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General Climbing Discussion

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Natimuk locals think they own the place 14-Jan-2005 At 10:00:39 AM PN

Message

On 13/01/2005 BA wrote:
>One more thing about the Natimukians. Most of the people (climbers) who
>moved there have done so through their love of climbing. They have given
>up job security - job advancement - the 'cafe society' - reduced services
>(that are taken for granted in Melbourne eg health etc), moved away from
>parents and friends because climbing means so much to them. The rest of
>us haven't made such a commitment, they can therefore argue from a higher
>moral ground than the rest of us.
>
>I just wish that they would keep us informed of the 'cultural' activities
>up there so I could plan ahead and get up to Nati when they happen. I'd
>gladly give them a free plug in Argus.

With all due respect, I don't rate the argument much. Where do morals come into it? I would prefer to contribute something to society. Climbing is what you do in the downtime. I don't see how someone dropping out of society to pursue the easy life constitutes any higher moral authority or benefits anyone but themselves. I envy their choice, but it isn't worth anything to anyone.

To the contrary, it is the taxpayers and workers who bear more weight in this argument. We pay for the resource to be managed, we have instituted the framework in which the resource is defined and protected.

Maybe I misunderstood?