[Paddlewise] passions, politics, religion and rescues

Matt replied (snip):
>John Winters is hardly alone. I couldn't agree more with him on this 
>subject. John Dowd had a good way to avoid being the object of societies 
>fears (in their form of rescue attempts). His simple method was "don't tell 
>anyone where you are going or when you will return".  Some would say he was 
>irresponsible doing this. He would respond that he being very responsible, 
>in fact he was taking the full responsibility for himself. (I just checked 
>the 5th edition of John Dowd's classic book "Sea Kayaking", he has expanded
on this subject nicely in appendix C.)...Finally a request. This is a 
paddling forum, lets try to keep the passionsof both politics and religion 
off of it please.<

John is a very opinionated man (as many of us are). He does present a 
perspective in this view you highlight that is somewhat alternative to 
conventional wisdom. I do wonder if you _were_ still writing safety articles 
and per chance were reporting on the disappearance and likely death of some 
paddlers or paddlers where an after-the-fact large-scale search and rescue 
effort occurred, if you indeed would have included in your recommendations 
the need for paddlers to file a float plan, etc. I'd certainly not give any 
other advice. Of course, I don't always follow my own advise, but this is 
usually driven by a specific circumstance where I may be expecting 
logistical problems and would rather not force myself into a time table 
where not keeping it would unnecessarily provoke worry and possible search 
efforts.

That being said, both Johns have a good point in as much as not forgetting 
to take  responsibility for oneself is of paramount importance. I do remind 
paddlers (and myself every once in awhile) that marine waterway users are 
perhaps a little different from backcountry trekkers, etc, in that there are 
maritime laws with respect to boat use, equipment, navigational priorities, 
and rendering assistance, etc. Taken in that context, paddling is a little 
more complicated than just jumping in a cockpit and heading off. Tying this 
in with the maxim to normally file a float plan, at least in my mind, is a 
given. Some of Dowd's paddling adventures read more like blue-water sailing 
travel-logs, where an open-ended time-table is the norm, which has some 
subtle differences.

As for religion on paddlewise, I agree, it should be kept to a bare minimum. 
Both Jackie and now Kirk have been more than gracious with those who stray 
(pardon the pun) from the listed topics allowed. I certainly apologize to 
the list if I've ever pushed things a bit. Spirituality certainly is a huge 
part of the paddling perspective, and I thank the good...um, well, you know 
Who, for folks like Reverend Bob who's thoughts are an encouragement and 
bring enlightenment, yet he maintains a wonderful balance in his writings. A 
rare trait amongst some of the crowd I know who think their the only ones on 
the path of the righteous. Peace Bro, er, Broze. :-)

Doug Lloyd (for a laugh, try picking a religion by consumer reports)
http://www.fadetoblack.com/consumerreport/religion/index1.html
Victoria BC

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"Whatever can be said at all can be said clearly and whatever cannot be said 
clearly should not be said at all."
Ludwig Wittgenstein
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