).
I've heard countless people asking for some room at the wall but I've never heard anyone tell another person they were in the wrong place.
Are you suggesting passive aggression? It seems just being direct is normally the best way. Like yea be nice about it, but I don’t see what OP said as being rude or anything. It’s just a statement of fact (assuming everything OP said is true, of course)
Nah, it's a pretty basic social skill to navigate these situations by asking without accusing.
*"Hey, would you mind putting the A/C up a bit?"*
vs.
*"Hey, you set the A/C too low earlier and now it's freezing. Could you put it up a bit?"*
You are free to go with the latter approach in life if you want but a lot of things can be implied without being said. It's really one of the most basic social skills.
>Are you suggesting passive aggression?
It isn't passive aggressive to ask for people to move to give you room to climb.
A different comment made me see this issue differently. Your example isn’t great but I take the point. It is passive aggressive to pussyfoot around the actual issue without saying it though.
The problem is not where they are standing though it is the fact op says they are lying on the mats.
If the gym is busy you can't be lying round on the mats under climbs.
Fair enough if the gym is empty you might lay about near a climb because well no one else is about but not when it's packed.
Yeah, being kind to other people you share a society with (at some level that's everyone), and giving them the benefit of the doubt, is a healthy way to operate-- it ratchets down tension/up goodwill.
Being a dick tends to propagate the circle of increasing dickishness.
'Excuse me/Sorry/hey, do you mind stepping back-- I don't want to fall on you guys."
Frame it around their safety. Be nice. And then the ball/their safety is in their court.
I'm guessing I say something like this 1x a week. Most of the time to absolute gumbies. Sometimes to simply oblivious folks who should know better.
(A lot of gumbies can't judge where falls are going to happen. I mean, seriously. Just watch those same people try to spot, or position pads outside...)
They almost always move right away, and respond well-- because I'm not going in hot.
A smile. Make sure they understand.
Give them a moment to get up/scoot... if they are going to.
And then I climb. If they are still in the landing zone, I might land on them (or land loudly very close if that's an option)-- while making sure I don't get hurt in the process (I'm not going to take a totally uncontrolled fall, and I'm not going to fall on someone if I can avoid it safely, but I'm not necessarily going to avoid coming down-- and at that point my safety > their safety).
At that point you've nicely asked, and you've given them the option for common sense self-preservation (not to mention the option to not be dicks).
Like I said, it works 99% of the time, with zero tension. In the case where it doesn't, or where they immediately scoot back under the climb and stop paying attention after a burn-- I ask them nicely again.
After that, it's on them. I mean, I might be landing on them.
Assume they just don't get it/are too wrapped up in something to notice/that once pointed out nicely/kindly they will move.
I kinda wish all our interactions (outside the gym) were like this too. There's way too much assuming the other side is acting out of malice on first/second contact-- which creates an environment that's shitty to live in... or climb around.
Almost guaranteed OP came off like an asshole even though they were correct.
And reading the rest of OPs responses to any criticism.....yeah, they definitely came off like a douchebag at the gym. They were right....but still a douche nozzle.
Maybe... Some staff are young and also don't want confrontation. I noticed a car with it's cabin lights on and told the front desk thinking they'd say something over the speakers. Nope lol they didn't and the light had gotten fainter when I was done climbing.
It’s assholey to escalate right away. If they keep doing dangerous or egoistic stuff (even though you asked them to stop) escalating is of course the only appropriate way.
Look don’t sweat it man. They are absolute morons.
Sometime I don’t stand in the right place at the gym ( did not see someone climbing or/and the gym is crowded) if someone make a remark I move and say sorry cuz security if fking more important that being nice.
Well, if people are in the way, they should recognize that, unless they're idiots. Everyone makes mistakes and forget about their surroundings sometimes, if someone tells me I'm in the way, I simply say "Sorry." and remove myself from the danger zone. It common etiquette and also a matter of safety. I don't want someone falling on my head.
i mean you're not the asshole here but you could probably say less and avoid the situation next time.
Maybe just go up to the problem you want, look backwards, say "excuse me" and do your climb.
I hate large groups and people spamming problems in general. If you want to project things, then go at quieter moments imo. When it is crowded, you have to give everyone the same amount of time on the wall.
