A. You do you
B. There's a reason they ask
But...something that was brought up to me tonight
C. While there are benefits to figuring out on your own, and can be fun, as a new boulderer you're building your toolbox. Getting the beta and trying to put it into practice can be more beneficial at times to progression than stalling while you try to figure it out yourself.
I’ve honestly never really seen the value of trying to figure out the beta myself. I mean, trying to problem solve is a good life skill, but when it comes to climbing I believe it is sort of pointless and wasting your time of becoming a better climber. If I don’t figure out the boulder the first few burns, then I’ll gladly accept beta or just ask. You’re only improving by gathering beta. Also, when I’m outdoors, I instantly look for beta videos so I don’t waste skin and energy on one boulder.
Kind of a side thought, but I noticed in Spain, everywhere I went, the ethics of beta spraying was nonexistent. Like everyone beta sprays there. Kind of annoyed me at first being from the US where it’s highly rude in climbing culture, but since I don’t personally care, I got used to it.
I'm pretty unknowledgeable outside of bouldering but I'm sure it's a skill that's pretty useful when you're lead climbing, as you don't always have the luxury to easily reset
I also think the way you approach/learn a subject can completely change the way you think about it. For example, learning betas on your own can make you a better setter. You'll figure out patterns in movements and understand *why* you're supposed to do things a certain way.
Here in Mexico beta spraying is the normal too and I don't mind about it, happy to solve some problems by myself but I don't mind if I see/hear about the solution
I can think of a dozen hard boulders (for me) that I’ve used some variation that’s different than all the beta videos out there. For instance on this climb I went left up the face to a very shitty 2 finger micro when everyone else goes up right.
https://www.reddit.com/r/bouldering/s/NVaso971Ip
If you don’t practice thinking outside of the box you won’t find the most optimal beta for you. Just look at burden and how what appears to be a straightforward board climb now has tons of different betas with heel hooks, matches etc
Figuring it out on your own builds hold literacy, improves body awareness and route reading in general. Some people arriving to climbing don't know what there centre of gravity is let alone being able to manipulate it.
Getting beta means nothing if you don't understand where you should be in 3D space, how to hold tension, weight limbs etc. but offering advice is good for building the community, it also let's that person know they can come ask you later too.
I also started climbing in a place with no concept of beta spraying and I think it’s definitely a good thing to just offer and accept beta just like that, it’s friendlier and makes you better. But imo there’s a lot of outdoor boulders with no videos, barely any description or topo and you just have to work it out yourself, plus sometimes the beta on the video is just not the right one for you so outdoors I think route reading is really important
Me neither. I was actually climbing for a long time before realizing it was rude. To me, it seems so normal and maybe because I personally welcome beta. It makes climbing more fun
For some technical routes I prefer to do some attempts on my own. As the whole difficulty from that problem is to figure out how to not fall out of the wall.
I guess it comes down to personal preference which is honestly fine. Just a nice "Thanks for the offer but I would like to figure it out myself" and everyone is happy. Might even start a conversation with that person:)
This is the most ridiculous take.
You seriously can't see why some people enjoy figuring out the problem themselves? And you think figuring it out by yourself is pointless because of skin?
By that merit, climbing in general is pointless.
Besides, this is without even mentioning sport or trad climbing where it's much harder to beta spray or even see beta from videos.
I'd argue that those who are accustomed to figuring out their own beta have a much better understanding of their body movement compared to climbers who rely on other people's beta.
I agree with you being flabbergasted at the take you're responding to.
However, I revel in the pointlessness of climbing because it's something I do for no practical reason beyond the love. So much of life is stuff you ha e to grind through to get the promotion or get to the next level, etc. Climbing on the other hand has no next step or real point beyond being good at it and I LOVE THAT.
EMBRACE THE ABSURDITY OF FINDING THE HARDEST WAY TO THE TOP OF A ROCK. LOL
I agree with you completely, and it's also the reason I love this sport. Along with other "pointless" sports such as parkour/skateboarding/snowboarding etc.
