Gyms are a great place to put bolts though, and a great place to do "practice climbing". Ive actually seen trash cans in them too, and you can even push and climb hard in them. I like gyms. Gyms aren't mountains though.
I went into a climbing gym once.
I got out right before I vomited.
But to each his own.
What I think this article neglects to mention is what impact other outdoor seekers have on the place. Chubby suburbanites leaving wrappers around. Hikers wandering off trail. All that kind of stuff. I don't know for sure, but I swear that people have become more inconsiderate over time. They are more removed from the outdoors, less in touch with nature, and therefore less concerned about their impact on it. I don't think this is limited to or focused around climbers. I think it's just cool right now in the media to write about climbing and climbers.
I've done the Wonderland Trail 5 times, and I could always tell when I'm within 1/4 mile of a trailhead by the cigarette butts and Red Bull cans.