AIBU to think Ben Shackleton is selfish for attempting to climb Everest when he has a young family to think of

[NicEv]

Just read an article in the Daily Mail written by Ben Shackleton’s wife bleating on about how brave he is to risk his life attempting to climb Everest. AIBU to think it’s not brave to do this when the biggest risk is leaving two young children without a dad. He should have done this before he had kids - or not had kids at all if he can’t stop doing these stupid pointless challenges for months on end and risking his life in the process! How

Agree. Both irresponsible and pointless.

YANBU

I don’t agree with anyone climbing Everest, but not because I particularly value their lives. I disagree with it because people are trashing the hell out of the place and treating it as a novelty for which they take no responsibility.

Yanbu

Can't agree. Everything is a risk. Getting in your car to go to Tesco is a risk. Presumably he's planned and trained for this.

Did you mean Ben Fogle?

Do you mean Ben Fogle?

To me "brave" is doing something that benefits others at the cost of risking your own life. Climbing Mt Everest hardly comes under that heading. It puts other people at risk, is very, very bad for the environment and provides no benefits whatsoever to anybody else. He could just as easily be brave hurling himself head first off Tower Bridge; it wouldn't do anyone any good either, but would possibly do less harm and would certainly be a lot cheaper.

Wow so having children means being boring and giving up your own hobbies and interests. You can easily die in a carcrash on the way to the supermarket.

God yes I do mean Ben Fogle - now I am BU about Ben Shackleton, who for all I know has never set foot on Everest!

Yanbu I agree with u OP

I'm with RedDwarves, the damage to the mountain is appalling.

No reason why you have to be boring if you have a young family, but you don't have to traipse off to the other end of the world to wreck an environment that is nothing to do with you.

If he wants to risk his life, why not do something useful like volunteering as Lifeboat crew? Plenty of opportunities to risk your life- but saving other lives in the process.

Why should he have to do anything for anyone else though? He wants to train for months and climb everest. Something thousands of people a year aspire to do. Life boating is in no way similar.

YADNBU. What do these women see in these over-achieving bores?

I don't understand these men who have to put themselves through extreme challenges. They all seem to be similar types, posh, wealthy, not overly academic. I wonder what they are trying to prove?

YANBU - Everest is not a theme park ride but it’s being turned into one.

I wonder if the sherpas DWs witter on about their great achievements- after all they go up Everest multiple times per year.

‘Twas laughing at the ridiculousness of naming ones offspring after a board game - I mean Ludo fgs - when clicked on Toby Jones article and ludicrously his DS is also called Ludo. Sorry as you were just wanted to share.

It's always men who have to do these ridiculous challenges in order to feel 'fulfilled', isn't it? The same old story whether it's Ben Fogle climbing Everest or yet another AIBU thread written by a wife who's been left running the household while DH devotes his life to trail running / cycling / taxidermy.

James Cracknell was nearly killed on one of these challenges and his brain injury has left him with a permanently altered personality. I feel dreadfully sorry for his family.

I understand and I get it because I don’t think I could live with I - I’ve banned a repeate of the Cresta Run - but it is basically his job, him doing things like this is who he is and that’s who she married. Also “bleating on” is very judgy and makes it sound like she’s some starry eyed idiot about her husband. Maybe she’s simply on the same page as him. I agree about trashing the mountain, though doesn’t it bring in a lot of cash to a poor country?

And sorry, it isn’t “always men”. Plenty of women have climbed Everest.

It is usually men but in this case Victoria Pendleton is most definitely a woman. If I was Mrs Fogle I’d be rather more worried about the photos of her DH cuddling up to another woman on a high octane once in a lifetime event

Yes James Cracknell is Ben Fogle’s best friend - you would think that would have been enough to make him think again about this weird obsession with “adventures”. You are a grown man with responsibilities, two kids who rely on you! It happens up and down the land - men who need to prove themselves by training for a marathon or triathalon etc leaving their wives holding things together. And about Ludo - ridiculous posh name!

Not just men - apparently Victoria Pendleton was on this challenge as well but decided to drop out for health reasons.

Agree with the point about Everest though, they really should leave it alone, plenty more worthwhile challenges for attention-seeking types to do.

The issue with the children is a tricky one - I remember the same point being made about Alison Hargreaves who died on K2. I always thought she shouldn't have gone but her children (now adults obviously) and Husband say it was right for her. It's not a mindset that I understand.

I was thinking, 'Shackleton, he was definitely a bit of a dick, but he's also long dead.'

''Can't agree. Everything is a risk. Getting in your car to go to Tesco is a risk. Presumably he's planned and trained for this.''

ALOT more chance of dying on way up everest