Climbing Mount Everest is an useless accomplishment, amirite?

Did anyone ever say it was useful?

by Anonymous 2 weeks ago

Wouldn't that be a popular opinion

by Anonymous 2 weeks ago

Not for the nepali economy.

by Additional_Space 2 weeks ago

Why though? I'm perfectly happy with letting people who have entirely too much money risk their lives.

by TrueMolasses2820 2 weeks ago

Even money only has value because we collectively agreed that it does.

by Sharp-Extreme 2 weeks ago

Which has no inherent value

by Anonymous 2 weeks ago

It does because of the jewelry.

by According-Tax 2 weeks ago

Lol

by Anonymous 2 weeks ago

No, but it has rarity. And it was a step up from trading goods and services.

by WonderfulYou 2 weeks ago

Funnily enough, the original definition of utilitarianism was actually the amount of happiness an act would cause or be worth.

by Plenty_Grade 2 weeks ago

Does it though? It seems to just endanger the sherpas these days as they do most of the heavy lifting.

by Anonymous 2 weeks ago

not sure if i'd say it endangers sherpas. for most sherpas its their main stream of income. remove this and they will be competing in a jobs market in a country which is already struggling. climbing a mountain is in itself a dangerous activity but for sherpa people, it seems to be less so, at least compared to others.

by Jakaylastark 2 weeks ago

6 sherpas died on the mountain last year. 17 people in total.

by Anonymous 2 weeks ago

How many people die at jobs like construction, truck drivers etc

by Ivon 2 weeks ago

Yeah, but would you rather die trying to accomplish something like climbing a big mountain or delivering a whole truckload of car girl ears from temu? Construction can be a mixed bag there. I've been on some projects that I'm proud to point at what we did. Also been on some where 4 years later the parking deck still isn't open and it turn out the city didn't actually mean to approve it.

by Anonymous 2 weeks ago

Oh you're forgetting something. Apparently there isn't any achievement or value to be found from climbing Mount everest, according to the bonbon eating, couch slouching OP. So dying from climbing Mount everest would, from that logic, be the most useless and unnecessary death one could have. Aiding someone in doing something that provides no value? Even worse!

by Ok_Grapefruit_8011 2 weeks ago

Exactly. And they leave trash everywhere.

by Anonymous 2 weeks ago

That sounds like a generalization

by Brave_Rock 2 weeks ago

It's really not. Mount Everest is turning into a garbage dump. Some estimate there have been 50 tonnes of rubbish left on the mountain in the last 60 years. The Nepali army collected 2 tonnes of waste in 2019.

by Anonymous 2 weeks ago

Hike up to 8,000 m is not fun or enjoyable, it's an absolute sufferfest that people complete for bragging rights

by Anonymous 2 weeks ago

Not everyone is that miserable. Some people just like the process and ending up at high and cool places

by Anonymous 2 weeks ago

Well done.

by Anonymous 2 weeks ago

Thank you! It wasn't actually that hard as I came to enjoy and look forward to it after a few days. I just stood there on my iPad and went up and down. I still do it periodically and it's the easiest cardio exercise I've ever come across. You can focus on doing other things while doing it. I wrote my dissertation while doing this exercise!

by Plenty_Grade 2 weeks ago

The reason climbing up to 8,000m is so difficult is that there is less and less oxygen as you ascend in altitude, and at some point you start to lose brain cells and your body tissues break down, even with supplementary oxygen - they call it the "death zone." Congrats on losing weight.

by Anonymous 2 weeks ago

That's why I opened the windows to let all the air out of my house!

by Plenty_Grade 2 weeks ago

ha

by Anonymous 2 weeks ago

Its enjoyable because it is very hard. Its something that tests yourself

by Anonymous 2 weeks ago

That's true, but summiters will also confirm that while they are climbing, it is not a fun time. The payoff is the sense of accomplishment.

by Anonymous 2 weeks ago

Ever considered that something that may not be enjoyable for you still is for other people?

by Due-Moment 2 weeks ago

You can ask the people who have climbed Everest, they will also tell you it is pure suffering. They will tell you what is fun is looking back and feeling pride in the accomplishment.

by Anonymous 2 weeks ago

Alpinists are not driven by fun, they are driven by peak fever and a sense of accomplishment.

by Anonymous 2 weeks ago

I mean isnt it also extremely dangerous, with literal corpses as landmarks

by Past_Importance 2 weeks ago

Everything has risk, in the act of doing anything you gotta accept at least some risk.

