Come In Number 16334723828, Your Time Is Up! Options

[Solari]

I'm a bit of a believer in, "when your time's up, it's up" (hence why I have no qualms with adrenaline-based activities), so was quite interested to read this:

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/worl...icle6479203.ece

An Italian woman who arrived late for the Air France plane flight that crashed in the Atlantic last week has been killed in a car accident.

What do you lot think? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) Undertones of Final Destination, eh?

EDIT: Why does the forum Capitalise Every Flippin' Word In The Title?! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ohmy.gif)

[The Old Lady]

I don't know really. However, I say live for today. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)

[chocolatedog]

Sad, very sad. It makes me think of the Death character from the Terry Pratchett books (I'm not meaning to make fun of the situation at all, it's just that I'm part-way through reading the entire Disc World series so it springs to mind...... )

[Solari]

Sad, very sad. It makes me think of the Death character from the Terry Pratchett books (I'm not meaning to make fun of the situation at all, it's just that I'm part-way through reading the entire Disc World series so it springs to mind...... )

I must read those (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

I think it's odd how we see quite a few stories in the media of people dying after having a "narrow escape" previously. Terry Pratchett may not be far from the truth for all we know! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)

Death in HogFather is awesome (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[davidmackay]

I'm a bit of a believer in, "when your time's up, it's up"

Tosh.
It's pure random luck (or bad luck as the case may be). Unlikely events like this do happen, but because they are unlikely, people (media) notice it and publicise it. It's importance is then blown out of proportion and people try to ascribe reasons other than luck to explain. Saying it's just random isn't so interesting; there's no story that sells papers. Hinting that there's some external invisible hand or spiritual reason to explain random events is much more satisfying. We need to find reasons for things.

This is one explanation for how religions start. Just a pity the reasons are false.

[Solari]

Tosh.
It's pure random luck (or bad luck as the case may be).

Most likely. I'm not a religious person but I just live by the maxim of making the most of the time you have. You probably have little control over the time you pop your clogs unless you want to live your life wrapped in cotton wool (at least in the sense of accidents) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)

I guess the story above could be taken as evidence that the person in question really has **** luck. But then there are plenty who will argue that there is no such thing as "luck" (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[Mad Tom]

An Italian woman who arrived late for the Air France plane flight that crashed in the Atlantic last week has been killed in a car accident.

What do you lot think? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) Undertones of Final Destination, eh?

I think statistics and probability ought to be taught better in our schools, then we would not imagine spurious significance in such co-incidence.

[Solari]

I think statistics and probability ought to be taught better in our schools, then we would not imagine spurious significance in such co-incidence.

Ah come on, the Final Destination comment was in jest (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)

Statistically I'm quite likely to be run over by a bus as I listen to my iPod walking to the station and often get quite distracted, but meh (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)

Statistically, me skydiving is safer than riding a motorbike (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

As above I'm not religious but think I probably don't have any control over when I shuffle off this mortal coil, that's all. When it happens, it's tough (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) I certainly don't think the Grim Reaper is stalking me. I do find these kind of stories and freak events interesting though.

[davidmackay]

Most likely. I'm not a religious person but I just live by the maxim of making the most of the time you have. You probably have little control over the time you pop your clogs unless you want to live your life wrapped in cotton wool (at least in the sense of accidents) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)

I guess the story above could be taken as evidence that the person in question really has **** luck. But then there are plenty who will argue that there is no such thing as "luck" (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

I'm with you to make the most of the time you have, but I don't agree you have little control over the time you pop your clogs. By living your life in cotton wool, do you mean not engaging in any risky activities? There's a good reason insurance companies charge more for life insurance if you engage in risky sports; the statistics bear it out.

A few years back I did a lot of rock climbing. I then read Joe Simpson's book 'This Game of Ghosts' which is basically about all the guys he knew that died whilst climbing. Just about all those guys were much more experienced than me so it certainly made me think about improving my climbing by tackling more and more difficult routes. One of things that makes climbing so risky is that no matter how many precautions you take, events (e.g. weather) outside your control can still conspire against you.

