Re[2]: [at-l] lightening strikes

[tmcginnis@ucclan.state.in.us (Thomas McGinnis)]

     Hey friends and neighbors, a disappointed Sloetoe follows up on 
     bluestreak's post of last week:
     I have to say that I *am* disappointed by the "list's" response(s) to 
     bluestreak's post shown below. (You might want to read it now to 
     remind yourself.) I have to point out that we *don't* know the 
     specifics of the event, yet we have passed judgment assuming the worst 
     of the two hikers mentioned. Yet there are *thousands* of reasonable 
     circumstances which could fit bluestreak's limited description below, 
     which might find any of *us*:
     
     1) in the summit building,
     2) warned to stay put, and
     3) leaving anyway.
     
     I don't mean to whine, but does anybody really need a freakin' diagram 
     here? Can't you paint your own possible details in and make it a 
     reasonable thing for those hikers to leave the summit building 
     "anyway"? With just a moment's thought, I bet you could.
     
     As hikers, we all *willfully choose* to leave the safety, sanctity and 
     comfort of our homes (and autos, even), to experience our natural 
     world on a more visceral level. And if that willful exposure to risk 
     crosses a line between "deliberate exposure to discomfort" (rain) and 
     "accidental exposure to danger" (lightning), who's to say who's the 
     fool? Have YOU never been caught out in the rain? A quiet storm never 
     turned nasty on you? Have you never voluntarily left a leanto in 
     inclement weather? Ever started a hike in the rain? Yes? Ever canceled 
     a backpacking trip from home because of the weatherman's predictions? 
     No? Went out in it anyway, did ya? And you had a good time?
     
     Methinks there's a bunch of Pots calling two lightning-struck Kettles 
     black. (Ouch. Under the circumstances, that may not be a bad idea. But 
     seriously.)
     
     So. What breeds such foolishness? Human Nature, folks. Human Nature. 
     The SAME human nature that took them AND YOU up the mountain in the 
     first place.
     
     Sloetoe
     (who will cheerfully accept all flames. Just do me a favor and flame 
     me publicly, too, so others can enjoy it.)


______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________
Subject: Re: [at-l] lightening strikes
Author:  Thomas McGinnis at UCCLAN
Date:    7/28/99 9:32 AM


     What breeds such foolishness? Human Nature. 
     The same thing that took them up the mountain.
     
     
______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________
Subject: [at-l] lightening strikes
Author:  " bluestreak" <bluestreak@mailcity.com> at ima 
Date:    7/27/99 4:23 AM
     
     
This weekend two hikers were on Mt. Washington when a severe thunderstorm was 
rolling in. They were in the summit building and were warned to stay put. The 
two left anyway and both were hit by lightning. One suffered a burned leg,dont 
know about the other. What breeds such foolishness??
---
     
the bluestreak
New Hampshire
     
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