Re: [Paddlewise] Risk vs Natural Selection

In a message dated 2/23/00 12:54:18 PM Pacific Standard Time, LedJube_at_aol.com 
writes;

<<     It confuses me that we continue to obsess over the safety of the least 
 intelligent of us that happen to find themselves in a kayak. >>

   I'm not so certain if we "obsess" over the least intelligent, or the least 
informed. In either case I think it is still possible to try to educate, or 
at the very least, frighten these folks into being responsible and paddling 
conservatively within their limits. While I am all for natural selection, I 
am against regulation of my sport. Quite frankly, whether or not people want 
to be stupid and go out and kill themselves makes no difference to me. But if 
it happens enough then big brother will feel compelled to "save us" with 
regulations and licensing and kayaking will become just another yuppie past 
time. 
   One of the things that attracted me to this sport was the freedom of it. 
The current thread about restrictions on kayaks in some places is just a 
small example of what can happen. I've seen it happen to scuba diving, jet 
skis, and surfing. At San Onofre Surf Beach here in sunny Southern California 
we just lost a battle with the board surfers. Kayaks are now restricted to 
one small end of the beach, while the boards can still surf wherever they 
want to, including within the kayak section. If we do not assume the 
responsibility for our sport NOW, then someone else, perhaps someone who 
knows nothing at all about kayaking, will assume it for us.

Scott
So.Cal.
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