[Paddlewise] Apology (was Safety and Novices)

I owe this list a bit of an apology after my weird post late last night on
Safety and Novices. The post was really two separate thoughts. 

The first one: I was genuinely worried about novices and lurkers getting
the wrong ideas from some of the posts, especially mine - which tend toward
the extreme end of the spectrum. It is a totally valid concern I made. 

The second thought had to do with the psychology of stress as it relates to
things going sideways on a trip or outing. I don't think it came across
very well - the whole thing about what happens in your brain when you
realize you are up to your neck in do-do. I've interviewed and talked to
enough people to have my interest in this topic sparked, and certainly have
real life experience with it from my own close calls. Perhaps PW is not the
forum for a discussion about it, especially when I can't fully express what
I'm trying to wrestle through. At least there are places where one can
disseminate information. The BCU coaching periodical covers these issues
relating to fear and flight of fight responses. However, even they realize
these are not topics for general discussion, and restrict it to their
higher-end readers.

The problem was my post contained both separate issues combined. I got
raked over the coals by back-channel e-mail from one PW'er, and rightly so.
This person even thought I was promoting novices to accept the view that
determination is all you need. This is the _last_ thing I meant. 

So sorry if I screwed up by mixing ideas into one post. I truly am in my
own strange little world some days, both behind the computer and on the
water in high seas - though I did get one positive e-mail from a newbie
female lurker, new to PW.

And please bear in mind that Dave and I are under tremendous pressure right
now. Sea Kayaker Magazine sent us the draft copy of the Storm Island rescue
story, and there is a lot of friction right now. Also, both Dave and I, as
macho, experienced, and as seemingly cavalier as we are about the incident,
are both stressed to the max going over the draft, reliving the memory that
imprinted itself on us for 8 hours. My post last night came close after
sending off my revisions to the text to SK, and I was in a bad head space
too, over my culpability thinking determination, will power and brute
strength would get us through the situation of our making on the crossing.
I think most of you all know me well enough on this list to know when I'm
having one of my "moments".

Be patient. I'm trying to develop a new paradigm for the new year, in terms
of what I should be doing and saying on Paddlewise with respect to safety.
I also have a very bad reputation in town around newbies, as I tend to
unwittingly promote the more adventurous type of paddling (this is another
reason I selectively only teach in certain situations). I need to address
this issue too, and I am man enough to admit it hear.

BTW, don't ever be shy in sending me private e-mails.    

BC'in Ya
Doug Lloyd (bringing you yet another BC moment)

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