Jackie is handling this... Its kinda sad, really. His message might have some merit, like any other safety device, but his method of communicating it, and his inability to see any other way make me stop listening before I've even heard what he has to say. I visited his website just to see <what> he was trying to say (http://www.sponsonguy.com/) and the device has it's advantages, but like anything else, has its downsides as well. I don't think I would like to use them, and therein lies HIS problem: he would think I'm insane, committing suicide, and contributing to the murder of my friends when I don't recommend them, when all I did was decide I don't want to use the device, and from what I have seen he would electronically shake me senseless until I came around. When I rigged a me-to-boat tether for my solo paddles in "bad weather", I thought about the discussions I had seen here, pro and con, and using that knowledge I've decided to rig up a device I think suits me well to use in certain circumstances, that does what its supposed to do, lowers my overall risk without adding new ones (that was tough and a little subjective I have to admit, and I may not know really until I need it), but I did so knowing more about what I was doing after I read all of your opinions and ideas. I made a choice based on this, and reserve the right to change my mind later if someone or experience compels me to. I wish Sp**s*n Guy could bring to the table the same kind of discussion, when appropriate, in an appropriate way, then maybe we could add it to our fund of knowledge, whether we use it or not. I've sort of done that IRT Sp**s*ns , I guess... Genius may have its limitations, but stupidity is not thus handicapped. -- Elbert Hubbard Never attribute to malice what can be adequately explained by stupidity. -- Nick Diamos A fanatic is one who can't change his mind and won't change the subject. -- Winston Churchill Ken Schroeter Laconia, NH, USA 43°32'25"N 71°28'59"W *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
----- Original Message ----- From: "Ken Schroeter" <kenschroeter_at_hotmail.com> > if someone or experience compels me to. I wish Sp**s*n Guy could bring to > the table the same kind of discussion, when appropriate, in an appropriate > way, then maybe we could add it to our fund of knowledge, whether we use it > or not. I've sort of done that IRT Sp**s*ns , I guess... Actually there was a very extensive discussion of sp**s*ns in the early months of Paddlewise after we left Wavelength. With him out of the picture with his rants, the discussion was quite lively and freewheeling with sides taken in a cogent way. Any reading of the exchange would have left a person with a good idea of the pros and cons with which they could make up their own minds about the worth of the product. I did quite a "defense" of the product backing up things that he had claimed (like that the US Military had looked at them and prepared an extensive report favoring them. I saw the report so I knew it was true.). And I related the favorable experience of some friends who had them preattached to their boats. I also went into some provisos about them as well. The irony is that Tim, a few weeks ago, was quoting my relatively favorable discussion of them at length on those same newsgroups that he now brings up the murder charges. :-) ralph diaz *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
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