"There are countless horrible things happening all over the world and horrible people prospering, but we must never allow them to disturb our equanimity or deflect us from our sacred duty to sabotage and annoy them whenever possible." -Auberon Waugh
Wednesday, January 17, 2024
Thanks, but no, thanks
I don't know what it is about humans and thrill-seeking, but on my most carefree, adventure-craving day, I wouldn't be doing any of this stuff.
As more and more people have money and time for leisure (thanks, capitalism!) people look for more and more novel things to do. And given the major reduction of risk in daily life, people who risk nothing more hazardous than a paper cut seek the illusion of danger.
Which is, I suppose, fine. But what seems less than fine is my suspicion that most of these "interesting" extreme recreation activities appear to be in places outside the US and Western Europe. You know, the places where "occupational safety" is not even a concept.
For all of history, danger lurked everywhere. Nowadays people in America need to look for it. Well, we used to. FJB's Brain Trust is bringing it to us.
I've never had a paralyzing fear of heights, so a lot of those 'activities' I probably would have tried when I was younger. Maybe not so much now that I'm an old man with reduced physical abilities.
But what V said is true. The real danger to us these days was 'elected'!
When I were a (much) younger man, and looking at the Army as a career, I was considering going to jump school, i.e., learning how to jump out of aircraft into combat.
My father, who was a fighter pilot in WWII, had the "distinction" of being shot down over Sicily, resulting in his bailing out of his burning P38. He also met more than a few Airborne troopers who survived a drop into a combat zone. Dad thus offered me this advice:
"Jeff, only three things fall from the sky: bombs, birdshit, and fools."
I would offer similar advice to the thrill seekers making use of these extreme attractions. That adrenaline rush is really nice, but not worth serious injuries and/or your life.
I should also note that a friend of mine got himself killed in a very stupid manner -- he was an adrenaline junkie (that's a real thing) to the end.
I just saw something a day or two ago about how difficult it was to bail out of a P-38 without serious injury, or death, because of the location of the horizontal stabilizer behind the cockpit. Jeff, it sounds like your dad did it right.
As per Dad, the plane was burning, but still stable, so he opened the canopy, climbed out on the boom, and ran off the end of the wing.
But Dad did chuckle about one thing: parachute rip cord handles were made entirely from aluminum, a costly and critical metal back then. Pilots were given an informal "Golden Caterpillar" award if they brought theirs back after bailing out.
Well, in the midst of a raging battle, in all that danger, floating down into German occupied territory, Dad was totally focused and completely pissed that he dropped his.
As more and more people have money and time for leisure (thanks, capitalism!) people look for more and more novel things to do. And given the major reduction of risk in daily life, people who risk nothing more hazardous than a paper cut seek the illusion of danger.
ReplyDeleteWhich is, I suppose, fine. But what seems less than fine is my suspicion that most of these "interesting" extreme recreation activities appear to be in places outside the US and Western Europe. You know, the places where "occupational safety" is not even a concept.
Excellent point. Even more reason to keep one's feet on the ground when abroad.
ReplyDeleteFor all of history, danger lurked everywhere.
ReplyDeleteNowadays people in America need to look for it.
Well, we used to. FJB's Brain Trust is bringing it to us.
If it's real danger you're looking for, get into women's soccer.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ra0PHv1KgbU
This is the sort of action that sporting codes have been trying to eliminate from men's games for years.
I've never had a paralyzing fear of heights, so a lot of those 'activities' I probably would have tried when I was younger. Maybe not so much now that I'm an old man with reduced physical abilities.
ReplyDeleteBut what V said is true. The real danger to us these days was 'elected'!
Uh uh. I won't even get on a roller coaster anymore.
ReplyDeleteWhen I were a (much) younger man, and looking at the Army as a career, I was considering going to jump school, i.e., learning how to jump out of aircraft into combat.
ReplyDeleteMy father, who was a fighter pilot in WWII, had the "distinction" of being shot down over Sicily, resulting in his bailing out of his burning P38. He also met more than a few Airborne troopers who survived a drop into a combat zone. Dad thus offered me this advice:
"Jeff, only three things fall from the sky: bombs, birdshit, and fools."
I would offer similar advice to the thrill seekers making use of these extreme attractions. That adrenaline rush is really nice, but not worth serious injuries and/or your life.
I should also note that a friend of mine got himself killed in a very stupid manner -- he was an adrenaline junkie (that's a real thing) to the end.
"Jeff, only three things fall from the sky: bombs, birdshit, and fools."
ReplyDeleteWords to live by!
I just saw something a day or two ago about how difficult it was to bail out of a P-38 without serious injury, or death, because of the location of the horizontal stabilizer behind the cockpit. Jeff, it sounds like your dad did it right.
ReplyDeleteJeff, it sounds like your dad did it right.
ReplyDeleteYep, or I wouldn't be here! :D
As per Dad, the plane was burning, but still stable, so he opened the canopy, climbed out on the boom, and ran off the end of the wing.
But Dad did chuckle about one thing: parachute rip cord handles were made entirely from aluminum, a costly and critical metal back then. Pilots were given an informal "Golden Caterpillar" award if they brought theirs back after bailing out.
Well, in the midst of a raging battle, in all that danger, floating down into German occupied territory, Dad was totally focused and completely pissed that he dropped his.
Funny things that people worry about, huh?