Why Smart People Make Double Entendres

— In Yahoo Canyons Group, “Tom Jones” wrote:

— In Yahoo Canyons Group, “ryanfosterlee” spot as it was getting light out. The stillness and quiet light at > the beginning of the day made the Phantom Valley section sublime. I > had been in this section early in the day before, and it presents > itself very well in this light, but I had not been at the Big Sandy > Corridor early in the day (8 am?) before, and the final long narrows > were very, very nice with morning light.

Going through a canyon by headlamp is an interesting experience – if > you have not done so, you might give it a try. It can be spooky, > but it is definitely aesthetically quite cool. I had not been > through Imlay before by headlamp, and it was great fun, especially a > canyon that I know so well.

The Narrows, on the other hand, well, we were tuckered out by then, > and any and all charms the Narrows presented were lost to our addled > brains.

So yes. Even when moving quickly, one can appreciate the aesthetics > of the canyon.

Was their an implication (purely from the tone, not from any actual > statement) that a descent based on aesthetics has a higher moral > standing than one based on other motivations? Would you like to > discuss this issue? Perhaps you would like to actually ask what > Steve’s, Mark’s, Drue’s, Jason’s and my reasons for doing the Jihad > were and are? Feel free to do so.

Tom >

Tom,

Based on your post above i am not sure if you had a chance to read what I have already posted (a few days back)in response (below). So take a look and let me know if I haven’t answered your question…

As for me and my own motivations and background… I would be glad to share, but i need to run catch a movie with the family (another motivation).

— In Yahoo Canyons Group, “Tom Jones” wrote:

— In Yahoo Canyons Group, “ryanfosterlee” Therein also lies folly, in invalidating other people’s experiences, > because their motivations or experience (might) be different than > yours.

Absolutely not… I don’t see how my comments make you think that… I am only trying to illustrate the different motivations – not that one is right or that one is not a valid or worthy pursuit… We each have different assumptions, assumptions about bolts, gear, safety, risk, reward, fun, etc… those differences cause conflict… So we should trying understand each other’s assumptions rather than argue whose is “right.”

> People may do canyons for different reasons, and have different > experiences – even perhaps motivations or experiences that are not of > interest to you. Do you claim that your experience or motivation is > morally superior to theirs? > Again, absolutely not – I thought i made that clear when I closed my last post… How can anybody say there is moral high ground in this sport? When did canyoneering become a religeon? Thats why all our “ethical” conversations are so fruitless – I guess they do help one decide who you want to share the experience with though… by finding partners who share the same views… I don’t like golfing with hacks who ignore the rules and etiquette… so why should I like canyoneering with someone who thinks I am a hack, unless they are interested in helping me learn how not to be a hack… But that doesn’t mean I dislike golfing hacks or that they shouldn’t be golfing, just that I don’t want to do it with them… That doesn’t invalidate their experience does it? They have just as much fun, but I prefer it if they are in the group BEHIND me…LOL

And Tom, I hope this doesn’t sound disingenuine, but i would be interested to know why you stacked Imlay and Heaps if it wasn’t primarily for the “challenge” or feeling of accomplishment of doing what has not been done… because while i have many theories, i also believe in testing them frequently…

Ryan

> Tom >