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- From: ehsnet!f15.n233.z1.fidonet.org!SKYDIVE (SKYDIVE)
- Subject: Re: Taking chances
- X-Mailer: mailout v1.24 released
- Message-ID: <751.2B41499F@ehsnet.fidonet.org>
- Originator: uucp@romulus.ehs.uiuc.edu
- Sender: usenet@news.cso.uiuc.edu (Net Noise owner)
- Return-Path: <ehsnet!f15.n233.z1.FIDONET.ORG!SKYDIVE>
- To: skydive@romulus.ehs.uiuc.edu
- Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana
- Date: Wed, 30 Dec 1992 04:28:32 GMT
- Lines: 54
-
- Reply-to: Hector.Mandel@p0.f15.n233.z1.fidonet.org (Hector Mandel)
- Fido-To: ed
-
- 7In a msg on <Dec 28 15:29>, Ed of 1:110/68.7 writes:
-
- HM>> I disagree totally with your assertion that risk taking
- HM>> should be the primary motivation for skydiving. That is not
- HM>> why most of us enjoy the sport. Fortunately for the sport,
- HM>> the majority of jumpers are interested in MINIMIZING the
- HM>> risks in every aspect. Our objective in displaying ourselves
- HM>> and our sport to WUFFO's should be to demonstrate that we are
- HM>> NOT a bunch of crazy macho dickhead thrill seekers. I think
- HM>> most skydivers are intelligent human beings who have the
- HM>> ability to weigh risks and benefits and appreciate that
- HM>> skydiving is not about taking chances.
- E>
- E> Dear Hector, I'm sorry you missed my point altogether. I agree
- E> with alot of your reply, in fact almost all of it. But if you
- E> DON'T think your in a high risk sport, perhaps you should take
- E> a reality pill. and by the way, what do you think your
-
- I do think it is a "high risk" sport; however, the object of the excercise is
- to enjoy the sport while doing everything possible to *minimize* the risks.
- Your original post implies that you actually think it detrimental to the
- sport, or somehow not in the spirit of the sport for its participants to want
- to eliminate the risks as much as possible.
-
- If you think that I like to skydive *because* I enjoy taking risks, you are
- wrong. I suspect that most skydivers don't do it in order to take risks
- either. We do it because it's an exhilarating and wonderful experience and
- also because of the social aspects. The risk is not what makes it
- exhilarating and wonderful. There are many "high risk" human activities that
- can be done in a very safe manner.
- For example, driving a car is a high risk activity. It is safe when you do it
- (I think :) ), but quite dangerous if your nine year old son does it.
- Similarly, skydiving is risky, but it can be safely done with proper attention
- to procedures and equipment. Skydiving is quite safe when well-trained,
- disciplined, intelligent individuals do it.
-
- The sport doesn't need for its participants to go around poo pooing all the
- strict procedures and safety requirements that are being introduced as
- more and more people discover and enjoy the sport.
-
- I don't mean to overreact to your statement but I think it's important to
- clarify this issue, not so much for skydivers, but for those "wuffos"
- lurking out there wondering what makes us tick. I think it's important to
- point out that we are not all a bunch of daredevils.
-
- --- msgedsq 2.1a
- --- eecp 1.45 LM2
-
- * Origin: A skydiver is taken by the gravity of his situation (1:233/15)
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