OK I'll splain it.

This is not about the FA 'team.' This is about the history of our sport and respect for the past, for elders, and for the traditions that led to, well, all this.

Respect for the style of first ascent is a bedrock layer of American climbing tradition. There are lots of us who still subscribe to this school of thought. You must forgive us when some relative noob comes along and tries to murder our sport.

You needn't shit on all who came before you as you stand upon their shoulders to reach the next plateau. Show some respect!

Why? Because new routes are not a commodity. They are a gift. Maybe you don't care. Maybe you don't even know what's involved in new routing, save what you've read.

Or maybe not. Maybe you just don't give a flying fuck about the elders of this sport, or what they did.

But a lot of us do. And like it or not, respecting the style of the first ascent has been important heretofore.

Now the noobs of today are going to be the old dogs of tomorrow and what they choose to do along the way is up to them of course.

But if they trample on the works of those who preceeded them, rest assured those who follow in their subsequent footsteps will obliterate their works in turn.

Its a simple matter of respect.

Now to the action side of the issue - you 8flood8 are perfectly within your rights as an individual to go retro the route in question. No one requires you to check with anyone (presuming you don't have to kowtow to the State of Texas,).

Go bolt it right now. I would only ask that you have the courage to take responsibility for it.

Anyway, you have that right and you need no one's permission.

However, I too have the right, and so too do your local peers, to go chop the fuck out of those bolts, in broad daylight, right in your face.

That's what a lack of respect can lead to, HAS led to. Fine if you want that sort of confrontation. Go for it.

JUust remember the Alamo when you're old and your projects are paved over in the name of progress. Sip a karma milkshake while you're at it.

Please don't kill our sport.

DMT

my attitude stems from an obsessiveness with safety...

ahh...

<enter the pot>

anything else witty to say curt? :)

Its ironic that the two most vocal retrobolt advocates on the board don't even seem to know the difference between sport and trad.

This is clearly the heart of the problem and you are not alone in this.