If you knew you'd die skydiving...

[kelel01 1]

That's a definite no. Without a timeline, I was unsure, but the next jump? I'm fucking done.

[LawnDart21 0]

If anyone answers yes now, we need to call Dr. Phil ASAP!

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My other ride is a RESERVE.

[kbordson 8]

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If anyone answers yes now, we need to call Dr. Phil ASAP!

I still would probably stand by my answer. I would make the jump.
And no, I'm not lying, I'm not trying to be a braggard, I'm not casual about my thoughts.
Dying while skydiving... you still don't know - is it a heart attack that would have happened whether you were in the air or not, an arotic rupture that had you not been jumping you could theorize you might have been rushed to the hospital to be "saved" but on a vent now for the duration because of the hypoxia that occured when transporting you, or a double mal that you tried valiantly to fight but wasn't able to clear it.
If it's your "time," that's it. I would still fight, just in case. And for the sake of patients, I encourage them to have hope and reach for the future. But death is no respector.... I can plan, dream and imagine, but I WILL die and just not jumping will not make me immortal. Until that time, I will live. In living, I will learn, experience, feel, touch, dream, and do anything possible to fully experience my time here.

But.... that's just my thought process... you can ridicule or demean if it's not in line with your beliefs, or you can just accept that each person acknowledges death in different ways.

Karen

[Conundrum 1]

You jump tomorrow and die, period. If you don't jump, you don't die. Yet, you'd still do it?

I don't understand....?

[LawnDart21 0]

I'll admit, when I had a 100 jumps, I was "dying" to get on any plane I could too.......but I think your taking it a bit too literally........lol

Like I said before, skydiving isn't the Holy Grail, it's not the end all be all of existence. When I was 27 I read Anne Rice's The Mummy on the steps of the Notre Dame catherdral. I once even threw dice at the Monte Carlo casino in Monaco. Both events are just as meaningful to me as any skydive I have made. I've got a long list left of things I plan to do before I cash in my chips, and a single skydive isnt worth giving that up. If I had the choice to make one more skydive that would definitely kill me, or not skydive and maybe be able to wake up next to my wife for another 50 years?

You can have that last skydive, I'll keep waking up to my wife and my next book.

Edit to add, I don't see in my post where I:

"you can ridicule or demean if it's not in line with your beliefs"

If your referring to my Dr. Phil comment, you might want to reference the word "sarcasm" in Websters dictionary. I certainly hope you didnt take my comment literally...........

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My other ride is a RESERVE.

[kbordson 8]

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I don't understand....?

You don't have to.

It's not that I have a death wish, nor do I want to even "tempt the fates"... I just want to live as fully and completely as possible for as long as I can. Do I want to die at 34? HELL NO! Do I want to live to 80's in a nursing home after a stroke? Just as emphatic, HELL NO!
I live as if I'm going to be healthy untiil I'm in my 90's or 100's, but don't fear decisions that might shorten it. I eat well and stay in shape so that I don't develop diabetes like both of my parents and my sisters have. I drive fast, but not reckless. I get the annual exams needed to ensure that I'm as healthy as I can be.... but I'm still leaving for Peru on Thursday on a medical mission, I still will skydive, I still will trust humanity by picking up hitchhikers or helping those with their cars broke down on the highway.... I fully realize that I could die doing any one of those. But life is about knowing the risks and weighing them against the benefits....
I tell patients "you do this treatment, you have this survival rate... you don't do it, you have that survival rate...." It's their choice, not mine. They have to weigh the risks/benefits. Everyone has different beliefs and values.... if we were arguing about those, this would be bumped to SC... so lets just keep it as a poll of thoughts and perceptions... not a judgemental type thread.

[Conundrum 1]

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Do I want to die at 34? HELL NO!

Then why would you still jump if you new the next jump you did would kill you? it just doens't make sense!

[kbordson 8]

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Do I want to die at 34? HELL NO!

Then why would you still jump if you new the next jump you did would kill you? it just doens't make sense!

Would it be better if everyone in the world just smiled and nodded and agreed with your opinions? That's not life. You don't have to believe other peoples beliefs to acknowledge that their entitled to them. I tell pregnant women not to use cocaine because of the effects to them, their babies, and risks of placental abruption.... some of them still use - not my place to judge the "sense" of it. I don't see it, but it's their life. I make post for women not to jump past the first trimester... some of them don't - their choice and decisions. A Jehovah witness bleeding out... doesn't want the blood. Her choice based on her religion.
Just accept that people have different goals, beliefs, and views on life and death.
But... you know that you are influencing the results of this study and biasing the responses by your statements..... Who else would be snotty or snide enough to stand up?

Karen

[upndownshop 0]

Hell yes I would still jump!!

Don't want to die any other way.

If I could choose how I would die during that jump it would be just like my fathers. Heart attack during deployment...never land.

No I don't have a death wish, just don't want to die in a car or doing normal things, like life itself...

In a way I kinda feel like every jump could be death...keeps the respect..keeps me on my toes...

Don't we say that once you take it for granted it bites you....so isn't that the same thing.

I dunno just my weird mind I guess.


