PSA: The World is not Disneyland, Part Four Thousand Forty-Two

[rolanni]

OK, who here does not know better than to go swimming in the ocean when there's been a Big Storm within the last couple days? Show of hands, here, people.

Right. The ocean is not your friend. The weather is not your friend. I speak here as one who is very much attracted to both the ocean and to dangerous weather. I understand the allure. But for cryin' out loud, don't dice with either for your life. Unless you're very, very lucky, you will lose.

Comments

[6-penny.livejournal.com]

What part of "Don't go there, its dangerous, you could be killed" do people not translate. It is not as if the rangers were speaking a lesser dialect of Rigellian for frells sake.

[(Anonymous)]

I once slipped slightly on the edge of a little pit and was horrified when my soon-to-be husband rushed to 'rescue' me. T'was only a 125 foot pit. Problem was, y'see, little ol' me was VERY securely attached to the ropes and he was anything BUT! It can be perfectly safe on the edge of even a 500 plus ft pit, but it can also be very UN-safe without being secured to rigging that will keep you from smashing yourself on a bottom so far below.

There's a tricky passage in one of our more interesting southeastern pit-cave complexes that's called "The No-brains Traverse" because many years ago on a survey/exploration party of a dozen or so cavers (and NO more spare ropes!), all but one said "NO WAY" and flatly refused to follow the brainless leader who clearly thought because _his_ long legs could (and did) reach between one wall and the other, so would everybody else's. He was, so I understand, somewhat pissed when the rest "wimped out", but nobody's dead and mangled body had to be hauled out of the system a few days later.

There is danger anywhere, anytime, under many possible conditions. One just has to have a very healthy respect for the conditions, know your equipment thoroughly, heed your limitations, and use plenty of common sense.

Fellow, National Speleological Society