Matt said: <snip> Young men think this way. Something about testosterone poisoning I think. Others like Doug and myself channel this poison into battles with the elements. My answer to Craig's question to Doug, which was in part: >>>>>You acknowledge the risk of what you're doing, you abhor what you're doing at times, yet you're still drawn to it; are you willing to share with us why you think you are drawn to storm paddling? <<<<<<< testosterone poisoning. Matt, that sounds like an oversimplification, well, a bit. Testosterone poising certainly applies to some of these bozo hellions out there causing motorized marine mayhem, but I'm not too sure it totally applies to gonzo adventure paddling. Women only have about 10% of the testosterone of men (or something like that), yet there are a number of women out challenging big hydraulics on the river and navigational excitement on the sea and in surf. And what of Chris Duff? He's a man with impeccable credentials and paddle-community decorum, yet what does one make of his west coast adventures along Ireland, so well illustrated in the last portion of his "On Celtic Tides" book? Does taking on challenging water in the context of a circumnavigation, or more precisely, not taking on those kind of challenges in the "appropriate" context, change the issue? Just wondering out loud, of course. You also said (after some snipping of your usual wonderful, illustrative ramblings): Gee, thanks for the tip about Rec.Boats.Paddle. Doug. I learned on the Deja vu archives that I'm both a fool AND a murderer (apparently somewhere on the level of Jim Jones) but also not really the inventor of the murderous paddlefloat that has killed hundreds if not a thousand already. Yep, it made my day. Thanks again Doug, you are always so helpful. Matt, actually, Tim accuses me of worshipping you. That's the last time I mention your influence on me in any safety articles I write. 8-) Well, I do have a lot more respect for you than in the old days. You can put Tim on one side of the universe, then put you on the other. That about sums up the disparity between my differences in respect for the two of you (and they say the universe is expanding, too). I think I respect you Matt for the same reason I have difficulty at church some times. No one ever questions anything there, everyone is expected to tow the party line, no one speaks out against the emotional orchestration and trite platitudes (etc.), no one posits alternative perceptions -- or very rarely (and you think I'm outspoken on PW). Over the years, you always have in terms of kayaking, kayak design, and kayak safety. Not quite worship from me Matt, but I am unworthy to do up the velcro of your Tevas. 8-) Doug *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************Received on Mon Apr 16 2001 - 08:28:41 PDT
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