Wings of Steel - A confession-ALL with an olive branch

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Rankin

Social climber

Greensboro, North Carolina

Dec 10, 2011 - 11:28pm PT

Valley drama...

Karl Baba

Trad climber

Yosemite, Ca

Dec 10, 2011 - 11:43pm PT

Reposted from another thread:

It's a beautiful test and drama of life that the WOS team should undergo this giant epic on the stone and epic of controversy in the climbing community only to be finally vindicated and pass the test of their professed Christianity by forgiving their transgressor. It's like topping out at the end of a 30 year big wall epic.

and also a beautiful example that Steve should come, as a super accomplished climber with his hat in his hand, demonstrating that someone once famous for his hubris could admit his mistake humbly and publicly come clean without defensiveness.

Humanity rarely sees such victories and the bloodlust for punishment pales by comparison. We've all made mistakes and done wrong. For once, it lead to a good example and transformation all around

PEace

Karl

Russ Walling

Gym climber

Poofter's Froth, Wyoming

Dec 10, 2011 - 11:45pm PT

Coz: Russ,

That's rich coming from you...

Still leg humping I see... figures.

ruppell

climber

Dec 10, 2011 - 11:49pm PT

Sh#t poopi(yes i thought that was funny)

If that's you're mid-life confession what are you saving for your death bed?

Congrats for owning up to it like a man should.

Lynne Leichtfuss

Trad climber

Will know soon

Dec 10, 2011 - 11:50pm PT

Steve, first really got to know you at the C4 Bachar Memorial and will always appreciate your being there and your comments about John that evening.

I'm not surprised at this thread. We all make mistakes living life on this planet. Few have the personal integrity to address them and try to set things right. It's a blessing to know you. lynne

rottingjohnny

Sport climber

mammoth lakes ca

Dec 11, 2011 - 04:11am PT

Big deal...! A silly prank , 30 years past , sends the C4 community into a frenzy....Get a life everyone and keep your nose out of Steve and the other party poopers business...RJ

nutjob

Gym climber

Berkeley, CA

Dec 11, 2011 - 05:24am PT

It should not be minimized as just a silly little prank. It was an extremely strong physical demonstration of contempt and not being accepted, and for some people there are few things that could be more deeply hurtful. It sends a strong negative message that resonates with the deepest fears or vulnerabilities that many people have: "I'm worthless", "I'm not likeable or loveable", "I don't deserve to be happy" etc. These feelings are passed between people like a virus, transmitted in automatic and thoughtless or even premeditated and vindictive reactions in a vain attempt to cope with our own pain.

So the act itself, while superficially childish and petty, was profoundly destructive to spirit more so than to the ropes. This is all the more reason why it was so hard to step up and take responsibility. The passage of time probably made it harder and harder too.

Steve, it really takes a lot of guts to handle it as you have now, and I respect that infinitely more than any hard rock climbing accomplishment.

Today, you passed along antibodies to help us all kill the emotional and spiritual viruses that infect us all to greater or lesser extents.

Thank you.

Mark and Richard, thank you also for being pillars of integrity and courage.

tradmanclimbs

Ice climber

Pomfert VT

Dec 11, 2011 - 08:10am PT

Nutjob has a good point. Bullying is never acceptable and it often causes scars beyond what the bullys could imagin at the time.

oldtopangalizard

Social climber

Dec 11, 2011 - 09:21am PT

Different perspective. I never met SS, buy we all know he's one of the all time greats on the rock. Of course he was so good at such a young age, it could not have been easy with all the politics.
I went to a slide show in the 90's, it may have been the Scott, Messner, Bonnington series, when I came across Steve's dad. A bunch of people were milling about after the show, telling lies, autographs, the usual. So I strike it up with this older gentleman, he was by himself, who starts telling me his son really likes to climb, he thinks it good for him and such. He goes on about the beautiful slides and stories we just went through and asked me questions about climbing. I tell him the truth; I will never do any of the climbs we just saw.
The guy had to be one of the most humble, easy going guys you have ever met. He tells me who his son is, like he's a weekend climber, and mentions once again what a great sport for all young guys to get into. He must spend a fair amount of time outdoors. This guy was the salt of the earth. Definitely the kind of guy you want to be friends with for the rest of your life.
The point is, at the end of the day (growing up, seeing life after spending a good amount of it as an adult) we all seem to end up like our parents. Be it good or bad.
I don't know Steve, never met him, but I did meet his father.
Steve is a lucky guy, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.

