rocketguy 0 #1 October 16, 2006 Today I was at a birthday party for a kid of a woman that my wife works with. I was talking to the kid's grandfather, a perfect stranger before today, and he found out that I was a skydiver. For some reason, he was downright upset and accused me of "having a death wish". He kept saying that he was a doctor and wanted me to see a psychiatrist to analyze my motivation or whatever. So, basically I just wanted to vent because it got me pretty mad. But has anyone else encountered this type of reaction? I can't think of anything funny to put in my signature line... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shermanator 3 #2 October 16, 2006 ask him if he drives a car, if he says yes, tell him to go see a psych, about his death wish on the freeways and such. haha. just don't let reactions like this get to you. everyone has their own opinions, and they will never change. all you can really do is nod and smile. ... I've gotten negative reaction a few times, but mostly people are in aww by the fact, . yes, i do get the 'perfectly good plane' statement a lot, but after i explain to them the fun, excitement, and equipment i use.. they let up a little bit. mostly, they want to try a jump some day.CLICK HERE! new blog posted 9/21/08 CSA #720 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ltdiver 3 #3 October 16, 2006 Don't let it worry you. The reason someone wants to rain on your parade is because they don't have one of their own... ltdiver Don't tell me the sky's the limit when there are footprints on the moon Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mikki_ZH 0 #4 October 16, 2006 That happend to me also a lot of times when I talked to skydivers and they knew I was BASE Jumping... The most easy thing to do is not to talk to these kind of people about your sport. Try not to convince them, it's a waste of time and energy... everybody is alowed to have his opinion. Try to remeber your conversation with him after your next jump. You will see, you can not care less about some whuffos opinion after a good jump!Michi (#1068) hsbc/gba/sba www.swissbaseassociation.ch www.michibase.ch Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jakee 1,259 #5 October 16, 2006 QuoteFor some reason, he was downright upset and accused me of "having a death wish". He kept saying that he was a doctor and wanted me to see a psychiatrist to analyze my motivation or whatever. Thats bang out of order man, I'd have told him to fuck off and mind his own business. Then again, I can be less easy going than other people sometimesDo you want to have an ideagasm? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tonto 1 #6 October 16, 2006 Did he find out or did you tell him? tIt's the year of the Pig. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
matthias 0 #7 October 16, 2006 Quoteaccused me of "having a death wish". Yeah I've gotten that too a few times. I just tell em if I really had a death wish we wouldn't be weaing a rig._________________________________________ trance/house mixes for download: www.djmattm.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
VincentVL. 0 #8 October 16, 2006 Well...different people have different responses to ignorance. Sometimes I can cope, sometimes it upsets me. This sounds more like a bad case of "freaky old people" and I'd probably have a laugh. Best thing to do in a case like this, where he's basically just worried and angry because you put yourself in danger, is play mister stupid. Just ask him "How is it dangerous Sir?" and when he starts summing up stuff just sincerely (no sarcasm he can trace to avoid agression) respond "HOLY SHIT!!! I never realised it was that dangerous!!! I'm going to stop that crazy reckless behavior immedately. THANK YOU...KIND SIR" He'll feel great about himself, you'll have a laugh, bright skies are gonna clear up. Put on a happy face. Also...unless you want to get stuck in a senseless argument which will get you absolutely nowhere, don't do the "driving-a-car-is-also-dangerous-and-what-about-prescribed-medication" thing. Seriously...90% of all human beings do not want to be convinced, and rest assure this gaffer wasn't part of the 10% that do(es). So why bother? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Andy9o8 0 #9 October 16, 2006 Having been burned several times the way you just were, I never mention to whuffos that I jump, and I ask my family not to, also. I realize that, being new to the sport, it's nice to have people "find out" (i.e., know) that you're a skydiver; but trust me – it's really not worth the bullshit. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gjhdiver 0 #10 October 16, 2006 QuoteToday I was at a birthday party for a kid of a woman that my wife works with. I was talking to the kid's grandfather, a perfect stranger before today, and he found out that I was a skydiver. For some reason, he was downright upset and accused me of "having a death wish". He kept saying that he was a doctor and wanted me to see a psychiatrist to analyze my motivation or whatever. I ususally tell 'em to go fuck themselves. No point in trying to be reasonable to dicks. Life's too short for that. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shropshire 0 #11 October 16, 2006 No need to plummet to his level. Invite him out to the DZ one weekend and show him how much fun folks are having, in as safe a way as we can... Just being on a DZ can be jolly hypnotic. . (.)Y(.) Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
billvon 2,435 #12 October 16, 2006 >I ususally tell 'em to go fuck themselves. No point in trying to be reasonable to dicks. Eh, life's too short to be telling people off. Who cares what wuffos think about what we do in the air? People think I'm nuts for skydiving. I think people who smoke are nuts. There's room for all kinds; I'm content to let em smoke in their back yards while I'm jumping. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Andy_Copland 0 #13 October 16, 2006 Quoteask him if he drives a car, if he says yes, tell him to go see a psych The whole driving and skydiving thing really gets up my cunt, no idea why but it does. You cant compare the two. Im sick of hearing it to be honest.1338 People aint made of nothin' but water and shit. Until morale improves, the beatings will continue. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
