I visited some London walls when stuck at the in-laws, I hated it. I even got told off for getting changed (i.e. trousers) not in the changing rooms.
I completely understand where you're coming from. More people, more awareness greater funding at the top end. I just don't agree that these benefits outweigh the neg's. As Bonjoy pointed out on another thread there is a finite amount of rock and it can only take so much punishment. The fact that a lot of people may be introduced to climbing in a less than traditional manner means values such as not climbing on wet grit, cleaning your boots, brushing things etc. get lost and it doesn't take much of that to cause huge damage. Add to that increased numbers and access agreements will suffer. It only takes a few to spoil things for the masses.
Its a big gamble to allow more people to climb 'professionally' (Reading this back its at complete odds to a rant I had around 4 years ago)
Have you been to The Arch Paul?
I would still consider myself very much a beginner, i'm in full agreement about the muppets you described earlier being extremely annoying, yet those kind of people are present in most area's in life unfortunately!
However one of the reasons for me buying a regular membership at The Arch, is I have generally found it to be far more muppet free than any other indoor wall I have visited in London (although I haven't been to craggy island yet which has a good rep apparently).
The whole vibe of the place reminds me of one of the more hardcore weightlifting gyms I used to go to, when I was really into my powerlifting, it was full of some amazing powerlifters, guys that would compete across the UK (and some internationally i'm sure), it just had that whole "work hard atmosphere", like everyone turned up to achieve something, and they weren't going to go home until they got their stuff done.
The Arch kind of reminds me of that, which is why I like it, I turn up and the presence of all the people there better than me trying to improve and working hard on their own individual goals, spurs me on to do better with mine, which is cool
What I meant to write ^ previous one won't let me modify it!
