You could add that in addition to cultural differences in attitudes towards chipping there are generational ones as well. I started climbing in a time (early 80s) when chipping was widely accepted in sport climbing and even in pinning out cracks to make finger locks. The routes altered (that i know of) number in the thousands, not hundreds, at places like Buoux, Verdon, Ceuse, Orpierre, Fontainebleau, Frankenjura, Siurana, Arco, Finale, Smith Rock, Rifle, American Fork, City of Rocks, Riggins, Leslie Gulch, Potrero Chico, Red Rocks, Mt Charleston, Riverside Quarry….. Come to think of it I can’t think of a crag that doesn’t have at least a few chipped holds!

So chipped holds aren’t really that shocking or offensive to a lot of us older guys. Ivan Greene climbed a lot in the south of France back in the early 90s. I’ll speculate that that is where his ideas about chipping were formed.

I support the trend away from chipping. It’s clear that no climber can ever say what is or isn’t possible for the future. It’s sad though that so many climbers seem more interested in bitching and slandering than actually going out and climbing and having FUN! If the number of climbers out there trying Ivan’s problems around the Gunks (there are hundreds and most are excellent and unchipped) was anywhere near the number of “Brave Avatars” spouting off, then the bitching would hold more weight.