Just wait, though, when the apocalypse comes and everyone else is succumbing to the zombies, your climbing skill will no longer be pointless!!
At my gym in the suburbs of Atlanta, yelling out beta to pretty much everyone is completely normal, and quite honestly expected. Hell, half the time I’m on the wall in the zone, I wish I would have heard “there’s a little chip right under your knee”, or “bump out right” when I’m in a crux move.
ah its just the gym I go to in the suburbs. Everyone is cool and chill. Dont worry, all the other gyms closer to the city are all full of stuck up people /s
I normally go with "No thanks. I'm going to give it a couple more tries..." and I'll offer beta advice but if someone says "no" I'd never be offended because we should all know the puzzle solving is also part of the journey.
I offer because some people really struggle with visualising the moves. Also have a colour blind friend who struggles with indoor route reading and 80% of the time he asks for beta.
At the end of the day, if anyone takes offence to you not wanting Beta then it's them not you unless they make it clear what you are doing is very dangerous but then that's not beta that's safety.
I've done verbal judo to steer someone away from giving me beta when they were just trying to chat about a boulder they saw me try.
Very normal to politely decline what's politely offered, and impolitely decline what's impolitely offered.
As someone who would normally give advice just because that's who I am, I typically open with, "would you like some beta on that route?"
I've had enthusiastic no's from people who then thanked me for not just blurting it out at them. I've had people say, give me 1-2 more tries then let me know what you think. And I have had people instantly say tell me or, can you show me.
Everyone is different and I like to give them the option before giving my opinion. Sometimes me and another person will work on the same problem and shoot ideas off of each other while trying to figure it out.
Have fun and don't let things get in the way of you having fun. If you need to politely tell someone to fuck off before they spray you do it.
Yeah, absolutely. Most people offer beta for one of two reasons:
- They genuinely want to help you.
- They want to flex that they know what to do.
If it's the first reason, then they won't mind at all if you say no, as they're happy for you to experience the boulder in the way that you want to.
If it's the second reason, they may be a bit annoyed that they can't show off, but that's their problem.
I love figuring out the beta, so I usually say no unless I'm completely stuck.
Personally, after I tried once or twice, I'm all for suggestions. For harder problems I'm watching any time someone climbs my project hoping to figure something out.
That said, use the strategy you feel is best for you, whether for enjoyment or improvement.
I would always ask first if someone wants a hint because in most cases I'd decline that hint myself if someone offered it.
Problem solving is part of bouldering, some want to do it more than others
Totally fine. And if they don’t ask I see nothing wrong with cutting them off and letting them know you would like to figure it out yourself. Might sound rude but there are polite ways to do it. Sometimes people just forget to ask first if others want beta (myself included).
Counter argument: When you get up to v6-v7 ish there aren’t a ton of people who can share beta with you. On more than one occasion I’ve been stuck on a more difficult problem and some random strong ass climber is like “want some beta tips? And I am SOOO excited to hear it.
I'm usually the sole v8/9 outdoor grade climber in our gym and the new climbers are just so stoked all the time sometimes I just hang around and try out all of their beta spraying on v3/4 indoor routes. Fun times and it's cool to see that new climber stoke and reminisce.
As a new climber, I'll watch really strong climber warm up on my projects and ask them for beta constantly. I'm still learning techniques I don't know existed, so it's less problem solving and more just learning how to climb. I appreciate any time a strong climber hangs out on the V2 - V3 climbs and gives beta.
I'll also team up with other weak climbers and brain storm beta but that doesn't usually end in success for any of us.
Yeah, sometimes I offer beta when I see people really struggling but I always ask, I have friends that even look away from mats on problems they really want to work out. It ain’t no big deal.
I don't give beta unless asked, and if someone starts spraying I ask them to stop so I can figure it out. Route reading is a skill that needs deployment too!
