Re: [Paddlewise] I knew better, but look what happened !

From: <outdoors_at_biddeford.com>
Date: Tue, 07 Jul 1998 21:31:33 -0400
At 01:48 PM 7/7/98 EDT, WILAX_at_aol.com wrote:
>Great trip report!
>So now folks, lets take a poll... How many of you go out alone? ...Can
paddling >alone safely ever be regarded as safe?  OR,
>if a great white gets me will people always say "too bad, he had a knife, pfd,
>float plan, flares, vhf, kitchen sink etc. but he broke the rule, he went out
>alone".
>Comments?
>  
It's been my experience that many kayakers are introverts.  They enjoy being
alone and renewing their energy paddling out on the sea by themselves.  I
agree with you that it is very important to be as prepared as possible for
almost anything.  However, IMHO, when people argue that it is unsafe to
kayak, hike, climb, etc. alone, they are arguing that their point of view is
more important and more right that the introvert's.  Many, many, many people
want you to believe what they believe.  I think they see it as validation
that they are right if they can convince you to take on their beliefs.
Another method they use is to make it illegal to act in a way that doesn't
match what they believe.

Sorry.  You hit a tender spot.  I paddle both with groups and alone.  On the
Myers-Briggs scale I'm an extrovert, but just barely.  I think modern
society is far too concerned with wrapping all its members in a safe womb so
no one will be harmed.

Bill Ridlon

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Received on Tue Jul 07 1998 - 18:32:05 PDT

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