Re: [Paddlewise] Solo or Not?

Doug L. wrote:
> > it was the fact that we *were* a group, that we even
> > attempted the crossing. I'm not sure any one of us would have 
>contemplated
> > crossing on our own. Andrew certainly let himself get talked into it. 
>When
> > Andrew was asked what he most learned from the rescue, he said, "next 
>time,
> > I'll go solo".

Dave K. commented:
>
>Ah, the deadly dynamics of ego!  Know this well.  Nobody wanted to be the
>wimp!  I think this connects with Doug's first point.  When I am alone, I 
>know
>it is *completely* my responsibility to judge conditions, so there is no
>dodging the duty!  When I am with paddlers of my ability (or stronger), I 
>do
>the same damn thing Doug describes -- I "go with the flow" and sometimes 
>get
>swept up in the hubris of the moment.  Been in trouble several times 
>because
>of this.  Almost always wish I had used my own judgement, instead of
>"groupthink."
>
This observation reminded me of a historian I read about who interviewed all 
those in Kennedy's cabinet (this is a Canadian term - is "cabinet" what the 
US president's advisors are called?) who had been in office during the 
disasterous "Bay of Pigs" non-invasion of Cuba. Decades after the fact, each 
individual claimed to have known at the time it was a bad idea, but since 
the others all were publicly gung-ho...
So Dave & Doug, we can console ourselves with the thought that if a 
thinktank in Camelot can make a mistake like that, we ordinary mortals can 
be allowed our misjudgements. And that even if we do screw up big-time, only 
our own lives will be forfeit, and not those of the innocent....

Philip Torrens
N49°16' W123°06'

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