Are whuffos skydivers or not?

[billvon 2,434]

Are whuffos (here defined as people who do not skydive and have no interest in ever doing so) skydivers? On the surface it seems like a simple question. After all, they are, by definition, not skydivers.

But the question is not so simple once you think about it. After all, many whuffos talk about skydiving; anyone who has been to a whuffo party after a movie featuring skydiving has come out will hear discussions about skydiving. Many whuffos have strong opinions on skydiving, ranging from "it's stupid" to "wow, that's great but I would never do that." They express opinions on everything from gear to safety, and are often seen at drop zones visiting the bar, seeing their friends jump and just plain hanging out. Indeed, it is often impossible to tell whether or not someone is a skydiver by looking at them, and to many people, especially other whuffos, whuffos and skydivers sound about the same.

In terms of experience there's not that much difference either. Skydivers like to talk about how fast skydivers go, but most whuffos have gone faster in the air than skydivers do in freefall. They have experienced G-forces comparable to skydivers when they ride roller coasters, and often have experienced similar traumas when they get in motor vehicle accidents. Motorcyclists go similar speeds with the wind in their hair, and skiiers use gravity (and machines to get them to altitude) much the same way skydivers do. Pilots know at least as much as skydivers about flight, and sailplane pilots must deal with the same issues that skydivers do when landing.

So when you think about it, there's really not much difference. (Other than the definition of the word, but this is Speaker's Corner, so I figured I'd see what people thought.)

[labrys 0]

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Many whuffos have strong opinions on skydiving, ranging from "it's stupid" to "wow, that's great but I would never do that."

It is not think or think not

It is not talk or talk not

It is do or do not

People who kick ass at MS Flight Simulator can talk a good game about flying and have a great deal of knowledge about the mechanics of flying but they are not pilots.

Edit to add: I think you're making an oblique reference to something else.... but I haven't a clue what it is.

Owned by Remi #?

[Coreece 190]

Brilliant!

But if I were a person that believed whuffos were not skydivers, and then yesterday, heard a prominent Fox newcaster also say that they are not skydivers, but then a beautiful and seemingly reliable blonde says...well the U.S courts say otherwise, I would be compelled to look into exactly what it is they are thinking. (when I had the time, ofcourse) Futhermore, I would also be compelled to bring it up in a forum where these issues tend to come up and get other's take on it.....

Your secrets are the true reflection of who you really are...

[Gawain 0]

THIS, was a good post. On a tangent, why did you post it here instead of Bonfire?

So I try and I scream and I beg and I sigh
Just to prove I'm alive, and it's alright
'Cause tonight there's a way I'll make light of my treacherous life
Make light!

[skydyvr 0]

Damn liberals, ALWAYS blurring the lines.

. . =(_8^(1)

[tbrown 26]

Smoking some really good shit, are we ??

Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

[steve1 5]

We had an Airborne sargent in Infantry training in Louisiana. One day a young trainee announced to everyone that he and his friends were all airborne too because they were all going to jump school.

With a stern look on his face the Sargent replied, "Boy! You're not Airborne until you've jumped from an airplane five times, while in FRIGHT!"

Everyone got a good laugh out of that.

There's probably lot's of people who can talk the talk, but can't jump out of an airplane....

[pirana 0]

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Smoking some really good shit, are we ??

Smoke enough of that North Slope Sao Paulo Widowmaker and all of your definitions tend to get very flexible.

" . . . the lust for power can be just as completely satisfied by suggesting people into loving their servitude as by flogging them and kicking them into obedience." -- Aldous Huxley

[kallend 1,647]

Yes, if atheists are just another kind of religious nut.

...

The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.

[skybill 19]

Hi BV,
Whufs are whufs, that's that! If a whuf makes a jump, then he/she is a "one jump wonder!!" If they buy beer, gear, make more jumps and hang out at the DZ then they are skydivers.

SCR-2034, SCS-680

III%,
Deli-out

[Skyrad 0]

That makes allot more sense. The thing that sets Skydivers apart is that we are willing to place our lives on the table of fates casino in order to know and live what others will only ever try to imagine or experience as the thrill of being someone elses cargo,

When an author is too meticulous about his style, you may presume that his mind is frivolous and his content flimsy.
Lucius Annaeus Seneca

[rwieder 0]

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Are whuffos (here defined as people who do not skydive and have no interest in ever doing so) skydivers? On the surface it seems like a simple question. After all, they are, by definition, not skydivers.

Nah, they are not skydivers by any definition IMHO. We just molest them after the beer light is on and their tops come off. Well....they introduced themselves as roadies!?*#%#

-Richard-
"You're Holding The Rope And I'm Taking The Fall"

[wolfriverjoe 1,351]

The whuffos may have experienced similar G-forces, speed wind in the hair, landing issues and all that.
But until that door opens, and you look out and see how far "down" is...
Until you actually climb out on the step and hang off the strut as a S/L student...
When I was an early student, I tried to explain the difference between looking out the window, and out the open door. Skydivers got it, whuffos didn't.
So until you actually jump out of the airplane, I don't think you are a skydiver. But that's just my opinion.

"There are NO situations which do not call for a French Maid outfit." Lucky McSwervy

"~ya don't GET old by being weak & stupid!" - Airtwardo

[kallend 1,647]

PAY ATTENTION WILL YOU!

What a bunch of short attention spans we have here.

...

The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.

[Coreece 190]

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PAY ATTENTION WILL YOU!

What a bunch of short attention spans we have here.

Anybody care to change their reply?

