Amazon 7 #1 April 15, 2010 For all of those skydivers who have not accepted the very inconvienient fact that you are indeed mortal yet, trust me eventually you will. I remember a time when I too was invincible. It was not a sustainable state of affairs. I think after losing a few friends the reality started to sink in that maybe everyone was not so invicible but that was them but I certainly was. EVENTUALLY... I realized my mortality!!!!! This is not about those of us with higher jump numbers baggin on those just starting out who obviously have "mAd SkIlLz" its about trying to keep you as young jumpers out of the "Incidents Forum" Some people are more blunt on here that you are willing to accept.. but when you screw up in this and many other "eXtReMe SpOrTzzz" you can get DEAD. Hopefully when you do that, you are not going to take someone else with you. I really do hate opening up the Forums radio button above and seeing a new thread in Incidents. I wonder if its going to be someone else I know. I know... I know.... it can never happen to you........ yeah you...... you know who I am talking to. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jayrech 0 #2 April 15, 2010 Now will all the right ones listen to what you have to say?D.S 174.2 Be careful what you say. Some one might take it the right way. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Andy_Copland 0 #3 April 15, 2010 Quote I know... I know.... it can never happen to you........ yeah you...... you know who I am talking to. Phew, i was worried there for a minute 1338 People aint made of nothin' but water and shit. Until morale improves, the beatings will continue. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
virgin-burner 1 #4 April 15, 2010 so, you're coming to the speedskydiving here or not!? “Some may never live, but the crazy never die.” -Hunter S. Thompson "No. Try not. Do... or do not. There is no try." -Yoda Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sangi 0 #5 April 15, 2010 What about those who realize it, then deny it, then realize it again and then don't care about it?"Dream as you'll live forever, live as you'll die today." James Dean Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Amazon 7 #6 April 15, 2010 Quote so, you're coming to the speedskydiving here or not!? Nope not this year, Work intrudes on my favorite way to play.The sky is my playground, it has no speedlimit imposed by man. There fore I speed. ""Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, Champagne in one hand - strawberries in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming 'WOO HOO - What a Ride!'" " — Mavis Leyrer Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Amazon 7 #7 April 15, 2010 QuoteWhat about those who realize it, then deny it, then realize it again and then don't care about it? Cool, just dont take anyone with you when you go.... and your passing will doubtfully affect you, just those left behind. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kkeenan 14 #8 April 15, 2010 I know what you mean. Last month, we lost two friends in our state on one day. The following weekend, another friend in Texas. This sport seems intent on convincing us of our own mortality. I don't jump as much as I used to. After reading Incident Reports and such on DZ.com for a few weeks, I'm always amazed when I go to the DZ and don't see dozens of mals, botched landings, and injuries. I guess the truth is: 1. Our friends will continue to get hurt and killed skydiving, usually from well-known and documented causes. 2. We will never get used to it. 3. If we do not treat every jump as potentially lethal, the next bounce could be us. Kevin K._____________________________________ Dude, you are so awesome... Can I be on your ash jump ? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kkeenan 14 #9 April 15, 2010 QuoteWhat about those who realize it, then deny it, then realize it again and then don't care about it? Bounce or Bowl - Take your choice._____________________________________ Dude, you are so awesome... Can I be on your ash jump ? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
airtwardo 7 #10 April 15, 2010 Quote What about those who realize it, then deny it, then realize it again and then don't care about it? They die...we laugh at 'em, steal their shit, fuck their girlfriends and then piss on their graves for being so fucking stupid. You think I'm KIDDING?! Next question. ~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GLIDEANGLE 1 #11 April 15, 2010 Thanks for this. A week ago I was compiling a list of the NON-fatal injuries at my DZ in the last couple of years. While we have been fortunate to avoid a fatality recently... we have had many injuries from trivial to permenantly life changing. We have also had non-injury close calls that could have been SOOOO bad. It wasn't until I saw all of them on the page at once that the number of them really hit me...even I knew about each. I always knew this was risky, but I just saw it differently when it was on paper. Part of the sense of invinincibility may be a failure to fully percieve and understand the information that we have.... I don't mean stupidity, but not appreciating the big picture, like me above. I suspect that DZs don't keep a injury tally on the bulletin board for various reasons... that is too bad. I suspect that if we did, it might be a bit more real to folks.The choices we make have consequences, for us & for others! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Butters 0 #12 April 15, 2010 All I hear is ... "I don't have the physical and mental abilities that you have that allow you to do what you do without getting injured or killed so stop doing what you're doing." ... so I'm just going to ignore it. PS: Fly farther and pull lower for safety. "That looks dangerous." Leopold Stotch Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jim_32766 0 #13 April 15, 2010 I am glad people take the time to share the losses they have experienced and lessons they have learned, and use it to impart some wisdom to others. Us new-comers simply don't have the information or frame of reference that the old-timers have. It's very valuable when delivered in a rational and caring way. Similarly, I've seen AFFIs tell students, "go try something else, this just isn't for you" and really appreciate that kind of integrity and life-saving honesty. That said, I am glad it wasn't me they were talking to at the time. The meaning of life . . . is to make life have meaning. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