Hey shut up over there!! Oh never mind that was me.....

[Conundrum 1]

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Do I want to die at 34? HELL NO!

Then why would you still jump if you new the next jump you did would kill you? it just doens't make sense!

Would it be better if everyone in the world just smiled and nodded and agreed with your opinions? That's not life. You don't have to believe other peoples beliefs to acknowledge that their entitled to them. I tell pregnant women not to use cocaine because of the effects to them, their babies, and risks of placental abruption.... some of them still use - not my place to judge the "sense" of it. I don't see it, but it's their life. I make post for women not to jump past the first trimester... some of them don't - their choice and decisions. A Jehovah witness bleeding out... doesn't want the blood. Her choice based on her religion.
Just accept that people have different goals, beliefs, and views on life and death.
But... you know that you are influencing the results of this study and biasing the responses by your statements..... Who else would be snotty or snide enough to stand up?

Karen

lol, no need to get defensive. Saying you don't want to die at 34, but then saying you'd jump if you knew the next jump would kill you.... just doesn't make sense to me, that's like saying... I know this poison will kill me if I drink it, and I don't want to die... but I'm going to drink it anyway. It doesn't mean that I don't accept that you are entitled to your opinion.

[kbordson 8]

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lol, no need to get defensive. Saying you don't want to die at 34, but then saying you'd jump if you knew the next jump would kill you.... just doesn't make sense to me, that's like saying... I know this poison will kill me if I drink it, and I don't want to die... but I'm going to drink it anyway. It doesn't mean that I don't accept that you are entitled to your opinion.

I'm not saying that I'll be jumping a 97 whatever without a cypres in 45 mph winds with gusts and swooping my landing. But if I feel that the weather is within my capabilities, and I'm feeling healthy, awake and desiring to jump.... I would jump.
If you told me that I would get Hepatitis C from doing a c-section... and it was something that was indicated, I was the only doctor, I used all the precautions that I typically do.... I would cut.
If you said that a whale would suddenly materialize and fall out of the sky to land on me if I turned right instead of left and I needed to go right to get to the park.... not being difficult, but I would do what I needed to do in life to make mine meaningful.
I just refuse to hide in the basement with padded corners to escape from the inevitable. I have lived a KICK ASS 34 years and hope for just as many.... but I don't want those to be at the cost of truly living.
but anyway... just my opinion......
But, enough about me - anyone else wanna either back me up or tell their reasons on why "yes" or "no"?

Karen

[flyclearjohn 0]

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I think it's honourable to die doing something that you love.

There is not honor in dying, just death. And death is permanent.

Some of the people here need a reality check.

Sparky

What, the reality of quitting and waiting to die from ass cancer?

Don't know anything about honor in death but of all the deaths I've seen (far too many) skydiving just about tops the list preferred ways to go.

Live life while you can. If it kills you, at least you have lived.

[linny 1]

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lol, no need to get defensive. Saying you don't want to die at 34, but then saying you'd jump if you knew the next jump would kill you.... just doesn't make sense to me, that's like saying... I know this poison will kill me if I drink it, and I don't want to die... but I'm going to drink it anyway. It doesn't mean that I don't accept that you are entitled to your opinion.

I'm not saying that I'll be jumping a 97 whatever without a cypres in 45 mph winds with gusts and swooping my landing. But if I feel that the weather is within my capabilities, and I'm feeling healthy, awake and desiring to jump.... I would jump.
If you told me that I would get Hepatitis C from doing a c-section... and it was something that was indicated, I was the only doctor, I used all the precautions that I typically do.... I would cut.
If you said that a whale would suddenly materialize and fall out of the sky to land on me if I turned right instead of left and I needed to go right to get to the park.... not being difficult, but I would do what I needed to do in life to make mine meaningful.
I just refuse to hide in the basement with padded corners to escape from the inevitable. I have lived a KICK ASS 34 years and hope for just as many.... but I don't want those to be at the cost of truly living.
but anyway... just my opinion......
But, enough about me - anyone else wanna either back me up or tell their reasons on why "yes" or "no"?

Karen

Karen, if I understand you correctly, you're trying to say that when it's your time to go, it's your time to go....whether or not you died tomorrow on your next jump or lying in bed from a brain hemorrage? If you're supposed to die at 4:46PM on Friday then you're gonna die at 4:45 on Friday regardless of what you're doing.???
If this is what you're getting at, then I COMPLETELY understand that. I actually believe that very idea.
.... however.... I'm not sure if I could bring myself to jump if I KNEW for CERTAIN that I wouldn't make it back.
Definitely something to think about.

BTW, I said yes to the original question. Still thinking about the second one though.

BTW#2 I applaud you karen for standing up. Thanks for the thought provoking question as well Chelle

peace

[kbordson 8]

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if I understand you correctly, you're trying to say that when it's your time to go, it's your time to go....whether or not you died tomorrow on your next jump or lying in bed from a brain hemorrage? If you're supposed to die at 4:46PM on Friday then you're gonna die at 4:46 on Friday regardless of what you're doing.???
If this is what you're getting at, then I COMPLETELY understand that. I actually believe that very idea.
.... however.... I'm not sure if I could bring myself to jump if I KNEW for CERTAIN that I wouldn't make it back.