Gunkie

Trad climber

East Coast US

Dec 11, 2011 - 10:23am PT

I thought the name "Shipoopoi" was related to the musical 'Music Man' or perhaps the more modern redition performed by Peter Griffin and the Silly Nannies.

[Click to View YouTube Video]

Tony Bird

climber

Northridge, CA

Dec 11, 2011 - 10:28am PT

i wish i knew where it came from--some kind of midwestern lore. i'm from that part of the country, but i never heard it before willson's epic musical.

the girl who'll kiss on the very first date
is usually a hussy
and the girl who'll kiss on the second time out
is anything but fussy ...

but the girl who kisses on the third time out
--she's your shipoopi--the girl who's hard to get.

hobo_dan

Social climber

Minnesota

Dec 11, 2011 - 10:43am PT

apologies and forgiveness
I'll bet it feels good to have the weight off for both parties
Everybody does things that don't shine and you can pull on that rope all you want but you can't reverse time
so good for you for forward and moving on

johnwesely

Trad climber

Athens, Ga

Dec 11, 2011 - 12:19pm PT

I really wish I could do something awful, apologize almost thirty years later, and be idolized for it. I am sure it wasn't easy to do, I doubt a lesser person would have done it, but apologizing after doing something like that shouldn't be easy.

rottingjohnny

Sport climber

mammoth lakes ca

Dec 11, 2011 - 02:18pm PT

Tami...I think it could make a long run on Broadway...? Will they have to use stunt doubles...? RJ

Hilt

Social climber

Utah

Dec 11, 2011 - 02:35pm PT

Now this is an act full of character and class.

We "ALL" do horrible stuff, yet what separates "Great Men" from the rest is what is done after the fact. Do we realize what we've done? Claim responsibility, make an effort to fix it or do we ignore it? Pretend it never happened, shift blame, etc... (Since I've done a good share of pretending and shifting the blame. I know how much easier it is to be less.)

I hope one day I get to meet you Steve. It's rare to meet a Great Man I can learn from in this day and age.

Thelonius Fan

climber

Dec 11, 2011 - 03:19pm PT

Steve - REally nice post. How wonderful life is when we can forgive and be forgiven. Proud of you.

The Larry

climber

Moab, UT

Dec 11, 2011 - 04:07pm PT

I can't wait for "Wings of Steel" the musical

Starring: Sodapop and Johnny as Mark and Richard

Ma and Pa Kettle as Steve and mimi

The Cartwrights as the Valley Locals

Two-bit as Pass the Pitons Pete

Wilford Brimley as Werner

Jack Sparrow and Elizabeth Swann as the 2nd ascent team

That dude from Weird Science as Shipoopi

Kanye and the smoke monster as the other shitters

With a special appearance by Alf

....Leif Garrett as The Fish...

...and the Greatest American Hero as THE COZ

Should be a big hit.

Paul Martzen

Trad climber

Fresno

Dec 11, 2011 - 06:07pm PT

Thanks for posting your apology, Steve. You show empathy and respect for the guys you wronged. You also give the rest of us insight into the mob mentality in that circumstance, which is also relevant to many of our responses on this forum. I appreciate the image you paint of the carabiner with all the small copperheads. It was not enough to stop the momentum of the moment, but it seems like it has worked on you over time.

Richard, Whenever you complained about the cowardice of the shitters and how they should come forward and apologize, I just smirked. "No one is ever going to confess. And even if they did, what good would it do?" Now Steve goes and confesses in a really decent way and it truly feels like it is doing a lot of good.

Richard, I have been rereading some of your early posts from 2005 and they seem even more fascinating and touching now. I still find myself annoyed at certain aspects of your writing and defenses. Yet, I find myself more and more impressed with your tenacity on the rock and in trying to explain yourself. It has been a very educational process reading this long and crazy conversation. Thanks for sticking with it and making such a long effort to explain to so many strangers.

I won't join the group hug, Steve, but down the road I will be curious to hear what longer term repercussions and lessons you experience. Also, in this day of pseudo apologies that don't actually apologize for anything, that was a good apology, plus an additional viewpoint on the times. Thank you.

slobmonster

Trad climber

OAK (nee NH)

Dec 11, 2011 - 06:07pm PT

Kind of a sad thought: many of our big weird community didn't even last long enough to grow up, as Steve seems to have. So many gone too soon, and too young. Thanks, Shipoopi (a great neighbor), for putting a mystery to rest... with maturity and contrition.