Re: [Paddlewise] FW: When in Rome - I'd wea

Steve Cramer wrote:
> 
> On Sat, 7 Aug 1999 rdiaz_at_ix.netcom.com wrote:
> 
> > > I still stand behind my statement that having gear is likely to be
> > > oversimplacating the danger/risk of being out there, sometimes.
> >
> > You're right.  Gear alone isn't going to help you necessarily except for
> > that PFD.  And none of it, even the PFD on you, should make you feel so
> > "safe" that you take risks that are beyond your skill and mindset to
> > deal with without panic.
> >
> > John Winters has often stated that the danger of equipment is that it
> > might embolden individuals when weighing risks.  He is right.
> 
> Can anyone out there give an example of someone who thinks the way James
> and Ralph and alledgedly John says they do? My experience has been quite
> the opposite; that people go out with too little or inappropriate gear and
> get into trouble. I have never encountered anyone who said "I've got the
> latest from Lotus; I'm invincible"

Winters must not be subscribed at the moment or he would have responded to
this.  John's point is more subtle than your example.  He references some
literature/research on his Web site to support the view that each of us has a
certain acceptable level of "perceived risk."  Acquiring an additional piece
of safety gear (a VHF, for example) means that we then *perceive* ourselves to
be a little safer in the kinds of paddling we used to do, and up the ante a
notch or so, to reach the level of "perceived risk" we had before.

The above is a poor paraphrase of Winters' point, but I will raise my hand as
one who sees himself operating as described.

I agree with you, Steve, that uninformed newbies typically are massively
underprepared gearwise and skillwise, and that the quality/quantity of gear
has little connection with their need for rescue.  Winters' point deals with
*informed* paddlers.  I guess that's us, more or less.

I did not buy Winters' view until I had read the stuff on his Web site and
thought about it for a few days.

-- 
Dave Kruger
Astoria, OR

***************************************************************************
PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List
Submissions:     paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net
Subscriptions:   paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net
Website:         http://www.paddlewise.net/
***************************************************************************