code

[guest]

If there is an unwritten code between base jumpers preventing communication to outsiders, I would be grateful if someone could let me know.

Thanks again,

Paul Mclean

[guest]

Hi Paul,

I think the opposite is true in most cases. I try whenever possible, to take time and explain the sport to family and friends. You can often make "outsiders" realize that our sport isn't as reckless as it is percieved.

The image that the public has of BASE, is a bunch of crazy death-seekers throwing themselves from high places and seeing how low they can go before opening a parachute. (Okay, so maybe they're close) If you're a jumper, you know how much planning and assesment go into each and every jump. If you're not, maybe you should find some local jumpers and offer to go help the ground crew. You will be amazed at how meticulous we are.

The public has no idea that we often walk away from sites if conditions aren't just right. We try, for the most part, to keep sites clean by avoiding littering. Maybe a small rubber band or two being the exception.

If we never show them these aspects of our sport, the outlaw image we have will stay. BASE jumping will someday be a much more widely accepted sport as long as we mind our P's and Q's. I think the public might actually be a little disappointed if they knew how safe we are.

Then there's the stuff we don't need the public to know. The average Joe has no need to know site specifics. That's why you may be running into trouble if you're trying to get information on this board. Nobody here is going to tell a stranger (BASE jumper or not) where the exit point is on a certain cliff. At least they won't post it here. If you're not a BASE jumper, can you think of any reason you would need to know this????

At this point in time, BASE jumping is not a spectator sport. Having non-jumpers hanging around sites will only attract unwanted attention and end up getting the sites burned. As a group, BASE jumpers like positive attention, but avoid bad press like the plague.

Stay safe out there. ---Dex

[imported_Tom Aiello]

Hey Paul:

Reading your previous post ("Research"), I note that you did not provide any contact information of any kind.

How were you expecting people to respond, even if they did want to talk to you?

If you want to gather information from people, you probably ought to post some kind of contact information (email, phone, address, whatever). Otherwise, you're just a disembodied e-voice, that might just as well belong to Dan Horner.

--Tom Aiello
tbaiello@ucdavis.edu

[guest]

Oh yeah, Paul, drop me an email. dexterbase@hotmail.com

---Dex

[guest]

Thank you Tom for your advice. I was very aware in my first message not to appear as the sort of researcher who just wants some quick information and then walks away. Therefore, I wished to establish my credentials in order that anyone wanting to speak to me felt assured that this study is legitimate and confidential. With this in mind if anybody would like to speak with me I can be contacted at p.a.mcl@btinternet.com
Thank you once again for your time
Paul Mclean.

[guest]

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