My Community

I haven't cancelled the meet because I'm not prepared to put in the effort, I have cancelled it because it seems to me that there is very little interest in it. The phrase flogging a dead horse springs to mind.

No offence Dave but what you've said there could be a symptom of being jaded. I know because I've said it myself over things I've organised in the past but really it was me. I've thought it about all sorts of things like the website, IBL, MI etc etc when things look bleak e.g. little level of interest or poor attendances etc. I don't blame people en-masse - they are creatures of unpredictable habits. When you're sliding down a slope on an event you have to change the format, start thinking about what could be popular etc. and if you can't come up with anything then get some fresh eyes in to help and take it in a new direction. Every organiser has a limited "lifetime" after which it is advisable to get out.

I know you shouldn't have to go to all this bloody effort because its amazing that someone would organise a bouldering meet in the first place and its hard to accept non-interest but its a fact of the world we live in these days that there are more choices available than ever before and you have to compete for attention with all the other easy options out there. On my darkest days I think "feck the lot of them" - see how they get on without websites, meets, guidebooks, training venues etc etc - will anyone give a damn? if there were none of these things would anyone step forward and start them up from scratch again? I'm sure they would but some days its feels like they would not....


Don't be afraid to lend a hand folks. The heartbreak of every organiser, no matter what it is, is perceived apathy.

Those weights aren't free. They're MINE! 

Michael advertised for initial members prior to the build in Jan 2008. Building was completed a couple of months later.

This might be of interest to regular users of the upper lake carpark at Glendalough.

http://www.mountaineering.ie/news/viewdetails.asp?ID=731

I will be emailing Helen @ MI to suggest that MI send in some sort of feedback along the lines of trying to acquire concession parking rates for MI members especially off peak and out of season. Personally if I'm in Glendalough many weekends over the winter walking, climbing or bouldering then I should be able to pay a concession rate compared to those who clog up the road on a sunny Sunday in July.

It would be well worth while reading the proposals and heading to the consultation meeting if you want to be a real hero for the cause but failing all of that send some feedback to helen@mountaineering.ie and it may get included in the MI response.

Yeah I've re-written the post above about three times - its that grey.

We don't really get into the issue of ownership of the info hence why I describe the service as "custodianship". There's been no need to go there to date. MI are very happy with whats been done. If someone wants to do something with the info they can come talk to myself and Dave and we figure something out on a case by case basis. There's no hard and fast rules apart from don't copy without permission (not that we can do a huge amount about it if they do - call them names perhaps).

Is the content of the climbing.ie wiki open source?

No. Strictly speaking its owned by climbing.ie / Dave Hunt but we've long looked on ourselves are mere custodians of the info and will allow the info to be re-used once permission is sought and depending on the nature of the re-use. Prime criteria would be how well it benefits the Irish climbing community at large.

I'm in two minds about 27crags to be honest Barry. I'd much rather see this info on an Irish site even if its not the ShortSpan. Maybe that's a quaint attitude these days but there ya go. It wouldn't take 27crags much to go the way of Rockfax or Supertopo and you'll have mini-guides for sale for a few bucks. Check the T&Cs:

By uploading Content, for example pictures or text, on the site, the User grants 27 Crags the right to use, present, copy and forward the Content for further use in connection with the 27 Crags Internet site free of charge and for an unlimited period of time. The User also grants 27 Crags the right to edit, develop, translate and use Content, and to publish their full name with the Content created on the site.

Now if folks are cool with that then grand. Just so ye know. If there were miniguides to be developed and sold then I'd prefer the dosh to go to some Irish based lad or lass. Maybe they won't publish guides but perhaps they sell advertising off the site so the same argument applies. I'd argue that this would erode the ability of a local to do same.

Of course it needs someone local to actually get off their ass and do something but as we can see the Hunters have.

Just my biased opinionated 2 cents as usual 

S

[Edit: I probably meant Coronn rather than Supertopo but you get my point?]

New Facebook page for Fair Head Bouldering: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Fairhead-Bouldering-Guide/185295581595779