linuxguy 0 #1 June 18, 2003 Have u guys ever had pressure from family and friends to stop skydiving? I have only done 30 jumps and was at the dropzone with 4 friends ( 1 of which is a very very good friend - he has done 60 jumps) He was on one load before myself and 3 other friends and was jumping a canopy he had never jumped before. Anyways we watched him comming in to land and he (admits he made a big mistake - "whether it was lack of concentration or whatever) but he hit the ground very very hard and Thank G-D ( a million times) the injuries he sufferred are not to serious, he is gonna have a backbrace for 5 months and has said that he wants to jump again. The accident freaked out of a a lot of ppl esp non jumping friends ( I did 2 jumps the next day after spending the day at hospital with him) I had to see whether this is something that I could still enjoy and Love ( I decided I did really enjoy it) I feel that I am putting a lot of emotional strain on my loved ones when I do jump ( they do not understand that my friend made a mistake) and I think they feel really scared it will happen to me. I am feeling torn as I would really like to jump ( I do understand the risks - and feel I can cope with them), however I do not want friends and esp my family to worry about me any comments ?? suggestions ?? have u had similar situations ?? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
leroydb 0 #2 June 18, 2003 Friends and family will worry about you no matter what you do. Best you can do is tell them how safe the sport is and that you love jumping. Tell you them you will be safer in the air than driving in a car, etc...Leroy ..I knew I was an unwanted baby when I saw my bath toys were a toaster and a radio... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
freakydiver 0 #3 June 18, 2003 If you practice safety you can generally avoid any kind of incident - I certainly have for my 10 years in the sport. It really is a very safe sport if you do an odds type of comparison - maybe you should quit driving in a car if you really want to be safe. You have to do what YOU want with YOUR life to be happy, and I know that if I didn't find skydiving, I wouldn't have met so many wonderful people, seen so many beautiful places, and had literally some of the most memorable moments I've ever had. Not boasting here, but I've had a pretty lucky life in terms of having parents who took us to gazillions of national parks and taught us things like backcountry skiing so I've been to and seen many many amazing places, but all and all, skydving still, by far, never ceases to amaze me in terms of its participants and how they generally care for one another as a family. Perhaps really educating them on the safety aspect of the sport (like overkill educating) is a good approach. Keep drilling it into them that they drive in cars and that is on order of a magnitude more dangerous than jumping out of an airplane (and no, there is no such thing as a perfectly good airplane). Good luck, and live for yourself first and foremost. -- (N.DG) "If all else fails – at least try and look under control." -- Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CrazyIvan 0 #4 June 18, 2003 [Yoda voice] Mmmmmm....I'd ask your family: If you see someone driving a car, and then that someone got into an accident, would you forbid me to drive? would YOU stop driving as well? [/Yoda voice]__________________________________________ Blue Skies and May the Force be with you. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kingbunky 3 #5 June 18, 2003 i've been warned by my so that the first cast or surgery as a result of skydiving will mark my last jump. i'll just be careful. "Hang on a sec, the young'uns are throwin' beer cans at a golf cart." MB4252 TDS699 killing threads since 2001 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DTOXX 0 #6 June 18, 2003 While my wife does not pressure me to stop she does wonder why EVERYTHING I do seems to make it on to Real TV... ------- D.T. Holder SIMstudy Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MrHixxx 0 #7 June 18, 2003 I think you are probably alright jumping if it is your whuffo friends telling you not to. Now if your skydiving friends start telling you not to jump, then there is cause for worry... -Hixxxdeath,as men call him, ends what they call men -but beauty is more now than dying’s when Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SkydiveMonkey 0 #8 June 18, 2003 People tend to think skydiving is more dangerous because if anything happens it's in the news etc. What about the 1000's of people that are injured / die every day in road accidents? You never hear anything about those therefore driving must be safe ____________________ Say no to subliminal messages Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CrazyIvan 0 #9 June 18, 2003 QuotePeople tend to think skydiving is more dangerous because if anything happens it's in the news etc. What about the 1000's of people that are injured / die every day in road accidents? You never hear anything about those therefore driving must be safe EXACTLY!!__________________________________________ Blue Skies and May the Force be with you. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Snowflake 0 #10 June 18, 2003 my .02 QuoteHave u guys ever had pressure from family and friends to stop skydiving? Nope....they know if they tried I'd tell them to go pound rocks it's my life!! People die in the bathtub on the stairs in cars yet you never hear people telling you not to wash walk or drive. I see it as a perception difference. Most people think they are safer then they truly are and don't like to be reminded of how dangerous life really is. As an example most people drive around in 2 ton machines at speeds that make impact possibly lethal and they think nothing of it yet more people are scared to fly then drive despite the statistics that say flying is safer. Couple that with the fear of falling that most humans have and you get a lot of irrational reasons why you shouldn't jump from people that know nothing about skydiving. Now how informed can these critics be. I personally don't listen to the uninformed they tend to rely on emotional rather than logical arguments Life is a dangerous sport skydiving or not it's your life don't let others tell you how to live it Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