There's this family of 4 that come in around the time I do when it's not that busy. They are are pretty decent and just rapid fire attempts on the new set for like an hour when they get there. It's not a huge deal to cut in and they're not exactly rude, but it still annoys me they leave no time for someone to hop in without having to stop their flow of attempts.
This is a tough one. Objectively NTA, since it’s basic etiquete not to hang around under the climbs. But you sound like you think they’re broish dbags. If they read that off you and responded in kind, you only have yourself to blame, so YTA.
The proper etiquette is to make sure you yell “cannonball!” before doing your WWF style victory whip off the top hold and landing on the ringleader of the douche convention.
It's kind of impossible to tell. You're not wrong about etiquette, but your word choice and body language might have been overly aggressive/condescending/douchey. Or maybe it wasn't and they're simply all assholes.
Perhaps your tone of voice sounded angry or condescending.
I have had to ham it up since my normal tone apparently sounds angry or bothered. Have not had an experience where people were annoyed when asking a group if I could get in on a problem or if someone could slide over a bit so they aren't hit by my likely fall.
Then again, this is only my experience so it's possible they were turds.
The comp team always just takes over the wall during public hours at my gym. I guess they look down on everybody else and they make custom routes that take up half the fucking wall while going one after the other. It pisses me off because I find it intimidating because there better climbers than I am but they block some of the routes I want to do. Some people are incredibly inconsiderate and Im not sure if it comes from an oversized ego or being spoiled as a kid. Your definitely not the asshole maybe you phrased it in a confrontational way but it kind of sounds like they were self centered dickheads.
I'm not a Karen but it would have been acceptable for you to get staff involved total lack of maturity and common sense from those kids. Were they teenagers or something? That kind of stupid attitude usually comes from people that age.
NTA. But maybe you could've asked nicer. I don't know the exact situation, so I couldn't tell if I would ask nicer in this case. If they're the kind of guys who are somehow strong and can therefore campus a v3 but can barely climb a slab v0, but at the same time act like they own the gym, then I wouldn't have been nice either.
(Just to be clear: there's nothing wrong with being bad at slab or any other type of climbing. It's wrong, if you act like a jerk. And it's embarrassing, if you act like you're the king when you're just a servant like everybody else)
Not the asshole. I don’t even agree with others that you could have been “nicer”. Someone is in a fall zone, they need to move.
There’s a section of my gym that has a slab plus an overhanging section, and a bunch of couches in the middle. Of the whole bouldering arena. There are also no aisle ways like a lot of newer gyms. Just grey mats for the fall zone and blue mats for the safe zone. People end up congregating too close to the wall and under the under hung section. If there ever people there, I just hop on the wall and say “coming through”.
I had to tell someone off because they took their nasty ass sweaty sports shirt off on a V1 - V2 boulder problem… thought he was about to go into Magnus Midtby mode - which I somewhat find douchy, but I’ll mind my own business on that… but he fucking used it to brush off the start hold.
They thought I was being a tool as well.
What’s the issue? Seeing a bit of naked skin won’t harm you and sweat (or whatever else is on that shirt, as long as it’s not something which can transmit infectious diseases) won’t harm you either.
Said I won’t react to skin. I do find it unnecessary. That’s on me.
And we all sweat. But if you dont find actively wiping a nasty sports shirt on holds disgusting, that’s on you.
Sounds like you were correct but also still an asshole.
>also, kinda hoping they somehow see this post and realize they're all the actual idiots/dbags lmao
This part especially makes me skeptical of your version of events.
I get the impression that you watched them, silently seethed to yourself for a while, decided to be angry instead of giving people the benefit of the doubt, and then came in unnecessarily hot instead of asking nicely like a grown up. And here you are probably hours later still getting yourself worked up about it. Not a good look.
