Tom Dunlap said:
Look at his arrest record. If the authorities thought that he was breaking laws he would have been arrested more.
Not necessarily, Tom. There are politics involved. I read of a few of these cases, and sometimes the building owner just won't press charges. Other times, the local politicos don't want the bad press. If they do press charges and follow through with them, they are the big bad meanies who persecute noble artists who are just expressing themselves!
Exaggeration? No, that's EXACTLY how it plays in the press.
But aside from the lawbreaking, when he does this in an urban setting, he's endangering other people. He does NOT have the right to do that.
Now, if he's out in the boonies, and falls on one of his climbing buddies who is watching him.... Oh, well. Their choice. *shrug*
Tom Dunlap said:
If he's still married his family must have worked through the meaning of his climbing to satisfy them.
I figure that's HIS business.
Tom Dunlap said:
If this climber is going to be criticized for his climbing style, which is risky, then why is there so much complaining about the workplace safety in tree work? How much risk is there to the climber when they one-hnad chainsaws? Don't use a second tie in point when using a chainsaw in the tree? How many people cut trees, arbos and loggers, ALONE far away from any rescue? Basic PPE like helmets and safety glasses aren't used by too many arbos...and those folks just shrug it off. There has been plenty of discussions about bad work practices in logging and arbo work that make his climbing style look as safe as a walk in the park.
What dangers people choose to incur for themselves is their business, as far as I'm concerned. Don't want to ride with a helmet? Fine with me, as long as you don't want me to pay for your medical care. Saw with no PPE? Fine with me, as long as you don't want me to pay for your medical care.
Of course, I'll still call you an idiot, but I'll defend your right to be an idiot, as long as you take full responsibilty for the consequences of your choices.
But there IS a big difference in doing dangerous things because you must (you make your living that way, you are maintaining your own property, etc.) as compared to just doing it for kicks.
