Interesting issues have been raised in this thread... and I think they have basically been debated since the first cave men wandered off to go hunting and got lost... Anyway, perhaps a southern hemisphere perspective: * Rely on technology at your peril; and I include EPIRBs, SAT phones, radiotransceivers, cellphones, GPS receivers. That does NOT mean that you go unprepared, or unskilled. I have accumulated stories of all of the above causing MORE problems, not less... * No man is an island. Even if you leave strict instructions that you don't want anyone to rescue you, they will come looking. * I have worked in the media long enough to know this: you will get your five minutes of fame on the six o'clock news precisely because you didn't want to be found. Even if you don't want to be famous, you will be there on screen, dripping wet, thanking your rescuers... * It will be better for you, and for your surviving family who will have to pick up the pieces, that you take personal responsibility for your actions, knowing that you are a member of a society that, in law at least, values your life. And now, I am off to the beach.....cheers all.. Peter Rattenbury, Wollongong, Australia. *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
>>* Rely on technology at your peril; and I include EPIRBs, SAT phones, radiotransceivers, cellphones, GPS receivers. That does NOT mean that you go unprepared, or unskilled. I have accumulated stories of all of the above causing MORE problems, not less... Likewise it has been my general experience and observation that the "better prepared" ocean paddler is generally the one who is more eager to take the greater risks, most likely as a direct result of the belief that they can handle it because they are "better prepared." I believe that this is the gist of the theory of Risk Homeostasis. Scott So.Cal. *************************************************************************** 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: "Peter Rattenbury" <ratten_at_uow.edu.au> To: <paddlewise_at_paddlewise.net> > * It will be better for you, and for your surviving family who will have to > pick up the pieces, that you take personal responsibility for your actions, > knowing that you are a member of a society that, in law at least, values your > life. Peter: I don't think I could have done a better job at defining the crux of the issue. thanks: Michael *************************************************************************** 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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