Doug P said (June 29, 2019):

People want bragging rights. Their identity is determined by social acceptance. They will be bigger after they climb that mountain.

Essel said (June 29, 2019):

This type of debate and your oratory precautions betray it, is typical of anomie, of the absence of direction.

It mistakenly assumes that earthly life is made to be lived for itself; "to enjoy it" according to an expression heard daily ad nauseam. But this is not true, because for it to be so, it would have been necessary for man to exist for himself, and therefore by himself. However, his dependence in the being, which he experiences bitterly from birth to death, cries out to him that this is not the case.

Only God exists by Himself. As for us, contingent creatures, we can only obey our Creator, who asks us to do good and avoid evil.

Not to mention that it is He alone who defines good and evil. Pretending to be able to do it yourself ("I am for - or against -" this or that") is the greatest evil because it reproduces exactly the original sin.

US Vet said (June 29, 2019):

I like your website and ive been following it for almost ten years.

If people want adventure and get paid for it, why not join the US Military, i did right after the 911 attacks, i was 30 years old when i joined and had no job at the time and lots of student debt but the US Army paid it all off.

In four years with the US Army i saved so much money since i was deployed to Iraq twice and thank god i didn't get injured, with that being said those 4 years gave me the best adventure in my life and i gained some benefits with it, student loans paid off and also started questioning stuff about 911 and I came to the conclusion that the powers to be in the government cant be trusted

Cheers
US Army Veteran

Pedro said (March 29, 2017):

One explanation in some cases was provided by Carl Jung of a person who was a mountaineer, who kept pushing the limits until they died from it... Jung thought this particular person had a suicide wish and their unconscious mind was making them to it until it succeeded (seceded from life). But one does need some exercise, that's why I use a mouse with a scroll wheel

Al Thompson said (March 29, 2017):

I've compared my high earning years to a more minimalist lifestyle that I have now, and I think having less is better than having more.

The biggest budget buster is having a material girl for a wife. That alone can make a man earn far more than he needs. So, it makes perfect sense to stay single. I haven't found that sweet little angel yet. Of course, I'm 70 now so it doesn't matter.

On many days, I take my dog to the dog park and we just sit around and enjoy the outdoors. I think we've all been brainwashed into thinking work and making lots of money is the most satisfying thing in life. I like my life simple and with as little drama as I can get.

The big thing for me is that I really don't give a shit any longer, and that may be a good thing.

The political stuff is interesting but there's only so much I can take studying the political turds that surround us. No matter how much frosting they put on the turd, the end result is the turd. I try not to bother myself with this stuff. Sitting on the park bench with my dog is as complicated as I want it to be.

Dan A said (March 29, 2017):

An active lifestyle is the only lifestyle to live really.

It's been awhile, but at one time I'd ride my bicycle 20 miles often during violent thunderstorms and brutal heat waves. In Okinawa, Japan I'd ride my bicycle dodging traffic. Very dangerous at times, but obviously I lived.

The people you mentioned died doing something they loved. That is the way I want to die as well.

Staying at home I believe will kill you in other ways instead of being active.

Bill B said (March 29, 2017):

The Darwin Awards are a tongue-in-cheek honor, originating in Usenet newsgroup discussions around 1985. They recognize individuals who have supposedly contributed to human evolution by selecting themselves out of the gene pool via death or sterilization by their own actions.

Joe said (September 27, 2012):

Ever since high school, I have been a runner. I enjoy running. Not many people enjoy running, that's a given, I can see that and I respect those people who either hate running or just can't see the reason or wherewithal of running because you like it. It's okay for those people to do something else or do nothing at all. Not everyone is wired for the same things. Thank God for that! If everyone surfed, what would beaches look like? If everyone took to running, there would be no room on the local track to run at all!

Being past my competitive days, I like to run now for survival's sake. Take a good look at the tsunami washing ashore in Thailand back in December 2005 and tell me those people running for their lives weren't thinking about past opportunities for improving their speed.

If there ever is an encounter with a bear or mountain lion, I don't have to outrun the bear or mountain lion, I just have to outrun whoever is with me at the time. BTW, Never hike alone. Really appreciate the tongue-in-cheek articles, now for another slice of pizza and a can of Budweiser. After this, it's Season One of something...

Monica said (September 27, 2012):

Ah! I see you have finally arrived at the wisdom of Horace Rumpole (barrister, creation of author John Mortimer) who said, "I always believed exercise to the the shortest route to the cemetery!" My own opinion on the "active lifestyle" actually gives a cursory nod to those pathetically misguided proponents of evolution. I believe the only time our cave ancestors worked up a sweat was when they were running for their lives.

Amusingly, science is now proving (to their consternation) that aerobic exercise dramatically increases harmful free radical production and an unhealthy chemical cocktail in the brain, detrimental to relaxation (Like those produced from running for your life?) and inhibit the production of "healthy" brain chemicals. My maternal grandparents lived into their 90's in relatively good health and they didn't "get a sweat on" every week! They loved gardening, walking and the occasional game of bowling or golf. Sounds like a good proven plan to me! Thanks for the slightly macabre humor!

Jiuli said (September 27, 2012):

Have you considered the health consequences of doing no exercise at all? But seriously everything in moderation. Most of these cases you mentioned did not take that extra time for safety or were too stubborn for their own good. You're missing out on lot if your stuck in the virtual world on a computer!

Forget jogging, but there's a lot great places you can visit just walking or in a car although they're dangerous too. There's nothing like breathing in good fresh country air. When I walk in nature I can lose myself in the vastness or creation. I can see how great God and how stupid some of the things us humans do like playing games or being stuck in one's problems. There's so much more out there. And somehow feeling small in it all is a great feeling.

--

Thanks Juili

I try to walk 45 mins every day.

h

David said (September 27, 2012):

Henry, I did something on impulse very similar to these doomed daredevils a few years ago. I did a running jump over a gap between two outcroppings at Thunder Hole in Acadia National Park. It seemed like such a short distance, but when I landed on the uneven surface I pitched forward and lay sprawled on the edge of an approx. 20 foot drop, which doesn't sound like much, but I would have landed head first on solid rock below and likely been killed instantly, if not paralyzed for the remainder of my foolhardy life! All in full horrified view of my wife and child. And I was not in near as good shape as (and much older than) these young reeds you write about. All I can think is God sent me a wake-up call as I lay inches from what would have been a very messy death.

Michele said (September 27, 2012):

have to agree with you; Ever since Jim Fixx, the father of jogging, who died at the age of 52, I have been convinced that less is best. But I admire your recklessness at dog-walking. My own canines weigh in at 75 kilos each and the female can be headstrong and looks for trouble, so no dog-walking for me unless I want to be nose-down on a pavement.

With my last ex who was a jogger and got me to try it I managed to do myself no end of physical harm, high impact sports are not advisable for computer jockeys like myself. I'd much rather be watching a film, and stabbing fabric with an embroidery needle.

Marcos said (September 27, 2012):

My favorite verse in the Bible:

8 For bodily exercise profiteth little : but godliness is profitable unto all things, havingpromise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come .(1 Tim 4)

My friends in their midlife crisis, instead of buying red convertibles, now are all running marathons !

Seriously, people need objectives, in a spiritually dead age, with no kids around, these active sports fill this void.

Trevor said (September 27, 2012):

Not only is it dangerous in the ways your article pointed out, it is actually bad for your health to be constantly trying to work up a sweat. Exercise that is rigorous wears on the body and the act of sweating can be proven to be deadly. Sweat is made up of the bodies mineral and vitamin supplies. Most people are unaware of this but a vitamin or a mineral deficiency is the root cause of nearly all disease that afflicts man today. Most diseases are solved by simply vitamin and mineral supplementation. When these people go to the health clubs to get "fit" they are sweating their livelihood away and they have absolutely no chance to lose weight with the dietary advice they have been force fed by our public school system.

One could spend endless hours on this website learning about diet. I dont believe it to be and end all authority on everything but the majority of the research is extremely helpful, and his direct words saved me from the propaganda we see so much of today.

"Top Ten Myths about exercise"
http://www.biblelife.org/exercise.htm

Bill from N California said (September 26, 2012):

Hi Henry, I must agree.

In my youth I took some chances. But now I am safely "elderly" and retired. (Except for the few days I work at the local hardware store).

At 62 I am not adventurous anymore at all. So I've avoided the tragedy of dying young. Back when I turned 50, one of my older brothers said that I would not have to worry about that anymore. I found no comfort in his words.

At my age I'm allergic to high places, high speed and high anxiety. Thus I've grown very fond of my recliner, laptop and scotch.

For exercise I putter around the house and yard. And occasionally I walk around my neighborhood here in the foothills. But I've heard that sometimes there are bears in the area, as well as the occasional attack rooster. So I must be ever vigilant.

My mom lived to 97 and my dad to 92. So I will press on; however so carefully.

Brian said (September 26, 2012):

This summer I swam in the Ocean for the first time in years. Very enjoyable and no sharks around that I could see. Manageable waves that I would ride gently toward the shore, no crazy hangin' ten on Waikiki. And it's interesting that you posted this article today.

Last night I had one of those all too rare dreams like when you're flying, only in this one I was zooming down a steep, icy hill with no skis on my feet. In these kinds of dreams I always remember that one part of my brain thinks, hey, this is pretty dangerous. Then the part that says it's only a dream prevails, and it's off I go on what is quite a thrilling and exhilarating experience.

Now THIS is what I call my kind of active living!

Al Thompson said (September 26, 2012):

I'm with you Henry, active living and I'll double-down and include exercise into the mix are way too overrated. I never met an exercise that I wanted to do. I do what I have to do. I do get out of my office chair to go to the frig, when I could have just as well wheeled myself over to it and never leave the chair. I went to the doctor last week, paid $107.00 to have my doctor tell me I need to exercise more. I could have had someone tell me that for free. My idea of exercise is to reach for a beer, which is far more enjoyable, and it relieves my stress from having to walk over to the frig. People who exercise are absolutely crazy. They run, jump, do the Zumba, do hot yoga, and generally make asses out of themselves, while I sit back and have a brewski; enjoying the day. Who's smarter? I'm 66 years old with a one pack; there's no need for a 6 pack as I'm not chasing women anymore. I get enough exercise walking my dogs. I watch my big dog run; that exercise enough. I don't want to hurt myself because I don't like pain so I am careful about what I do. In my later years, I've turned clumsy and managed to fall down barely missing my little Yorkie. She looked at me like I was a big jerk. Wouldn't talk to me the rest of the day.

Exercise is for those people who just don't have anything else to contribute to society. People who exercise usually tell those of us who don't that we are lazy slugs. How much money did you make by playing around exercising? I knew of a man who was an accountant who was slim, trim, and ran 5 plus miles a day. He had it made, beautiful wife, lovely children, and he managed to give himself a heart attack running. He was only 35.