Yup. But, luckily I don't know, so I hope that I get to enjoy every minute up to 4:45.....

And I've noticed... that there are 41 views of this, but no-one commented?! Come on, peoples.... share, I noticed that the vote is now 60% yes and 40% no. Who voted what... why.... (geessss.... I'm just a step up from a lurker and I shared....) -gauntlet thrown.

[MikeForsythe 0]

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-gauntlet thrown.

I did share....gauntlet thrown back at you!

Time and pressure will always show you who a person really is!

[SkiD_PL8 0]

If I knew I would die skydiving at some point I would still jump. I am going to die of something eventually anyway. I jump to live, but if that means eventually it will kill me then so be it. I just refuse to live my life being afraid to die.

Greenie in training.

[airtwardo 7]

If you knew you'd die skydiving...


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No!


dumb question...



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~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~

[skylord 1]

Karen,

I'm view #42. I think what I am having trouble understanding is the assumption that in old age you'll be sick and/or debilitated. My grandmother died at 84 from cancer. We watched her waste away, and I don't want to go like that. But for 83 years, she was at her prime, she never slowed a bit in body or mind. A bit of exaggeration there, but she still put in 10 hour workdays up until her last couple months.

I'm 46, in reasonably good health, I stay active, but I would not let what I may be like in my eighties influence a decision about whether I see tomorrow or not. Me personally, I'd throw in the towel and watch my skydive DVDs with my family, born and unborn explaining what a fun time it was, but I'm having more fun seeing them.

Another country heard from, I guess.

Bob

Bob Marks

"-when you leave the airplane its all wrong til it goes right, its a whole different mindset, this is why you have system redundancy." Mattaman

[jimbarry 0]

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Haven't you ever seen Minority Report?

I thought the point of that movie was just the opposite.

[pds 0]

well, i dont want to die skydiving. aside from animal instinct to live, going in is messy in a lot of ways. it leaves a very wide wake.

getting dead skydiving is easy enough, but avoidable. if it were unavoidable i would stop.

just my 8 satangs worth....

namaste, motherfucker.

[Cyanide41 0]

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Yes I would do it....I would die happy. I would rather go that way than to die drowning. For some reason drowning is a bigger fear for me.

What if you landed face first in the swoop pond and drowned there!?

JAMES

[Zenister 0]

absolutely... i'd still jump, climb, ski...

many things i enjoy carry a significant chance of fatality.. death is a part of life.. you cant avoid it, no matter how hard you try.. some day some where you will hear the sound of her wings..... and i'd rather go doing something i loved than something stupid like a car wreck...

but then i structure my life specifically so that i can risk it in any manner i chose.. no one depends on me but me... there are people i'd die for if it was a choice, but no matter what you cant live for them... thats not really life at all...

then again... if i KNEW skydiving is what would kill me... imagine the REALLY sick shit i could get away with outside the sport

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Those who fail to learn from the past are simply Doomed.

[Zenister 0]

so for everyone who answered "hell NO" "your crazy"

lets suppose that knowing skydiving would kill you if you continued, you sold your gear, walked off the DZ and were promptly hit by a blue hair in a land sled while crossing the street..

would you still feel (in that instant of epiphany as the LTD barrels down on you) that quitting was worth it??

if knowing the manner of your death would somehow interfere with the manner you actually live in the first place, then you have deeper issues than anyone you've mistakenly attributed a 'suicidal tendency' to...

live! full force ten.. every moment of every day... because it could very well be your last, and there isnt any sense in dying with regrets or horizons unseen...

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Those who fail to learn from the past are simply Doomed.

[Tonto 1]

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no one depends on me but me...

Really? What about how you fly your landing pattern, how hard you dock on a formation, whether you stop at red lights or stay on your side of the road?

We are all inter dependant.

t

It's the year of the Pig.

[Zenister 0]

ah well in that manner yes.. we all depend on the social norms that dictate which side of the road we keep our vehicles on..

but as a matter of life and livelihood, i do not support anyone other than myself and whatever cause i happen to be interested in.. there are a great many things about my life i wouldnt do in the way that I do if i had kids (for example) who's future depended on how i live my life, or how long i live...


recent discussion with one of my mentors[/I]

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hmm, i fall out of planes for a living, jump off any and every object i can find, occasionally vanish to the ends of the earth for multi-day binges, road trips, climbing and whitewater expeditions....do i really HAVE to see a counselor to get a vasectomy at 28? It shouldn’t take a PhD to figure out having that ME having children is a really bad idea....

I’m a bit older… but for the most part, just as ‘unattached’. Perhaps it would have been more accurate to say ‘the only one I’m [I]responsible[/I] for is myself’ Everyone has to decide for themselves where their priorities lie… personally I’m here to see and experience as much as I possibly can, in anyway, shape or form that it comes… sometimes that means I’m trying to poke the proverbial tiger with a flaming stick… but then I can say I’ve seen the tiger REALLY pissed… and it was worth every second….

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Those who fail to learn from the past are simply Doomed.