Airbus wrote:
In the old days, people in general were much less fearful than they are
today, and often much less reckless as well (there is some correlation
between the two).

So as people in general become more fearful, they also become more reckless.
Tell us about the correlation . . .


Many kids today are being pussified by fearful parents. Stuff that was commonly
done when I was growing up now counts as the height of parental negligence.
Nobody wore bike helmets; we went out to play all day long without checking in;
certainly without wearing a pager or carrying a cell phone.

I can remember falling off a stone wall. Nobody bothered to tell me that was a
dangerous activity. After I fell from it once, I figured it out for myself. I
was... 5... 6...? Nowadays no self respecting parent would let their kids
anywhere near a stone wall unchaparoned.

I look at the young miscreant who flew the C-172 over Hopewell High with mixed
feelings. I know, as an adult, that if he'd had a problem he'd have been
screwed and likely would have taken people with him. I also know the unbridled
thrill of buzzing, as I did it myself as a young man. Now I'll admit it never
occurred to me to do it over an assembly of people. I liked beaches myself.

So what's going to happen to this kid? His father is going to ground him for
the rest of his life (or at least a year). The cops are charging him with two
misdemeanors and he's already spent some time in jail over that as his father
has decided to let tough love educate his son. The FAA is going to prosecute as
well and he will either lose his license for a period of time or he will get a
hefty civil penalty (or both).

My buzzing career ended abruptly after a run-in with the FAA; I'm willing to bet
his will also. I'd also bet nobody will ever accuse him of lacking a set. His
parents didn't do all that badly with him.

As for the original premise that stimulated me to write this: I don't think I
agree. I think the same acts occurred back in the old days; it's just that
nobody back then thought they were so unusual.



--
Mortimer Schnerd, RN
mschnerdatcarolina.rr.com