Warning signs of complacency

[rmarshall234 13]

Difficulty in doing your Rubiks cube in ff may best be explained by the effects of hypoxia. If you ever get a chance, attend a session in a hyperbaric chamber, one will learn the effects of hypoxia in a controlled environment. One of the experiments is to have you *attempt* simple math problems such as 3 plus 4. Also, one of the first things to "go" is your color vision - at altitudes as low as 5,000 ft msl.

[airathanas 0]

It's pretty amazing that complacency is something that jumpers of ALL experience levels can have. I was disappointed last weekend to see 100-jump-wonders getting complacent because they think that once you have your A license, you know everything. For example, they were simply holding their helmets on take off, and taking their seatbelts off at 800 ft. I even saw a seatbelt that had been re-connected during that day.

http://3ringnecklace.com/

[popsjumper 2]

So SPEAK UP, Beth. Don't let them get away with it!

My reality and yours are quite different.
I think we're all Bozos on this bus.
Falcon5232, SCS8170, SCSA353, POPS9398, DS239

[fasted3 0]

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So SPEAK UP, Beth. Don't let them get away with it!

Great point, and very relevent. In fact, I think not saying anything is complacent, while the young jumpers were more a case of not knowing what they don't know. Word games I admit.
The term itself lends itself to it though. Any mistake can probably be written off to complacency, so it's of limited value in preventing errors. Don't be complacent. OK, great.
Another reason I dislike it is that it frequently goes along with, don't be complacent, anything can happen. Actually, some things can NOT happen. Not if you want to stay alive, anyway.
I check my gear, but don't live in a state of panic that I've got it on right. I have other things to worry about on a skydive, and by the time I'm out the door, I am not worrying about whether I'm wearing my rig or not.
Some see that as complacent, but I don't. I have considered the implications of gearing up wrong and developed methods and procedures that make me confident I will get it right. I still double check my stuff and appreciate others looking out for me, but it's just not an area that I feel needs any more work on my part than I'm already doing.
I am fully aware that any number of things can go wrong on a skydive, and certainly want to anticipate and prevent all of them. If I make a mistake I want to own up to it and prevent it from happening again.
I will not accept or take comfort from the idea that 'shit happens' and I am powerless to do anything about it.
Don't get me wrong; it is useful to look for complacency in one's self.
It would be complacent not to.

But what do I know?

[airathanas 0]

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So SPEAK UP, Beth. Don't let them get away with it!

Good point Andy~ I guess I should have included in my first post that I did say something to those who were securing their helmets. I will admit, that I did not say anything to the guy that consistently took off his selt belt too early. I will say something next time though. Thanks for the reminder!

http://3ringnecklace.com/

[linebckr83 3]

I'll be the first to own up to being complacent. I was that "typical" newbie who thought since I had the huge number of 100 jumps I was something special. I took my helmet off early and unbuckled my seatbelt early. I think the point of "not knowing what you don't know" is HUGE. Now when I think about what I know now that I didn't then, I wonder about how much I don't know now. It's a humbling act.

A lot of complacent people I know have the idea that "I only do 4-ways out of a cessna and fly a moderately loaded canopy". They think nothing can happen to them and therefore don't go out of their way to learn anything. These are the same people that lecture me on reading the incident reports "because those damn swoopers and VRW guys aren't around here". They say its a false representation on danger.

But I don't read the incident reports to think to myself "Oh I'm not loaded 2:1 so I won't hook it in" or "Oh I have an AAD so I don't need to worry about that". Many people read them to reassure themselves that since they don't do certain things they are safe. I read them because shit happens and I'm still too inexperienced to think things through completely on my own. Turning low to get into the wind, attempting freefly maneveurs with a non-freefly friendly rig, wearing big gloves and jackets in the winter, etc etc seem like common sense to alot of us, but for us low experienced jumpers, it is all new and won't necessarily raise a red flag until it is brought up. I read the incident reports to hopefully learn from others. Maybe someday when the shit hits the fan I will be prepared because I read and thought about discussions on what to do in that situation. Too many people don't think it thru. One day a couple months ago, I randomly walked around our small dz engaging people in the conversation of "what would you do if". Its pretty alarming how many people don't know what they'll do with baglocks, lineovers, etc.

You're right. It isn't about trying to convince yourself that you'll be safe forever. Its about adding more tools to the toolbox. You never know which one you'll need and when.

"Are you coming to the party?
Oh I'm coming, but I won't be there!"
Flying Hellfish #828
Dudist #52

[beowulf 1]

Good post!

I prefer to try and learn from other peoples mistakes rather then making those mistakes myself and then having to learn the lesson.