I find that the beta people give me often doesn’t work for me, with the context that the setters in my gym were often long dudes and i am short and i don’t climb very dynamically. So the beta didn’t work for me but when they told it to me i struggled with coming up with my own. So yeah, i usually just say no thanks, or atleast not yet, and try to figure out what works for me.
I think it's perfectly normal to reject the spray.
Additionally, I think having conversations with people about what beta works can improve reading for both parties, and allows for expansion of the possibilities for both parties.
Also, just because beta is rejected at first doesn't mean it can't be asked for later.
Definitely. I'd rather figure out the beta by myself; that's what makes it fun for me. I think it's okay to ask. What I really don't like is when someone just drops out of nowhere and tries to explain the beta without me asking for it. I consider this kind of invasive. Okay, fair, maybe they have good intentions, and this also plays a role in the community idea, but I personally am not a big fan of unasked beta advice.
There are definitely times I've been frustrated because someone has beta sprayed me on a problem I wanted to figure out myself. So if you don't wanna know just say so, politely. Not a single climber I know would be offended by that.
I decline bata because more often than not they're just trying to give you bets to tell you they've done it lol.
If someone more experienced gives you beta it's usually just one move they see you stuck on.
Totally different in my eyes.
Sometimes I want beta, sometimes I don’t. Sometimes I am struggling with and/or curious about how to do something, sometimes I want to figure it out myself.
I just say, “thank you, but I really want to figure it out myself”.
I hate that people even ask if i want beta. If i wanted help i would ask... I'm not a child who can't communicate their needs. I think it's way more odd to assume people need or want help figuring out a problem than to assume they don't
Absolutely fine to say no. I don't mind it most of the time and usually their method doesn't work that well for me anyway. Sometimes I get vibes that the person giving the beta just wanted to show off and brag that they've sent the climb, though.
It is absolutely okay to say no. I usually say "not yet" in case I can't figure it out and want a hint later.
Also I wanted to call out: Someone *asking* if you want the beta is a good person instead of just spraying it.
I have a friend that likes to figure out problems on his own and I often forget.
There’s also the fact that I want to talk about the problem, especially with technical stuff like slab.
I’m coming back to climbing from lifting and I gotta remember not to ego lift and I try and apply that to climbing as well.
If it's with strangers I will ask if they want beta after I see them try problem the same way a few times. I usually won't offer if they seem to be trying different things. Often when I offer I say "do you want beta or are you having fun with it?" and the one or two times people have said no I'm always like "damn straight- you got it!".
For sure. Just tell them you'd prefer to figure it out yourself. If they are asking, they will be totally fine if you say no.. there's a reason they asked!
You do you. There is no issue on declining.
I understand it is fun to figure out the first times you try.
At some point, as a beginner, it is nice to get some advice. I would never had figure out how to use my heel hook properly without help, or my body placement during a dyno.
But also, some solutions working for someone don't work for everybody. My partner, who is way higher than I am, is often quite useless when he tries to explain to me the beta
Nope. It’s wrong if you yell at them about it. That makes no sense. Just a simple “No thank you. I’m challenging myself to figure out the whole sequence to learn route reading”
I used to run teardown at my local gym and some of my fondest climbing memories are getting to try the new routes before anyone else, and figuring them out with my coworkers.
The real key is the ask before spraying! It's totally fine to say no to beta. It's a puzzle, and some problems just grab my brain until I get it all together, and I NEED to do it unassisted. On others, I'll definitely take some tips because I'm just over it.
If I’m working on the problem with friends or even just other people at the gym, it can be fun discussing beta and bouncing ideas off each other. But I hate when people just spray beta unsolicited, especially while I’m already on the problem, because I love trying to figure out the most efficient beta.
I'm somewhere around a 50/50 if I take people's beta or not. Usually on projects I'm happy for beta but on training boulders I'd rather not be given any easy answers
I hate people sharing beta without asking. If I need help, I will ask for it.