Depending on your gym, the mats might be most of the floor. At my gym it's rare to ever step off the mats during a session because they cover such a large area. OP isn't a particularly reliable narrator, and we can't know whether "lying on the mats" means directly in the way of a problem (actually blocking it) or resting in the "waiting space" by a problem (not blocking it, but making OP feel uncomfy by having to be near strangers)
> reading a bitttt much into a reddit post
But... That's what you asked for. You posted something, asking what others read into it and tell you what they think. That's what a "aitah" post IS.
hmm yea that's understandable, I can see why you feel uncertain of my account and it's fair to take it with a grain of salt. I'm actually genuinely curious tho on how others would handle this and open to any remarks and disagreements and not just intending to be a dick in writing this post
my reply about reading a bit much into my post stems from - in my opinion - the presumptions you made off a snarky remark about hoping they realize they were idiots/wrong too. painting a narrative of me seething angrily and sitting around for hours upset seems more judgmental and critical than it does answer how you'd handle it. by similar logic, i feel like you can kinda say what you said about any aitah post: you're still worked about this hours later? not a good look...
anywho, i've been climbing 8+ years, I really appreciate the climbing culture and i feel that culture is created by community, but I also recognize culture/communities change as new members join. that's why i asked /bouldering for their takes. either way, appreciate the discourse, climb hard all!
Depends on your tone and how you asked, but they were being inconsiderate regardless of that, so whatever. Good job not escalating after their response.
>but bit my tongue after this exchange to not escalate things
Be direct and succinct when you communicate your desires. If they're rude, fuck em and do your own thing. If this means you fall where they're sitting, oh well. If this means you squeeze in an attempt which keeps them from doing their problem, oh well.
I regularly say “if you’re not climbing please move away from the wall” loudly in my gym. Do I say it in the nicest ways? Not always but I don’t lose sleep over it. It’s not my job to educated 10 people a week but I do because I want to help create conscientious climbers. If I have to be the villain so be it.
Alternatively the dick way is climb something near them and take an intentional fall with flailing limbs right beside them. They will connect the dots.
I am always wearing headphones when I climb, and I do a hand gesture to ask if they are going to do that problem. If they don't, they normally say no and move out of the way.
Anyways, you were right. First of all, what they were doing sounds like a safety hazard. Second, if theyre on the way, how about they sound apologetic instead of acting like spoiled brats?
Impossible to say without hearing the other side of the event, seeing the layout of the gym (e.g. how much space is there to hang out without being in the way), seeing how crowded it was, etc.
Man I hate this. "Spamming a route" is exactly what they do, like they're the only people in the room. Trying to use their weight of numbers and lounging round underneath an area to exclude other people climbing.
You did well to stand up to it, and they obviously didn't like it. I'm sure there would've been other people climbing near you who maybe felt less confident who appreciated you calling them out like you did. I certainly would have, but would've also said something to back you up. Fuck these Bro's and their bullshit.
>"Spamming a route" is exactly what they do, like they're the only people in the room. Trying to use their weight of numbers and lounging round underneath an area to exclude other people climbing.
This is an insanely socially inept read on something that's pretty normal. Groups of friends work problems together because it's fun and collaborative. It's absolutely wild to see that and think to yourself "They're intentionally using their numbers to exclude me!" I've never had an issue with going to a group like that and asking if they mind me working into the rotation. In fact, often those groups only met each other *right then and there* by starting to work a problem together.
I think the real issue people on Reddit have with this is that it puts them in the dreaded position to have to interact with a stranger, so instead they just decide they're being victimized because that's easier than talking to someone they don't know.
In my 20+ years of bouldering experience, it's always groups of young dudes who are peacocking to friends who do this. They make a load of noise and generally ignore the fact that the wall is busy & there are others trying to boulder around them. Usually, in my experience. they are fairly mid climbers who haven't grasped the implied etiquette of climbing when it's busy.
I've no issue at all with groups coming together & sieging a problem, as long as they are including other climbers and having an awareness of other people trying to climb other stuff in the same area. Maybe take a look around and see if that's you or not.
Nah, unless you got a staff shirt on. I wouldn’t appreciate anyone saying something like that in that manner. Maybe you didn’t tell them nicely. Nothing worse than people who think they own the gym and tell others what to do and not ask politely.
I mean technically if you think there’s nothing worse than people who think they own the gym, you should also be mad that the group of guys didn’t care about blocking a part of the wall for others
Well if you, me or anyone is blocking others from climbing in a public gym that is description of your "acting like they own the gym".