by Anonymous 2 weeks ago

God forbid we do something fun, enjoyable, or that enriches the human spirit or is human excellence. Oh please, most people climbing Mount Everest do it purely for bragging and rely heavily on the Sherpa people. Like that one guy who got stuck in the death zone, had to be carried down by Gelje Sherpa and then thanked his rescue insurance and partner organisations, but not once did he mention the guy who carried him down the mountain. Those kinds of things happen way too often. Most of the time, it's an ego thing. Another thing to cross on your bucket list. People go there completely unprepared. It's not "human excellence" anymore. It's just so you can say you went there. They also leave trash everywhere. And if someone wants to climb Mount Everest, they can do that, but in no way does it "enrich the human spirit".

by Anonymous 2 weeks ago

That's 1 person, If it enriches their life and adds meaning to their life, and is an accomplishment they are proud off, why would it not "enrich the human spirit".

by Anonymous 2 weeks ago

It's not 1 person, that's the problem. It happens way too often. Sherpas do the majority of the work, they are the ones actually carrying the equipment and the supplies, they are the ones doing the heavy lifting so that someone can say "I climbed the Mount Everest". These days you can pay to have heated tents while going up the mountain. I wanna see those people who are so proud of themselves go up the mountain by themselves. Nobody carrying their things, just their own two legs. 17 people died on Mount Everest in 2023. Even tho people consistently warn that there are too many permits being issued and it's a lot of novice climbers who want to get to the summit. 17 people in one month when you're actually allowed to go up. But it's still just a pissing contest for a lot of people. Also, a 2020 paper estimates there could be as much as 50 tonnes of rubbish left on the mountain in the last 60 years. In 2019, the Nepali army collected over 2 tonnes of waste left on Mount Everest. Nothing to be proud of.

by Anonymous 2 weeks ago

So are you not denying that it can "enrich the human spirit"?

by Anonymous 2 weeks ago

"If it enriches their life and adds meaning to their life, and is an accomplishment they are proud off, why would it not "enrich the human spirit"." You didn't respond to me and I asked if you are still standing by ur previous claim and if so, why?

by Anonymous 2 weeks ago

You answered NONE of my points but you insist I respond to you. But sure. I personally would never pay someone to risk their life just so I can maybe possibly feel enriched in some way. There could be people who say torturing frogs is enriching, but I doubt you would listen to them, would you? But I guess there are some people who find it (climbing mount everest) to be enriching. Doesn't mean that actually matters. They could find tons of other things that don't put others in danger just so they feel accomplished. It's egocentric.

by Anonymous 2 weeks ago

"But I guess there are some people who find it (climbing mount everest) to be enriching." :)

by Anonymous 2 weeks ago

but in no way does it "enrich the human spirit". And who are you to judge that?

by Due-Moment 2 weeks ago

God

by Anonymous 2 weeks ago

Just like someone can say climbing Mount Everest was an enriching experience, someone else can say killing small animals is enriching to them. But does it matter? At the end of the day, climbing Mount Everest has become a pissing contest. Everyone wants to do it because it sounds cool and they want to bore other people while talking about it for the nth time. They don't care how dangerous it is or how it's putting other people in danger. I would never pay someone to risk their life just so I can feel enriched. That's very egocentric.

by Anonymous 2 weeks ago

It's useless if you die climbing Mount Everest

by Anonymous 2 weeks ago

But then their body becomes a way point landmark. Accomplishment

by Anonymous 2 weeks ago

Save point

by Theresia54 2 weeks ago

Uno reverse!

by Anonymous 2 weeks ago

Sadly most people who die on Everest are the Sherpas whose responsibility is to make the climb as safe and easy for the tourists who climb.

by Anonymous 2 weeks ago

What's the ratio of sherpa deaths to non-sherpa deaths

by Anonymous 2 weeks ago

Just checked, since 2010 it's actually close to 50/50 but I think slightly more Sherpas than other climbers. The difference is that most Sherpas are dying in avalanches or other accidents before climbing season starts because they're maintaining the route ready for climbers. They also have have a huge sense of honour and would risk their lives to protect the lives of the climbers that they're assiting. Very few Sherpas ever die during the actual climb though. Without the Sherpas the survival rate of Everest would probably be one of the worst out of all the mountains on the planet. When you reach a certain elevation the Sherpas can only do so much though, a lot of people die because their bodies just refuse to function anymore. Altitude sickness is something that can affect even the healthiest and well prepared climbers, the Sherpas usually don't suffer from it because many of them have lived in the mountains their entire lives.