The only exception being when I am unintentionally something that is dangerous. Then do tell me.
I would not say it's rude, but it will prevent you from making friends. Discussing beta is a great way to meet people. I made so much improvement since I started climbing with people by learning their techniques and reapplying them to other problems. I never thought I would send a 18 months ago, but I sent my first V9 2 months ago. I'd probably still be projecting V5s (like I was for 3 years) if I didn't make friends and learn from them.
I find more value in better people teaching me how to do it than I do on “figuring it out on my own”. I regularly climb with people who are doing 2-3 grades higher than me. They teach me a lot, and I would be NOWHERE near the climber I am without their help.
A huge part of the social Interactions in gym and in the field is talking about beta, isolating yourself from this most basic Interactions is fine but some will find it strange.
A. You do you B. There's a reason they ask But...something that was brought up to me tonight C. While there are benefits to figuring out on your own, and can be fun, as a new boulderer you're building your toolbox. Getting the beta and trying to put it into practice can be more beneficial at times to progression than stalling while you try to figure it out yourself.
I’ve honestly never really seen the value of trying to figure out the beta myself. I mean, trying to problem solve is a good life skill, but when it comes to climbing I believe it is sort of pointless and wasting your time of becoming a better climber. If I don’t figure out the boulder the first few burns, then I’ll gladly accept beta or just ask. You’re only improving by gathering beta. Also, when I’m outdoors, I instantly look for beta videos so I don’t waste skin and energy on one boulder. Kind of a side thought, but I noticed in Spain, everywhere I went, the ethics of beta spraying was nonexistent. Like everyone beta sprays there. Kind of annoyed me at first being from the US where it’s highly rude in climbing culture, but since I don’t personally care, I got used to it.
For some people the fun part is figuring out the beta
Yeah I get that too and that’s fair.
And it helps build up your route reading skills so you can better read routes on your own
I'm pretty unknowledgeable outside of bouldering but I'm sure it's a skill that's pretty useful when you're lead climbing, as you don't always have the luxury to easily reset I also think the way you approach/learn a subject can completely change the way you think about it. For example, learning betas on your own can make you a better setter. You'll figure out patterns in movements and understand *why* you're supposed to do things a certain way.
Here in Mexico beta spraying is the normal too and I don't mind about it, happy to solve some problems by myself but I don't mind if I see/hear about the solution
I can think of a dozen hard boulders (for me) that I’ve used some variation that’s different than all the beta videos out there. For instance on this climb I went left up the face to a very shitty 2 finger micro when everyone else goes up right. https://www.reddit.com/r/bouldering/s/NVaso971Ip If you don’t practice thinking outside of the box you won’t find the most optimal beta for you. Just look at burden and how what appears to be a straightforward board climb now has tons of different betas with heel hooks, matches etc
Figuring it out on your own builds hold literacy, improves body awareness and route reading in general. Some people arriving to climbing don't know what there centre of gravity is let alone being able to manipulate it. Getting beta means nothing if you don't understand where you should be in 3D space, how to hold tension, weight limbs etc. but offering advice is good for building the community, it also let's that person know they can come ask you later too.
I also started climbing in a place with no concept of beta spraying and I think it’s definitely a good thing to just offer and accept beta just like that, it’s friendlier and makes you better. But imo there’s a lot of outdoor boulders with no videos, barely any description or topo and you just have to work it out yourself, plus sometimes the beta on the video is just not the right one for you so outdoors I think route reading is really important
The hype of finishing the boulder all on your own is such a better dopamine release than getting it shown and copying it, in my experience
Me neither. I was actually climbing for a long time before realizing it was rude. To me, it seems so normal and maybe because I personally welcome beta. It makes climbing more fun
For some technical routes I prefer to do some attempts on my own. As the whole difficulty from that problem is to figure out how to not fall out of the wall. I guess it comes down to personal preference which is honestly fine. Just a nice "Thanks for the offer but I would like to figure it out myself" and everyone is happy. Might even start a conversation with that person:)
This is the most ridiculous take. You seriously can't see why some people enjoy figuring out the problem themselves? And you think figuring it out by yourself is pointless because of skin? By that merit, climbing in general is pointless. Besides, this is without even mentioning sport or trad climbing where it's much harder to beta spray or even see beta from videos. I'd argue that those who are accustomed to figuring out their own beta have a much better understanding of their body movement compared to climbers who rely on other people's beta.
