"Emily" wrote in message
. ..
[...] Meanwhile, we've watched teenagers use the "DO NOT JUMP FROM
BRIDGE" sign as a handhold while they jumped from the bridge and smacked
their brains all over the rocks below. Oregon is at, what, 20
drowning deaths this year since June 1?

But they don't set fire to any houses when they go splat.

So we should all stop flying because we *might* injure someone else in the
process?

Who said that?

Gatt was providing "perspective" (his word). Don further enhanced the
perspective by pointing out the difference in the two situations. Both
points of view are valid contributions, and neither suggest that we should
all stop flying.

But Don's point is absolutely correct...if you want to compare aviation to
some other risky activity, it would make sense to at least acknowledge the
risk presented to others by aviation, as well as acknowledge the difference
in risk between the two compared situations. It's extremely rare that
innocent bystanders are hurt in aviation, but it does happen. More to the
point, on occasion large structures can be destroyed, as in this accident
(bridge-jumping is unlikely to cause major property damage, whatever else
the risks).

Of course, all that said, it's extremely rare that someone jumping off a
bridge hurts an innocent bystander, but that does happen too. So do
injuries to would-be rescuers when someone gets hurt jumping from a bridge
and someone else tries to help them.

Life is dangerous. Hiding from life doesn't make sense, but neither does
pretending the risks don't exist.

Pete