I'm bumping this response.
The quality and purpose of trip reports
- Thread starter Kenilworth
- Start date
Echo chamber (media) - Wikipedia
cap n chris
Well-known member
The Si and Di video in Cantabria, recently posted, I thought ticked Kenilworth's observation boxes quite nicely, viz:
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"Almost none of our physical feats underground are noteworthy.
What we observe of our surroundings is noteworthy.
What we learn is noteworthy.
It follows that if we want to write a trip report of value, we will need to quit focusing on ourselves, and observe, learn, and think. If we do not do so, we have nothing to say, and no reason to make a report.
If writing for purposes of documentation, clarity is the primary goal. Making notes or sketches in-cave can help you create high-quality descriptions."
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But then again this is a singular viewpoint. As a piece of exploratory cinéma vérité I found it totally compelling from beginning to end. For me it was a lovely and pure example of an ideal trip report, albeit video/visual rather than written.
As a repeat visitor, with groups, to certain sites (popular caves) I will freely admit to being somewhat "tired" of first person descriptions of routes BUT (here's the rub).... when someone writes of their experience(s) in a fabulous and enthusiastic manner, rather than a somewhat dull blow-by-blow progression of events, it's compelling and refreshing; does anyone remember the prose style of Known by None? I really rate(d) his report write ups. Anyhoo. Having said my piece and rekindled this thought train that's enough for the mo'.
-----------------
"Almost none of our physical feats underground are noteworthy.
What we observe of our surroundings is noteworthy.
What we learn is noteworthy.
It follows that if we want to write a trip report of value, we will need to quit focusing on ourselves, and observe, learn, and think. If we do not do so, we have nothing to say, and no reason to make a report.
If writing for purposes of documentation, clarity is the primary goal. Making notes or sketches in-cave can help you create high-quality descriptions."
-----------------
But then again this is a singular viewpoint. As a piece of exploratory cinéma vérité I found it totally compelling from beginning to end. For me it was a lovely and pure example of an ideal trip report, albeit video/visual rather than written.
As a repeat visitor, with groups, to certain sites (popular caves) I will freely admit to being somewhat "tired" of first person descriptions of routes BUT (here's the rub).... when someone writes of their experience(s) in a fabulous and enthusiastic manner, rather than a somewhat dull blow-by-blow progression of events, it's compelling and refreshing; does anyone remember the prose style of Known by None? I really rate(d) his report write ups. Anyhoo. Having said my piece and rekindled this thought train that's enough for the mo'.