riddler 0 #11 June 18, 2003 QuotePeople tend to think skydiving is more dangerous because if anything happens it's in the news etc. People are also naturally afraid of what they don't understand. People in our society take all sorts of "acceptable" risks every day, but that's only because they've gotten used to them. I think people that drive to work every day are crazy - I've seen lots of bad car accidents during rush hour. But people still do it - they think it's perfectly normal and they feel safe doing it. Personally I feel like I'm in a little bit of danger when I'm jumping, and I think that gives me an advantage when it comes to safety.Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Remster 30 #12 June 18, 2003 QuoteTell you them you will be safer in the air than driving in a car, etc... and then QuoteIt really is a very safe sport if you do an odds type of comparison - maybe you should quit driving in a car if you really want to be safe. [sigh] as long as you know that you're bullshitting them, go ahead and tell them that.Remster Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Luminous 0 #13 June 18, 2003 Just curious, have any of the people putting pressure on you actually stepped foot onto a Drop Zone? I find that when people bring their family and friends to the DZ to actually see what goes on, the precautions taken, the training, etc... it tends to ease their fears about the sport. Some people will never be convinced. I have a friend who USED to skydive who's wife (then fiancee) told me "thousands of people needlessly die each year from skydiving". WTF? she had no facts to base this on, just her opinion which I imagine she holds to this day. My parents didn't stop freaking out till after I showed them all the preperations and planning that went into a skydive. And explained about the gear, main & reserve etc... They still don't really understand, (how could they? they don't jump.), but they accept that it's something I do. And while your friend wound up making a mistake and getting hurt, (glad he's ok), he could have done the same thing in an automobile, on a motorcycle, playing baseball, walking down the street, etc... Let them know it's something your going to be doing and they can choose to learn a bit more about it, or not. Have Fun, Be Safe. BSBD Larry'In an insane society a sane person seems insane.' Mr. Spock Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TheAnvil 0 #14 June 18, 2003 People pressure me to quit all of the time. I just tell them that when they've been to a DZ, seen how safety conscious we are, and learn something about the sport, I'll have respect for their opinions concerning it. Beers, The Anvil Vinny the Anvil Post Traumatic Didn't Make The Lakers Syndrome is REAL JACKASS POWER!!!!!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ERICCONNELLY 0 #15 June 18, 2003 Hey. You could also make a mistake. We all can. Don't try to fool yourself or anyone else, jumping out of airplanes is an inherently risky thing to do. There are a lot of things we do to control these risks but the fact is you can get hurt or killed in this sport. Jump for yourself, let the people that care about you know that you understand and accept the risks, and will do everything you can to not get hurt. It's your life, enjoy it! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
HRHSkyPrincess 0 #16 June 18, 2003 When people ask me if I'm afraid or worry about getting seriously injured or killed I tell them, quite sincerely, that the scariest and most dangerous part of my skydive is getting on Interstate 35 to drive to the dz! Keep in mind we all have to make life choices. You have chosen one of the most life affirming experiences on the planet! Gently, but firmly, tell your friends and family that you are not asking their permission or even blessing, but rather you are inviting them to share your joy! Blue Skies, D.***************** Attitude is everything! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
HRHSkyPrincess 0 #17 June 18, 2003 Hmmm....the S O is making threats, eh? Hmmm....maybe the S O shoudl take a hike! Crikey!! :)***************** Attitude is everything! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
HRHSkyPrincess 0 #18 June 18, 2003 RIGHT ON, BABY! Kiss Kiss!!***************** Attitude is everything! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
crapflinger2000 1 #19 June 18, 2003 It is sad, but these days I would NOT bring any non-skydiving family or friends out to the DZ. I think the chances these days of seeing some yahoo pound themselves in while trying to emulate a swoop or something is so much higher these days than they were like 7-8 years ago... better to let them THINK their thoughts than to SHOW them some bad juju and have them walk away with a distorted picture of the sport.... __________________________________________________ What would Vic Mackey do? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Laurel 0 #20 June 18, 2003 My parents and one of my sisters hate that I jump, but they know I am a grow'd-ass woman and will do it anyway. They raised this hard-headed, spoiled brat...................................................................... PMS#28, Pelogrande Rodriguez#1074 My Pink M Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Skyrose7 0 #21 June 18, 2003 I think any skydiver who has any whuffos who care about them go throught this when they start the sport. I think you just need to somehow express how much skydiving is a part of your life and how much you love it. Skydiving makes me feel alive, don't be afraid to live. In the end, you are responsible for the roads you pick in life....not your friends. good luck!~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The mind is like a parachute--it works better when it is open. JUMP. MaryRose Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
geanky 0 #22 June 18, 2003 i get this all the time from my family but i just learned to deal with it....now i just don't mention anything skydiving related to them learn to fly in 3d Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lizzieb 0 #23 June 18, 2003 no one has ever pressured me to stop skydiving, but my parents do always tell me to be careful and be safe. i know they worry about me every weekend. a lot of my non-skydiving friends just think i'm a little wacko...they worry about me too, but don't verbalize it as much as my family. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rehmwa 2 #24 June 18, 2003 Smile and walk away. It's nobody's business. ... Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skreamer 1 #25 June 18, 2003 QuoteIf you practice safety you can generally avoid any kind of incident - I certainly have for my 10 years in the sport. How many jumps have you done in those 10 years? How can you practice safety to avoid a glider in freefall? How can you practice safety to prevent the jump plane crashing on take-off? How can you practice safety to prevent someone else from flying into your canopy from behind? Yes, you can practice safety and be safer but will that enable you to generally avoid any incident? No, I don't think so and sugar-coating it with statistics and comparisons to driving a car is doing a disservice to newbies. I take a calculated risk everytime I choose to jump from a plane, I am aware that skydiving is not safe and that the next jump could be my last. However the pleasure I get still outweighs the risk I take. Will Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