matthias 0 #14 October 16, 2006 QuoteQuoteask him if he drives a car, if he says yes, tell him to go see a psych The whole driving and skydiving thing really gets up my cunt, no idea why but it does. You cant compare the two. this is pure speculation as I'm relatively new, and feel free to correct me...but it seems the majority of incidents on the road and in the sport are cause by pilot/driver error rather than gear malfunction/vehicle breakdown...and just like how cars require inspection, maintenance, the same preventive messures are taken with reserve inspections and repacks, gear checks. my 0.02 from observation so far_________________________________________ trance/house mixes for download: www.djmattm.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Andy_Copland 0 #15 October 16, 2006 For a start a shit ton of people drive, im not actually interested in the ratio of drivers/deaths or skydivers/deaths. What gets on my nerves is everytime i jump i know it can kill me, i practice my EP's on the lift 99% of the time. Who gets in there car and says "i know i'll check my break fluid and tires, buckle up and perform an emergency stop." People dont drive thinking "this is dangerous." Maybe i have a chip on my shoulder on this issue but i really dont think driving is as dangerous.1338 People aint made of nothin' but water and shit. Until morale improves, the beatings will continue. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AFFI 0 #16 October 16, 2006 QuotePeople dont drive thinking "this is dangerous." Some do, but you are probably right about most... Good line thoough... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bones 0 #17 October 16, 2006 50% ignorance, 50% arrogance on his part. Of course if you DID want to piss him off just tell him of all the MD's you know that jump (as well as the mothers, grandmothers, actuaries, Skydivers Over Sixty, etc). Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Scoop 0 #18 October 16, 2006 If hes a pussy that never likes to step outside his comfort zone but happy to accept his $100,000 sallary thats his problem I say fuck 'em. If everybody did things like what we do it wouldnt be fun, it'd be the norm Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Butters 0 #19 October 16, 2006 Someone once told me I was crazy. So I saw a psychologist. The psychologist told me I was crazy. So I went to an insane aslyum. The insane aslyum told me I was crazy. So I escaped and came here. Nice to meet you! "That looks dangerous." Leopold Stotch Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Luminous 0 #21 October 16, 2006 QuotePeople dont drive thinking "this is dangerous." Maybe if they did it wouldn't be AS dangerous. Complacency Kills. Cheers. Larry.'In an insane society a sane person seems insane.' Mr. Spock Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
steveorino 7 #22 October 16, 2006 According to Freudian interpretation, skydivers, and other high-risk takers have a death wish; their repetitive life threatening behaviors among the general populace would be considered as expressing suicide tendencies. However there is strong evidence that high risk activities are hard-wired into our brain. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter commonly associated with pleasure sensations in our brain. Activities such as eating and sex trigger release of dopamine. Other activities that are intense, such as high-risk sports like skydiving, also trigger a dopamine reaction. Those who repeatedly seek sensations from high-risk sports, such as skydiving, have been associated with lower levels of dopamine circulating in their bodies. Therefore, because they are often in a state of under-arousal, their desire to exercise risky behaviors is not necessarily associated with bringing on a high, but to bring themselves to a more normal state of arousal. Despite the public’s perception, extreme sport participants require constant care, intense training, and above all discipline and control. In other words, we're not ALL crazy. Present company accounted for! steveOrino Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
flyangel2 2 #23 October 16, 2006 Hence the reason I don't let non-skydivers that I don't think of as close friends, know I skydive. At the jump numbers you have, I'm sure you're very excited about the sport and want to share that with any one that will listen. Trust me, they don't want to listen and those that do will think you're crazy.May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view. May your mountains rise into and above the clouds. - Edward Abbey Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Scoop 0 #24 October 16, 2006 Its true to a certain degree, I thrive on pushing myself beyond my everyday limits. Thats when I do best. How do you know who you are if you never push your own limits? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Butters 0 #25 October 16, 2006 You have two options and neither of them will change the whuffo's mind. Option 1] Avoid the situation. Option 2] Have fun with the situation. I like to have fun with the situation. Say things like, "I do have a death wish, but I never get what I wish for.", "Skydiving is like playing rock, paper, scissors. I jump out and choose scissors, look down and see rock, quickly switch to paper, and I win. I hope I never forget to switch.", or "Two out of three voices in my head agree with you. It might be unanimous but I don't speak Spanish."."That looks dangerous." Leopold Stotch Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