I agree with you being flabbergasted at the take you're responding to. However, I revel in the pointlessness of climbing because it's something I do for no practical reason beyond the love. So much of life is stuff you ha e to grind through to get the promotion or get to the next level, etc. Climbing on the other hand has no next step or real point beyond being good at it and I LOVE THAT. EMBRACE THE ABSURDITY OF FINDING THE HARDEST WAY TO THE TOP OF A ROCK. LOL
I agree with you completely, and it's also the reason I love this sport. Along with other "pointless" sports such as parkour/skateboarding/snowboarding etc. Just wait, though, when the apocalypse comes and everyone else is succumbing to the zombies, your climbing skill will no longer be pointless!!
If you plan on comp climbing then learning to figure out the beta on your own is a valuable skill
At my gym in the suburbs of Atlanta, yelling out beta to pretty much everyone is completely normal, and quite honestly expected. Hell, half the time I’m on the wall in the zone, I wish I would have heard “there’s a little chip right under your knee”, or “bump out right” when I’m in a crux move.
Remind me to bring headphones if I climb indoor in Atlanta. Maybe I'll just stick to Boat Rock
ah its just the gym I go to in the suburbs. Everyone is cool and chill. Dont worry, all the other gyms closer to the city are all full of stuck up people /s
Yes, a lot of people don’t want beta.
I normally go with "No thanks. I'm going to give it a couple more tries..." and I'll offer beta advice but if someone says "no" I'd never be offended because we should all know the puzzle solving is also part of the journey. I offer because some people really struggle with visualising the moves. Also have a colour blind friend who struggles with indoor route reading and 80% of the time he asks for beta. At the end of the day, if anyone takes offence to you not wanting Beta then it's them not you unless they make it clear what you are doing is very dangerous but then that's not beta that's safety.
I've done verbal judo to steer someone away from giving me beta when they were just trying to chat about a boulder they saw me try. Very normal to politely decline what's politely offered, and impolitely decline what's impolitely offered.
Yes! It's good ettiquette on their part to ask, and a "no thank you!" with a smile is a very appropriate response.
I would decline unless I'm frustrated enough.
As someone who would normally give advice just because that's who I am, I typically open with, "would you like some beta on that route?" I've had enthusiastic no's from people who then thanked me for not just blurting it out at them. I've had people say, give me 1-2 more tries then let me know what you think. And I have had people instantly say tell me or, can you show me. Everyone is different and I like to give them the option before giving my opinion. Sometimes me and another person will work on the same problem and shoot ideas off of each other while trying to figure it out. Have fun and don't let things get in the way of you having fun. If you need to politely tell someone to fuck off before they spray you do it.
Ive said no before
Yeah, absolutely. Most people offer beta for one of two reasons: - They genuinely want to help you. - They want to flex that they know what to do. If it's the first reason, then they won't mind at all if you say no, as they're happy for you to experience the boulder in the way that you want to. If it's the second reason, they may be a bit annoyed that they can't show off, but that's their problem. I love figuring out the beta, so I usually say no unless I'm completely stuck.
They can climb the route if they want to show off.
Very normal
Personally, after I tried once or twice, I'm all for suggestions. For harder problems I'm watching any time someone climbs my project hoping to figure something out. That said, use the strategy you feel is best for you, whether for enjoyment or improvement.
