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TMO
Trad climber
Puyallup, WA
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Jul 23, 2009 - 02:27pm PT
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Regarding the OP; "Should people be idolized for their achievements of for who they are?"
Let's use a couple of made up examples;
"R.M." is one of the worlds great climbers and wrote some inspiring books... and is a prick.
"H.H." was dragged up a famous climb, wrote a fantastic book about it... member of the Nazi party.
I am hypothetically very inspired by both!
Personally, I try not to "idolize" but am INSPIRED by great achievements, actions AND "who people are". I take what inspires me and disregard the rest. I find it a waste of energy to be bothered by others faults (especially PAST faults) and try to focus on being the best person I can be, after all I am the only one I can change.
As far as parenting;
I viewed and view my parents exactly the same way (as above), And TRY to be a shining example to my childen in action and word, but of course fall short in many ways (smoking, gone climbing too much, drinking, etc.), we all do. Then again I do not want my children to idolize me. I feel my job is to teach to the best of my ability, love them and provide for them. And hopefully inspire them in the process.
Troy
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nutjob
climber
Berkeley, CA
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Jul 23, 2009 - 06:02pm PT
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I mostly agree we are what we do.
But there is a pitfall... a sort of downward spiral trap that can sink folks who adhere to this belief dogmatically. If you F up in life, you may believe that you ARE an F-up and not make an effort to improve because you already know you are an F-up as evidenced by your prior actions.
So one has to recognize that we are what we do, AND that we have the power to change and choose what we do. So really I guess I do believe we are what we do.
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Jaybro
Social climber
Wolf City, Wyoming
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Jul 23, 2009 - 06:04pm PT
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I think what we do is part of who we are, though it can be fractal.
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Fat Dad
Trad climber
Los Angeles, CA
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Jul 23, 2009 - 07:29pm PT
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"The sound and fury has characters whose story line is only known to the author till he informs the reader years later."
It's not the story; it's how you tell it.
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Lynne Leichtfuss
Social climber
valley center, ca
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Jul 24, 2009 - 01:09am PT
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What you do = Who you are......
At first I interpreted this "what you do" is what you do for work.
But nah, thinking about it that was wrong ! Work is work. My work is not who I am and actually it has not been me for a long time. My job was given to me and I had to accept it. Helping others was what kept me at the job site.
What I do now is me. I relate to people, I try to help people, I care, I write songs and musica and stories. I pray alot and care about the folk around me in this vast and wonderful world. I get out into the beauty and walk the paths, bike the trails, kayak the waters, surf the waves, and with help from mi friends climb the rock. I hug the kiddies and try to look in every person's eyes that cross my path each day. People and our creation we live in .....this is who I am.
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Captain...or Skully
Social climber
way, WAY out there....(OMG)
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Jul 24, 2009 - 01:12am PT
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Dig it.....thanks, Lynne.
I, too, got stuck on work, and as I ain't got none, I was starting to feel kinda worthless.
Sawtooths, Look the Freak out! Here comes Skully.
Be afraid.
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Lynne Leichtfuss
Social climber
valley center, ca
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Jul 24, 2009 - 02:31am PT
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Skully, you are.... and you are great ! I know we will meet one day, but til then you will be creating a super cool life....a day at a time, a step at a time with patience and perseverance.....and of course ROCK ON...:DD
edit: wearing a helmet ....jawohl ?
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Todd Gordon
Trad climber
Joshua Tree, Cal
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Jul 24, 2009 - 03:50am PT
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What you do equals who you are................Depends just how sensational it is that you do..........Do something crazy and THAT one crazy thing is all you will be know for in other's eyes.....Look at Tanya Harding and Nancy Karrigan........forever joined and famous for one thing.......They know that there is more to themselves than their sensational story;....but the rest of the world sees it only one way......Is Kramer on Seinfeld known for being an actor/comedian or for being a racist biget?.....
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jstan
climber
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Jul 24, 2009 - 01:00pm PT
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Something left undefined here. What does one mean when one says, "This is what I am"?
If you subliminally define it as what you do, your logic is circular. It is not even subliminal if you use a person's history in any way.
Knowing history is useful from a statistical standpoint. I think we stumble when we say a person's history defines them perfectly. People go left all the time when their history tells us they will go right.
The question may not even be answerable. Suppose we define a person using not what they do but instead based on the reasons they did or attempted to do those things instead of other things.
Since one can never truly know another's motives( and sometimes not even your own) no answer can be given.
A much more fundamental question is this. Is the voice in your head
"you"?
Suppose you had no language. Then, do you not exist?
And here's another winner.
Why do we feel we have to be able to answer all questions?
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