Many years ago, had a call from a good friend seeking help to talk to his 18 yrs old son about bungee jumping. This friend knew my views on it and thought it might help the kid.
Kid came over and first thing he told me was that it was a personall challenge that he set himself. I asked why and he told me that it was the fastest way to fight his fear and he thought anyone who did it was brave. I told him he was absolutely right. He looked awkwardly and wondered why I agreed.
I told him, it was the consequences that I was not prepared to face and he asked me what I meant.
I told him if he tried climbing Mt Everest and he perished while doing so, his family, friends and even strangers will talk about it. The sheer audacity to tackle one of the great wonders of this world would garner him and his family tremendous prestige - just don't make a fool of yourself like Khoo.
However if he died while bungee jumping, his parents will be berated and he would have been thought a fool. I also told him that all accidents I knew of involving bungee jumping did not arise from the rope breaking but platform giving way, dying of heartache, misjudged elasticity of rope etc. I also told him in time, his own parents will pretend that he never existed and no one will talk about it to avoid sniggers.
I could see him turn white and began nodding. I told him anyone who was prepared to conquer fear can bungee jump but the same cannot be applied to climbing everest, exploring the amazon of even climbing Mt Kinabalau. It takes hard work, planning and the will to go the distance.
Kid came over and first thing he told me was that it was a personall challenge that he set himself. I asked why and he told me that it was the fastest way to fight his fear and he thought anyone who did it was brave. I told him he was absolutely right. He looked awkwardly and wondered why I agreed.
I told him, it was the consequences that I was not prepared to face and he asked me what I meant.
I told him if he tried climbing Mt Everest and he perished while doing so, his family, friends and even strangers will talk about it. The sheer audacity to tackle one of the great wonders of this world would garner him and his family tremendous prestige - just don't make a fool of yourself like Khoo.
However if he died while bungee jumping, his parents will be berated and he would have been thought a fool. I also told him that all accidents I knew of involving bungee jumping did not arise from the rope breaking but platform giving way, dying of heartache, misjudged elasticity of rope etc. I also told him in time, his own parents will pretend that he never existed and no one will talk about it to avoid sniggers.
I could see him turn white and began nodding. I told him anyone who was prepared to conquer fear can bungee jump but the same cannot be applied to climbing everest, exploring the amazon of even climbing Mt Kinabalau. It takes hard work, planning and the will to go the distance.