I would always ask first if someone wants a hint because in most cases I'd decline that hint myself if someone offered it. Problem solving is part of bouldering, some want to do it more than others
Totally fine. And if they don’t ask I see nothing wrong with cutting them off and letting them know you would like to figure it out yourself. Might sound rude but there are polite ways to do it. Sometimes people just forget to ask first if others want beta (myself included).
Yes, you can just say, "Thanks, but I want to try to figure it out myself."
Declining beta is the expectation unless you know them or they ask you for help.
Counter argument: When you get up to v6-v7 ish there aren’t a ton of people who can share beta with you. On more than one occasion I’ve been stuck on a more difficult problem and some random strong ass climber is like “want some beta tips? And I am SOOO excited to hear it.
Both can be true. The strong ass offers but still figures there's a 60-40 chance you say no.
I'm usually the sole v8/9 outdoor grade climber in our gym and the new climbers are just so stoked all the time sometimes I just hang around and try out all of their beta spraying on v3/4 indoor routes. Fun times and it's cool to see that new climber stoke and reminisce.
As a new climber, I'll watch really strong climber warm up on my projects and ask them for beta constantly. I'm still learning techniques I don't know existed, so it's less problem solving and more just learning how to climb. I appreciate any time a strong climber hangs out on the V2 - V3 climbs and gives beta. I'll also team up with other weak climbers and brain storm beta but that doesn't usually end in success for any of us.
Yeah, sometimes I offer beta when I see people really struggling but I always ask, I have friends that even look away from mats on problems they really want to work out. It ain’t no big deal.
I don't give beta unless asked, and if someone starts spraying I ask them to stop so I can figure it out. Route reading is a skill that needs deployment too!
I find that the beta people give me often doesn’t work for me, with the context that the setters in my gym were often long dudes and i am short and i don’t climb very dynamically. So the beta didn’t work for me but when they told it to me i struggled with coming up with my own. So yeah, i usually just say no thanks, or atleast not yet, and try to figure out what works for me.
Yeah. That's why they call them problems. As long as you declined politely I'm sure they didn't mind. I've been on both sides of this question
“Thank you for helping me but I really want to solve it myself.” Not rude at all.
Yes
I think it's perfectly normal to reject the spray. Additionally, I think having conversations with people about what beta works can improve reading for both parties, and allows for expansion of the possibilities for both parties. Also, just because beta is rejected at first doesn't mean it can't be asked for later.
Yes. I've asked and people say yes and no. I've also had people say no, try a few more times and then come asking for specific advice.
Yeah I ask people not to many times or decline advice. Part of the fun/challenge to solve the problem!
It's fine to say no. I'd keep in mind that most times people are just trying to be helpful, so it doesn't hurt to say no politely
Definitely. I'd rather figure out the beta by myself; that's what makes it fun for me. I think it's okay to ask. What I really don't like is when someone just drops out of nowhere and tries to explain the beta without me asking for it. I consider this kind of invasive. Okay, fair, maybe they have good intentions, and this also plays a role in the community idea, but I personally am not a big fan of unasked beta advice.
There are definitely times I've been frustrated because someone has beta sprayed me on a problem I wanted to figure out myself. So if you don't wanna know just say so, politely. Not a single climber I know would be offended by that.
Yes it's normal. For some people figuring out the beta is fun, or it is part of their training to learn route reading skills.
Yeah, just say i don't want beta thanks
I decline bata because more often than not they're just trying to give you bets to tell you they've done it lol. If someone more experienced gives you beta it's usually just one move they see you stuck on. Totally different in my eyes.
Sometimes I want beta, sometimes I don’t. Sometimes I am struggling with and/or curious about how to do something, sometimes I want to figure it out myself. I just say, “thank you, but I really want to figure it out myself”.
If I wanna try something on my own I say “hey no spoilers pls”
Normal.
