[etrautmann]

Yes, I’ve always loved the camaraderie around climbing gyms and the community that develops naturally when you go to a gym consistently. Romantically it’s quite hard though, if a relationship is built around an activity, there are a number of challenges if someone’s interest shifts or a big skill mismatch etc.

[hammock]

Just like work or school friendships, if you don’t shift those hangouts to other contexts (meals unconnected to the activity, family introductions, travel, etc) then they won’t stick outside of that initial context, however deep they feel at the time

[bee_rider]

Could that be a good filter-function? “How gracefully does this person handle our skill difference” seems like a nice thing to know about somebody.

[dgfitz]

More “how does someone handle a skill difference?” Because very rarely are two people at the exact same skill set at the same time. In the context of climbing the disparity can be enormous.

[maximus-decimus]

Not really, it's like playing Counter Strike with your friend, but you're a total noob and they're world champion. You try your best and yet, for you to have any semblance of fun, the other person had to play only with a knife, one hand behind their back and picking their nose with the other. It's just never gonna be as fun as if everybody is trying their best and are all on the same playing field.

[BobaFloutist]

Yes but climbing isn't inherently competitive. Counterstrike you can't win without someone losing. Climbing, everyone can win.