Danger and Sport
I’m wondering about the psychological factors that result
in increased danger in activities.
Misperceptions and anything that leads to them would be
a big part.
If someone thinks “Bike racing is risky, but so is crossing
the street,” it seems to show a gap in estimation.
I can tell my own danger level increases when, say, I refuse
to admit that a certain road is getting too busy for safe cycling
and I ride on it anyway; when I’m not willing to discern that the
nature of the traffic is too jittery and road-ragey for safety.
I want to stick to my ‘rights’ and old habits. Thus an accident
is more likely. If I am willing to see the conditions as they are
and respond accordingly I might take another, safer route.
I think that when a person has one standard in physical life
(where safety applies; that is, it’s not our emotional life)
which is based on need, then that would be a safety baseline.
When a split is introduced and where two or more standards
apply, I think that’s when you start running the risk of misperception.
Like, when I work at a desk all day and my energy builds up
and needs an outlet. I’m then likely to do something more
vigorously than it needs to be done and thus increase my risk.
I have a philosophy professor who over the past 30 years
of teaching has noticed an increase in the splits in life with
college students. They study harder and more desparately
during the day and go crazier during the night. Fun at night
is more impt to them than ever. They are being asked to
adapt to a more inhuman standard during the day so the
frustrated energy build-up as they instinctively resist this
is bigger than ever, even though outwardly they might
say they agree with the idea that education is strictly for
earning more money or some other travesty.
It does seem like the less split experienced the less likely
one will overdo something.
As an example, consider the Amish. They are probably considered
as having a time-tested lifestyle that’s integrated in every detail.
I wouldn’t be surprised that what sport they do (a little farmlot softball?)
is kept well in hand with the goal of a little easy, light fun kept
well in mind. Not too many emergency room visits. (Altho fun for
farm folk can be a bit rougher than cityfolk are used to, also!)
This split dynamic can maybe also be applied to one’s willingness
to spend $ on a hobby.
