Risk, and the human race

Kinja'd!!! "davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com" (davesaddiction)
05/30/2018 at 16:45 • Filed to: None

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Every year a handful of runners die while competing in a marathon. More people die attempting to climb Everest [than die participating in the Isle of Man TT]. As a species, we can’t seem to prevent ourselves from these kind of pursuits that put ourselves in grave, even mortal, danger. Many of us have this compulsion to see what our bodies, minds, and hearts are capable of.

No one would consider it safe or smart to drive a car approaching the limit on a back road lined with trees, or at or even exceeding the limit on a race track, but here we are.

I’m not saying it’s the correct thing to let [the Isle of Man TT] continue, but I’m not saying it’d be the right thing to shut it down either. Would it be a better world if no one had ever visited the South Pole, scaled Everest, walked on the moon...?

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This was a response I wrote in another thread, but wanted to open it up to more discussion. Your thoughts, OPPO? When do we as a culture intervene to protect us from ourselves? Clearly, when other lives are in the balance, governments must protect innocents. But if and when a individual wants to attempt something that is terribly risky for whatever reason compels them, who are we collectively to tell them that they can’t?

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DISCUSSION (40)


Kinja'd!!! farscythe - makin da cawfee! > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
05/30/2018 at 16:53

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more people die slipping in the shower than in the isle of man tt every year

i say let it continue...everyone there knows what they signed up for... most of them signed up because they know


Kinja'd!!! SmugAardvark > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
05/30/2018 at 16:56

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I was born into this world naked, screaming, and covered in blood.

Gods willing, I’ll go out the same way.


Kinja'd!!! benjrblant > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
05/30/2018 at 16:59

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Climbing Everest and racing the Isle of Man are outliers here. These are specific events and challenges that specific people take on. It’s not like someone accidentally shows up at a basecamp and thinks ‘welp, dunno how I got into this.’ These are generally skilled people that are tackling a challenge because of the risk and reward. They know what they’re getting into.

At the same time, the sum of human achievements are what they are because of people that pushed this envelope of safety and risk. 150 years ago, if you’d have mentioned traveling in a box at 75mph you’d have likely been laughed at and thought a fool. Likewise, sitting in a pod on several thousand pounds of explosives to escape the forces of gravity, and so on.

I’m not qualified to race in the Isle of Man, climb Everest, or travel to the moon, but I’m thankful for those that risked their lives to do that so we can benefit and learn from their achievements.


Kinja'd!!! Party-vi > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
05/30/2018 at 16:59

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“When do we as a culture intervene to protect us from ourselves?”

Shit man the leading cause of death in the US is from heart disease. If we were worried about protecting ourselves McDonald’s and Philip Morris International would be out of business.


Kinja'd!!! davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > SmugAardvark
05/30/2018 at 16:59

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Whatever floats your boat. I’ll be content to slip away in my sleep in my late 90s, hopefully with my kids and grandkids nearby.


Kinja'd!!! Party-vi > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
05/30/2018 at 17:00

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“Now you kids stay in here with grandpa and watch him die in his sleep. It’s what he wanted.”


Kinja'd!!! Party-vi > benjrblant
05/30/2018 at 17:02

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“These are generally skilled people”

Not for Everest. All you need today is about $50,000.


Kinja'd!!! Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
05/30/2018 at 17:02

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The guy who did CRP on this guy was a friend of mine. Terrible I know but If I had to choose a place to die this would be pretty nice.

Greetings from the desk of Sheriff Chuck Curry,

The Flathead County Sheriff’s Office has released the name of a man that died while cycling on Going to the Sun road in Glacier Park on Friday, May 25th.

Don Graham, a 58 year old Kalispell man died of natural causes while biking by himself from the Avalanche Creek campground up the road. Graham was approximately one mile from the snow plow operations when he apparently collapsed.

Another person on a bike found Graham lying in the roadway at approximately 10:00 a.m. and performed CPR with no success. The person then rode down the road until he encountered an off duty Glacier Park Ranger.

The Ranger contacted Glacier Park dispatch and then responded back to the scene with the reporting party. Graham was pronounced deceased at the scene.


Kinja'd!!! Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero > Party-vi
05/30/2018 at 17:03

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yeah i dont want my decedents watching me take my last breath,


Kinja'd!!! benjrblant > Party-vi
05/30/2018 at 17:03

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Yes, thanks to the previously skilled people that completed this achievement, mapped it, collected intel, etc etc, now any schmuck with a checkbook can do it. q=


Kinja'd!!! Tareim - V8 powered > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
05/30/2018 at 17:04

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The riders know the risk of the TT and are happy enough to take on that risk for the thrill of it then who are we to stop them?

If we didn’t take risks in life it would be a very boring one indeed and perhaps we may not be so advanced with all of man kinds creations


Kinja'd!!! davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > farscythe - makin da cawfee!
05/30/2018 at 17:05

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There is money to be made, and sponsors to be had, but most are paying to participate.

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Kinja'd!!! bob and john > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
05/30/2018 at 17:06

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nah. keep it. televise it. the world is too full of pansies now. we need to remmeebr what its like to live. takes chances. GET MESSY


Kinja'd!!! davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Party-vi
05/30/2018 at 17:08

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Haha - no need to be quite that close, but it’d be nice if they’d come in town to say farewell.


Kinja'd!!! Future next gen S2000 owner > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
05/30/2018 at 17:09

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If some one, with full faculties decides to do something risky that won’t harm a bystander, they should be free to do so. Consequences be damned. Want to swallow some cyanide, feel free. Want to go over Niagara in a barrel, I’ll give you a ride. Strap some balloons to a lawn chair, I’ll take a pic.