beowulf 1 #14 April 15, 2010 Sometimes it takes an injury for it to be real. Close calls were enough for me. I really didn't need to see those low turns or the canopy collision that resulted in one death or the guy cutting away at 15 feet from the ground.... etc Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bodhisattva420 0 #15 April 15, 2010 So no shit, there I was, I thought I was going to die . . . Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ufk22 33 #16 April 15, 2010 Quote For all of those skydivers who have not accepted the very inconvienient fact that you are indeed mortal yet, trust me eventually you will. I remember a time when I too was invincible. It was not a sustainable state of affairs. I think after losing a few friends the reality started to sink in that maybe everyone was not so invicible but that was them but I certainly was. EVENTUALLY... I realized my mortality!!!!! This is not about those of us with higher jump numbers baggin on those just starting out who obviously have "mAd SkIlLz" its about trying to keep you as young jumpers out of the "Incidents Forum" Some people are more blunt on here that you are willing to accept.. but when you screw up in this and many other "eXtReMe SpOrTzzz" you can get DEAD. Hopefully when you do that, you are not going to take someone else with you. I really do hate opening up the Forums radio button above and seeing a new thread in Incidents. I wonder if its going to be someone else I know.I know... I know.... it can never happen to you........ yeah you...... you know who I am talking to. Otherwise known as becoming an adult.....This is the paradox of skydiving. We do something very dangerous, expose ourselves to a totally unnecesary risk, and then spend our time trying to make it safer. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JohnRich 4 #17 April 15, 2010 QuoteI think after losing a few friends the reality started to sink in that maybe everyone was not so invicible but that was them but I certainly was. And if skydiving accidents don't make you realize it, just wait until you get older, and friends start dropping like flies around you, from cancer, heart attacks and other various old-age ailments. Then you REALLY get worried about when your time is coming... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
grimmie 186 #18 April 15, 2010 It's not just the newer jumpers that act like idiots in the sky. Some of the biggest fuck ups I have ever witnessed came from 1,000+ jump wonders.And every time I see the how safe "Driving vs. Skydiving" analogy threads I want to scream.One of these days I am going to post the names of everyone I have been friends with over the years that has gone in, and describe how it happened and their jump experience. Be careful out there and have fun. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jayrech 0 #19 April 15, 2010 Im not trying to sound too much like a dick, But when low number jumpers insist on making little remarks like this when some one with a "little" more experience is trying to open some ones eyes, You are doing nothing but making it harder for your self and other low jumpers to get a chance to make it in the sport with out more pressure and judgment from the experienced jumpers. Basically what im trying to say, is if your joking great, if your not dont bother saying any thing. Im not an "experienced" jumper by any means of the definition. But what I am experienced at is keeping my mouth shut when the time is right ( unlike this very situation)D.S 174.2 Be careful what you say. Some one might take it the right way. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Amazon 7 #20 April 15, 2010 Quote Quote I think after losing a few friends the reality started to sink in that maybe everyone was not so invicible but that was them but I certainly was. And if skydiving accidents don't make you realize it, just wait until you get older, and friends start dropping like flies around you, from cancer, heart attacks and other various old-age ailments. Then you REALLY get worried about when your time is coming... I buy and consume champagne and strawberries frequently. Being old and decrepit sucks.... but it still beats the shit out of a dirt nap. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jayrech 0 #21 April 15, 2010 Well as inevitable as it is, Im not too sure spending that time "worrying" is such a way I would like to spend my time. After all worrying is like a rocking chair, Gives you something to do, But doesnt get you any whereD.S 174.2 Be careful what you say. Some one might take it the right way. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Amazon 7 #22 April 15, 2010 Quote Well as inevitable as it is, Im not too sure spending that time "worrying" is such a way I would like to spend my time. After all worrying is like a rocking chair, Gives you something to do, But doesnt get you any where Nope... I don't spend much time on it at all.. at least for myself... but it sucks when its those around you. I definitely fit the quote I put above Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DanG 1 #23 April 15, 2010 QuoteWhat about those who realize it, then deny it, then realize it again and then don't care about it? Next time someone at your DZ bounces, go to the morgue with the body and console the guy's family. Tell them how you don't care about death because you're such a badass. I'm sure they'll appreciate your point of view. Or you can just grow the fuck up and realize it's not all about you. - Dan G Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jayrech 0 #24 April 15, 2010 Yup your not wrong in any way there, The most you can do i guess is crack a beer and hope it was quick D.S 174.2 Be careful what you say. Some one might take it the right way. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
heavydude 0 #25 April 15, 2010 Interestingly enough I learned from watching cable TV that fishing is way more dangerous.... anybody see that show on the most dangerous sports ? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites