fool 0 #1 January 31, 2003 I was talking to a guy the other day, who was asking me about jumping, and I made a comment about the fact that if you really are going to pursue the sport, you need to have passion. Enough passion that you are willing (not read in any way shape or form wishing), to die doing something you love. Putting it like that made me think, that this can't be something that a whole bunch of people are willing to do. The people who only jump once figure they played chicken, and won, good enough. The people who jump regularly though have to come to terms with things like that, and I'm wondering if that's why it's so hard to 1) explain things to whuffos, and 2) why most skydiver/whuffo relationships don't work. S.E.X. party #1 "Life's journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting "f*#k, what a ride". Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PhillyKev 0 #2 January 31, 2003 It probably also explains why a lot of people drop out between the 100-200 jump range. At least that's what I've noticed. That's probably where they've seen or known enough people that got hurt or killed to really believe it could happen to them. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PhreeZone 20 #3 January 31, 2003 As for #2... a lot of Skydiver/Skydiver relationships don't work. Type A personilities are difficult to cope with on a normal basis and when coupled with their passion for their chosen sport or lifestyle (any sport or lifestlye) they can tend to have a very narrow focus and ignore outside things. They let relationships fall apart, they lose their interst in their work, things like that. It takes effort of both sides to make a relationshipwork and if one person would rather put their time and energy into their sport, then it leaves a big hole in the relationship. With jumper/jumper relationships if jumping is the only thing that they have in common then the relationship really has a weak footing and can fall apart very easly. They might have a great relationship as long as they are at a DZ or talking about jumping, but as soon as that topic is over with they have nothing to talk about. As always its important to have a very steady relationship no matter the outside pressures and influences. If you don't have this then no matter who your SO is the relationship probally will not work out.Yesterday is history And tomorrow is a mystery Parachutemanuals.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dex 0 #4 January 31, 2003 1) I generally don't have a hard time explaining to whuffos how cool skydiving is... once you mention that it feels like flying they agree that it would be neat if your not lieing to them..... most people seem to think it's not for them without trying... 2) I'm not sure that most skydiver/whuffo relationships don't work.... I think that's a rumor started by some skyguy trying to get some skygal to hookup with him instead of the ramdom whuffo with more cash because he doesn't jump ;) I'm not sure that even most skydivers really have to accept the fact that they might die in their sport in any other way that a driver of a car has to accept it.... Sure you have a higher risk that you are choosing to take and needs to be acknowledged but I'm not sure that accepting the risks makes you into a kind of person that can't relate to the rest of the world. Life is always fatal.... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jessica 0 #5 January 31, 2003 Quote They might have a great relationship as long as they are at a DZ or talking about jumping, but as soon as that topic is over with they have nothing to talk about. That's right! Good thing we have other things in common, like rigging! Skydiving is for cool people only Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
fool 0 #6 January 31, 2003 and gear design S.E.X. party #1 "Life's journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting "f*#k, what a ride". Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PhreeZone 20 #7 January 31, 2003 >Good thing we have other things in common, like rigging! And flying a kite, and flying in planes halfway across the country, and our mutual dislike of WildBlue and PLFKing Yesterday is history And tomorrow is a mystery Parachutemanuals.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SpeedRacer 1 #8 January 31, 2003 What does "Type A personality" mean anyway? I always thought a Type A person was a real hard driving, super ambitious, high-strung workaholic. That certainly doesn't describe me (or most skydivers I know) b/c I'm a lazy f&*ker. Speed Racer -------------------------------------------------- Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AggieDave 6 #9 January 31, 2003 You're lazy unless it comes to something that you're actually interested in. That's classic Type A.--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
yardhippie 0 #10 January 31, 2003 WE(skydivers) as a whole are... lets say "nuts", when others(all others) look at us. We look at ourselvs and see so really cool folks. My wife doesnt jump and calls me an adrenaline junkie. Im Ok with that. The rush is great. Its not a passion its an addiction! Someone could probably find some medical crap to support this too. She supports me in my "addiction" al long as Im safe. I dont think of skydiving as cheating death. That would be chopping a main and having a hard pull on your reserve, and it only opening in time so that you only broke 2 legs. If we arent careful we will be hurt/killed. I choose to do my best to be safe and point out things to others that could be unsafe. If we live our sport along those lines... is that any different than a person not walking down icy steps, or someone driving safely? I think we just enjoy life to its fullest... a little more excitement... a lot more friends... one hell of a ride!Goddam dirty hippies piss me off! ~GFD "What do I get for closing your rig?" ~ me "Anything you want." ~ female skydiver Mohoso Rodriguez #865 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
fool 0 #11 January 31, 2003 I agree with you, but I still think that (even though the chances are only as large as you let them be to a certain degree...shit happens after all) being aware of the possibility, and being ok with it, takes a certain passion/addiction. I look at it like passion, because although I couldn't stop if I wanted to, I really don't want to, unlike smoking, I can't stop even though I want to. S.E.X. party #1 "Life's journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting "f*#k, what a ride". Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cajun 0 #12 January 31, 2003 Quote they can tend to have a very narrow focus and ignore outside things. They let relationships fall apart, they lose their interst in their work, things like that. Hit head on nail. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
QuickDraw 0 #13 January 31, 2003 QuoteI made a comment about the fact that if you really are going to pursue the sport, you need to have passion. Enough passion that you are willing (not read in any way shape or form wishing), to die doing something you love. I think death or serious injuries are acceptable (if not unfortunate) risks in the pursuit of extreme enjoyment, it goes with the territory I suppose, if it were not for the "high stakes" aspect to the sport, I am pretty sure everybody would be doing it. -- Hope you don't die. -- I'm fucking winning Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wmw999 2,589 #14 January 31, 2003 PhreeZone said: Quote they can tend to have a very narrow focus and ignore outside things. They let relationships fall apart, they lose their interst in their work, things like that. Cajun replied: Quote Hit head on nail. I'd have to agree with that. Someone posted in the "what would you do for true love" thread (I think) that the sign of true love is that you don't have to work at it. But you do have to work at it. Even the boring parts. And you can't postwhore to avoid it, or you'll lose it. Kinda like a job Wendy W.There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
fool 0 #15 January 31, 2003 I think that's my point exactly...I'm not sure anymore S.E.X. party #1 "Life's journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting "f*#k, what a ride". Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dterrick 0 #16 February 1, 2003 I think the new term for us is type "T", T standing for Thrill. Were Dope(amine) addicts plain and simple. Of course, Acura would call us type "R" personalities ... if we'd stay on the planet long enough and save enough money to buy a $40,000 toy that doesn't fly Dave Life is very short and there's no time for fussing and fighting my friend (Lennon/McCartney) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skygal3 0 #17 February 1, 2003 Quote >Good thing we have other things in common, like rigging! And flying a kite, and flying in planes halfway across the country, and our mutual dislike of WildBlue and PLFKing you don't like PLFKing either?? His charm quickly faded on me when through a pm last night he blamed my illness on me being a bulemic waif. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
