Re: [Paddlewise] Risk Homeowhatsis

<<Doug"
Well, yeah. Its all a matter of degree. I was just concerned because Dave
said in an earlier post about bellboy (spelling intentional), not to be too
hard on the guy, that Dave could see himself accidently getting himself in
to a similar situation. No, I don't think so. This guy was way over the
edge for normal. I take a lot of risks, but I do it with my eyes wide open
(well, most of the time). I don't have a rivers edge to crawl up too and
get back in the kayak. To me, this guy just didn't fit into any normal
category. He has a right to be out there. I'm not opposed to that.
Especially not me. I just felt he was a loose cannon in a sport where we
all take aim at certain activities and levels of risk; that most of us know
what kind of skill and equipment we need to  have to undertake said
activity in a manner commensurate with typical customs.>>

    I know I'm REALLY new to kayaking, like about 8 months, but I'm getting a bit
lost in the logic. I did read the piece and I didn't see where it gave enough
details to come to a lot of the conclusions I'm reading. I'm not suggesting that
he didn't make mistakes that could have been avoided but why are you calling him,
" a loose cannon in a sport where we all take aim at certain activities and levels
of risk?" For me, part of being new is not knowing all the questions and not
knowing all the factors when they look you in the face. What am I missing here? I
still don't know exactly why he couldn't get back in his boat. For someone with
his exposure to the sport this seems exceptionally weird. Was it a lack of skills
or was he hurt or what? I agree he made a number of mistakes but the one that
seems to be picked on most is that he went out at all. Am I misreading this?
    The longer this thread runs the more confused I am. I am gaining no clarity on
the issue thought I am seeing a lot of opinions. It could be I'm making this issue
more complicated than it is but it looks REAL complicated from my computer. I've
read the SK article on risk assessment and all the postings here. I still don't
get why some of you are so harsh in you evaluation. It may be justified but so far
I have not heard a logical argument for saying, "This guy was way over the edge
for normal. "
    In real simple, short thoughts, can someone explain this to me, please?

Joan

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