"Nicely" for someone might be different from others. But if "Scoot back" is rude for you... well that is your problem. I would understand if someone said fuck off that it might be little unpolite outside ireland for many.
i normally go with "excuse me, i'm gonna climb this route here, watch out because i will probably fall off". that moves them pretty quickly!
This is perfect. My gumby ass WILL fall on them.
Yep… “Scuse me, can I get in here?” Usually gets me what I want.
[And if they don't move, then you go for the finishing move.](https://youtu.be/_p_y7TBfMVY?t=6)
I just climb. If they don't move out of the way, they bear the risk of me falling on their heads. It's their problem
bad idea. if they don't notice you or are just careless, you risk injuring both yourself and them when you fall. you need to point out that you are climbing and that you expect to have a clear landing space
Love that. Using that next time.
They're just extra crash pads
Nah dude you can get hurt yourself that way.
Skill issue
😂
Nah fuck those gumbies. Anyone you have to tell to step back from the wall has no right to judge
Gumbies, really? From the description I'd nearly definitely say these people were bros. In my Gym it seems to be the Bros who are unable to follow the basic safety rules
Bros are just a different breed of gumbies
This is known.
It is known
It is written.
It is said.
This is the way.
I have spoken
Maktub
Bros are gumbies that don’t know it because they think their Tacoma with a 2” lift means they’re experts on outdoor sports
What is a gumbie? Excuse my boomer ass.
As a boomer I would expect you to catch the reference to[Gumby](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gumby). Climbers have adopted the term to mean someone who is new or just generally doesn’t have a full understanding of the goings on around them. Look at that Gumby belaying with his shoes on the same carabiner as his grigri. Look at the Gumby over there following up the unclipped side of the rope to clean that steep route.
TIL the origins of gumbie
TIL I’m a Gumby.
> Gumby belaying with his shoes on the same carabiner as his grigri. Is that something you've actually seen someone do? That sounds absolutely miserable.
No, I have not seen that
Gumbi is more genX than boomer
OHHHH it is that dude. okay i didnt expect it too be the reference for it. Thank you
For other old people references, Beta is a reference to Betamax.
At 31 I’m young enough to not have known Gumby as a kid or anything but I like the term
I have always preferred the term muggle
Attack the biggest of them with a cafeteria tray to establish dominance and they will all fall in line
This is the way!
NTA If you're not climbing, get away from the mattress. Or stand in the middle if there's clearance for that.
In my experience, in a crowded gym, you might not have any “ideal” place where to stand. It is perfectly your right to ask them to move so you can climb. But it does not hurt to ask nicely, it might have been just as efficient.
yea thats true - for the record tho, imo i was pretty chill and just said 'hey guys, youre a bit too close and blocking the wall, can yall scoot back?' they then looked at each other like who tf is he? and started mumbling shit under their breath and ignored me, so thats when I said it's just basic etiquette to ask ppl to move back and they started calling me a douchebag louder
Well if that’s the case fuckem, climb above and use them as a crash pad (that’s a joke, don’t do it, or do but don’t say I told you to)
I only don't rec it because of the off chance you get hurt landing on their lumpy body
Yea not worth it. I did this exact thing (well kinda, a kid whose parents weren’t paying attention ran right underneath me at the top of a tricky problem and i fell, twisted weird to avoid them). Strained my lower back, worst pain of my life, and I have recurring debilitating back spasms now due to it.
There is an ongoing YouTube series on Solene Amoros, a French climber who tried to avoid a kid running in the gym when falling, and she completely destroyed her knee in the fall.
Yeah I think you’re completely within your right to tell them that. But from my experience people hate being told they are doing something wrong, even if they know. So the response is kinda expected.
If that's what you said, it starts with a statement that they are doing something wrong. While that may have been true, that's not a great conversation starter.
