I think the fundamental question proposed here is: what degree of awareness of one's own mortality qualifes you for BASE jumping and/or any other inherently life threatening sport? A sixteen year old rarely possesses the ability to conceptualize his or her own death. Hell, I've mulled over for roughly 24 years, and I can barely come to terms that one day I won't be among the living. It would be interesting to see what Matthew has to say about the high stakes game. Maybe he is wise beyond his years, or perhaps he has been coerced into the glorification of jumping. His word would speak volumes. In either case, I'd hope a mitigation of risk through more skydiving experience is pursued. Quote