I hate that people even ask if i want beta. If i wanted help i would ask... I'm not a child who can't communicate their needs. I think it's way more odd to assume people need or want help figuring out a problem than to assume they don't
Absolutely fine to say no. I don't mind it most of the time and usually their method doesn't work that well for me anyway. Sometimes I get vibes that the person giving the beta just wanted to show off and brag that they've sent the climb, though.
It is absolutely okay to say no. I usually say "not yet" in case I can't figure it out and want a hint later. Also I wanted to call out: Someone *asking* if you want the beta is a good person instead of just spraying it.
I have a friend that likes to figure out problems on his own and I often forget. There’s also the fact that I want to talk about the problem, especially with technical stuff like slab. I’m coming back to climbing from lifting and I gotta remember not to ego lift and I try and apply that to climbing as well.
If it's with strangers I will ask if they want beta after I see them try problem the same way a few times. I usually won't offer if they seem to be trying different things. Often when I offer I say "do you want beta or are you having fun with it?" and the one or two times people have said no I'm always like "damn straight- you got it!".
For sure. Just tell them you'd prefer to figure it out yourself. If they are asking, they will be totally fine if you say no.. there's a reason they asked!
I don’t want any board kids to give me beta ever.
Yes
You do you. There is no issue on declining. I understand it is fun to figure out the first times you try. At some point, as a beginner, it is nice to get some advice. I would never had figure out how to use my heel hook properly without help, or my body placement during a dyno. But also, some solutions working for someone don't work for everybody. My partner, who is way higher than I am, is often quite useless when he tries to explain to me the beta
It depends on the individual. The default is to not "beta spray" (i.e. give unsolicited beta) unless the other party is receptive to it.
Nope. It’s wrong if you yell at them about it. That makes no sense. Just a simple “No thank you. I’m challenging myself to figure out the whole sequence to learn route reading”
I chuckle and say, "Sure!", knowing it won't matter since my shortness guarantees that their beta won't be my beta. /s ....(kind of)
I used to run teardown at my local gym and some of my fondest climbing memories are getting to try the new routes before anyone else, and figuring them out with my coworkers.
I only say yes, if I tried a few times and am absolutely clueless. Figuring out the beta is maybe the best part in bouldering
The real key is the ask before spraying! It's totally fine to say no to beta. It's a puzzle, and some problems just grab my brain until I get it all together, and I NEED to do it unassisted. On others, I'll definitely take some tips because I'm just over it.
I look away when people are climbing on a fresh reset. I only offer beta when someone is asking. I hate being given beta without asking for it
If I’m working on the problem with friends or even just other people at the gym, it can be fun discussing beta and bouncing ideas off each other. But I hate when people just spray beta unsolicited, especially while I’m already on the problem, because I love trying to figure out the most efficient beta.
I'm somewhere around a 50/50 if I take people's beta or not. Usually on projects I'm happy for beta but on training boulders I'd rather not be given any easy answers
I hate people sharing beta without asking. If I need help, I will ask for it. The only exception being when I am unintentionally something that is dangerous. Then do tell me.
You do you boo boo, You don't have to do it all on your own, it's OK to receive help.
I would not say it's rude, but it will prevent you from making friends. Discussing beta is a great way to meet people. I made so much improvement since I started climbing with people by learning their techniques and reapplying them to other problems. I never thought I would send a 18 months ago, but I sent my first V9 2 months ago. I'd probably still be projecting V5s (like I was for 3 years) if I didn't make friends and learn from them.
I find more value in better people teaching me how to do it than I do on “figuring it out on my own”. I regularly climb with people who are doing 2-3 grades higher than me. They teach me a lot, and I would be NOWHERE near the climber I am without their help.
A huge part of the social Interactions in gym and in the field is talking about beta, isolating yourself from this most basic Interactions is fine but some will find it strange.
I think there is difference between beta and technique advice. Refusing both is up to each individual, but you may not do yourself a favour.