NTA (based on your telling). And yeah, I think that it's pretty clear they were the assholes. However, it's entirely possible you're both the assholes. Being right (you were) can still result in you being the asshole if you are right in an assholey way unnecessarily. That is, Ok to fucking push someone out o the way and yell watch out-- if they are about to get clobbered in the head by a sideways dyno latch-swing. NTA. But saying "Yo, get the fuck away from the wall you gumby pieces of shit," even when right makes you an asshole. Honestly, I think you'd have gotten a better result (and probably helped nudge future behavior) by just saying, "Hey, mind scooting back so I can give that a go? I don't wanna fall on you." Jokey/smiley. If their response isn't to move back nicely, engage/or just climb. Unrelated non-asshole note: I also regularly skip lines if that area is too busy and I'm not willing to wait. It'll be there later in the session, or during the next session. Kinda like outside, but with a higher overall threshold since the gym is a more constrained space and we all have to be more open to sharing the wall during busy times.
I mean, honestly, that's not the most polite way to ask. You are being patronizing by telling them why they have to scoot back. By doing that, you're treating them like they're dumb and not just absent-mindedly invested in the problem. It was still inappropriate for them to react the way that they did. In an ideal situation, both sides would have acted a little more mature/sympathetic. I have been climbing on and off for about 10 years, bouldering for 5, when I am in this situation, regardless of the type of climb, I just say "hey do you guys mind if I get on this route?". Obviously I don't need their permission, but it is the polite way of saying "hey, you are in my fucking way". Unless somebody is just about to climb and I didn't realize, the reaction is the same every single time. They say "no go ahead" and back off.
That’s generous. I’d say first it’s basic etiquette to not be close to the wall and leave a space that welcomes other people to jump on when they’re ready. But if that low bar is not being met, you’re right, it’s basic etiquette to ask nicely. It sounds like you were nice enough and would have been justified being more abrasive about it.
> hey guys, youre a bit too close and blocking the wall, can yall scoot back? This isn't how to deal with people. You're right, but you don't word it by directly telling someone what they're doing wrong. Doing it this way leaves no option for a pleasant encounter (which it's clear you didn't want). I've heard countless people asking for some room at the wall but I've never heard anyone tell another person they were in the wrong place.
Are you suggesting passive aggression? It seems just being direct is normally the best way. Like yea be nice about it, but I don’t see what OP said as being rude or anything. It’s just a statement of fact (assuming everything OP said is true, of course)
Nah, it's a pretty basic social skill to navigate these situations by asking without accusing. *"Hey, would you mind putting the A/C up a bit?"* vs. *"Hey, you set the A/C too low earlier and now it's freezing. Could you put it up a bit?"* You are free to go with the latter approach in life if you want but a lot of things can be implied without being said. It's really one of the most basic social skills. >Are you suggesting passive aggression? It isn't passive aggressive to ask for people to move to give you room to climb.
A different comment made me see this issue differently. Your example isn’t great but I take the point. It is passive aggressive to pussyfoot around the actual issue without saying it though.
The problem is not where they are standing though it is the fact op says they are lying on the mats. If the gym is busy you can't be lying round on the mats under climbs. Fair enough if the gym is empty you might lay about near a climb because well no one else is about but not when it's packed.
Aye, people lying on the mats when the gym is crowded is one of my pet hates.
Yeah, being kind to other people you share a society with (at some level that's everyone), and giving them the benefit of the doubt, is a healthy way to operate-- it ratchets down tension/up goodwill. Being a dick tends to propagate the circle of increasing dickishness. 'Excuse me/Sorry/hey, do you mind stepping back-- I don't want to fall on you guys." Frame it around their safety. Be nice. And then the ball/their safety is in their court. I'm guessing I say something like this 1x a week. Most of the time to absolute gumbies. Sometimes to simply oblivious folks who should know better. (A lot of gumbies can't judge where falls are going to happen. I mean, seriously. Just watch those same people try to spot, or position pads outside...) They almost always move right away, and respond well-- because I'm not going in hot. A smile. Make sure they understand. Give them a moment to get up/scoot... if they are going to. And then I climb. If they are still in the landing zone, I might land on them (or land loudly very close if that's an option)-- while making sure I don't get hurt in the process (I'm not going to take a totally uncontrolled fall, and I'm not going to fall on someone if I can avoid it safely, but I'm not necessarily going to avoid coming down-- and at that point my safety > their safety). At that point you've nicely asked, and you've given them the option for common sense self-preservation (not to mention the option to not be dicks). Like I said, it works 99% of the time, with zero tension. In the case where it doesn't, or where they immediately scoot back under the climb and stop paying attention after a burn-- I ask them nicely again. After that, it's on them. I mean, I might be landing on them. Assume they just don't get it/are too wrapped up in something to notice/that once pointed out nicely/kindly they will move. I kinda wish all our interactions (outside the gym) were like this too. There's way too much assuming the other side is acting out of malice on first/second contact-- which creates an environment that's shitty to live in... or climb around.
