skydivebeauty 0 #1 July 18, 2013 Hey guys, where I live the legal age for a tandem is 14, and my cousin (we are quite close) did her first one a few months ago and loved it. Now she goes down to the dz every weekend and hangs out (occasionally jumps) because her dad is doing his B-rels. The thing that worries me is that she is getting quite a bit of male attention, from just friendly chat to flirting (there are a couple of 19 year olds, one of them is a tandem instructor and took her for her tandem). Not sure if I should be worried about her. Or will she be fine?? please give your advice, opinions and views, thanks x Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NorrinRadd 0 #2 July 18, 2013 The advice I gave my 14 year old niece is to carry pepper spray. But then again I may be being a little overprotective. If an instructor is giving unwanted attention, then perhaps you can mention it to the DZO (drop zone operator.. the boss) Edit: By 'unwanted', I mean flirtation, or any other form of advance that is inappropriate to give to a minor.Why drive myself crazy trying to be normal, when I am already at crazy? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
oldwomanc6 60 #3 July 18, 2013 I'm curious where her dad is. Have you talked to him (or her mom) about what it's like for a young girl at a DZ. I started jumping at 19 and got a lot of attention that I wouldn't have anywhere else, but there is a world of difference between 19 and 15. Let's face it, it's a heady experience to have that much attention at any age, but for such a young girl, it could be overwhelming to any good sense she may be developing. Her parents may not realize what it's really like for a girl, and would most likely listen to your take on it.lisa WSCR 594 FB 1023 CBDB 9 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Muffie 0 #4 July 18, 2013 I had a friend who started jumping at 15. She was fine because she could handle herself. But she knew other girls who started jumping that young who definitely had some issues. (Seems one of the main instructors at the dz had a habit of choosing a new very young thing each year...) Your cousin's dad's around, so that should help some. When I was 14/15/16 I used to get hit on all the time by guys in their 20s, but when they realized my age they backed off or kept it friendly, but didn't try to move it along. The guys to watch for are the ones that don't back off. My advice--keep an eye on things and (assuming you have any) share a few "men can seem all sweet and nice, but sometimes they only have one goal" stories with her. I had an older brother who drilled that lesson home early. Ultimately, she's going to have to handle this herself because you can't watch her 24/7. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Avikus 0 #5 July 18, 2013 As long as she doesn't get the "OMG they are heroes and saved my life" syndrome and smart about it, she'll be fine! Worst case, whisper "She's 15" at guys that flirt with her!Avikus - Packer and Jumper - Hate landing with the plane! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NorrinRadd 0 #6 July 18, 2013 Give her a T shirt that says "15 years old" and then lists jail time pertinent to the offense.Why drive myself crazy trying to be normal, when I am already at crazy? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Avikus 0 #7 July 18, 2013 NorrinRaddGive her a T shirt that says "15 years old" and then lists jail time pertinent to the offense. This is by far, the best post of the day!Avikus - Packer and Jumper - Hate landing with the plane! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
oldwomanc6 60 #8 July 18, 2013 This thread has some good advice for the both of you, and it's worth a read. http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=3224190;sb=post_latest_reply;so=ASC;forum_view=forum_view_collapsed;;page=unread#unread (Thanks, Andy, for bumping it.)lisa WSCR 594 FB 1023 CBDB 9 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Remster 30 #9 July 18, 2013 Equal opportunity: http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=3225216#3225216 Remster Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
oldwomanc6 60 #10 July 18, 2013 Remster Equal opportunity: http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=3225216#3225216 That's hysterical!lisa WSCR 594 FB 1023 CBDB 9 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Remster 30 #11 July 18, 2013 Thank you very much. Try the lamb, it's delicious.PS: I wonder how many people will get the lube reference... Remster Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
davjohns 1 #12 July 18, 2013 I hate to have to be the one to bring this up. I wish one of the women would have. Is she on birth control? Some guys will back off when they learn she is 15. Some will not. If they don't care about her age and the legal chances, they probably will not protect her from getting pregnant either.I know it just wouldnt be right to kill all the stupid people that we meet.. But do you think it would be appropriate to just remove all of the warning labels and let nature take its course. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BIGUN 1,424 #13 July 18, 2013 From overly flirtatious behavior to.... http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=643272#643272 From Post #3 of that same thread. I have always said you can't conduct a solid demographic study on skydivers. I have jumped with hardcore goodie-two-shoes and I have jumped with total degenerates. That's how it is in this sport. In whatever aspect of your life, you should be careful. Nobody has time to listen; because they're desperately chasing the need of being heard. