this post was submitted on 25 Jan 2026
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[–] Corporal_Punishment@feddit.uk 24 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (4 children)

The best thing about climbing a building with no safety gear is you aren't actually required to do it.

I watched it. It's fucking moronic

To do that sort of stunt is selfish, and shows an absolute callous disregard for his family, friends and the poor bastards who would have had to scrape his corpse off the pavement.

[–] pishadoot@sh.itjust.works 11 points 3 days ago (1 children)
[–] Corporal_Punishment@feddit.uk 1 points 2 days ago

Yes i did. I don't deny it was fascinating/interesting to watch. From a purely physical and technical standpoint what he did was incredible.

Still moronic and selfish though.

[–] Luvs2Spuj@lemmy.world 10 points 3 days ago

The climb is so trivial for him that it is just easy money. I'm an amateur climber and I would do this if I was given the permission and 1/10th of the money.

Yes there's a chance of things going wrong, but it's like betting against Anthony Joshua in his Jake Paul cash grab. Maybe even less risk than that.

His previous solos were more outrageous but always treated with a degree of respect and preparation. It's what has put him in a position to be able to do this exhibition.

Your outrage is exactly the kind of thing Netflix want and it's why it's been done live.

[–] FatVegan@leminal.space 13 points 3 days ago (2 children)

I love things like free solo. It's kinda dumb and all overall, but it's fascinating to me to see what people can do if they really want it enough. When i saw that Netflix makes this a live event, i just felt like it's a perverted plot so people watch it to hopefully see a dude die live on tv.

[–] Corporal_Punishment@feddit.uk 2 points 3 days ago

Agree its fascinating in a way, but still moronic.

We didn't watch it live, had no intention of watching someone die on live tv

[–] cdf12345@lemmy.zip 1 points 3 days ago

He’d be the second this weekend

If you watch free solo you see that although alex does not seem to have any fear at all, he is rational and not suicidal. He would not take on a project like this if there wasn't a 99.9% chance of making it.

[–] thenewred@lemmy.world 13 points 3 days ago

Watching it as a group of climbers was fun because we could shit talk the entire time.

My favorite was when he said the quiet part out loud. "V2 in my gym."

[–] Lucidlethargy@sh.itjust.works 2 points 2 days ago

What an idiot. Glad I don't have Netflix.

[–] JoeBigelow@lemmy.ca 5 points 3 days ago (1 children)

I am genuinely curious how many people in this thread have ever been in a harness somewhere that equipment failure means death. I'm getting a strong Couch Climber vibe in here.

[–] ExLisper@lemmy.curiana.net 2 points 2 days ago

Really? I actually think real climbers are the ones least impressed by this and that mostly non-climbers watched and were entertained. Climbers know it's just a stunt with 0 sport value. All the friends I asked about it said it's pretty embarrassing and didn't watch it.

[–] thenewred@lemmy.world 4 points 3 days ago (1 children)

The media was trying to make it sound death defying and extreme the entire time, but any time they'd ask a climber about it, "oh he's chilling."

[–] nova_ad_vitum@lemmy.ca 13 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Regular and reliable holds like this are fairly easy for someone like Honnold. Each individual move is basically trivial so the challenge is maintaining focus over a long period of time, which he is accustomed to as well.

[–] thenewred@lemmy.world 1 points 3 days ago

Yeah the hardest move on the entire thing was the first overhang with the security camera, and that was V3\5.10. The entire event was well below any kind of test for a pro climber. The solo part attracts a lot of attention.

[–] thenewred@lemmy.world 3 points 3 days ago

Alex: *stands there"

Crowd: goes wild

[–] Adderbox76@lemmy.ca 1 points 3 days ago
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