I'm with Carl and Bill Russell on this one. While I like to attend caving activities and help with projects when possible, since 1953, I have always been and always will be a recreational "spelunker" and proud to be called as such.
Is anyone in the fraternity besides me attending the Camp Eagle Men's Retreat near The Sinkhole this weekend? If not, you're missing a good time and great bass fishing. It isn't too late. Contact me if interested. Fritz ________________________________ From: tbsam...@verizon.net [mailto:tbsam...@verizon.net] Sent: Wednesday, April 21, 2010 9:21 AM To: cvreel...@austin.rr.com Cc: Texascavers@texascavers.com Subject: Re: Re: [Texascavers] Spelunker or Caver? Whutabout... *speleophile*? Apr 21, 2010 07:09:13 AM, cvreel...@austin.rr.com wrote: Edited below: (more coffee, please) On Apr 21, 2010, at 7:05 AM, Chris Vreeland wrote: I mainly dislike the word "spelunker" because it's cumbersome, hard to say, and just sounds ugly compared to the word "caver." It wasn't derogatory when I started cave in tin the early 90's, either -- that seems to have become a prevalent sentiment in just the last 10 years or so -- I just don't like saying it. Caver is simpler and more descriptive, even to the general public that never thinks about caves. I think a person who'd never heard either word would more easily understand caver than spelunker, so it's what I use in conversation when people ask me what the bat sticker means. On Apr 20, 2010, at 11:16 PM, Carl Kunath wrote: Wow! This is a subject that never seems to die. My perspective is strictly that of a Texas caver for nearly 50 years and it may be that regional differences are significant. All the 1950s and 1960s Texas cavers that I associated with were happy to be called spelunkers. There was absolutely NO stigma associated with the term. Notice on page 156 of 50 Years of Texas Caving there is a picture of the original Texas Region of the National Speleological reflective sticker that many of that era proudly affixed to their caving headgear. On it, the word "spelunkers" appears in large letters -- not as an afterthought. In my experience with cave owners (and the general public) in Texas, they often used the term "spelunkers" spontaneously. As in, "Oh, yeah, those spelunkers from San Antonio were here last year." If we introduced the less formal term "caver" they were just as happy to go along with that as well and usually called us cavers more often than spelunkers. Within our fraternity, the term "caver" is used far more often than "spelunker" as matter of convenience and as an offshoot of the verb "caving." Some years back when this first became topic, I checked with Bill Russell and found that his views were exactly the same as mine. In the last few years I have heard (mostly newbie) cavers use the expression, " Cavers rescue spelunkers." Perhaps it makes them somehow feel superior. What a load of horse s**t! Language is alive and ever-changing so, in time, words mean what we choose to have them mean. Forget all the Latin roots. If you think "spelunker" sounds funny and is less heroic than "caver," I can't hope to change your mind but history argues against you. ===Carl Kunath ________________________________ --------------------------------------------------------------------- Visit our website: http://texascavers.com To unsubscribe, e-mail: texascavers-unsubscr...@texascavers.com For additional commands, e-mail: texascavers-h...@texascavers.com