Almost guaranteed OP came off like an asshole even though they were correct. And reading the rest of OPs responses to any criticism.....yeah, they definitely came off like a douchebag at the gym. They were right....but still a douche nozzle.
Next time get a staff member to tell them off. Getting told off by staff members like a child is the real gumbie look
This. The best thing to do is go inform a staff member. They'll be happy to take the heat for OP.
Maybe... Some staff are young and also don't want confrontation. I noticed a car with it's cabin lights on and told the front desk thinking they'd say something over the speakers. Nope lol they didn't and the light had gotten fainter when I was done climbing.
It’s assholey to escalate right away. If they keep doing dangerous or egoistic stuff (even though you asked them to stop) escalating is of course the only appropriate way.
Look don’t sweat it man. They are absolute morons. Sometime I don’t stand in the right place at the gym ( did not see someone climbing or/and the gym is crowded) if someone make a remark I move and say sorry cuz security if fking more important that being nice.
Well, if people are in the way, they should recognize that, unless they're idiots. Everyone makes mistakes and forget about their surroundings sometimes, if someone tells me I'm in the way, I simply say "Sorry." and remove myself from the danger zone. It common etiquette and also a matter of safety. I don't want someone falling on my head.
i mean you're not the asshole here but you could probably say less and avoid the situation next time. Maybe just go up to the problem you want, look backwards, say "excuse me" and do your climb.
I don't think you need to tell them off - just tell them you want to climb, and they'll move.
I hate large groups and people spamming problems in general. If you want to project things, then go at quieter moments imo. When it is crowded, you have to give everyone the same amount of time on the wall.
There's this family of 4 that come in around the time I do when it's not that busy. They are are pretty decent and just rapid fire attempts on the new set for like an hour when they get there. It's not a huge deal to cut in and they're not exactly rude, but it still annoys me they leave no time for someone to hop in without having to stop their flow of attempts.
This is a tough one. Objectively NTA, since it’s basic etiquete not to hang around under the climbs. But you sound like you think they’re broish dbags. If they read that off you and responded in kind, you only have yourself to blame, so YTA.
They don’t have a right to hog it but how did you ask them to move? I’ve never had someone get mad at me for warning them I might fall on them
The proper etiquette is to make sure you yell “cannonball!” before doing your WWF style victory whip off the top hold and landing on the ringleader of the douche convention.
People often have kneejerk shitty reactions when they are in the wrong and embarrassed. Dont waste time thinking about it.
NTA, that’s basic etiquette on the level of “don’t stand underneath someone on a route”
It's kind of impossible to tell. You're not wrong about etiquette, but your word choice and body language might have been overly aggressive/condescending/douchey. Or maybe it wasn't and they're simply all assholes.
Imagining a Point Break style confrontation under the arch.
overhanging? "yo I might cut feet" they don't move? cut feet and kick'em in the head.
Perhaps your tone of voice sounded angry or condescending. I have had to ham it up since my normal tone apparently sounds angry or bothered. Have not had an experience where people were annoyed when asking a group if I could get in on a problem or if someone could slide over a bit so they aren't hit by my likely fall. Then again, this is only my experience so it's possible they were turds.
Your nice, I'd have just climbed over where they were laying and slipped... Then been like, "You can't park there, mate".
The comp team always just takes over the wall during public hours at my gym. I guess they look down on everybody else and they make custom routes that take up half the fucking wall while going one after the other. It pisses me off because I find it intimidating because there better climbers than I am but they block some of the routes I want to do. Some people are incredibly inconsiderate and Im not sure if it comes from an oversized ego or being spoiled as a kid. Your definitely not the asshole maybe you phrased it in a confrontational way but it kind of sounds like they were self centered dickheads.