Ps.
You may know Joe Simpson through the film Touching the Void, which is about the time he was clmbing in South America, got into trouble, and was dangling at the end of rope. His partner at the top of the rope had to take the decision to either cut it (and thereby almost certainly sending Joe to his death) or not cut it (and thereby almost certainly sending both of them to their death). He cut the rope. In one of the greatest survivial stories ever, Simpson survived the fall, but broke a leg (and no doubt much more), yet still managed to hobble off. It took him several days, if not more than a week.

I'm not suggesting that one shouldn't engage in risky activities. We all face risk every day in cars and at home. I just think it's important to take extra care when the risks increase, and to appreciate that the stakes are raised. I bet you have a rigorous checking routine before you go skydiving?

[Solari]

I'm not suggesting that one shouldn't engage in risky activities. We all face risk every day in cars and at home. I just think it's important to take extra care when the risks increase, and to appreciate that the stakes are raised. I bet you have a rigorous checking routine before you go skydiving?

I've only done tandems so far but will be doing AFF shortly, so yes, I'll be checking everything very carefully indeed (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) As regards cotton wool, I was more getting at the fact that you can't just stay indoors avoiding all risk. You also have no control over other peoples' actions and stupidity either... I've had a few close shaves in the car and as a pedestrian which have shaken me up a bit in the past (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)

I've read about that Joe Simpson story before, thanks for reminding me of it, I think I'll look that up again!

[Mad Tom]

I think statistics and probability ought to be taught better in our schools, then we would not imagine spurious significance in such co-incidence.

Ah come on, the Final Destination comment was in jest (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)

I know - but some people do believe that events like these are connected ins some mystical and mysterious way, or that we all have some pre-determined destiny.

I probably don't have any control over when I shuffle off this mortal coil, that's all.

You actually have rather a lot of control!

I do find these kind of stories and freak events interesting though.

Because our brains are evolutionarily wired to see pattern and significance where in fact there is none!!

[davidmackay]

I've read about that Joe Simpson story before, thanks for reminding me of it, I think I'll look that up again!

It's highly recommended. Simon Yates is the 'man who cut the rope'. He got a lot is stick about it, but I think he did the right thing.

Here's Simpson on why climb:

“It seemed, sometimes, fleetingly, you could come close to the ineffable edge of perfection when it all goes to glory for the briefest of moments, an inarticulate moment, that leaves you with a vulnerable shattered sense of wonderment. It was life enhancing: pure emotion.”

Neatly sums it up, and applicable for lots of other activities too I reckon.

[Arundodonuts]

I've read about that Joe Simpson story before, thanks for reminding me of it, I think I'll look that up again!

It's highly recommended. Simon Yates is the 'man who cut the rope'. He got a lot is stick about it, but I think he did the right thing.

Not much stick from climbers and none from Joe. It's the armchair critics who don't understand the sport who mouth off. Like the episode in 1996 when loads of climbers died on Everest and the media ganged up on one bloke (Anatoli Boukreev) and made him the scapegoat.

Like sky diving, rock climbing and mountaineering are risky, but by taking the right precautions, using the right equipment and techniques, the risks can be "managed down" to an acceptable level. If the risk isn't acceptable, you don't do it.

[Solari]

Because our brains are evolutionarily wired to see pattern and significance where in fact there is none!!

You mean, for example, like when a clump of dust, rock and debris manages to form into a habitable planet in an infinite cosmos with (theoretically) an infinite probability of that very thing happening all over the place? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) Shurely shome mishtake (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

[Tortellini]

[I'm a bit of a believer in, "when your time's up, it's up"

No, I don't believe this - and I find it really upsetting that I live in a country where lots of people do. I'll give you an example. My best friend was killed in a car accident - he wasn't wearing a seat belt. Despite the fact that everyone else in the car was wearing a seat belt and survived, I still have friends who say" it was his moment to go". (IMG:style_emoticons/default/mad.gif) - And they don't wear their seat belts. My neighbour doesn't even make her toddler wear her seatbelt (IMG:style_emoticons/default/mad.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/mad.gif) Apparently she believes in fate too......