Re: [Paddlewise] How and when to speak up

Steve Cramer wrote:
> 
> James Lofton wrote:
> >
> > If the kayaking communty wants to have laws that says you have to dress a
> > certain way and carry certain things, well fine. You still can't
> > legislate common sence or even half way good judgement calls.
> >
> Actually, you can. Look at the emergence of state laws on using seat
> belts, and even better, using car child restraints. Wearing a seat belt
> is for me common sense, but lots of other people are doing it now only
> because they risk getting a ticket if they don't.
> 

Yes, and the last time I drove into town I believe I saw more than a few 
"loose" drivers out there. It is also against the law to kill someone.


> But the kayaking community certainly doesn't want laws dictating dress
> and equipment requirements. However, it would have only taken one highly
> visible hypothermia induced drowning in NY Harbor (and you know who I'm
> thinking about) to have Rudy & Co. clamoring for laws to protect us from
> ourselves. If we can keep our comrades safe through education, we don't
> need laws.
>

This exacatly what I meant. There is probably nothing that that has 
closer moninotering (cheee! training)that the aviaition community, yet 
look what happens when you give someone a piece of paper that says, "you 
got what it takes now". Good judgement is learned/acuaried, or some just 
flat lucks out and gets it through osmosis. Some have an angel. But it 
can't be crammed down someones throat.
 
> Those two paragraphs may sound contradictory, but bear in mind that if
> people had worn seatbelts when they were invented, we wouldn't have need
> to have airbags.
> 

I think we need seat belts and air bags because the average person is too 
darn stupid to react to a crash about to happen. So there you have it. 
Make it a law to get trained to start and steer the thing. A law to put 
on the seat belt. A law to have insurance, so everyone is protected and 
will be paid. People feel coumfortable about it all and die by the truck 
load every day. Maybe in due time we can get this far with kayaking.:-)


> > My personal opinion is to help pass on help and information to those that
> > ask, but don't try to cram it down those that likely don't.
> >
> I have to agree, and in that spirit...James, I always wear a helmet when
> I ride a motorcycle. I know that the ground is harder than my head.
>

Darn right it is. I have buried more than one friend that was wearing his 
on that last moment, tho. Some without too.
Maybe no right or wrong answer. I just love my freedom and sometime this 
conversation gets a bit too close to saying, lets legislate to save us 
all, or do it this way or we'll need laws to protect us. I personally 
think it's a pretty safe sport, IF everyone would tip-toe up their own 
learning curve. Someone on this list said a while back, that this is an 
outdoor sport, so why does it attract so many non outdoor types..? I 
agree.
Dressing them in drysuits and PFD's will only make them suffer longer 
when they do get in trouble.

James 
> Steve

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