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TribalTalon

so what did you do?

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when you got tired of all the drama and people talking shit about everybody else, and people getting hurt? a good friend of mine had a canopy collision on landing today, i didnt see it but when i ran out and saw him laying there, i thought he was dead. thats my one nightmare about this sport, seeing one of my close friends die. along with all the other stuff that's been going on lately, just makes it seem like taking an extended break wouldnt be such a bad idea. i'm also still pretty hard up on cash, and having a extra couple grand in the bank would be really nice right now. i'm only 20, and i'll be finished with this school by next summer, (a&p school) and lately i'm beginning to find that its getting easier and easier to find something else to do on my weekends, even when its gorgeous outside. Skydiving is definitely the greatest thing that i've ever done, i cant explain the joy and happiness i have when i'm in the air, but all this shit happening on the ground just isnt cool. *sighs* i guess i'll just keep thinking, but for now, feel free to extend your feedback and whatever else you have to offer. :)

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when you got tired of all the drama and people talking shit about everybody else, and people getting hurt?



I took two years off and played around with some other sports to see if I enjoyed them as much as I did skydiving.

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The longer you stay in the sport, the more you will see it. Ask anyone that has been in the sport for some time and they have buried a jumper they knew, and others have buried friends. People will continue to get hurt, people will not listen to those trying to keep them alive, there will be politics at the DZ, you will be broke and never be able to afford all the skydives you want. And there is a good chance you will do something stupid and get hurt.

You have to find your own reasons why you stay in the sport...and it has to be all about what you want, otherwise you won't last. Most people that start the sport tend to drop out within the first three years.

Also, you need to find balance. Make skydiving a part of your life, not all of your life. Taking anything to extremes is unhealthy, and you have to have more than just this sport. Keep your whuffo friends, don't talk jumping to them and have a life away from the DZ.

I used to get wrapped up in the prop turns, and was victim of it a few times....I have since distanced myself from it and found my passion for the sport once more.

I have lost too many friends to the sport already, but I know that they would not want to be the reason why I quit. I know if I got hurt or went in I wouldn't want anyone to quit because of me.
_________________________________________
you can burn the land and boil the sea, but you can't take the sky from me....
I WILL fly again.....

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Don,
I'm so sorry to hear about your friend. Sounds like he was lucky.

Politics will always be there. I have found that since I do most of my jumps traveling, I don't get caught up in the politics. (traveling also allows me to meet really neat people like you) I know with you being a student, that isn't easy to do. Maybe cut down on the amount of time you spend at the DZ on weekends. Just go out there during the week. When I met you, it was a weekday, and there sure wasn't much of a crowd to worry about with politics.

Accidents and death will always be a part of this sport. It's hardest when it happens to a close friend or right in front of you. Hopefully some of the jumpers at your DZ have learned from what they saw today. I don't have a magic wand that I can wave over you to help take away the feelings that you have right now. Maybe a break from the DZ will refresh you.
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

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I feel that if i just head to another DZ one weekend and meet some new people i am totally re-energized in the sport. Sometimes you just need a change of atmosphere a while.



"Pilots without Maintainers are just pedestrians with cool jackets and sunglasses"

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I can definitely see where you are coming from. I love this sport and I can see that it could very easily become a problem because I sometimes forget I have other parts to my life. While my obessession with the air may be fulfilling for now, if it is all I live for it will soon be hollow and leave me empty.

I think most of us are that so called "type-addictive" personalities and we need to keep everything in perspective. If we spend all of our time at the DZ it will become hard NOT to get wrapped up in the "As the Prop Turns" crap.

I have two DZ's that I currently alternate between, so that I always have a change of scenery.

But I also keep other areas of my life active: family, "wuffo friends", church, school, motorcycles, etc.

I could, however, see me easily getting to involved in this sport and then I would get burned out on it. I think we all could. But that is not so much about the sport as it is about being single tracked. If it was some other sport, or work, or whatever you choose to name, the story would be the same.

Perspective it what we need to keep. With all areas of our lives, especially the addictive areasB|.

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all the drama and people talking shit about everybody else, and people getting hurt?

Skydiving is a community. People will talk trash, create drama, get hurt or die in that community.

The same things happen in other communities as well.

I've known several co-workers that have died throughout the years. Heart attacks. Motorcycle accidents. suicide. etc. The longer I live, the longer the list.

Pretty much anyone in their 30's and on have experienced the same types of things. And odds are you will too. It's always sad when it happens. But the only way to avoid it is to live in a cave. And then your favorite bat will die. It sucks, but it's life.

If it's time to take a break from the air, take it. It's not a crime. If you need to edit that drama out of your life for a while, bank a little circus money, that's really ok.

Blue skies'll be there when you're ready for 'em again.

I'm glad your friends are ok.
“There are more things in Heaven and Earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophies.”

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Sigh - this thread hits home for me. I love skydiving so much - but so much frusteration is created by people being jerks on the ground. WE ARE ALL SKYDIVERS PEOPLE, LET'S GET ALONG!!!!



I totally agree. I'm tired of all the gossip/egos & people just being snobs. Ultimately, I hope I never have to see a friend of mine get hurt.
~Porn Kitty
WARNING: Goldschlager causes extreme emotional outbursts!

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I often hear that skydivers are like family. I totally agree. Families fight as much or more than skydivers, and there's always that cousin or aunt that you absolutely can't stand, or is causing trouble for everyone. But you probably have a good relationship with most of your family. Same with skydivers. My advice - just like your family - hang out with the ones you get along with, try to resolve differences peaceably with the ones you care about, and ignore the freaks you can't stand.
Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

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