Kinja'd!!! davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Party-vi
05/30/2018 at 17:09

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And lots of vacation time.


Kinja'd!!! SmugAardvark > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
05/30/2018 at 17:09

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“Everyone dies, not everyone truly lives.”

My comment was mostly tongue-in-cheek. But in all seriousness, I feel practically zero desire to live to be 90. To do so means there are very significant odds that I’d have lived long enough to see most of my friends and family die before me. And there’s also a pretty significant chance that I’ll have spent at least some amount of time being a financial and social burden to my remaining loved ones. I wouldn’t want to put that on someone I care about.

To each their own though, nothing wrong with your stance. It just isn’t how I see going out. When my times comes, so be it. I just hope I’ve left some great stories behind for those that come after me.


Kinja'd!!! Mercedes Streeter > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
05/30/2018 at 17:10

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If anything, there should be more events like it. These people knew what they signed up for, they know that there’s a chance they may not come home. If I were skilled/wealthy enough to do a TT, you bet your butt I would!


Kinja'd!!! davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Party-vi
05/30/2018 at 17:13

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Long, slow deaths don’t make as good headlines.

Think anyone changes their behavior based on these big numbers they have to post now?

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Kinja'd!!! bob and john > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
05/30/2018 at 17:15

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huh. this is a neat peice of information


Kinja'd!!! davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
05/30/2018 at 17:16

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Very sad. Sorry your friend had to be the one to discover him; noble of him to attempt to help. 58 is far too young, but he probably dreamed of going like this some day.


Kinja'd!!! farscythe - makin da cawfee! > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
05/30/2018 at 17:17

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yeah.. the majority arent there for the money

just coz its the isle of man


Kinja'd!!! Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
05/30/2018 at 17:21

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Also the isle of man TT should continue, it is just nuts.


Kinja'd!!! Decay buys too many beaters > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
05/30/2018 at 17:22

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None of the riders suffer from the illusion that what they are doing is safe. They do it because they want to, because it makes them feel alive. I ride a motorcycle every day knowing full well it is a less safe option, but it is worth the risk.


Kinja'd!!! davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > bob and john
05/30/2018 at 17:24

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Those are 2017 numbers.


Kinja'd!!! farscythe - makin da cawfee! > Mercedes Streeter
05/30/2018 at 17:25

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right there with ya...

but nowadays i get in a lot of shit for doing stuff that coulda killed me

(as the missus puts it... you selfish cunt what would we have done if you died)

(i should get a fat life insurance..... thatll help)


Kinja'd!!! davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > SmugAardvark
05/30/2018 at 17:33

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That’s a great quote.

I have no desire or plans to be a burden, but clearly the odds of that go up as you get older. I never got to know my dad’s mom & dad. I want to know my grandkids and I want them to know me. I plan to live for many years, but if I don’t, that’s okay, too. I surely won’t miss out on any life in the years between here and there in fear that it would make my life shorter.

I’m with you: stories, memories & shared adventures.


Kinja'd!!! nermal > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
05/30/2018 at 17:38

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That’s why everybody signs a waiver. They know what they’re getting in to.

Every individual is unique in their level of risk tolerance.


Kinja'd!!! davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > bob and john
05/30/2018 at 17:38

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What’s the most risk you take on a bike? At the track, or every day in traffic?


Kinja'd!!! davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Decay buys too many beaters
05/30/2018 at 17:40

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This is it. “...and the pursuit of happiness.”


Kinja'd!!! bob and john > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
05/30/2018 at 17:43

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highest chance of death? traffic, easy.

highest chance of a crash? track.


Kinja'd!!! davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > nermal
05/30/2018 at 17:50

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See: Travis Pastrana

Man, I really hope that guy manages to live into his 90s...


Kinja'd!!! davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > bob and john
05/30/2018 at 17:53

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Stay safe out there, my friend (but not too safe - ha!).


Kinja'd!!! Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero > farscythe - makin da cawfee!
05/30/2018 at 18:03

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i have a half million dollar policy for myself in the event something happens to me, but i didnt tell my wife so its one final surprise


Kinja'd!!! farscythe - makin da cawfee! > Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero
05/30/2018 at 18:09

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life wise im uninsured at mo..i need to get on that

after all .... im an idiot and will fuck up sooner or later

(im insured up to a mil and half for accidental damages caused tho)


Kinja'd!!! ttyymmnn > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
05/30/2018 at 19:04

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Kinja'd!!! Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
05/30/2018 at 19:37

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“And I am not frightened of dying. Any time will do, I don’t mind. Why should I be frightened of dying? There’s no reason for it. You’ve gotta go sometime.”

“I never said I was frightened of dying.”


Kinja'd!!! So Shiney. So Chrome! So Frunky > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
05/31/2018 at 09:00

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I’ve lost friends to a motorcycle crash, a small plane crash, an avalanche while back country skiing, and the military. I’m barely into my 30's. They all died doing something they loved. Godspeed to the risk takers, it’s the best of the human spirit.


Kinja'd!!! davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > So Shiney. So Chrome! So Frunky
05/31/2018 at 09:35

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Very hard to lose friends, and harder for parents to lose their child, siblings to lose their brother or sister, a spouse their husband or wife, and harder still for a small child to lose their dad or mom. I’m 40 now, with a wife and 3 young kids, so I do measure the risks I take with the four of them in consideration, but what kind of life is one lived without taking some risks?


Kinja'd!!! ateamfan42 > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
05/31/2018 at 13:50

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!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

 Hunter S. Thompson