This one explains religion pretty well:

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The whuffos may have experienced similar G-forces, speed wind in the hair, landing issues and all that.
But until that door opens, and you look out and see how far "down" is...
Until you actually climb out on the step and hang off the strut as a S/L student...
When I was an early student, I tried to explain the difference between looking out the window, and out the open door. Skydivers got it, whuffos didn't.
So until you actually jump out of the airplane, I don't think you are a skydiver. But that's just my opinion.

I am marveling Billvon...thanks

Your secrets are the true reflection of who you really are...

[CMiller 1]

You're right and you're not. I don't think they could maintain a heading or stability, and I don't think they could do a 40 way. A skier who's never skydived, probably won't be very good at skydiving, just as a skydiver who has never skied, probably won't be very good at skiing. There are more differences than not.

Still, i believe skydivers in general tend to think they are somehow pushing the limits of human experience, and as you correctly point out, most simply aren't.

I say we abolish the term 'whuffo' forever. Do any other sports have names for people who don't participate? How elitist and rude. Want to grow the sport? Treat non jumpers with a little more respect.

[JackC 0]

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Yes, if atheists are just another kind of religious nut.

Ahh, but then people who jump out of aeroplanes aren't skydivers, they have a personal relationship with freefall.

[virgin-burner 1]

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Quote

Yes, if atheists are just another kind of religious nut.

Ahh, but then people who jump out of aeroplanes aren't skydivers, they have a personal relationship with freefall.

i see, you and bill have been smoking the same stuff, care to send some over here!?

“Some may never live, but the crazy never die.”
-Hunter S. Thompson
"No. Try not. Do... or do not. There is no try."
-Yoda

[billvon 2,434]

>Ahh, but then people who jump out of aeroplanes aren't skydivers . . .

Well, at least not until they are born again into freefall. Then they are _real_ skydivers.

[klingeme 0]

Quote

Are whuffos (here defined as people who do not skydive and have no interest in ever doing so) skydivers? On the surface it seems like a simple question. After all, they are, by definition, not skydivers.

But the question is not so simple once you think about it. After all, many whuffos talk about skydiving; anyone who has been to a whuffo party after a movie featuring skydiving has come out will hear discussions about skydiving. Many whuffos have strong opinions on skydiving, ranging from "it's stupid" to "wow, that's great but I would never do that." They express opinions on everything from gear to safety, and are often seen at drop zones visiting the bar, seeing their friends jump and just plain hanging out. Indeed, it is often impossible to tell whether or not someone is a skydiver by looking at them, and to many people, especially other whuffos, whuffos and skydivers sound about the same.

In terms of experience there's not that much difference either. Skydivers like to talk about how fast skydivers go, but most whuffos have gone faster in the air than skydivers do in freefall. They have experienced G-forces comparable to skydivers when they ride roller coasters, and often have experienced similar traumas when they get in motor vehicle accidents. Motorcyclists go similar speeds with the wind in their hair, and skiiers use gravity (and machines to get them to altitude) much the same way skydivers do. Pilots know at least as much as skydivers about flight, and sailplane pilots must deal with the same issues that skydivers do when landing.

So when you think about it, there's really not much difference. (Other than the definition of the word, but this is Speaker's Corner, so I figured I'd see what people thought.)

"skydiver" in my eyes means you have some knowledge about the sport. You can do a tandem and still be a Wufffo. To not be a wuffo, by definition, you have to know the answer to the "Wuffo you jump out of a perfectly good airplane" question. That takes SOME level of knowledge.

[Skyrad 0]

The door was open

When an author is too meticulous about his style, you may presume that his mind is frivolous and his content flimsy.
Lucius Annaeus Seneca

[metalslug 31]

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Are whuffos (here defined as people who do not skydive and have no interest in ever doing so) skydivers? On the surface it seems like a simple question. After all, they are, by definition, not skydivers.

But the question is not so simple once you think about it.

No, the question remains extremely simple when you think about it. Word definitions are everything; spades are not shovels and whuffos are not skydivers.

I am also sure that billvon is making an oblique reference to something else;
...perhaps that non-religious people need to truly experience religion in order to have a valid opinion on religion, in the same way that whuffos need a few jumps before any notice is taken of their skydiving opinions.

If this is the intended analogy, then it's also obviously a horribly flawed one, for reasons that I will not elaborate on unless asked to.

[Royd 0]

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Still, i believe skydivers in general tend to think they are somehow pushing the limits of human experience, and as you correctly point out, most simply aren't.

The most important thing to take from any of these extreme sports it to learn not to panic when things are coming at you fast and the situation is getting tight.
I only started riding a motorcycle a little over a year ago.
Taking a decreasing radius at a 30 degree lean and knowing that the only thing that is going to get you out of it, is to stay on the throttle, is an eye opening experience.

[stitch 0]

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and sailplane pilots must deal with the same issues that skydivers do when landing.

So if a sailplane pilot has a particulary hard landing, is the pilot obligated to break his own leg with a sledgehammer upon exiting the cockpit ? What's the SOP on this ?

"No cookies for you"- GFD
"I don't think I like the sound of that" ~ MB65
Don't be a "Racer Hater"

[billvon 2,434]

>So if a sailplane pilot has a particulary hard landing, is the pilot obligated
>to break his own leg with a sledgehammer upon exiting the cockpit ?

Funny you should ask that! A friend of mine (sailplane instructor) once had a student who screwed up; they landed quite hard. He broke both his legs.

But I bet he got less dirty.