Re: [Paddlewise] Paddling Group Dynamics

John's idea of agreeing with every member that everyone is on their own,
and that there would be no one around to rescue anyone is one of the
best ideas I heard about for putting a group together. It is the perfect
vaccine against the plague that infects many potential victims: 
risk homeostasis.

By agreeing to be on their own, the members of the group would be
extra cautious, address the conditions against their skills more seriously,
and use better judgement. Now, once in the water everyone is human
and would come to the rescue of someone in need, but the agreement also
implied that a member is not going to run after another member to make
sure that the first one is within line of sight; it is the resposibility
of each member to stay close to the group, not the reverse.

I think John's waiver also reflects his addressing of the risk homeostasis
problem. The waiver says something like "Hey, assume I do not know anything
about kayaking, if you are going to act like a fool because you know that
I would be close enough to save you from trouble you are in the wrong trip".

The first guys who climbed mount Everest without oxygen (Messner, and
another mountaineer) agreed not to come to the rescue of the other
during the climb. After they reached the top, Messner suffered blindness
and the other guy had to take care of him during the descent. The agreement
prevented them from making anything foolish (Messner is well known for
pushing the limits beyond any level of risk).

Leading a trip is another story. If you are a leader you take responsibility
of the group, and the only think you can do to prevent risk homeostasis is
make everyone sign a waiver where it is assured that no one will come alive
from the trip. Maybe the leader should say "let me have your keys, may I
keep your 4 wheel drive after you drown?". :-)
Sometimes it necessary to act like an ---------(bad word) to prevent others
from injuring themselves.

By the way, this summer I am planning to circumnavigate the island of
Menorca in the Mediterranean. My father wants me to carry a cellular phone,
which I can understand. He does not expect me to get in trouble relying
on the cell phone to cry for rescue, but it will just keep the family
calm by knowing that they can do a status check anytime. Thank you John
for pointing us to that risk homeostasis thing.

- Julio
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