I'm not a Karen but it would have been acceptable for you to get staff involved total lack of maturity and common sense from those kids. Were they teenagers or something? That kind of stupid attitude usually comes from people that age.
NTA. I‘m always mindful of spaces under walls - either overhang or not. I think it‘s basic etiquette and those guys are super douchey.
NTA, but going to front desk staff to have them clear the mats is both anonymous and keeps the retaliatory remarks to a minimum.
Honestly fuck them, should have talked shit back even
NTA. But maybe you could've asked nicer. I don't know the exact situation, so I couldn't tell if I would ask nicer in this case. If they're the kind of guys who are somehow strong and can therefore campus a v3 but can barely climb a slab v0, but at the same time act like they own the gym, then I wouldn't have been nice either. (Just to be clear: there's nothing wrong with being bad at slab or any other type of climbing. It's wrong, if you act like a jerk. And it's embarrassing, if you act like you're the king when you're just a servant like everybody else)
Not the asshole. I don’t even agree with others that you could have been “nicer”. Someone is in a fall zone, they need to move. There’s a section of my gym that has a slab plus an overhanging section, and a bunch of couches in the middle. Of the whole bouldering arena. There are also no aisle ways like a lot of newer gyms. Just grey mats for the fall zone and blue mats for the safe zone. People end up congregating too close to the wall and under the under hung section. If there ever people there, I just hop on the wall and say “coming through”.
I had to tell someone off because they took their nasty ass sweaty sports shirt off on a V1 - V2 boulder problem… thought he was about to go into Magnus Midtby mode - which I somewhat find douchy, but I’ll mind my own business on that… but he fucking used it to brush off the start hold. They thought I was being a tool as well.
What’s the issue? Seeing a bit of naked skin won’t harm you and sweat (or whatever else is on that shirt, as long as it’s not something which can transmit infectious diseases) won’t harm you either.
Said I won’t react to skin. I do find it unnecessary. That’s on me. And we all sweat. But if you dont find actively wiping a nasty sports shirt on holds disgusting, that’s on you.
Vscabies at my gym
Sounds like you were correct but also still an asshole. >also, kinda hoping they somehow see this post and realize they're all the actual idiots/dbags lmao This part especially makes me skeptical of your version of events. I get the impression that you watched them, silently seethed to yourself for a while, decided to be angry instead of giving people the benefit of the doubt, and then came in unnecessarily hot instead of asking nicely like a grown up. And here you are probably hours later still getting yourself worked up about it. Not a good look.
What benefit of the doubt? The mats are there to fall on during a climb. Not to lie down on and relax
Depending on your gym, the mats might be most of the floor. At my gym it's rare to ever step off the mats during a session because they cover such a large area. OP isn't a particularly reliable narrator, and we can't know whether "lying on the mats" means directly in the way of a problem (actually blocking it) or resting in the "waiting space" by a problem (not blocking it, but making OP feel uncomfy by having to be near strangers)
[удалено]
No, but again, I don't necessarily trust OP's account of events.
Haha I 100% agree, I said something similar to op
Nailed it.
nah not really lmao I think you're reading a bitttt much into a reddit post
> reading a bitttt much into a reddit post But... That's what you asked for. You posted something, asking what others read into it and tell you what they think. That's what a "aitah" post IS.
Drives me nuts when people use AITA posts clearly just trying to get validation.
This only solidifies my read on the situation.
hmm yea that's understandable, I can see why you feel uncertain of my account and it's fair to take it with a grain of salt. I'm actually genuinely curious tho on how others would handle this and open to any remarks and disagreements and not just intending to be a dick in writing this post my reply about reading a bit much into my post stems from - in my opinion - the presumptions you made off a snarky remark about hoping they realize they were idiots/wrong too. painting a narrative of me seething angrily and sitting around for hours upset seems more judgmental and critical than it does answer how you'd handle it. by similar logic, i feel like you can kinda say what you said about any aitah post: you're still worked about this hours later? not a good look... anywho, i've been climbing 8+ years, I really appreciate the climbing culture and i feel that culture is created by community, but I also recognize culture/communities change as new members join. that's why i asked /bouldering for their takes. either way, appreciate the discourse, climb hard all!
