Skydiving at age 38: sounds fun or the stupidest idea yet?

Skydiving at 38: go for it or a stupid idea?

  • "If you want the ultimate, you gotta be willing to pay the ultimate price"

    Votes: 13 76.5%

  • "Will somebody PLEASE think about the children?!?!"

    Votes: 4 23.5%
  • Total voters
    17
It has been said that human existence is the universe waking up to observe itself for a brief moment.

If everyone would take the time to ponder the wonder all around us, I think that there would be no need for thrill seeking. Look at the sky, look through a telescope, or watch the miracle of your garden growing, dying and taking form again. I contend that a deeper appreciation for what is considered ordinary is what we need. I think it is what we will think we will miss most as we lay dying

And now I must rely on Mr. Feynman again (at 4:13 - I hope I cued it right)

 
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Zzzzz said:
But why take a chance at shortening your life? To say you did it? For the thrill? If there were a purpose, I could see it. My dad was a paratrooper. We were at war. Just go do a simulated jump!
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I seem to be doing that anyways, with every beer or cocktail i drink, every puff on an ecig, working with deadly voltage everyday at work for the past 20 years, going to a shooting range. Living in a town where the very water we drink was condemned by the DEP for high levels of toluene, hydrogen sulfide and benzene from fracking. Not to mention the nearby PCB contamination site just 2 miles away that was declared an EPA Superfund site. Add in the daily encounters with tweakers and pillheads.

Existence here is an unnecessary risk, could a jump be any worse?
 
Clockworkmike said:
I seem to be doing that anyways, with every beer or cocktail i drink, every puff on an ecig, working with deadly voltage everyday at work for the past 20 years, going to a shooting range. Living in a town where the very water we drink was condemned by the DEP for high levels of toluene, hydrogen sulfide and benzene from fracking. Not to mention the nearby PCB contamination site just 2 miles away that was declared an EPA Superfund site. Add in the daily encounters with tweakers and pillheads.

Existence here is an unnecessary risk, could a jump be any worse?
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I like ......pushing the envelope in measured doses. Honestly --- tomorrow is not guaranteed to any of us .....and 1 MILLION things can kill you -- do we all sit at home in a dark room quietly AWAITING death? --- "F" no
but a bad sammich can kill you
drunk driver
random stroke
etc.

SIEZE THE DAMN DAY (its gone fast!)


when have you ever gotten a reward without risk ? at its CORE think about that ................. from ASKING your spouse to marry you -- to choosing a dentist--- to picking the right sushi at the gas station (yep-- done it and lived -- grow a pair people)

you have to gamble SOMETHING to get something THAT is LIFE!

roll the dice
grab the brass ring
take the shot
regrets for suckers

you lose 100% of the battles you never fight

never make the pitch --- you never make sale

etc etc.
 
Zzzzz said:
View attachment 67214View attachment 67214
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comparatively
5,014 people died in motorcycle accidents
563 scuba diving
In 2019, an estimated 38,800 people lost their lives to car crashes – a 2% decline from 2018 (39,404 deaths) and a 4% decline from 2017 (40,231 deaths).


but almost every one of us gets in a car....truck....etc every day

come on let the lad have some fun its safer than running to the store "statistically" speaking
 
I skipped to the end/here....to be fair.... I see skydivers all the time.... I hear them too...their screams of terror....they fill my Sunday afternoons often....I relish in the wonder if they actually survive....as I crush an orange cream soda in my hammock, or kayak....I don’t, often, read of the deaths....but I don’t read much outside of here...
Seriously, there’s a small skydiving thing about a mile from my house...around 1/2 mile from my favorite fishing spot...as the corpse falls... ;) :cheers:
 
eSGEe said:
I like ......pushing the envelope in measured doses. Honestly --- tomorrow is not guaranteed to any of us .....and 1 MILLION things can kill you -- do we all sit at home in a dark room quietly AWAITING death? --- "F" no
but a bad sammich can kill you
drunk driver
random stroke
etc.

SIEZE THE DAMN DAY (its gone fast!)


when have you ever gotten a reward without risk ? at its CORE think about that ................. from ASKING your spouse to marry you -- to choosing a dentist--- to picking the right sushi at the gas station (yep-- done it and lived -- grow a pair people)

you have to gamble SOMETHING to get something THAT is LIFE!

roll the dice
grab the brass ring
take the shot
regrets for suckers

you lose 100% of the battles you never fight

never make the pitch --- you never make sale

etc etc.
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But what if your reward system is off? What or who is it you think you are "pushing"? There is no brass ring, only happiness. I get it if you want to do something and you are stopped by fear, but why do you need to fall from heights or go fast on a bike, to feel like you are living?
 
RVA said:
But what if your reward system is off? What or who is it you think you are "pushing"? There is no brass ring, only happiness. I get it if you want to do something and you are stopped by fear, but why do you need to fall from heights or go fast on a bike, to feel like you are living?
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It’s definitely “a thing”... I’ve done the bikes, and whitewater rafting ( where humans should not be outside of the boat)...you won’t get me in a plane, unless I’ve learned to fly it, so the skydiving is out....but adrenaline lets you know that there is a definitive “finish line”. Some folks need to visit.
 
Thatbastarddon said:
It’s definitely “a thing”... I’ve done the bikes, and whitewater rafting ( where humans should not be outside of the boat)...you won’t get me in a plane, unless I’ve learned to fly it, so the skydiving is out....but adrenaline lets you know that there is a definitive “finish line”. some folks need to visit.
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I have been addicted to many things, but adrenaline has never been one of them. I guess it is lost on me.
 
Yargnad said:
That's a true TTR brother that puts his life/death decisions to a poll here. :bow:
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He must be out of his mind, asking this bunch of lunatics if he should or should not jump from a plane. :LOL:

Anyway, here’s my point of view. I have no idea howhigh or low are the chances of a skydiver going all Will’e Coyote and literally biting the dust.

However, I can think of better ways of getting extra doses os adrenaline without necessarily whistling at the Reaper and saying “hey, catch me if you can”.

An ex GF of mine had an uncle who decided to celebrate his 45th birthday with a jump (he used to be a paratrooper) and landing right in front of his family, who’d be waiting with a full breakfast table, balloons and all. Well, long story short: both parachutes failed. SPLAT!

Not for me. Been invited many times by friends who dig that sport but I much prefer to stay down here.

I like a fair share of challenge and adventure, but trekking, surfing, road tripping and touring with a band are enough for me.
 
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