Re: [Paddlewise] Dictatorship of the Timid (was something else)

--- Dan Hagen <dan_at_hagen.net> wrote:

> 
> This covers only two cases: the decision made on land as to whether
> to
> launch, and the decision that has to be made when trouble is imminent
> and there is a need to move to a safer position. For both of these
> cases
> I agree with Matt's analysis. In the latter case, where it is
> important
> to move from a dangerous position to one of safety with all due
> speed,
> "democracy" needs to be suspended by the leader. (The more
> experienced
> paddler needs to step forward and make a decision if there is no
> formal
> leader.) But there is a third situation which Matt does not address,
> this being the decision made on the water to go from a position of
> relative safety to one of increased risk. Examples include the
> decision
> to strike out along an exposed shore (with few or no landings) rather
> than a more protected alternative route; or the decision to undertake
> a
> significant crossing; or the decision to take a route through "boomer
> alley" rather than a safer alternative through deeper water. 
> 
> The role of the more experienced paddler in such cases is to explain
> the
> risk to the less experienced, but it is not the role of the more
> experienced paddler to make a decision regarding the level of
> acceptable
> risk. The decision to move from a position of relative safety to one
> of
> increased risk is one that should be made democratically, with every
> paddler being given a veto. These are decisions that often cannot be
> made from shore. At times a paddler will become more timid when
> observing conditions from the water. If a more timid paddler wishes
> to
> take the safer route, or poke around in a sheltered bay near shore
> waiting for more benign conditions in which to undertake a crossing,
> then that is what the group should do. No paddler should ever find
> himself in a position where he would have been safer had he gone
> paddling alone. 
> 
> Matt continues:
> 
> > ... There is a reason why ships aren't run democratically 
> 
> There is also a reason why crews sometimes mutiny. Many crews have
> been
> killed by insufficient risk aversion on the part of the captain. 
> 
> Dan Hagen
>

Thank you Dan, for putting so clearly what I wanted to say in fewer
words than I could have managed.  I would like to add only one thing...

When choosing a group for a trip that could include exposed coastline
and rough weather/water paddling, I would hope that each member of such
a group would be sufficiently experienced. Knowing when to yield to
another's better decision when the situation warrants, and also to not
be a *weak and slow* paddler, rendering Matt's *complaint* about the
*weakest and slowest* dictating any given situation a non-issue.  If
such a strong paddler were for some reason *weak and slow*, it would
probably be due to injury or illness, and special considerations would
have to be made by the group anyway.  I would think (hope) that the
difference in strength, experience, and paddling speed between the
strongest and weakest in such a group would be minimal to begin with.

If a *very experienced* group leader were to take a group of people
with a much wider range of experience (including some truly *weak,
slow, and inexperienced paddlers) into such potentially dangerous
conditions, I would question that leader's ability to make a reasonable
decision in the first place.

Melissa  



***************************************************************************
PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not
to be reproduced/forwarded outside PaddleWise without author's permission
Submissions:     PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net
Subscriptions:   PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net
Website:         http://www.paddlewise.net/
***************************************************************************