I think it is fairly common for "adventurers" to view what they do as very controlled, relatively low-risk, and not extreme, while at the same time viewing the adventures those "other-guys" are doing as just plain nuts. Because they have always come back from their adventure alive they feel they know how to minimize the risks. Because they don't know that much about the other sport they fail to see that the other-guy does as good a job at controlling the risks. Participating in a risky sport involves choices. Those choices should be made with an honest evaluation of the risks. As they say in the stock market "prior performance is no guarantee of future success." The mere fact that you have done something before and pulled through unscathed does not mean that you will pull through the next time. We are quick to criticize someone who doesn't wear a PFD when they say they have never needed one. We should also lend a critical eye to those who go paddling when it is blowing 40 knots or make long open-water crossings. Which is more dangerous, paddling on a calm day without a PFD or surfing 20ft waves in full gear? On Dec 9, 2003, at 12:34 AM, Doug Lloyd wrote: > I guess I got rubbed the wrong way when Maria replied to a question > about > how the death of her partner changed her life: Had anything good come > from > it (other than the book I assume)? She stated that she lives life more > *intently* now. I phoned in right away, reminding Maria that she has > undertaken more than a few trips herself, by kayak, and that there are > those > who would consider such activity as potential risk taking. I also > insisted > that these men spoken of in her book were simply living life > intensely, too > (living large as one Paddlewiser says). Nick Schade Guillemot Kayaks 824 Thompson St Glastonbury, CT 06033 USA Ph/Fx: (860) 659-8847 http://www.guillemot-kayaks.com/ *************************************************************************** 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 Tue Dec 09 2003 - 06:48:23 PST
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.4.0 : Thu Aug 21 2025 - 16:31:11 PDT