by Anonymous 2 weeks ago

Honestly one less human is hugely useful for the world.

by dschultz 2 weeks ago

Ok, your turn! (Seriously, if that's your mindset, why are you still around?)

by Anonymous 2 weeks ago

That might be their mindset and that might be all the fuel they need. They'll snap out of it sooner or later but pushing them over the edge might be a bit much.

by Plenty_Grade 2 weeks ago

Well everytime your about to indulge or spend money on something that will make you happy, donate it then. Making youself happy is a useless accomplishment.

by devincollier 2 weeks ago

I rock and mountain climbed for 15 years. It was an extremely enjoyable thing to do and added a lot to my life. It was never 'an accomplishment'. Most people who climb Everest, at this point, are already wealthy enough to be paying out of pocket for it and don't need a sponsor.

by Retastehr 2 weeks ago

Your misunderstanding is that their money is theirs to with as they please. If they want to throw it all in a trash can and burn it, that's their prerogative. The accomplishment is for the person doing the action, maybe they feel they need something in life to feel alive. When I go hiking for 8 hours in the 110*F Nevada heat, I do it because I like it. I don't care if you approve or not.

by Anonymous 2 weeks ago

Do you hire a bunch of dudes to drag you along and carry water and snacks for you?

by Anonymous 2 weeks ago

If I could afford it I would. I love hiking but hauling a heavy backpack gets old fast.

by Low-Supermarket 2 weeks ago

That's what my back pack is for. But hiking for me is free compared to something like Everest.

by Anonymous 2 weeks ago

Having the money to do that is an achievement enough. Don't need the mountain.

by Johnstonreina 2 weeks ago

Yeah but do you leave all your garbage and waste on your hike like Mount Everest climbers do?

by Anonymous 2 weeks ago

I agree with this argument not OPs. The pollution & overcrowding of Mount Everest has become a big problem.

by Individual_Rub_7796 2 weeks ago

Gotcha. To me it just seems so stupid though. With the footage I've seen it just looks like a conveyor belt tourist attraction and sometimes folks die. So, I do agree with OP's point that it isn't all that impressive.

by Anonymous 1 week ago

Some people just think differently, I don't think it can really be explained. You either have the mindset or you don't. It's like me watching people watch football (soccer to the US people) it seems like a waste of time and money

by RoyalSad9721 1 week ago

Many hikers do, I don't. Though it has nothing to do with the argument of either hike being a useless accomplishment or not.

by Anonymous 1 week ago

Just checked and over 10,000 people have ascended Mount Everest. And given what little skill it requires and what we know about the environmental impact of the field trip I'm comfortable saying it had negative net worth. Sorry, I'm still on board with "useless accomplishment."

by Anonymous 1 week ago

what little skill it requires Do you even know what skills one requires to do it?

by IndependentMuted 1 week ago

Yes.

by Anonymous 1 week ago

Cool.

by IndependentMuted 1 week ago

All hail for crazy Sherpas!

by IndependentMuted 1 week ago

There's a whole book on how useless and destructive the Everest climbing industry is, it's called High Crimes

by Anonymous 1 week ago

OP: "Someone did something that I don't care for, therefore that thing is useless!"

by donniehermiston 1 week ago

Imagine spending tens of thousands of dollars to travel to an exotic location, only to end up in a traffic jam of lame people who had the exact same idea.

by Anonymous 1 week ago

Mount Everest is littered with tents, hiking/climbing equipment and frozen corpses. It's no longer a place of natural beauty, it's a graveyard.

by Greenholtwalker 1 week ago

Considering the Sherpas basically carry all your stuff up and will carry you down if you inevitably realize that you are not up for the challenge, all while creating a massive garbage problem at one of their holiest sites, it's more than useless. It's like buying large trucks in European cities or having to have a better barbeque set than your neighbors, it's being a fragile little prick

by Harrisdylan 1 week ago

I definitely wouldn't do it even if I had the money, just to brag? No thanks

by qswift 1 week ago

A useless

by Anonymous 1 week ago

It's got to be disgusting up at the camps. Imagine all those people up there waiting to go up. I don't think there are any bathrooms. Ick. Do they pack all of their waste out? What about all the garbage? It's dumb.