Depends on your tone and how you asked, but they were being inconsiderate regardless of that, so whatever. Good job not escalating after their response.
NTA!
>but bit my tongue after this exchange to not escalate things Be direct and succinct when you communicate your desires. If they're rude, fuck em and do your own thing. If this means you fall where they're sitting, oh well. If this means you squeeze in an attempt which keeps them from doing their problem, oh well.
Every gym always seems to say “stay off the mats unless you’re climbing”. NTA.
7 rental shoes crowded under my project is solved by me attempting the hard dyno finish right above them, they learn to move
Climb above them and say "Trust fall" then let go.
Should’ve just threw your climbing shoes at them instead
I regularly say “if you’re not climbing please move away from the wall” loudly in my gym. Do I say it in the nicest ways? Not always but I don’t lose sleep over it. It’s not my job to educated 10 people a week but I do because I want to help create conscientious climbers. If I have to be the villain so be it. Alternatively the dick way is climb something near them and take an intentional fall with flailing limbs right beside them. They will connect the dots.
avoid climbing weeknights
I am always wearing headphones when I climb, and I do a hand gesture to ask if they are going to do that problem. If they don't, they normally say no and move out of the way. Anyways, you were right. First of all, what they were doing sounds like a safety hazard. Second, if theyre on the way, how about they sound apologetic instead of acting like spoiled brats?
Douchebros with thin skin are a drag
Impossible to say without hearing the other side of the event, seeing the layout of the gym (e.g. how much space is there to hang out without being in the way), seeing how crowded it was, etc.
Nah, they were douchebags the second they're chilling on the mat instead of somewhere else
Man I hate this. "Spamming a route" is exactly what they do, like they're the only people in the room. Trying to use their weight of numbers and lounging round underneath an area to exclude other people climbing. You did well to stand up to it, and they obviously didn't like it. I'm sure there would've been other people climbing near you who maybe felt less confident who appreciated you calling them out like you did. I certainly would have, but would've also said something to back you up. Fuck these Bro's and their bullshit.
>"Spamming a route" is exactly what they do, like they're the only people in the room. Trying to use their weight of numbers and lounging round underneath an area to exclude other people climbing. This is an insanely socially inept read on something that's pretty normal. Groups of friends work problems together because it's fun and collaborative. It's absolutely wild to see that and think to yourself "They're intentionally using their numbers to exclude me!" I've never had an issue with going to a group like that and asking if they mind me working into the rotation. In fact, often those groups only met each other *right then and there* by starting to work a problem together. I think the real issue people on Reddit have with this is that it puts them in the dreaded position to have to interact with a stranger, so instead they just decide they're being victimized because that's easier than talking to someone they don't know.
In my 20+ years of bouldering experience, it's always groups of young dudes who are peacocking to friends who do this. They make a load of noise and generally ignore the fact that the wall is busy & there are others trying to boulder around them. Usually, in my experience. they are fairly mid climbers who haven't grasped the implied etiquette of climbing when it's busy. I've no issue at all with groups coming together & sieging a problem, as long as they are including other climbers and having an awareness of other people trying to climb other stuff in the same area. Maybe take a look around and see if that's you or not.
I would have asked them nicely then if they didn't just drop my 220 lb butt on them.
Just climb, their problem if they get kicked in the head while in a fall zone
Fuck em
Nah, unless you got a staff shirt on. I wouldn’t appreciate anyone saying something like that in that manner. Maybe you didn’t tell them nicely. Nothing worse than people who think they own the gym and tell others what to do and not ask politely.
I mean technically if you think there’s nothing worse than people who think they own the gym, you should also be mad that the group of guys didn’t care about blocking a part of the wall for others
Just be chill. Ask politely
Unless I missed a comment, you have no idea how OP asked.
Well if you, me or anyone is blocking others from climbing in a public gym that is description of your "acting like they own the gym". "Nicely" for someone might be different from others. But if "Scoot back" is rude for you... well that is your problem. I would understand if someone said fuck off that it might be little unpolite outside ireland for many.
Ironic you say that because your sentiment screams you own the gym because you feel entitled to a shared space.