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wmw999 2,545 #14 July 18, 2013 Yes, that's awesome. Her dad needs to understand what a DZ is really like -- the OP needs to have him come read dz.com for awhile. Either the daughter will stop showing up, or he'll monitor her real carefully. DZO's kids wander around all the time, and rarely seem to get into trouble. It's possible, but it depends in large part on your cousin, too. If she likes the male attention or doesn't have great self-esteem, then the Tshirt is necessary, or maybe she should wait. If she's really actively interested in skydiving and can hold her own, then it might not be. She needs to understand that most of the girls who go from hot skydiver to hot skydiver generally don't end up jumping for very long. Her dad needs to be actively involved in her jumping -- i.e. introduce her as my daughter to the chief instructor, with the kind of look that indicates the caliber of weapon available in the US South . Wendy P. There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NorrinRadd 0 #15 July 18, 2013 QuoteHer dad needs to be actively involved in her jumping -- i.e. introduce her as my daughter to the chief instructor, with the kind of look that indicates the caliber of weapon available in the US South Nice :D Speaking as a male, I can tell you that at 19, we are still chock full of stupid and bad judgment. The OTHER head is still firmly in control. And sometimes we need to be told to ease up, back off. I recall a guy who was 19 hitting pretty hard on my niece, who was 13 (though had the height of a 17 year old), at a friends bbq. I pulled him aside and told him that she was 13. His eyes grew pretty big, he apologized profusely, and stayed well away from her for the rest of the bbq. She was a little mad... he was a good looking kid, and she was just getting into liking attention from boys, but, well, he was no longer a boy.Why drive myself crazy trying to be normal, when I am already at crazy? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Amazon 7 #16 July 18, 2013 NorrinRadd Give her a T shirt that says "15 years old" and then lists jail time pertinent to the offense. +1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
livendive 8 #17 July 18, 2013 Remster PS: I wonder how many people will get the lube reference... Bread & boulders. Blues, Dave"I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!" (drink Mountain Dew) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Remster 30 #18 July 18, 2013 livendive *** PS: I wonder how many people will get the lube reference... Bread & boulders. Blues, Dave Remster Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
normiss 858 #19 July 18, 2013 Funks? Is that you? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skydivebeauty 0 #20 July 19, 2013 don't know who "funks" is. Please stop Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NorrinRadd 0 #21 July 19, 2013 skydivebeauty don't know who "funks" is. Please stop lol AgreedWhy drive myself crazy trying to be normal, when I am already at crazy? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NWFlyer 2 #22 July 19, 2013 I've known a handful of teen girls who've spent time on various dropzones. Each of them was the daughter of a longtime skydiver (or skydivers). The regulars at the DZ knew their parent(s) and in some cases the girls had grown up around the DZ so that by the time they were at the age of budding sexual attractiveness, they'd been known so long they'd become the "kid sister" of the dropzone. They were also, for the most part, raised to be smart, savvy, independent young women who were pretty capable of taking care of themselves around the DZ. In this case, it sounds like her dad's relatively new, but as others have mentioned, it'd be good if he made sure people know clearly that she's his daughter, and to make sure that (at least at first) he's always around the dropzone when he is. As others get to know her, she'll (hopefully) have a whole family of skydivers to keep an eye on her (there's usually plenty of people her parents' age and older who aren't interested in getting in her pants, and there are probably some women around who would be willing to take her under their wing). The key thing is just having her get to know people as part of the DZ family, not "fresh meat." And of course, after hours all bets are off. Just after jumping when people are having a beer or two and maybe grilling up some dinner, no big deal, but as night falls and people start to get rowdy, a dropzone's not a good place for a 15 year old. If you wouldn't take the kid with you a bar or party, don't have 'em around the DZ at party time, either."There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
promise5 17 #23 July 19, 2013 *funks* is a genius at least from what I've read. No matter how slowly you say oranges it never sounds like gullible. Believe me I tried. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
davjohns 1 #24 July 19, 2013 NWFlyer And of course, after hours all bets are off. ...as night falls and people start to get rowdy, a dropzone's not a good place for a 15 year old. DZs and LZs are alike in this respect. I don't drink much and tend to rise early. I always find it amusing to walk across the DZ/LZ to rekindle the fire from the night before. There is always evidence of how far things went the night before. Bodies lying around. Bottles everywhere. Stray clothing. It's amusing so long as it was adults doing it to themselves. You just don't want to find a naked / half naked 15 year old girl in the bed of a truck with some guy(s) the next morning.I know it just wouldnt be right to kill all the stupid people that we meet.. But do you think it would be appropriate to just remove all of the warning labels and let nature take its course. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nataly 38 #25 July 19, 2013 Remster Thank you very much. Try the lamb, it's delicious.PS: I wonder how many people will get the lube reference... EDIT - dammit someone already beat me to it.. "There is no problem so bad you can't make it worse." - Chris Hadfield « Sors le martinet et flagelle toi indigne contrôleuse de gestion. » - my boss Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
