Re: [Paddlewise] Risk vs Natural Selection

Jed,

Below is the text of your most recent posting in which I have
capitalized certain words and phrases that I wish to take issue with.

Before I begin, though, I would like to take issue with a key point in
your previous posting, which is pretty much covered in the title...the
phrase Natural Selection.  I remember seeing that phrase tossed around a
few years ago in rec.boats.paddle pretty much the way you have done,
i.e. if people are going to be stupid let natural selection kill them
off.  Some how I don't think that the phrase is appropriate one for
PaddleWise.  PaddleWise's premises, which are in the webpage, are to
promote wise paddling and to save lives before your natural selection
idea kicks in.  You of course are free to continue to use it if you
wish; that's a nice thing about PaddleWise.

LedJube_at_aol.com wrote:
> 
> Dave,
>     I meant no offense and certainly did not mean to suggest that the safety
> tips should be axed. My point is that we collectively seem to OBSESS on the
> obvious hazards of our chosen sport for the sake of non paddlers. How may
> times does an intelligent person like yourself need to be reminded that
> hypothermia can kill? Or that wind and waves can blow you off course?  Or
> that the lack of a roll in rough conditions means that you'll probably end up
> swimming?

I plead guilty.  I and others do OBSESS about safety issues and
hazards.  It is always good to remind ourselves of this as David Kruger
did in describing two incidents at "Cape Horn" where "old salts" wisdom
most likely avoided a dangerous result. I never can get enough reminders
of safety and tend to like to dish it out as well.  Jed, what you are
forgetting is that perhaps there is a 10-20% turnover on PaddleWise
every few months and so many newcomers are constantly entering the
listserver.  You see this in many ways.  The same questions are asked
about VHF radios or paddlefloats or where to get charts, etc.

These questions even being asked for the umpteen time are answered in
good cheer and no one is made to seem stupid for asking.  Since you are
not in a position to dish out information, the same information,
constantly you probably aren't attuned to the patience involved.  As you
may know, I am a folding kayak guru.  Do you know the hundreds of times
I am asked the same questions in any given season?  I answer them
cheerfully because that is my nature but also because even when
questions are asked hundreds of times, there are always some new
wrinkles I had not thought of and so I benefit from the question and the
answer myself.

>     My tirade was not intended to keep you from valuable information but
> rather TO SCREEN OUT THE CEASELY REHASHING OF THE OBVIOUS and to give a nod
> to the elite paddlers to continue to educate us with their tales of life
> close to the edge.

I am not certain PaddleWise wants to SCREEN OUT any valuable
contributions.  And what may be OBVIOUS to you may not be to others.

>     I am a new paddler myself, just starting my third year and rest assured I
> had very little knowledge or skill when I started. But being the reckless
> person that I am, I took a lesson, of all things, to teach me the basics.
> Then I joined a club and subscribed to various news groups and mailing lists
> and I paddled and paddled and paddled. Mostly alone because it was alone or
> not at all. I knew I was taking chances paddling solo, so I studied the sh*t
> out of every spec of safety info I could find and I learned to roll like a
> pro.

While you seem to find a problem with some subject matter on PaddleWise,
the paragraph above suggests that you are in a position to contribute
other subject matter of value.  The paragraph above is full of leads for
good information topics.  It would be enlightening to see how a
self-confessed reckless person approached sea kayaking and the lessons
he learned.  Josh in Israel is giving us all a very informative account
of what he is learning way out there.  You have gone through such a
process already and could contribute a retrospective on your learning
curve, for example.

>     And now, two years later, I'm still no expert but I am a competent
> paddler who has yet to find his limits, and who because of postings by and
> discussions with elite paddlers, has *safely* reached my third season with a
> head absolutely full of WELL-INTENTIONED safety advice. At my level I need to
> experience vicariously through the elite paddlers just where the line is. But
> these people are being CENSORED because a non paddler might misinterpret the
> information and charge off to cross the North Sea. I say let him go, it's a
> free ocean. Please don't DENY ME the sources of information that I seek.

WELL-INTENTIONED.  Yes, it is well-intentioned, although the phrase is
generally used as a put-down.  I myself prefer the term CONCERNED SAVVY
safety advice.

CENSORED?  I don't believe anything is being censored on PaddleWise
except for diatribes and personal attacks when Jackie can get wind of
them and loop them out.  Some people have made a pain of themselves
(that is how PaddleWise started, i.e. get away from a pain person
hurting a previous listserver) and been cut off.  Or they have violated
netiquette and civil behavior in dealing with others on the list.  And
you are not being DENIED anything you seek that I am aware of except
your wish to cut safety discussion out because you have had enough. 

>     I too welcome safety info BUT WE SEEMED TO HAVE LOST OUR BEARING. I don't
> need another source of safety info, thanks very much, I need information on
> tide races and wind effects and rolling tips in rough conditions, etc., etc.
> Maybe your newness keeps you hungry for the basic safety information, for me
> the hunger has been satiated, now I'm being force fed and I don't like it.

I would argue that we have not lost our way and are on-topic according
to the premises of PaddleWise as written on the webpage.  I personally
learn from every bit of advice.  I don't think I ever know everything
about any topic.  Even on folding kayaks in which I am perhaps the most
knowledgeable person on earth...I am learning all the time nuances and
new slants that I have never thought of before.

Jed, please be patient on all this.  Just tune out the safety stuff and
tune in (and contribute to) those topics that do interest you like tide
race and wind effects, etc.  I am certain that PaddleWise will be the
better for any constructive contributions you make.

ralph 

-- 
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Ralph Diaz . . . Folding Kayaker newsletter
PO Box 0754, New York, NY 10024
Tel: 212-724-5069; E-mail: rdiaz_at_ix.netcom.com
"Where's your sea kayak?"----"It's in the bag."
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