Re: [Paddlewise] Safety Articles

Thanks Darryl. Length of article is one consideration. Content another, and 
then I guess I also chew over the cud with myself as to how useful an 
exercise it is when a paddler has done something obviously stupid - is this 
news worthy(?). What lessons can be learned from plain stupidity? You know, 
like don't cross to an island in the middle of a storm in your dinky rec 
boat kind of thing wearing only your sister's black leotards. But then, 
assuming most avid outdoors people aren't stupid and value life, surely 
there must be some insight to be gleamed that is helpful for the paddling 
public of differing skill levels (or readership in the case of 
publish-for-pay articles) -- for anytime a human passes while engaged in 
what is ostensibly a funtime, wholesome activity, inquiring minds want to 
know what happened and more importantly, why. I like to add, what could have 
been done to prevent further loss once bad decisions have been identified. 
As for those who survive such stupidity, they can tell us why in their own 
words. Hopefully we are gracious enough to listen respectfully while relying 
on editorial integrity to screen out the stories truly irrelevant.

I've certainly had Chris at SK nick some of my proposals. Good on him and 
the editorial staff. In other cases, incidents were more minor in nature and 
he wanted follow-up, and I didn't respond. Those were incidents where things 
happened unexpectedly to reasonably good paddlers. There was probable 
extreme efficiency and relevance to be gleamed from something like that, and 
I let them go. And the ones that we truly scratch our heads a bit over, it's 
helpful if paddlers write in and there's a dialogue exchanged questioning 
and then having the editorial stance defended. I think I sometime almost 
learn more from those subsequent exchanges and editorial eloquence more than 
the original article - and I'm not adverse to writing to an editor myself 
once and awhile.

When it comes to learning, it really is all good. Interesting reading? Can't 
get enough. And heck, my supervisor actually sent someone looking for me 
today - they thought I was having heart problems or some such thing perhaps 
off in the company washroom. Nope, I was "preoccupied" for another 
inordinate amount of time reading my latest issue of Sea Kayaker magazine. I 
mean, digesting Craig Jungers, reading Wendell Philips eating raw whale 
along with his wonderful photography, and then feces removal in the 
wilderness - what wonderful reading, especially in the can. :-)

Doug (who had to stay late after work today for make-up time!)


>> Hey kayakers,
>>
>> Do folks prefer _short, concise_ safety articles outlining an incident
>> (either first or second hand) followed by a writer's economy of 
>> commentary,
>> or more in-depth, "turn over every stone" analysis (provided it is 
>> strictly
>> content related, of course)?
>>
>> Do kayakers generally like to read permutations of multiple safety
>> equipment/hard skill recommendations, or an emphasis on seamanship and
>> navigational imperatives?
>>
>> Not that I've done much writing lately, but with so much information out
>> there these days and a multiplicity of instructional kayak books/manuals,
>> and a differentiation along the lines of those who view paddling 
>> incidents
>> as a series of objectifiable rescue skill illustrators versus those who
>> don't roll/don't do boat-over-boat drills much, I was wondering what
>> direction to emphasize,at the very least, some of the subjective comment 
>> in
>> future.
>>
>> Thanks.
>>
>> Doug Lloyd
>
> Well, shorter rather than too long, but then again, I like to see
> more details than fewer regarding what went wrong, or what went
> right.
>
> As someone else replied; it depends a lot on the circumstances of the
> incident itself. Some are pretty straightforward and not a lot of
> exposition is required. Others are more complex, and require more
> explanation....
>
> So... some short and concise and other longer and more detailed.
>
> I think that means the ball is back in your court. <g>
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