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The emphasis should have been on the word "drive" in that line, to imply that that's where the focus might be, as opposed to safety being solely a matter of our own behavior and sense of responsibility. There are whole industries devoted to keeping the idiot alive, to save the idiot from not only himself, but from the likelihood of ever learning how to do the job himself without external aid. Because we know we can survive skydive after skydive without all the babysitting devices, it makes one wonder what's left to the thrill when you can put a dollar amount on the extent of responsilbity you'll take for yourself.
The fact that there are so many 'saves' nowadays that not that long ago would have been deaths is not really a dilution but it sure as hell is a change. And considering the sports beginnings and the people who pioneered it, there is arguement enough for the current generation being viewed as pussies in comparrison. We are at the point where fewer whuffos think we're all idiots, and more of them have a sometimes accurate enough image of the sport just because we're getting into their newspapers and TVs and movies a lot more. We're more accesible and acceptible which in itself is a sign of being safer all around. That change right there is what is seen as the place where the differences between "them" and "us" is being blurred. And for those of us who might have gotten into the sport in part because we definitely already felt out of the mainstream and we wanted to keep it that way, this is overcrowding and it it's homogenity and it's going from silly & amusing to dominant & controlling in a generation or two.
I agree, essentially, with what you say. I don't think it's a good idea to let people get hurt. Educating people sometimes must include teaching survival and it's opposite, as realities of the sport, rather than allow people to think and act as though it's all tiddly-winks. You don't see as many 'BSBD' scribblings anymore. Skull & crossbones don't show up as much. These were reminders that it ain't tiddly-winks. It appears some people think that's where it's headed though. And while tiddly-winks isn't a bad thing, it isn't skydiving either and it shouldn't be called skydiving. (Did I just date myself with the tiddly-winks thing?)
The fact that there are so many 'saves' nowadays that not that long ago would have been deaths is not really a dilution but it sure as hell is a change. And considering the sports beginnings and the people who pioneered it, there is arguement enough for the current generation being viewed as pussies in comparrison. We are at the point where fewer whuffos think we're all idiots, and more of them have a sometimes accurate enough image of the sport just because we're getting into their newspapers and TVs and movies a lot more. We're more accesible and acceptible which in itself is a sign of being safer all around. That change right there is what is seen as the place where the differences between "them" and "us" is being blurred. And for those of us who might have gotten into the sport in part because we definitely already felt out of the mainstream and we wanted to keep it that way, this is overcrowding and it it's homogenity and it's going from silly & amusing to dominant & controlling in a generation or two.
I agree, essentially, with what you say. I don't think it's a good idea to let people get hurt. Educating people sometimes must include teaching survival and it's opposite, as realities of the sport, rather than allow people to think and act as though it's all tiddly-winks. You don't see as many 'BSBD' scribblings anymore. Skull & crossbones don't show up as much. These were reminders that it ain't tiddly-winks. It appears some people think that's where it's headed though. And while tiddly-winks isn't a bad thing, it isn't skydiving either and it shouldn't be called skydiving. (Did I just date myself with the tiddly-winks thing?)
jmidgley 0
Quote
In 1987 the first "outside the sport" vendor showed up at the Bridge Day trade show. It was "No Fear" a company none of us ever heard of before. We thought their shirts were ridiculous and told them they'd probably sell more if instead they said "Big Fear."
It was some time later that they showed up in hang-gliding, mostly to hoots of derision. I always thought a brand called 'Know Fear' would be more plausible, but I'm too lazy to capitalise on it. Feel free.
John
gordy 0
QuoteIs skydiving too safe
No.
Quote>
You can see the latter people at DZ's all the time doing things like comparing skydiving to driving. "Hey, I could get killed driving home!" Well, yeah, and you could get leprosy too, but that doesn't make skydiving any safer.
I think the key issue is what you consider as safe, and what is an acceptable risk. You could be killed in a car accident does that make driving a car not safe? Most people would say driving is quite safe. They are saying even though there are risks, that these risks are not that great, using this view skydiving is "safe" to them. The limit between something being safe and not is completely arbitrary and varies from person to person.
QuotePersonally I enjoy the freedom of skydiving. From the time you leave the plane to getting your feet on the ground you are free and in control of your life. There is nothing else that matters during that time.
This is why I too jump. Over the years skydiving has become much safer thanks to technology, education and a lot of other important factors. Skydiving will always be an extreme sport, every time you make the decision to jump, you are taking your life in your hands, afterall...you can do everything right and still die. I am personally thankful that it has gotten much safer over the years, this hopefully means for me that I will be around much longer to enjoy it.
What I'm talking about is the process of starting in the sport where eevery experience is extreme or perceived as such. Then moving on a bit - now it's just cool and fun and party. Sure there are the risks but hey that's kinda cool too in a "living on the edge" newbie way.
The that innocence is taken away by some experience - a near miss, broken bones in some mishap, friend that gets hurt or friend that gets killed.
So as you say it's always a continuous evaluation of risk vs. reward. However once the innocence is "lost", I don't think you can go back to looking at the sport in the same somewhat naieve and idealistic way.
Maybe I'm way off base here. Just personal experience.
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