by Anonymous 1 week ago

Okay OP. Now let's take a look at all the things you enjoy that don't serve any real purpose, shall we? Do you go to the movies? Play videogames? Those industries make a lot of money despite providing no practical utility in their end product. Sure, it might not cost as much to each individual consumer as climbing Everest, but there are a lot more consumers - more than enough to make up the difference. So off you go, lead by example: drop the TV and films and videogames and music and live events. Live a quiet life in the smallest possible living space you need to survive and spend the rest of your days reading secondhand books.

by Former-Captain2622 1 week ago

Or another way you can look at it is, nothing anyone does matters cause we're all gonna die one day. But the world continues to run cause there are people that do care about all the inane things that happen each day. It's fine if you don't.

by Morartitus 1 week ago

I think your points are irrelevant, but I also think climbing everest is useless.

by Anonymous 1 week ago

Work on how you construct arguments

by Anonymous 1 week ago

"like research" whats that about?

by Anonymous 1 week ago

Said someone who has and would never been there and who did not put any dollar on research so far

by Anonymous 1 week ago

Just think of it as a fitness boot camp. Pay $50k to get in great shape.

by Anonymous 1 week ago

Well having a photo of you climbing Mount Everest is basically the minimum standard for guys to get matches on Tinder.

by DifficultFinance3030 1 week ago

And where exactly are these people claiming it's a useful accomplishment? It's an accomplishment. It's an impressive one even because most people can't do it. But no one is claiming it's useful.

by UseTechnical9518 1 week ago

Then you don't understand commitment and what it is to do or die. That's fine. Most never will in our age. That's why this should generally be a popular opinion.

by Anonymous 1 week ago

I've probably spent 50k on Taco Bell at this point

by Cbraun 1 week ago

Its more about personal achievement personal growth. That's why there's marathons rock climbing heavy lifting swimming. So many solo activities. Sure there are records and some do it for that but most people are just striving to beat their personal best to feel their best and be their best self.

by Bprohaska 1 week ago

money which can be spent on much better things like research or like. Like researching why it's so useless to climb Mount Everest?

by Fantastic-Back 1 week ago

It can be useful if you put it in your CV

by Professional-Gur-612 1 week ago

"Useful" things have no meaning if we don't have fun, happiness, and cool stuff. If we didn't have those things, our species may as well be extinct.

by Repulsive-Isopod7704 1 week ago

unless you climb it naked with just a pair of boots on and no oxygen then, yes, it's a useless accomplishment

by Anonymous 1 week ago

L

by howard78 1 week ago

So for hardcore mountain climbers, climbing the tallest mountain on earth is a useless accomplishment... Got it.

by Anonymous 1 week ago

It's a hobby that turned into a bucket list life goal. There is absolutely nothing wrong with doing it if you know your body can handle it and you do it properly.

by Anonymous 1 week ago

It's become so commercialized it's gross. People pay enough and expected to be practically carried the last 1000 feet if they can't make it.

by Sandrarunolfsdo 1 week ago

not everything needs a purpose. Some things can just be done for the sake of it.

by Anonymous 1 week ago

Or like....? Don't leave us hanging!

by maggiobreanne 1 week ago

It's hard to imagine a hobby - any hobby or pastime - where someone couldn't say that the money for that pursuit couldn't be spent on better things. "Oh, you play guitar and bought a Les Paul for $2,500? That money could have gone to the fight against leukemia." "So you enjoy snorkeling, do ya? I guess you feel nothing for the earthquake victims." Imagine living in a world where no one can do anything that gives them joy or a sense of accomplishment because their money must always instead go to some cause that's been judged more important.

by Anonymous 1 week ago

"Useless" things are often the most beautiful and meaningful parts of human existence. Making and appreciating art, attaining high sport performance, eating delicious food, and yeah, climbing big heaps of stone. Things and how they make us feel are their own finality sometimes.

by Anonymous 1 week ago

I always think if you have to take an oxygen tank to go somewhere it's nature's way of telling you that maybe this is a bit unnecessary. Still it's a great achievement , and with the above attitude we'd have never gone to the moon . At the same time , with people having gone there once, it would be beyond insanity to chuck significant resources at going again and again when there are so many real world problems which such resources could solve So I agree with the spirit of the argument while still respecting anyone who climbs Everest

by PresentYouth 1 week ago

How does it being expensive make it a "useless accomplishment"?

by Anonymous 1 week ago

Because they're poor.

by Anonymous 1 week ago

Monkey on tallest hill is in charge.

by Anonymous 1 week ago

Climbing Everest isn't even seen as something impressive anymore. Just a litmus test for if you have money. The people who did it back in the day with no base camps, those were the real climbers/explorers