Re: [Paddlewise] Nick's Question (add Dying at Sea)

Quoting Doug Lloyd <douglloyd_at_shaw.ca>:

> Gordon had posted:
>> I've thought about this a lot.  I participate in recreational pursuits that
>> have risks involved - kayaking, bicycling, and motorcycling.  My personal
>> belief  is that, should I die in those pursuits, I will die happier than if
>> I chose not to do them and died later.  They add enough joy to my life to
>> make the risks worthwhile.  If I gamble and lose, so be it.
>>
>> Of course, at the moment I was meeting my end, I'm sure my thoughts and
>> words would be, "NO-O-O-O-O!!!  I don't want to die!!!!!"  For that reason I
>> take all the safety precautions I can - helmets, driving defensively, extra
>> paddle, extra flotation, VHF radio, flares, horn, strobe, etc
>
> There are acceptable, ameliorative ways to improve negative risk
> outcomes for those who like to paddle less benign waters. Death isn't a
> necessary inevitable while undertaking such activates, not even close.
>

   In the words of Doug Lloyd, some people would like to live fast, die young,
and leave a good looking corpse. Personally, I have messed up all three
items. However, as a bicycle commuter in a metropolitan area, I've got to
compare relative risk of dying in the bike saddle versus dying in a kayak
seat. After making the computation, I must conclude it is pointless to
even wear a pfd or check a weather report when kayaking, since death by bus or
harried driver far outweighs my chances of death by whale or wave. Finally,
death by bus or car or whale or wave would really tick me off.

Brad
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