to think that basejumping is just about the most selfish thing ever?

[springbelle]

Just watched the channel 4 documentary about a couple of base jumpers and can't believe the selfishness of it! Sport? It just makes me cross!!

what's selfish about it? I've not seen the documentary

Base jumping is more selfish than causing death by dangerous driving? More selfish than raiding the pension funds of a major corporation for personal gain? More selfish than drug dealing? More selfish than ordering the extermination of millions due to ones own irrational beliefs?

Crikey, what an interesting moral outlook you must have.

Why selfish? I can see it is a hugely risky thing to do and I would consider dh v selfish if he decided to take it up now but for the guy who'd been doing it for years, no kids etc - it's only a risk for him, and it is a risk he understands and has chosen to take. I admire him - must be amazing.

Why?

Because there is an infintisimally small chance that they could hit a pedestrian which they take every step to minimise? A javelin could hit someone you know.

I knew a man that died on the field playing rugby.

YABU

I don't know about it being 'the most selfish thing ever' but I certainly wouldn't get romantically involved with a base jumper. Nappy changing clearly wouldn't be exciting enough for them.

It is selfish, because somebody else would have to clean up all the mess on the pavement/street wouldn't they?

YANBU I watched the prog too. It's not fair to put their partners through it. One of them had sustained serious injuries twice in 8 months.

I agree that it's selfish if they have dependents, significant others etc. I didn't watch the whole documentary but the trailer mentioned a 1 in 6 death rate , and someone in the doc commented that the addiction/rush is so intense that they never "retire" from it, they basically keep doing it till they seriously injure themselvs, or die.

I was going to say that I hope they have good insurance, as I don't want my taxes paying to fix their stupid injuries, but then I suppose you could say the same of footballers, rugby players etc.

How is it selfish? The main guy featured has no children. His partner knew he was a jumper when she met him. He never pretended to by anything he wasn't. He runs his own business.

He loves to jump. You can see that in his eyes.

I knew people who jumped, they moved to it from climbing. Most I'd say were climbers first because you often have to solo climb to get to the jump.

They're a different breed. I don't know any who had children. Many I knew were sterilised by choice so that wasn't an issue.

They do it at night because it's illegal. Never heard of a pedestrian being hit by one

But have heard of many of them being hit by cars.

The guy shown got into it from Skydiving.
My DH skydives and we watched the documentary ,but I made it quite clear we would be divorced if he even contemplated doing that.
Selfish I'm not sure, but definately stupid.
Insurance would I think be impossible, unless you have more money than sense. Then again that probably sums them up !!!